Creative vs Gimmicky

In my opinion, anything that really seems inspired, anything that really enhances the experience - that's creative. Anything that makes you roll your eyes... that's a gimmick.

 

If it gets worse every time, it's a gimmick.

 

This isn't a well thought-out answer, necessarily, but for me, "creative" means using surprising/interesting ingredients and/or techniques to create something that's still recognizable primarily as a beer. (Like many sours, good coffee beers.) Gimmicky (again, for me) is trying to create something that, if given the choice, you'd just as well have the regular, non-beer, even food version of. (For example, most pumpkin beers and Big Gruesome.)

 

Brewing using unusual or non traditional ingredients is creative. Things that are only there for the attention factor such as, spuds Mckenzie or a bimbo in a commercial is gimmiky. Just my take but I think the line is that if something enhances a beer I consider it creative, if it is just smoke and mirrors with no real quality enhancement it is a gimmick. Good post, great question op!

 

Creative is something you like. Gimmicky is something you don't like.

 

'Round here if it's done by a cool brewery with high trade potential it's creative. If it's done by a larger, successful brewery with good distribution, then it's gimmicky and must be hated.

 

I feel the craft brewers tend to be the innovators with the macros leaching on their ideas with all the gimmicks, rebates and advertising they can throw at the market.
Nebbie

 

Creative if something is done with the intention of making a better or interesting product, with salability coming second.
Gimmick if something is done with the intention of attracting attention or publicity, with quality coming second.


If you look at the dictionary meaning of the verb, it sums it up well: "to equip or embellish with unnecessary features, especially in order to increase salability, acceptance, etc."

 

Does it taste good

 

Simply put but true. If it tastes good and its different you'd call it creative. If it's different and you don't like it, you'd call it a cheap gimmick. Even if its an original idea.

 

Yea Nebbie!

 

Whether a beer is gimmicky or creative depends entirely on the drinker.

Some beers are both, truth be told.

 

Simple answer: It's creative if it works. It's gimmicky if it doesn't.

 

Using odd ingredients can go either way. If it's used to enhance the beer, it's creative. If it's used just so you can say it was used, it's gimmicky.

If you're trying to create a beer that tastes like a particular food, well that's honestly gimmicky in my opinion, even though sometimes the results can be rather enjoyable. I'm sure plenty of people disagree with me here, but it's how I feel.

 

This is right on the money. Cheers to you, Bluehende. Whether you like/dislike the taste, or you just like/dislike the idea; in my book, the only difference between creative and gimmicky is in the eye of the beholder.

 

Tactical Nuclear Penguin = gimmick. I.e., there's no purpose of these beer's existence except to be absurdly high ABV.

Grey Monday = creative. I.e., the high ABV (though obviously not TNP high) is just a component of the overall flavor profile and the hazelnuts compliment the beer.

I also think gimmicky beers tend to be a one-and-done pursuit, whereas creative beers can be almost endlessly appreciated.

 

This

 

so true! i hate beer snobs who base ratings off whether or not its made by a large or small scale brewery. i just have recently laughed when i looked at ratings for octoberfest beers. i know taste is all a matter of opinion but how in the hell can only 1 of the top 8 octoberfest beers be german?! just makes me think if a lot of these snobs base it off of how cool it looks to like something thats not known ny your average beer drinker.

 

1000 ibu's is a gimmick.
This is more along the lines of creative:
JavaHead's recipe is based on our original Oatmeal Stout. After the boil, the hot wort passes through our hopback vessel on its way to fermentation. Packed full of whole leaf hops and a bed of ground coffee beans, the hopback vessel is similar to using a huge French press, intensifying the coffee nose and releasing subtle hints of coffee flavor. The result is a lush, smooth mouthfeel balanced with cocoa, roast, and subtle coffee flavors.