Creative vs Gimmicky

http://beerstreetjournal.com/unknown-brewing-escorpion-en-fuego/

| When asked if these scorpions would affect the flavor, head brewer and owner Brad Shell responded “I’m not sure, that’s not the point. The point is this beer needs scorpions. Some things just have to happen”.

 

Gimmick: Dogfish Head Celestjewelale
Using moon rocks in the filtration process

Creative: Dogfish Head Piercing Pils
Using pear juice in a pilsner actually works really well and compliments the flavor nicely

 

Thank you Droopy for pointing this out, however I am not a FFF fan boy. I see this all the time, prime example is Zombie Dust. You think ZD would be sought out if it still was called "Cenotaph?" I think not.

Cheers, Prost, Nostrovia!

 

One man's gimmicky beer is another man's favorite brew. Case in point, I think Bud/Miller/Coors Light is a gimmick. It's a product that uses crappy ingredients and is marketed ad nauseum. Most people crush that stuff though and would order it in a heartbeat over any of the beers I love.

 

The "vortex" bottle is the first thing that comes to mind....

 

The proof is in the smell and taste...

 

Just because something is, 100%, no shadow of a doubt, absolute gimmick does not mean it can't be the same person's favorite beer. Call a duck what it is. A duck. It's not a cat because I like it. It's still a duck. Putting a naked woman on a beer label with X's over the nipples and calling it (Big Tiddy Ass Ass In) is a gimmick. Calling something a gimmick and enjoying it (whatever it is) doesn't mean it's awful. It just means it's a gimmick.

However, putting a chili pepper in a bottle of beer and making a beer taste like a mexican restaurant's sewer water is a gimmick that happens to be a trainwreck.





By definition a gimmick is
noun
1. an ingenious or novel device, scheme, or stratagem, especially one designed to attract attention or increase appeal.
2. a concealed, usually devious aspect or feature of something, as a plan or deal:

verb (used with object)
5. to equip or embellish with unnecessary features, especially in order to increase saleability, acceptance, etc. (often followed by up): to gimmick up a sports car with chrome and racing stripes.

 

Nice avatar

 

Change your Big Gruesome to Sweet Baby Jesus and ^ "what he said. Big Gruesome is the only PB stout I really liked.

 

Label art work and name choices are tough and a real grey area and I won't bother to comment.

As far as ingredients and the beer itself, usually if you have some brewer chasing the ABV world record (BrewDog etc) 1000 IBUs or throwing moondust into their beer (DFH), that is pure gimmick/sales pitch as the taste and quality of beer is clearly secondary. If bizarre, unique natural/actual seasonings or ingredients are being used in an attempt to enhance the flavor (whether bad or good, but that is an individuals assessment), then its probably creative IMO. Some grey area there as well like the Old Bay Crab Beer by Flying Dog or bacon flavored beers etc. Those could be arguable either way IMO.

 

There's a drop of rattlesnake piss in each bottle, drink up.

 

Unless you stop in at the headquarters, astonished that they didn't have the Enjoy By on tap in Escondido back in May of '13...

 

"Triple Hops brewed" is a gimmick tag line to boot

 

seriously, all "image"...little substance.

 

A gimmick attempts to create the false impression of creativity.

 

Unfortunately that last part pretty much sums up my recent reaction to Samuel Adams' Vixen (cocoa chile doppelbock). The base beer was so disappointing that the addition of the other ingredients didn't help, and my initial fears of something gimmicky were ultimately confirmed.

I usually avoid beers like that, too, unless there is a compelling reason to give it a shot. But, hey, this one came in a mixed case, so I went for it.

 

I felt the same.

Personally I think Sam Adams is better at sticking to less "innovative" projects, and I think some of their regular lineup is underrepresented. They should give us 6packs of Old Fezzi, Hone Porter, Scotch Ale, among others... at least seasonally. But yes, drop the cocoa chile doppelbock stuff.

 

As a brewery, we like to think the line falls on whether it will add to the flavour or experience of the beer or not. If it won't add or improve the beer, it's a gimmick. If it takes the beer in an interesting direction, or gives a drinking experience you haven't had before, it's creative.

We also think you can in some instances have a little combination of the two if it's done properly, but probably more around the way beer is served. Some examples of beers we've done that I would put in that area....

Fire Poker Porter - we created a super heated hot poker that we could use to flash caramelise a barrel aged porter in glasses at a festival. It worked well as it changed the drinking experience - the foam would toast up, the beer would remain cool and it seemed to intensify the flavours. It was creative and a little gimmicky at the same time. Having said that, it's nothing new and is something bored drinkers in English taverns did hundreds of years ago as well.

2 Pot Flat White - we brewed two different beers designed to be blended together to recreate a Flat White - first the coffee 'shot' as a Russian Imperial Coffee Stout, and then the 'milk' as a lactose cream ale served on nitro. The shot would be poured and then the milk came in after. Together, they mixed very well. Gave it the right colour and taste of a flat white beer and visually it was interesting, so a little creative, a little gimmicky.

Here are some pics of the two different beers being served:

 

Yeah, and on the list of things I want to see more of from them are definitely the Double Black Lager and Double Pilsner, speaking of the Adventures in Lager Pack. I suppose one could make the argument that they approach being gimmicky, too, being 'imperialized' versions of other beers, but to me they kept the strength in a pretty sweet spot (7-8%) to give the beers a bit of oomph but still taste really nice in the end.

 

Pretty cool- but why is the guy pouring the lactose cream ale equipped with safety goggles while the guy with the red hot poker is not?