Any one ever try Departed Soles? I see their beers from time to time and really dig their gluten free approach but I think I usually don't buy them because of lack of dates on their cans. But I am really curious about their beers. Anyone have any input or recommendations ?
Philoso-rapper is my favorite of their beers. The mod cup stout is basically a light coffee stout if that's what you're looking for. The dark night is the best gluten free one. I don't think very highly of their NEIPAs, but there's simply too many I'd prefer to buy by taste and by the dating issue. The doughnut white stout yearly is usually something I get too when/ if I see it. Mostly I get the dark night for my wife, and having lived in Hoboken previously it was close and welcoming as tap rooms go, so I've got nostalgia bias. Make of all that what you will I guess.
I've had 15 beers from them, but they were all in 2016 and 2017, so I am way out of touch now. The reasons for the gap are that I was generally not impressed with the beer and I have not been near the brewerey since then. I never had anything that I would revisit other than Modern Cup of Sole, their 4.9% coffee milk stout which was (maybe still is?) a tasty, easy drinking beer. Other than that, Philoso-rapper was the best one I had and that I would drink again. The other beers/styles (Helles, IPA, DIPA, Pale Ale, Farmhouse/Saison, Kolsch) I would not revisit. Again, this is all based on my expereince a few years ago. Perhaps things have changed. @DEdesings57
They've done very good Belgians. If they just stuck with maybe one core NEIPA, one pilsner, then otherwise did stouts and Belgians and GF beers I think they would, for me, stand out more. But hey the IPAs must sell, they're still in business, and they're ok. If I were in JC I'd be happy to go and get some beers. But with easy access to other NEIPAs I'm probably not buying any of hoppy stuff which is mostly what I see around and brewed recently other than the GF stuff, based on Instagram posts. If I see any philoso or mod cup I'll have to try them. This thread made me curious to revisit them. Or maybe in a month go back with friends in JC and my wife since that would be easiest to get fresh stuff. I think doughnut soles just came out so if anyone liked that cape may white stout it's worth a try.
Yea this thread has renewed my interest too. I might try to grab some Modern Cup for St. Patty’s Day and at least pay attention to what’s otherwise on the shelf now.
I see their stuff in stores but I never think to buy it. The only thing I’ve had is philoso-raptor. But that was years ago and I don’t really remember how much I liked it. Not all of their beers are gluten-free correct?
Perhaps a useless anecdote, but a couple of months ago I had the itch to fill a growler from my local brewery, which happens to be Departed Soles. I got a NEIPA with something like a 3.8 untappd rating (I think it was Autohops). I thought it was pretty good! I fear that they're on the wrong side of the "hype multiplier" with their ratings. Prior to this, I had generally avoided them because I'd been consistently underwhelmed in prior years, but I'll probably check them out a bit more frequently now.
Yeah, I've never been interested in buying any of their beers because of that and the absolute confusion of their labeling - no consistency or brand resemblance, some have their round DS logo, some don't. Most are typical cartoon/riot of color cans of beers with "cute" (aka useless) names. They even say as much "DINOSAURS, RANGERS, PUNK ROCK AND MORE..." which seems to be their regular beers but the the URL is https://www.departedsoles.com/gluten-free-beers-copy Oh, but there's a hashtag #DefinitleyNotGlutenFree. Go to their website and find: Got that? Not sure how the color of the keg labels helps consumers... They really should have split them into to separate lines with distinct branding. Don't make potential customers work to figure out what your beer is - too much stuff on the shelves these days. (And, OK, I read their history but why the "soles" play on words?)
They seem to have interest in skateboard, sneaker, and graffiti culture, so I assume sneaker reference. Well that and ninja turtles. Flights were served on mini skate boards. As for the other complaints, I totally get that. But I see industrial arts, with very clear packaging, sit on shelves around here to. Honestly I'm glad I'm not in brewing. Fancy label art? Too confusing. Clearer clean label consistent across releases? Ignored. Doesn't stand out. Honestly I wonder how much can labeling, other than clear dating, matters and to who (I mean, someone was buying the two month old phase three that showed up in NJ because it evaporated eventually). But yeah in fairness the 16oz are never gluten free, and for the most part when I've seen DS GF beers in store they're often off with other ciders, seltzer, or gf beers.
DS was actually at the at Troon anniversary. I don't remember what I had but it was good. Also, I saw DS at CBC in Waterbury Vermont. They had the raptor blonde ale and something else.
