Flat Earth

Ovni is back, which is a solid Bier de Garde. I've been waiting 2 years for them to make that one again. Ovni and Winter Warlock are the only ones from them that get much love from me, but in the $6 bomber category they're pretty good.

They havent really expanded their line up much have they?

 

The only news I hear on that front is that they are potentially moving to the new develop at the old Hamms sight. Picked up a bottle of their IPA at Trader Joes a couple of weeks ago. It was alright.

 

Wow, I guess somebody is way out of the loop on FE. From the current Great Lakes Brewing News:

"Flat Earth isn't doubling, they are decading (sic - I can only presume that made up word indicates a 10 fold increase), moving into 50,000 square feet of the old Hamm's (and Stroh's) facility on St. Paul's East side."

I'd say that type of increase doesn't come from having been forgotten.

 

Supposedly Flat Earth will be canning now as well. I'd say they're a long way from gone.

 

Yeah, why playas be hating on all these local breweries? They're all new and finding their territory. Let them be.

 

From my experience, they've been at most major liquor stores in the metro area. I feel like they have great exposure and good beers with a reasonable price point. I'll admit I'm surprised they're expanding as well, so they must be quite the sleeper, because they don't get much love round the BA forums...

 

I agree 100% on all of this, especially the disproportionate lack of love for FE on this site. They deliver the goods at reasonable price points. But that is too pedestrian of an accomplishment for the general BA crowd who thirst for the bells and whistles (even if poorly executed) beers that cost ~$20. Then those breweries are as untouchable on this site as somebody's first born.

 

I don't get out very much but from what I see there's now more retail placements and tap handles than ever before. And didn't Lift Bridge start out over at Flat Earth initially? So they were not a contract-brewing facility then per se, but willing to lend a new startup a hand. Maybe there will be some more of that going forward?

 

Again, it's all about the taste. Cygnus X-1 is a fine porter, & the one-off Flanders Red they released years ago was really good (especially with some age, crazy good), but most of their lineup is pretty meh.

Not so much hate, but rather rabid indifference.

 

They seem to sell fine and casual drinkers are the buyers. We geeks don't get excited but we're a small vocal minority.

 

I live in St Paul and can not remember the last time I saw a Flat Earth beer on draught. Their beer is for the most part alright, but I rarely pick up bottles in the store anymore. That being said, I rarely buy Surly cans anymore. Might have something to do with a beer called Sagá and it's extremely reasonable price point on twelve packs. And twelve pack cans of Ranger, and SNPA and, and the list goes on. If and Flat Earth moves, I'd really like to see them put some new offerings out there. If you throw something at the wall and it doesn't stick, no matter how well it's brewed, it's time to throw something else. I hear hops are all the rage these days.

 

I have seen flat earth on draft here and there, mainly the nook or pizza luce saint paul. I love their porter, I should probably buy more of it. the 12ers of saga are also so hard to beat, if only they were cans.

unrelated, but 12 packs of day tripper would insure it would be in my fridge 24/7

 

Saw the summer offering from Indeed in twelvers last week,so your wish may be closer than you think,Ry-man.

 

The days of Cold Spring cranking out crappy beer seems to be in the rear view mirror. Nothing amazing, but they have state of the art equipment and a solid lineup of brewers now.

I will always agree that bombers are not a good buy. When FE first hit the market in '07, i bought a few bombers-they were closer to $4 then however. Bombers in general are just not repeat purchases for me- grab one here and there for some occasion but thats it.

I really would like to see Steel Toe in six packs for 9-10 bucks, but still would be tough for me to buy when Saga is $12 a 12.

 

Given the price point of their bombers and from what I have generally seen from breweries that have similarly priced bombers; their six packs are more $7 to $8.

But here is the problem for Steel Toe; they already obviously can't keep up with demand just with the bomber format and their tap room and growler fills on Size 7. I get by there a lot and there is plenty of room for more equipment and certainly a more aggressive brewing schedule gets them part way there, but they would need a more significant expansion to implement and keep up with the demands of introducing six packs.

And while Saga is a great IPA and a great deal, it still isn't in the league of IPA that Size 7 is and for the league that Size 7 is in; that bomber price is more than respectable.