Great River Brewery issue.

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by JohnSnowNW, Jun 11, 2013.

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  1. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    So, I bought a can of Barrel Aged Farmer, was excited to try it. I take a sip and, bam, sour as all hell. So I was like great, I've not had good luck recently with BB beers, such as an infected 2011 CW Peruvian Morning I had a month ago. Anyway, I call Zipps to tell them that I suspect they've got a batch of infected beer. Well, I'm read an email that the distributor was sent from the brewery saying that the beer had been oaked more than anticipated, and this had given in a tannic/over-oaked flavor. So this is why the beer is sourer than intended, and that it is perfectly acceptable to sell. The guy at Zipps said he hadn't liked the beer either, and originally thought it was infected...even offered to give me my money back on it. I declined, as I was just calling to let them know of my suspicions, and it especially isn't their fault when they're being told they won't be compensated, as the beer is fine.

    Well, I'm here to tell you that this beer isn't fine. I like sour beers, but this is supposed to be a barrel aged porter. There is no subtle sourness to this brew, it just taste sour...with the very smallest hint of bourbon for the briefest second. The fact that the brewery knew this batch turned out this way, and decided to sell it as a Barrel Aged Porter...is absurd.

    Anyway, just thought I'd let people know. Do NOT buy this beer, it's awful.

    EDIT, just noticed a similar thread, will post there. Mods can delete.
     
    #1 JohnSnowNW, Jun 11, 2013
  2. plumcrazyfx

    plumcrazyfx Initiate (0) Aug 26, 2010 Minnesota

    When Redband is great, it's great (a 50/50 mix with CW BBS is awesome). BUT, I got a sour 4-pack of Redband a year ago and haven't taken a chance since. They don't realize they're setting themselves up for some long range hurt by not doing the right thing.
     
    #2 plumcrazyfx, Jun 11, 2013
  3. BottleCaps80

    BottleCaps80 Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2013 Iowa

    This is easily the most inconsistent brewery in the Tri-State (IA, MN, WI) area. Multiple beers of theirs have been infected, especially Redband. And when you try to reach out directly to the brewery for answers, they ignore every e-mail, tweet, Facebook message, etc. I've tried getting in touch with them multiple times regarding infected Redband...no reply. I'm done with this brewery. To many other good beers coming out of the Midwest to drink.
     
    #3 BottleCaps80, Jun 11, 2013
    Ejayz and JohnSnowNW like this.
  4. MCImes

    MCImes Initiate (0) Dec 31, 2010 Connecticut

    Why not just relabel your beer as a sour when your batch goes sour?

    I mean, if you'er a good brewer, just dont make unintentional sour beer in the first place. But if it is sour, and the big guys say that you're selling it no matter what, at least lable it a 'sour porter'. Then the sour heads will love it instead of everyone saying 'wtf'. They could just be the next hill farmstead (j/k)
     
    #4 MCImes, Jun 11, 2013
    JohnSnowNW likes this.
  5. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    That is unfortunate to hear. I also e-mailed the brewery and have heard nothing...and it doesn't seem likely that I will. Agreed, lots of great beer out there...no reason to patron one that has no respect for its customers.
     
    #5 JohnSnowNW, Jun 11, 2013
    BottleCaps80 likes this.
  6. beerindex

    beerindex Zealot (641) Jun 18, 2007 Michigan

    They brought a keg of this to St Louis for Schlafly's Repeal of Prohibition festival a month or two ago, and it had the same problem. Honestly, I don't think it was a one-off thing.
     
    #6 beerindex, Jun 11, 2013
  7. mattafett

    mattafett Initiate (0) Mar 9, 2009 Iowa


    You forgot IL (where they are from).
     
    #7 mattafett, Jun 12, 2013
  8. mnbrewery

    mnbrewery Initiate (0) Feb 28, 2008 Minnesota

    From Davenport, IA
     
    #8 mnbrewery, Jun 12, 2013
  9. mattafett

    mattafett Initiate (0) Mar 9, 2009 Iowa

    Then who am I thinking of that is in Moline????? Damn.
     
    #9 mattafett, Jun 12, 2013
  10. mnbrewery

    mnbrewery Initiate (0) Feb 28, 2008 Minnesota

    Bent River?
     
    #10 mnbrewery, Jun 12, 2013
  11. bocky24

    bocky24 Initiate (0) Apr 10, 2013 Iowa

    Bent river is in moline.
     
    #11 bocky24, Jun 12, 2013
  12. Sender

    Sender Initiate (0) Sep 19, 2010 Minnesota

    YouKnowNothing,JonSnow.GIF
    Yeah, they have had issues
     
    #12 Sender, Jun 12, 2013
  13. youngac

    youngac Crusader (496) Jul 14, 2005 North Carolina

    Damn it. Had a nice 6 pack of Dirty Blonde the other week. Just bought another... It tastes awful...something definitely wrong.
     
    #13 youngac, Jun 14, 2013
  14. incutrav

    incutrav Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2007 Minnesota

    Even when I got in contact with thier distributor- they claimed to not hear of any issues with them. Doesn't bode we'll that when they gave me some 'fresh' stock, that it was sour too(redband). They also gave me a DIPA for my trouble , but that was bottled in July '12. Good gesture but freshness of the stock in general is concerning.

    To bad as the price point is hard to beat- apparently for a reason
     
    #14 incutrav, Jun 14, 2013
  15. MCImes

    MCImes Initiate (0) Dec 31, 2010 Connecticut

    I just had this last night and its AWESOME!

    I was talking to the beer buyer at a local store and he said the head brewmaster at GR sent out an email explaining that this is actually supposed to be a sour beer and will supposedly age for a long time.

    GR is a bunch of morons because the word sour/wild/funky is NOWHERE on the can! Who makes a sour beer and DOESNT label it SOUR! I looked 4 times and all it says is brown ale, bourbon barrel, ect. No mention of the word sour.

    To great river: If you make an intentionally sour beer and do not label it sour, people are going to be pissed. You either love or hate sour beer and a lot of haters are going to buy it unknowingly and talk crap about your beer, rightfully so because its not what they were expecting.
    So,
    Farmer without the word sour on the can = bad
    Farmer with the word sour on the can = awesome

    How did this slip through?
     
    #15 MCImes, Jun 21, 2013
  16. maximum12

    maximum12 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,686) Jan 21, 2008 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    They received label approval before they realized they'd fucked up the beer & it was infected.

    I haven't seen the word 'sour' on the Redband label, either.

    Wonder if the brewer would give the same 'explanation' for those cans.
     
    #16 maximum12, Jun 21, 2013
  17. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    I agree for the most part, but I can guarantee that this wasn't meant to be a sour. They screwed up, and just called it a sour in an e-mail to distributors...without changing the label.

    As for it being a good sour...I'll have to disagree there. I like sours, and generally find them to be rather complex. I find this beer to be almost completely one-dimensional. It's just sour, sour like I'm drinking slightly cut lactic acid.
     
    #17 JohnSnowNW, Jun 21, 2013
  18. incutrav

    incutrav Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2007 Minnesota

    Given their past I still REALLY doubt they intended for this to be sour.

    Better start labeling Redband as 'Redband Sour Coffee Stout' too
     
    #18 incutrav, Jun 21, 2013
    BottleCaps80 likes this.
  19. youngac

    youngac Crusader (496) Jul 14, 2005 North Carolina

    When they were in Iowa city, they brewed an outstanding barrel aged brown, farmer templeton. It was never sour.
     
    #19 youngac, Jun 23, 2013
  20. Lionhawk

    Lionhawk Pundit (777) Nov 14, 2012 Iowa

    stop drinking their beer and they will go away.....hopefully. intentionally serving bad beer and having zero customer service is status quo for this place.
     
    #20 Lionhawk, Jun 28, 2013
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