I had one about a month ago and I thought it was the worst one I'd ever had fwiw. Extremely malty even though it was a fresh can.
It's been a while since I've had one and was hoping they had gotten better. All the others have been very diacetyl-tasting.
I was afraid of that, can't imagine how they let this one get away, the guy brewing it now brewed it when it was great. He knows what's it's supposed to taste like. I can't get it here or I'd buy it, they pulled back distro to the Charlotte area. But it looks like my question was clearly answered, the last I had was 3 days old, and it sucked. I poured that out and gave away the other 3. What a shame.
I'm going to Old Mecklenburg instead , won't waste the time and money on HDR. To the brewery : fix this beer, it's clearly broken, just look at the threads.
I wouldn't go to Olde Meck instead, but I would skip the cans of Hop Drop. The other stuff on tap at the brewery is usually great (including their other IPA's). That said, I got a can at the airport the other day and it was just bitter hop water. That's the last can of that I buy. Done. F-it. Not worth even trying anymore. It doesn't taste off, it tastes awful. Nothing at all like it was in 2014. For their bread and butter beer, I just don't get it.
The real shame is that No Da seems to not even care about the problem - absolute indifference!!! Sad as it was a great IPA!!!!
When it was great i traded it can for can with Heady. I agree the last I had wasn't off it was just awful.
I would always recommend Old Meck. The beers are quite good. Also, how is Sugar Creek these days? I thought they were a unique brewery. I liked HD'nR plenty but haven't had one in some time. I remember a number of folks that were just so-so about it back in the day. It's like someone pooped on someone's birthday cake. If the beer sucks don't buy it. Similarly, I've seen a number of posters being really negative about Wicked Weed, mainly for service and attitude....Never once for me on many visits. I believe that we must be an increasingly jaded lot.
I sent a FB message to NoDa about HDR, surely they know the product offered now sucks badly. I wasn't impressed on my last visit to Weed. It was over crowed (expected) way under staffed ( not expected). Two bar keeps tending to a fully seated bar 2-3 deep in places. A few waiters keeping tabs on many many tables. It took hours to get 2 beers, and those I had to push for, if I had sat there waiting for service I'd still be there. The beers are worthy, but staff the place accordingly.
Haven't tried a can in ages (last one was terrible) but had it on tap fairly recently and it was pretty good.
Tastes like your everyday brewpub ipa back in 2001. It is nothing like the short lived award, winning ipa that I once liked. Come on Noda!!!!! If Coke can admit that new coke was a bad mistake, you guys can admit that whatever changes have been made were bad mistakes. And dont tell me nothing has changed or that itis MY PALATE!! Thats just poor customer service.
