Highly acclaimed brews that underwhelmed you?

Seconded

 

Sculpin - it's ok, but there are far better around.

 

This. I have had it twice now (reasonably fresh both times). It certainly isn't bad, but nowhere near the sometimes-comparisons to PtE.

 

I have to agree with the Sculpin crowd.... I have tried, but I am not impressed.

 

Allagash White. I had high expectations based on the reviews but I thought it was pretty boring.

 

I agree with this. Don't get me wrong, I really liked it. But like you said, based on what I had read about it, I expected something transcendent and it wasn't that. I suppose that's going to be the case for a lot of beers that were sort of the flagship of their style, and Allagash is--from my understanding--one of the first American craft brewers to try their hand at the Belgian Wit style. The actual taste can never live up to the icon status.

 

They should institute an emergency one time only "dislike" button for this thread

 

I think it's important to note the difference between "being underwhelmed" by a given beer and declaring that beer "overrated".

The former displays that for whatever reason, a given beer doesn't appeal to your tastebuds. Completely reasonable. The latter implies that the hundreds/thousands of people (4,000+ for Duvel, for example) who have rated said beer to arrive at the overall score are mistaken or wrong. I don't know if you can call a beer that has 4,000 ratings overrated--it seems like it is probably about as close to it's "correct" rating as it can be. Now if you were talking about a beer with just a few dozen reviews/ratings, it might be different, because the score could be skewed by a small group thinking a beer was good/bad.

 

Big fan of Sculpin...If fresh, it's as good as any IPA out there. I agree that Flower Power was underwhelming. Too much of a malt backbone for me. Didn't let the hops shine.

 

I'm 100% with you guys who said Stone IRS..
Yes, it's GOOD but to me it's nothing more than that. I'd rather have Old Raspy or Ten Fidy any day.

 

A recent one I had this weekend...Goose Island Night Stalker

 

The abyss was a little disappointing. Considering how mfn hard it is to get down in TX, I was disappointed. I don't understand the Stone hate, but their Vertical Epic 12.12.12 was terrible, so I'll throw that and Old Guardian barleywine in too. All the Rochefort trappist ales left me unsatisfied. I like Orval ten times better.

 

Maybe you're more of a wine guy.

 

Terrapin Hop Kharma

 

I'll drink water first!

 

I dunno, group think is very real and very much a problem. Once a few people rave about something most people feel the same way. That is not to say there aren't those who go the opposite way, but they are by far a minority.

I think there is an implied "In my opinion" with any statement on taste that it seems silly to add that comment and even more silly to take offense to someone saying they disagree with said taste. It's clear they mean they do not like it as much or at all.

 

Not taking offense. Just observing.

And I agree there is an implied "in my opinion" on any statement about taste... unless something else is added that implies there is a correct opinion. Like "overrated" or "groupthink". Those are words that suggest its more than just an opinion. If that's not how you mean it, then cool beans. Consider it a friendly note about how your words might come across. No biggie.

 

Can't forget Delerium Tremens. Tasted like mustard and honeysuckle.

 

Lagunitas Sucks. I'm not a hop lover. This tasted like sucking on xmas tree water.

 

VE 12.12.12 was ok, but 11.11.11 was much better!