Huge disappointment...

I have to say that almost every super hyped beer that I have finally gotten my hands on just never truly lived up to the expectations. I don't care if it's HT or Julius, BCBS etc.... This is one of the reasons I stopped chasing the hard to get beers. There are just way too many good beers out there to try.

 

So sad to hear this...not sure what was going on...I adored Peach Emptiness. However you should shoot me a PM. I would be happy to send you a growler of something hazy and delicious to restore your faith in a super upcoming brewery.

 

backwoods bastard.

 

The Abyss. Finally worked out a trade for it but it turned out that all of the extras were better than the damn thing I traded for....

 

Hop Juju.

I have had HT a few rimes and have not been overly impressed. It's good.

 

Westy 12 (thin and very underwhelming)
DFH 120min (I really don't understand why people rave about this beer)
BCBS (absolutely loved BCBCS & BC Barleywine)
Jai Alai (have had draft in Tampa, loved it.. had several 6pks and they are very hit or miss from the can)
Old Stock Cellar Reserve (BBA) (blahhh boozy and wayyyy too expensive)
Hopslam (sweet and overly-hyped)

 

Abraxas. I thought it was decent but there are similar spiced stouts that are much easier to get and taste jsut as good, or better.

 

Hop Stoopid. Little Sumpin Sumpin, and Sucks.

 

Flora Blue / Black

 

Just tried Cone Flakes yesterday and it had an off taste. I'd like to try one in a bottle to make sure it wasn't the tap line. The bartender said "thats just how it tastes" so who knows.

 

Yeah, Shaun completely missed the mark with this one ....however I heard incredible things about Plum and Cherry. I had one bottle of Cherry but it's being traded this week.

 

Plum was fantastic, but Blue / Black just had a really bizarre smokey quality that really bummed me out

 

Also that very common "farty/rubbery" thing that goes on with blueberries sometimes.

 

Pretty much deserves all of our adoration. My personal bravery chart puts the person who posted that right in between a fireman and run into a burning car to save a baby guy.

 

I wouldn't call it rare, but I was really excited for Blvd's Bourbon Barrel Quad. It was way too sweet and disappointing. Think Sixth Glass is way better.

 

Ill second this. I had it at a bottle share over the weekend. My first Jester King beer too. Complete garbage.

 

Rare Dos. I dont get it. So so thin.

 

For me, it's most of the Russian River stuff I've tasted.
Don't get me wrong...it's all very well made stuff (and you certainly can't argue with their success), but really, I just don't understand the over-the-top cult-like hoopla over it.
But props to them for their success and for being able to cultivate such a loyal following...something that's not easy to do in a crowded and competitive marketplace populated by increasingly jaded (and fickle) consumers.

 

RR has been around a long time and was doing a lot of things before(or better)than anyone else in the US. Vinnie is revered by many craft and home brewers, and for good reason.

 

I think you may have misread my intent.
I certainly meant no disrespect to him or his company, but was merely honestly answering the question posed by the OP.
I'm sure Vinnie is a good guy (he is, after all, fighting the good fight), and yes, he is making some decent beer. But before anyone in the U.S and better than anyone in the U.S.? That's a bit of a stretch.

Regardless of my overall opinion I'll heartily repeat my congrats to him and RR for their success and for being able to cultivate the following they enjoy. However, there are certainly other small brewers (and homebrewers, for that matter) turning out beer every bit as good as anything RR puts out (and correct me if I'm wrong, but Vinnie did start out as a homebrewer himself, didn't he?).