It really is about the beer...

Check out duo, it's legit. Light years ahead of the rest of their beers.

 

Bent Paddle Black and IPA are both wonderful as is Lucid Foto and Duo.

Not every beer is going to appeal to every palate. When this happens, apparently it's a "bad/mediocre" brew.

 

This makes me realize there are a ton of new MN beers that I haven't tried nor am I clamoring too. Saga has prevented me from trying any new IPA's for sure. You cant touch the quality to cost ratio on that.

I am interested to try the smoked brews out of Lino Lakes however.

 

I think they were an example of a brewery that came to market before they really had their shit figured out. Gald to hear they are making good.

 

There's a big difference between a beer that I despise (see: Gumballhead) & a beer that is clearly off the rails because the brewer screwed up (see: my experience with Camo, most White Birch beers, bad Peruvian Morning, etc.). I hope you, too, can understand this difference over time.

 

I totally agree.
It's the only Lucid offering that I've bought more than once.
Very solid, IMO.

 

I get the difference.

The problem I have is that there have been comments made about breweries folding up shop because someone didn't personally like one or two of their beers. If we go by this mantra, Central Waters sucks then too. I don't think it's safe to put Bent Paddle and Lucid in the same sentence as Staple Mills. No personal experience with 612, so maybe they could be that bad.

 

When Lucid opened up their beer, all of it, was bad. From what I have heard, things have gotten much better over there. However, I have been burned by too many of their beers to give them a fourth, fifth, or sixth try. If I happen to be offered one, sure, I'll give them another go. But there is tons of nice new shiny stuff to occupy my beer dollars to go back to something that my experiences have led me to believe is bad. If things are better for them, that is great and I wish them lots of continued success.

 

My beef with 612 were obvious brewing flaws in most of the beers. Creamed corn, cooked vegetables, butter, etc. The only beers from them that I've tried that didn't have noticeable flaws were just not very well done (the rye IPA) or not my thing (the ginger lager). I'm not a super picky drinker and I tend to score high when rating and reviewing, but when something isn't good, it isn't good. Cool taproom and nice guys, and I hope they can improve their skills, but for now I'm not into it.

 

Agreed. There are too many other options. Being nice people alone won't get me to part with my cash when I can buy tons of other things.

 

With all due respect, I dont think winning the best beer at APN is a real good way to judge the merits of a beer. Hell, Big Wood has won that award at similar events and that is a brewery that we should be including in the colloboration discussions.

I tried Both Bent Paddle beers at APN and found both under whelming.

P.S. Bent Paddle is from Duluth, might have influenced some of the voters.

 

agreed.

 

Gotcha, I thought you meant individual beers. Entire breweries are another matter. I sincerely hope those I've had bad experiences with (even Staple Mills!) have bright, frothy futures. I'll still sample those I don't like at festivals like ABR & the Great Taste, but I'll stay away from buying them until I have a positive (likely non-paying) experience!

 

Agreed. Camo was my introduction to Lucid, and it was just bad. Everything I've had from them since then has been passable. One of the new top dogs? Definitely not. But decent beer? Yes.

Also, I see that Camo is listed on here as retired.

 

Tried Lucid Duo tonight, pretty nice actually.

 

I'll second that!

 

I had a bomber of Tuned Galaxy IPA from 612 Brewing last night. Pretty underwhelming. Will probably pass on them in the future.

 

I'm sure most of you know, but Staples Mill is officially closed by the way.

 

Hammerheart has a sour in the barrel. Should be ready in about a year.

 

x1000

and i don't think their taproom is all that glamourous. it's nice and new and whatever, but it's not really all that comparable to the 612 angle being taken here.

what a thread. this place fucking kills me.