Kuhnhenn or Founders?

I don't live near Kuhnhenn so haven't had a lot of their draught beer, and I haven't had their bottles in a few years. BUT based on the ones I have had from the 07 and 08 winter solstice, I have to say that Founders is BY FAR, like leaps and bounds, a better brewery. Damn near close to half of the Kuhnhenn bottles I had were infected, or otherwise undrinkable. I have never had that problem with Founder ever, and I have drank probably 100 times more Founders bottles over the years than Kuhnhenn.

Maybe Kuhnhenn has gotten better in the last few years, but back a few years ago they had probably the worst quality control I have ever seen in my life.

Then you have price. Founders is one of the most expensive sixers around here on the shelves these days at $11. But even back 4 years ago at Kuhnhenn, I think the absolute cheapest sixer they sold was $28. I imagine they are even more these days.

 

From what I have had from those breweries Founders takes the cake.

 

You and I...we need to share a pint somewhere, someday!

 

Hey FEUO can I hitch a ride to Kuhnhenn?? I need some DRIPA...

 

On that note... can you or anyone else recommend any other breweries that also make mead as well as beer? Does anyone besides Kuhnhenn focus on both that I may be missing out on?

 

Kuhnhenn makes amazing stuff
Founders has some classic brews, but I don't think they have mastered a lot of the styles..some of their brews are over-hyped and over rated. Just my 2 cents, many people LOVE them.

 

Kinda funny as I tell peeps the reason why I think Founders is one of the best in the country is they have mastered their styles. Dirty Bastard is a perfect scotch ale, Centennial is a strong straight Centennial IPA, Double Dry Hopped Pale Ale is exactly what the name is, Imperial Stout is one of the best out there, Porter is a perfect porter IMO, and I could keep going.

I leave Old Curmudgeon out of there as I think they need to change the recipe. All the rest are dialed in.

 

I agree on the Old Curmudgeon. The Dirty Bastard is a little too bitter compared to some of the classics.

The Founders employee at a local beer dinner said the Centenial uses Centennial and Cascade.

Many of their beers are very good, and brewed to high quality. The Black IPA is one of the best I have had.

 

If you pick up the Michigan Beer Guide, the brewery listing in the back will have the ones with a wine license in parenthesis, eg. (MB/SWM) is a microbrewery with a Small Wine Maker license. I counted 27 SWM on Rex's list.

A couple that come to mind are Bells at the downtown location, and Michigan Beer Cellar in Sparta. Have had the mead at Bell, not at Michigan Beer Cellar. Kuhnhenn has an excellent mead maker.

 

Bells is better

Now what?

 

Isn't it true that they only age their meads for like 2 months?

 

Dragonmead has a few meads. I had a sparkling mead from them a few months ago were they used the Final Absolution yeast to ferment and it was great.

 

If you know what you are doing, that is all it takes. You can make a world class mead in less time than it takes to make a lager.

 

That's seriously mind blowing.

 

Woo-hoo...Another one of these threads...I'll take both and call it a day.

EDIT: Love another tired "Founders is better than Bells...Bells is better than Founders" deal also...Jesus people, they are both world class, drink a Bells (or Founders) and snap out of it...

 

Have you ever heard of staged nutrient additions as made popular by Ken Schramm? This will allow meads to be made in a few months that are ready to drink in top shape.

 

B. Nektar states from beginning to bottle their process usually takes 3 months. I recommend checking out some of the Ken Schramm stuff you can find online. I believe Brewing TV did a podcast with him, very worthwhile and informative.

 

I want to disagree, but I hate the thought of being wrong. I think I'll just abide.

 

You wil soon be able to buy Schramm mead. Ken has his meadery in process.