Kuhnhenn Winter Solstice 2016

Kinda how I feel about BCBS. Say what you want about them, but Ive never had an infected bottle from Kuhnhenn.

 

Other people have

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/search/33678262/?q=kuhnhenn+infection&o=date

 

Solstice stout was so damn good...but seems like those days are gone

 

Agreed. Quirks and all if I am going out in the metro area for fresh beer at a micro brewery or brew pub, 9 out of 10 times I go to Kuhnhenn

 

Completely agree with the above two statements. I still love visiting the taproom (haven't been to the new brewpub yet). But if I'm visiting Detroit, I'm visiting Kuhnhenn. Even if only for Creme Brulee or Dripa.

 

Yeah, but look at the popular names Kuhnhenn is going up against...Rochester Mills, Atwater. I've lost track of the number of jokes these breweries are the butt of.

 

You guys must not have been there lately. DRIPA, creme brulee etc are all a mess. This recent batch of DRIPA is God awful. I'm not mad about it though. They've lost a lot of their brewers in recent years so I get it. But why they left might be the key.

I think for me I've seen enough screw ups that I'm over it. Would gladly drive the extra way to goto Witches Hat or Ascension. Granted I work near there but live closer to Kuhnhenn so that kind of helps.

 

I think this is the problem. Hope any current MI BA's don't take that the wrong way, as I am still a huge MI supporter despite not (currently) living there, but the breweries in Metro Detroit are lacking. I think that's why I'm so intrigued to check out Witch's Hat and Ascension (went to WH once just to grab a growler, but didn't get to stay or try more stuff). I really did enjoy the Kuhnhenn BBBW that I got from Summer Solstice 2015, but every "regular" beer I've had from them (including DRIPA) has been blah...not bad, but not bad just doesn't cut it these days. That's obviously just my opinion, though. It'd be great to see some good brewing talent start to take flight there.

I actually think I've enjoyed the few Griffin Claw beers I've had from cans more than the Kuhnhenn stuff I've had, so I think that's why I'm extra intrigued to try it.

 

Well said, even if I disagree about things like Fluffer and KRE. My honest opinion about Kuhnhenn whenever I've gone there and tried different things is that they need to slim down the # of beers they are making and instead focus on making a few better beers. Nothing has been god awful (outside of KRE, but that's probably a whole different discussion about style and taste buds), but nothing stands out (except for BBBW). I have never had any of the BB stouts, so can't speak to those. DRIPA isn't bad, and you may be right about no other DIPA in SE MI touching it, but that speaks more to the SE MI beer scene than DRIPA.

SE Mich is an interesting beer scene - there certainly are a good amount of craft beer enthusiasts that make things sell out at Holiday, 8 Degrees, etc. so quickly, but there really isn't that base of local breweries to offset the need and desire for some beers from other areas. It's so strange how much the brewery scene is focused on SW MI as opposed to SE MI. I certainly hope that changes...and not to the discredit of SW, but to the benefit of SE.

 

Agree with most of the points you make except I believe the best DIPA in the metro Detroit area to be This Guy from Witches Hat - its pretty dam good. Also, as far as the best session IPA anywhere, Eureka Citra from TH blows away Fluffer. It blows away a lot of IPA/DIPA for that matter IMHO. I totally agree with your points on Kuhnhenn's BB Stouts/BB4D/KRE. I was at this year's Summer Solstice Event and there were a ALOT of excellent brews on tap there. For some reason, I'm not a fan of their BBBW though.

 

I just cracked mine and tastes like 4d. Big boozy and malty

 

Resurrecting this thread to say that I opened 2 BBBW from this release last night and they were garbage. Over carbed with a terrible sour taste. Drain poured them both.

 

I hope that's not the case, but if you ever experience this and have another bottle, don't open it the same night. Give your palette a rest for a couple days (or more preferably) and come back to that second bottle so you can be sure there isn't something else going on.

I've had great beers taste like shit before and I've had mediocre beers taste like heaven. But the same beer always tastes the same way on the same day.

 

They were my first of the night so I don't think this applies. I've had this many times over the years and these were just not right.

 

Why not save a sample and call the brewery?

 

I opened one recently and did not experience any sour taste or any over carbonation.

 

Do you really think that would matter with this brewery?

 

I believe you. You won that roll of the dice.