Mikerphone Brewing (2020)

Isn't the side project method just sold out before they even post on instagram?

 

Hate is a strong word, but no, I haven’t been their biggest fan over the past year or so. There are quite a few reasons for that being the case and I’m fine getting into it again, but I’m not sure others reading the thread would have the appetite for rehashing old topics.

I hope they earn my business back since they are probably one of the closest breweries to where I live, but with my preferences changing and Mikerphone’s lean into the more trendy styles, I doubt it will happen anytime soon.

 

There’s some truth to that. People following their releases are like hawks and they follow Side Projects ‘shop’ page closely. Basically they see it posted on their website before official announcement made on social media is able to be ‘pushed’ as notification to phones. That’s definitely contributing to why their releases sell out so fast.

 

I never got the FB notification, and everything was gone when I saw the post 4 mins after it posted. I’m a little surprised it sold out so quickly, but allowing proxies probably plays some factor in it. Oh well, can’t get every release so nbd.

 

I think you're conflating what a lot of people have said "dissing" Mikerphone vs @eppie82 's personal thoughts on their beer.

 

That's the point, it's a meme now.

It's not meant to be high brow criticism.

 

I feel like there’s been a consensus among posters who regularly have Mikerphone in their fridge that they’ve been consistently good the last few months.

 

1000%. If you stay away from their gimmick beers, everything else has been really good for some time now.

 

The problem is the lack of barrel.... I just had a mic check 1,2 and there was literally NO barrel presence

 

See also: pretending that Mikerphone forced them to buy a whole 4-pack.

 

On that note, the patio reopening makes trying the gimmick beers more appealing (even if they aren’t doing tasters right now) as opposed to the full 4 pack investment.

 

A few other notes that came from Mike’s recent appearance on the Average Joe‘s podcast:

-Canned fruited beers with the fruit added post-fermentation are coming soon

-Imperial Smells Like is coming to 16oz cans. I didn’t catch if this is 4 packs or 2 packs. This may have been posted by them so it may not be “news”

-They’ll be focusing more on lower ABV variations on Check 1,2 and Special Sauce. I’m really fascinated by this. Is this shift toward drinkability going to continue OR has it just been largely a byproduct of quarantine drinking at home habits? Just when I think it’s the former, you see a Hop Butcher triple IPA sell like crazy.

 

I'm all for this last point and personally find TIPAs just really not my thing as a style in general. I can't really EVE recall having one I've loved.

 

So, they said in a comment on their "She Gone!" Insta post yesterday that it'll be ISLBS in 2 packs of 16oz cans. Also said they'll be doing SLBS Special Roast: Bowline Blend in 12 ounce cans.

 

You know there is no more true “quarantine”, right? You can have a socially distant share with people now. Obviously if you choose to be more conservative, that is your choice, but the government mandate allows for gatherings of up to 10 people.

 

2 packs. He mentioned that in a comment on Instagram yesterday.

 

One thing I am hesitant about regarding the full on share is taking an Uber right now. I can’t explain why but I definitely feel that

 

That’s true. I’ve done a few shares with folks and we’ve each driven to each other’s places. And yes, we made sure to not have too much, usually just having a few tastes of bottles.

 

I'm all for this as well. Really don't buy many 4-packs of double IPAs any more. If it's below 8% I'm still apt to. That's kind of my informal threshold.

Is 10 people even a real share, bro?

More seriously, I've now done 1 SD share, but I still see his point. There's some things that make people nervous. I would not get in an Uber either.

Completely separate from the COVID implications, this is a gripe I'd have regardless. 12-16 ounce formats are more versatile. The industry has been moving to those smaller formats. And Mikerphone had it that way and then moved in the opposite direction. I still bought the BA ISLBS, and I bought Icky Thump (I like coffee), but I didn't try for the other two (tried them through other means BTW and both were great). I just wish they hadn't regressed in this area.

 

Yeah I totally agree but they got a LOT of shit for selling a 12oz bottle for 13 dollars. Those same people have no probably spending almost 30 on a bomber, though. I really wish they kept it at 12oz but I can see why they changed back. People are stupid.