Most inconsistent beer you've had?

Forget that, it has to be Orval!

 

Prairie Bomb! The spice is extremely different from batch to batch. I think the older waxed versions are quite a bit spicier than the newer ones.

 

Lots of craft beers are inconsistent, but I think that´s ok.

 

I've had ups and downs from Alpine in general (even the new stuff from GF), but the worst would have to be Denver Beer CO's beers. The same beer, Graham Cracker Porter, can range from terrific to undrinkable.

 

Alpha King was one that came to mind. Early on, it was hoppy as hell, only to be heavy on the malty side on later tries. The last time I had it, it was again bright and hoppy again. Go figure.

 

I think Foothills Hoppyum is better at some points than others.

 

Pretty much any Stone beer- IMO.

Not saying it's a bad thing....

 

Victory at sea. '13 had tons of vanilla and the coffee was on the sweeter side, '14 was much more bitter and my much vanilla, this year's is halfway between both

 

Shiner Bock. Love the beer and its usually great, but I've had both bad bottles and glasses from the tap. I live in NC so I know the beer had to travel a a good way from Texas. So I don't know if something happens in transit or if they just brew some bad batches.

 

Come on, has anybody had two bottles of Orval that were the same?

 

Why would that be ok? I understand that it inevitably happens, but I'm not so sure it should be celebrated.

If I try a new beer and really like it, I don't necessarily want it to be any different the next time I have it. I suppose there's a case to be made for improving on a beer from batch to batch in subtle ways, but at some point those changes might turn someone off.

If you make a different beer, call it something different.

 

Man I said it´s ok, not that it´s good or awesome. It happens.

 

I didn't mean to call you out, my friend. I've seen a lot of people mention inconsistency in beer, and it doesn't seem like an 'ok' thing to me. It's makes me think about going out to eat at a restaurant.... a lack of consistency is a big turn off to me, with food, and apparently with beer as well. To each their own. I just want to know what I'm paying for.

 

Yes, but if you have bottles of Orval from different batches, they will be different!

 

Orval also has brett in it and the beer will be changing throughout it's life

 

The strange thing about Orval is that though one batch might be made soon after the previous one, it will almost be like a different beer (less yeast taste, prominent yeast flavour, greater bitterness, no bitterness, drier, sweeter, thicker, thinner, hoppy, little hoppiness etc.)

 

I truly believe a lot of beer lovers call beers "inconsistent" when in fact there are a lot of other variables at play. The beer - how old is it? how has the retailer handled it? You - any congestion issues? what did you eat, or not eat, with that beer? other environmental issues with the experience?

Not downplaying the fact that some breweries, even good breweries, sometimes put out infected batches. I'm sure I've had a few. I also believe that most, if any, problems come from packaging practices - it's amazing how some beers "pop" at six months old and others fall flat at three months.

So I won't name names. I've had infected beers from otherwise stellar breweries. If its a repeat problem I'll call them out. The beer that jumps to mind as being the most "inconsistent" is my most consumed beer. It's inconsistency is probably due to me more than anything else. Most "bad" craft beers I've had I chalk up to poor recipe formulation or brewing practices.

 

One I always notice is Anchor Steam. On tap it always seems pretty meh compared to bottles.

 

From a local standpoint, Foothills. Really hit and miss, when it hits it's great, a miss is a miss. At least pertaining to Jade and BA People's Porter.