New Glarus (2022)

Cue the sad trombone. Per the WI Beer Baron on the twitter

 

So, Kid Kolsch can do well enough for mass release and be out every year. But a pilsner wouldn't sell somehow?

 

If the 22 does well at the brewery, maybe it will prompt Dan to brew more and expand availability?

 

A new pilsner. I’m in

 

You making a run for all of us? Then I'm in too!

 

Come on man we all know batch 1 is always better than whatever's out there! They age it on unobtainium for maximum flavor.

 

I picked up a couple four packs of the 22 Pils. It does not disappoint! Might be one of their best pilsners (although I have not tried enough from them). Just wish it wasn’t in 4 packs with Thumbprint prices.

 

And limited availability.

I guess that's okay, though -- they can't get Roaring Table or More in New Glarus.

FOMO be damned!

 

I makes me scratch my head. I got a case of guest or dopplebock for like 30 bucks lol, but the price of pilsner will be significantly more expensive.

 

I had this discussion about Dovetail beers over in the Lager thread. Special Release = Premium Price.

 

I mean, if it is not something brewed all the time, there are additional costs including opportunity cost of not producing something else. So, there should be SOME type of premium above the cost if it was constantly (or even seasonally) available. What that premium is exactly is certainly a separate discussion, but I don’t think anyone should balk at the idea that there should be some type of premium.

 

But the dopplebock was a far more special beer… Dan made that very clear

 

I'm not saying logic was applied to any of the decisions.

 

How's Kid Kolsch tasting?

 

22 PILS is listed on their website as a seasonal beer and brewery only .

 

Hate to say it, but I barely got through my stash of Kid Kolsch last summer. It weirdly seemed only 1° removed from the underwhelming Spotted Cow I revisited. I know they’re different styles, etc., but it was just the vibe, as the kids say. (Solemn Oath Lu really checked the Kolsch box for me last summer.)

Here’s my conspiracy theory after listening to that podcast with Dan Carey and the consensus around here that maybe some recipes have changed: Sales and marketing have interpreted his “good beer for all” ethos into “let’s make most of our portfolio 1° slightly removed from Spotted Cow, which we’re going to drive straight down the middle of the road.” I would argue that those are two very different approaches, actually. Dan gets to stretch every now and then, but not as much as he used to, it seems. I’m not trying to restart the hot takes, flames, or hate—just think my Kid Kolsch thing is a good example of this. I liked it way better year one. Maybe I’ve romanticized it? Not writing them off or anything. I’ll still keep hoping for the next Gyrator or whatever pleasant surprise happens and stick with Moon Man mostly until then.

You know who I think does the “good beer for all” ethos really well in the region? Lakefront. They don’t get enough love for that, IMHO.

 

My wife was in New Glarus so I wasn’t able to see. Sorry.