Surly Abrasive

Your second question there implies that the issues Surly are having are related to recipe changes. That's almost certainly not the case.

But to answer your first question, yes, all three of those breweries experience issues similar to Surly. Spend a little time scoping Trillium, Tree House, or Russian River discussions on here and you'll see the same litany of questions, issues and complaints regarding variability of batches and brews.

Not saying they're not making better beer or that the issues occur at the same frequency, but yes.

I referenced it earlier, but Stone Enjoy By experiences wild batch variation, particularly in the nose.

I'm sure a brewer at one of these places could speak to that variation, but if I had to guess it has more to do with ingredient variation and brewing and packaging QA much more than recipe tweaks. And rarely discussed are the shifts in consumers' palates. I remember Abrasive being a standout in years' past, too. But I've had a dozen, maybe dozens of, IPAs this year alone that I thought were in league with that memory of Abrasive. I'm sure that has something to do with my perception that it's merely "good or very good" instead of great this year.

 

I think that fermentation variation could be a factor here, too. Yeast is basically a domesticated animal and, even though it is remarkably reliable, its behavior can vary slightly even when temperature and other factors are tightly controlled. I know many bottled/canned flagship brews like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Stone IPA, etc. that you buy are in fact blends of several batches. The brewer or a hired supertaster blends these multiple batches to ensure that the desired taste is just right. Perhaps on more niche beers like Abrasive it isn't feasible due to volume or cost reasons to blend several batches to get that desired "Abrasive taste" every time.

 

For sure, and in fact I would say this is probably a more likely culprit than any I mentioned.

 

This past weekend I did a "redneck" blind vertical (duct tape wrapped around each can to hide the identity) between 10/26/16 Abrasive and 10/4/16 Todd. Both beers were delicious, but I kept going to the can that ended up being Abrasive. I finished it first. It was rather easy to tell which was which, even with duct-taped cans, but even so, I preferred Abrasive over Todd.

That first can of my 10/26 4-pack was awful; a true drain-pour. The second (noted here earlier) was fine, but the third can was delicious. It could just be me; my taste buds and I are not infallible, but I think there is something about some of the cans in this batch; including the first one I had.

I have 1 of the 4-pack left. I hope it's as good as the "redneck" vertical can. That's all I really want; a quality beer. I'd like to purchase more Abrasive.

 

Excellent point; perhaps the best point delivered in this topic...excellent...

 

back to the 10-26 discussion, had a few over the weekend, so they're now a month old, the aromatics really popped on the 3 or 4 I drank this weekend, and it's not as dry or as boozy as it was when it was 10-14 days old, I think it just needed 3-4 weeks in the can to get to optimum drinking. Anyone else experience this? Probably ordering another case soon.

 

Actually had a similar experience. After being somewhat disappointed when the cans were just a couple of weeks old, I had a 10/26 on Monday that was really good. Unlike the other cans, I could smell it as I was pouring it, so the aroma is coming out better. Interesting.

 

This seems so crazy, I thought I was losing my mind... I had the exact same thought when I had a couple this weekend as well. I can't completely rule out that I am losing my mind (for a variety of non-beer related reasons too), but makes me feel better that others are having the same experience.

 

Has anyone had a more recent canning date? Also, does anyone know what date France44 has in stock right now?

 

I think that batch was a little too green fresh and it needed to mellow out a few weeks or a month...I was watching RedZone and cracked a can on Sunday evening, could not believe that it smelled like last seasons Abrasive, and it tasted better than the can from early Nov.

I have found that with Crowlers I get from a few local places in VA, specifically, Aslin Beer Co, that 10 days or so on an IPA or DIPA, the beer tastes better, and almost as good as it did when I had it on tap at Aslin. Ocelot is another local place that started bottling last spring, and I sit on those bottles for at least 2 weeks before I crack them now as far as IPA's go.

 

Absolutely the same for me!!!! I think it needed time in can.

 

Bought some 11/15 Abrasive 2day. tastes the same as the 10/26 i bought weeks ago. A great well made IPA.? From prior posts maybe i should have bought the 10/26 or i can let this one age another 2-3 weeks?

 

Love that I can get this beer shipped to me. Just placed an order on france44. Oh, and they have psuedosue as well.

 

I didn't know about this place before, but man, they have Prairie Christmas Bomb for $7.99 which seems ridiculously low to me.

 

All of the Prairie has been very reasonably priced from what I've seen compared to other states, finally something good happens to Minnesota.

 

Yeah, I mean that's literally half of what I've seen in Iowa for others (haven't seen Christmas out yet).

 

We sell it for $6.99 at Beertopia, sell Pirate Bomb etc. for $8.49. Regular is $5.99 iiirc.

It's much cheaper because it isn't going through Shelton Brothers

On topic, I too thought my Abrasive (10/19) was better after a month in the can than fresh. Don't know if it was power of suggestion but it seemed less boozy with a little more aroma.

 

Thread recap:
Stage 1: Abrasive hits shelves weeks after canning, wtf is that about? Surly sucks!!

Stage 2: Abrasive is on shelves days after canning but taste is way off! Must be because Todd left!

Stage 3: Abrasive tastes way better weeks after canning.

What's next? End of days?

 

I have to get in on the crazy talk here. I just had my last can of the 10/26 batch and it's by far the best one so far. It's like the Abrasive of yore--super fresh crushed pine needles, pink grapefruit flesh, plus a little sweaty, catty thing that I only get when this beer is at its peak. Hops are up, malt is way dialed back compared to when this was 10 days old. Has the world gone mad?

 

Since my last post I had 2 more cans of the 10/26. The first of which, was excellent, the second of which, was disappointing. So two of the 10/26 were poor, the other two were great.

Just for the halibut, I also purchased some 10/19. I am having one now. Even pushing 2 months from the canning date, it is completely delicious. Everything you would expect from Abrasive; a world-class DIPA. A wonderful beer.

I still think some of the 10/26 canning had some issues, but who knows? It could be the "time in the can" theory...or maybe something else. All I know is I am enjoying a delightful can of Abrasive right now.

As far as @Rajaholick comments are concerned...well, all I have to say is "NO SOUP FOR YOU! COME BACK...ONE YEAR!" :-)