The Substance

Good, but definitely overhyped. I actually prefer Baby Genius to Substance and think Lunch, Dinner, Another One, and Calcutta Cutter are all clearly better beers.

 

I second this. And anyone who thinks Substance is on-par with Heady is completely out of their mind.

 

Agree w comments on substance -- it's solid but a step below be hoppy and of course ht. I did try Their session brew below last night and it's damn good. Nice an hoppy -- peppery notes typical of low alcohol heavily hopped brew. Compares to HF walden if anybody has has that. Recommended.

I

 

I go up to Portland semi-regularly, is this stuff generally available if I were to stop by the Bier Cellar and/or RSVP? Or does it sell out really quickly? Also, do they sell it at the brewery?

 

They just posted on Twitter a few minutes ago that they will be selling cases at the brewery again:

Bissell Brothers ‏@BissellBrosBrew 14m
Cases of Substance on Thurs, and mixed cases of Substance and Bucolia Fri & Sat, while supplies last. Regular hours. #goodtobelocal

 

I went on a Bissell Hunt not too long ago when I was going to a concert in Portland, and I'll put it this way- if my experience was a normal one, seekers should be wherever it is going to be (Bier Cellar, RSVP, at the Brewery itself) no less than a half hour after the beer is made available if you want to ensure success.

It sold out of each location within an hour of open on the Thursday. Friday and Saturday of that particular weekend it was on sale at the Brewery as well, for about 15 minutes each respective day (notwithstanding the fact that the whole 15 minutes was spent serving us folks who were there 20 minutes before open).

All locations had limit 2 x 4Pack per person, with the exception of RSVP which only had limit 1 x 4pack Per dome.

It could have been because they spread the love over the couple days to even out distribution in this particular case. If the sales aren't spread to as many locations/times, or more is produced, it may be less illusive.

OP-Your trade bait is great stuff, I personally would trade every can of Substance (that I don't have) for Mastermind straight up. That said, this beer is sold in very small quantities and we all know about how tightly people tend to hold on to really limited beers.

 

Finally got to try Mastermind this weekend, agree that it's better than Substance. Also like Be Hoppy Better than Substance. Last time I was in portland they had a 2 per person limit, but that was a few weeks back around Beer Camp time.

 

Calcutta Cutter is a bad ass beer. Definitely a hidden jewel in Maine. Got upset the fact that all of Rising Tide beers were coming to MA except CC.

 

CC is around on tap in MA, which is great to find.

 

CC did hit retail in the Boston area last week -- in four packs this go-around. Very nice.

 

IMO Be Hoppy and The Substance are excellent ( IPAs.) Heady and Mastermind are DIPAs. Its like comparing apples and oranges.

Calcutter was at Redstone this past weekend. Very good!

 

Comparing IPAs and DIPAs is most certainly not apples to oranges. Is pale ale to barleywine? Yes. Berliner weisse to porter? Yes. But IPA/IIPA/DIPA are all on the same continuum. It's like Macintosh to Granny Smith, or oranges to clementines, if you prefer.

 

Agreed, we are talking about less than 2% alcohol content as the main distinction between the "styles". Double IPA is really just a term deemed to IPAs that have certain extreme characteristics, and an informal style descriptor.

Let's not turn this into the Session Ale vs Pale Ale vs IPA vs DIPA discussion, we all know the lines have been blurred.

 

Really? Maybe is coming to Central Mass soon?

 

Bissell Bro's posted recently that they will again be selling Substance by the case at the brewery in the upcoming weeks. Might be easier to get now that summer is winding down, but I would still get there at open if you can.

 

No idea about central mass, but I actually just found (and bought) some at Vinnin Square Liquors in Swampscott today!

 

Any substance lurking in Portland area (cans). Unfortunately brewery will be closed when I'm in town.

 

I was there in Friday drinking next door at Foundation and there was about a 10 person lineup 15mins before they opened. Line moved somewhat slowly. By the way, Bucolia is really good if anyone happened to get any.