Thomas Hooker Barrel-Aged Saison

Did they indicate an MSRP? Def going to try it

 

Saw it in Derby on Saturday on my way home from NEBCO. I wanna say it was around $20. I proceeded not to buy it.

 

Yikes, no thanks

 

What they were serving on tap and growler fills at the brewery prior to this bottle release was the un-aged barrel saison. It was the base beer, pre-aged. Huge difference.

 

I saw this recently and thought about it - the description on the bottle sounded damn tasty - but I wasn't about to take an $18 gamble on a Hooker product. Maybe if the reviews are unreal I'll reconsider, but my past experiences with the brewery haven't exactly given me terrific confidence.

 

I picked up a bottle last week but I have not tried it yet. I think I paid far less than $18 for it. It says on the labels that the barrels come from 3 different CT vineyards, but no note on which specific one each bottle comes from. I was hoping they would spell out the origin vineyard's barrels since I'm a big fan of Jonathan Edwards. Anyone know if this batch comes from a specific one?

 

Not sure what the other two were but I believe they were predominantly Jonathan Edwards barrels.

 

Saw quite a bit of it on the shelves this past week. Ranged from $15-$18. Really nice presentation - cork and cage, well designed label, hand numbered... but not ready to trust Hooker on a +$15 bottle until I hear from someone it's worth the price of admission.

 

The barrels were all blended so individual bottles aren't specifically from one barrel.

 

the "oh my god, this smells and tastes like halloween make-up!" chocolate truffle stout checked me out for good, i think.

 

Anyone open one yet? Zero reviews on here and the other site. Even briefly talking to a Hooker rep today about it has me hesitant to drop the $16. In other news Old Marley is getting brewed again and bottled sans swing tops.

 

Had one with the wife. Paid $16. First impression, cold, not to good. As it warmed up though, we really enjoyed it. The wine barreling starts to shine thru, subtle. Not sure I'd go back for another at that price for a Hooker, but it was worth the try once.

 

It's a shame they priced this so high, I would have probably bought it if it was around the $10 price point. Unfortunately I've never had a single beer from TH that I thought was worth the money

 

Their Liberator Doppelbock and Imperial Porter is worth the price of admission.

imo,of course.

Cheers

 

At the most reasonable priced shop in CT, $15 a bottle. What a joke. They have not gotten a $$ of mine in 5 years and this does not help.

 

I had that before and enjoyed it, but unfortunately I feel the style achieved perfection in America with Troegs Troegenator.

 

I have to agree that it's hard to spend that kind of $$ without any kind of a track record with specialty brews. I passed on the chance to buy one until I saw some positive feedback. For what it's worth, even though I like them the Jonathan Edwards wines are generally over priced.

 

I have been, in every sense of the word, underwhelmed by literally all Thomas Hooker offerings. To me they are indistinguisable from Long Trail, who are indistinguishable from Sarnac. Just a massive heap of mediocre. No thanks.

 

E

exactly this.
The liberator is good, every other beer isn't worth the time and money, and honestly, i would buy Saranac over hooker because its cheaper and just as boring.

I won't be spending 18 for this brew, or any amount of money on beer from this brewery. They are a contract brewery like mercury and Matt, making boring and mediocre beers that take up space on the shelves...

 

Why don't you all actually try the beer before you knock it? I'm not usually a fan of saisons and didn't like this beer before it went into the wine barrels, but fell in love with it the minute it came out. Aroma of Chardonnay and goes down much smoother and less sour tham most saisons. Very drinkable.

 

Overpriced and nothing special