Thoughts on Duck Rabbit Amber

Their RIS tasted funky as all get out to me.

I have heard they have had infection problems and also that the water they use makes their stuff taste odd.

Haven't researched it yet though.

 

Yeah they've had a lot of different infection issues in their line-up so I would bet that was it. Especially with a "green apple" taste.

 

I bought some scotch ale from them that was badly infected. I contacted the brewery and they never got back to me.

They make the best porter in the world.

 

I am one of the biggest Duck-Rabbit fans out there, but yes, they've had a ton of infection problems lately. I usually buy about a case each of their Baltic Porter and Rabid Duck, but both of the six-packs I bought this year were infected. Take it for what you will, but I've also heard the dreaded "I" word used in reference to their Hoppy Bunny Black Ale and Schwarzbier this year.

It's a shame, because I really enjoy so many of their beers -- but until they can show that they're rid of the infection issues, I won't buy them again.

 

Agreed, I live less then 30 miles from there, get lots of their beers, they are one of my favorites. The have had problems since the Rabbid Duck release in the early spring. They know about it, and have allowed locals to meet with reps and turn in the bad bottles in exchange for swag, or fresh beer. A few friends and I have discussed this and we think that the fact that this is across all their beer means it is probably a bottle line infection. That would be the only place a cleaning would not fix it, since you would need to replace all the seals, etc. to get rid of it.

 

I feel like they said it had something to do with one of their pumps. I just wish they'd fix it and communicate better with their fans.

 

See link, they have addressed it

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/duck-rabbit-rabid-duck.23212/

I have had a funky Hoppy Bunny with a very metalic taste, drain pour, barleywine too that had white stuff floating in the bottom

 

They have put out bad beer since that post.

 

I have also had some very good milk stout since then too

 

Posted by supercoulter on another thread:

Oxidation or crappy water...

http://kotmf.com/articles/flavor.pdf

METALLIC CHARACTERISTICS: A harsh, metallic taste noted both
on the tip of the tongue and the roof of the mouth. Can
be felt throughout the tongue and mouth in large
concentrations. Not desired in beer. Also described as
tinny or bloodlike.
CHEMISTRY: The ferrous ion (iron) and some organic
compounds formed by hydrolysis of cereal lipids in grain,
and oxidization of free fatty acids.
HIGH RATE FROM PROCESS: Iron or mild steel in
contact with beer; freshly-scrubbed stainless steel that
has not been allowed to oxidize (passivation); improper
filtering material; high iron content in water; poorly
processed grain.
REDUCTION: Use of stainless steel; low-iron water; use
of citric acid to re-oxidize stainless that has been
abrasively cleaned; use of filtering materials that are acid-
washed to remove iron; use of fresh, high-quality grain
malt.

 

Duck Rabbit hasn't impressed me except for their Schwarzbier, since few brewers even make one.

 

I can attest to both. Rabid Duck wasnt as infected as the Hoppy Bunny I had on draft the second time. I actually sent the thing back, and I never do that. Their Schwarzbier had a great idea, but it was hard to get past the sour cherries.

I really wish them all the best. Non-infected Hoppy Bunny is my favorite NC beer and tastes like heaven when fresh.

 

I agree that hoppy bunny when not infected is one of the best black IPAs you will find.

 

I feel the same way about their Baltic Porter -- uninfected, it's one of my favorite beers, period.

 

Ug I hate to hear about this. Their milk stout has been my favorite milk stout by far.

 

if it wasnt for Hoppin Frog Hop Heathen, Id say Hoppy Bunny was the best Black IPA ive had...

 

Love Duck-Rabbit, but yeah my understanding is that they've had some big problems with infection and/or bad batches recently. Honestly though the Amber Ale is probably their weakest offering, I love their other stuff. If they distributed to my area, the standard porter would be in my fridge year round.

 

Andy, the Amber is a throw out for the masses. Talking with them, they make it clear that they only have interest in doing dark beer, but they did an amber to appease the masses. To me it is average at best. They Milk Stout is the best I have ever had, I even have a clone recipe of it, based on what info I got from Paul when I emailed him about it. He was kind enough to send me the grain used, I just had to figure out percentages. When clean, you can get great beer from them all year round, seasonal and standard releases. I also hope they figure it out soon, as I miss my go to taps at the local watering hole...