Toppling Goliath Releases and Updates

Even with all the months that it was limited or unavailable, Pseudo 4pk cans still managed to be our 7th best selling beer in the store in 2016. Lots and lots and lots of people that like this beer.

 

FL Sue isn't the same beer as Decorah, but it's a really, really good beer 90% of the time I've had it. It's better than most pales that are as available in the IA/MN/WI markets.

It's also priced appropriately. $10 for 4 Florida Sues or $20 for 4 Todds?

Easy call.

 

Yes! I don't buy a whole lot of Sue, but Surly makes it a LOT easier to justify it. Especially when often times, the can dates are fresher from FL than MN.

 

I believe that is incorrect. My understanding is they will use BrewHub to continue to expand their footprint.

 

That just seems strange to me. Any specific places you recall leading you to that understanding? Not saying you're wrong by any means, just wondering if there really is anything documented at all. I don't have any specific thing to point to from my end - I think I got my impression based on tweets from them about expanding into Chicago being dependent upon their new brewery, which led me to believe they'd have capacity in their new brewery to expand to our area. Of course, your interpretation kinda fits into that as well.

Back to what you originally said a few posts ago, if they have all their "own" stuff in IA and IL/WI/MN/who knows where else (I know MI was on their radar) get contract brewed stuff, that would suck from the standpoint of those states' consumers. I would not think that's a recipe for ultimate success, but I don't know much.

 

I'd go back and find it, but Clark tweets so damn much and contradicts himself so much, it would take forever. My understanding, and again, I could be completely wrong, was once the new brewery was up and running, it would be used to fill out Iowa first while using BrewHub to supplement other states as they grow into their new brewery.

I could be completely off about that, but I'm near positive they'll continue to use BrewHub/Wisconsin to grow their footprint.

 

Is quality of WI brewhub beer an issue? I have only heard FL bring an issue. Granted I don't think I've had anything from WI.

 

There's plenty of talk upthread (not sure how indicative those comments are of the general public consensus) about the WI brewed stuff being subpar.

 

Really? That surprises me. I'm obviously underestimating the popularity of the cans. Thanks for sharing.

 

My problem with this logic is that if I open a can of Todd, it tastes like Todd. If I open a can of Sue, it could taste like 5 or 6 different beers, none of which are actually Sue. I think that's the biggest thing that I get caught up with. I equate Pseudo Sue to a particular taste and I'm disappointed when I open something with that name on it that doesn't taste right. Maybe they should change the name of the FL stuff to Pseudo Pseudo Sue or Snowbird Sue.

 

I agree with this, I never understood why they didn't market FL Sue as a completely different beer. It's still a good beer...and people would still buy it...but it would make Decorah Sue that much more desirable from a customer perspective, and there would be no confusion or complaints.

 

I would think if they keep the partnership going, it would be a similar arrangement to what they already have. Brew Hub brews beer x, y, & z in cans, WI brews certain kegs or vice versa. Iowa brews all the other beers in larger quantities that they have been (and perhaps x, y, z in kegs. I wouldn't expect IA brewed Sue in the cans going to Iowa while Brew Hub cans going everywhere else.

 

I get your point, and rebranding isn't a bad idea, but that doesn't really phase me. The worst Florida Sue I've had was still a pretty good beer so for me a little variation isn't a deal killer.

I mean, hell, I drink at the TG taproom on a near-weekly basis and the amount of batch variation in those Florida cans isn't really any different than what we see in Decorah. As long as it isn't flawed/bad, I'm comfortable with it.

 

All you guys griping about batch variation out of FL either weren't here or have conveniently forgotten all the commenting about batch variation in p'Sue before FL was even on the horizon.

 

That was kind of my point. Still exists to this day.

 

Bigger issue IMO: they are getting into new markets with Biter. Fucking Biter. Are you kidding me? It's disgusting. I was at City Works in downtown MPLS yesterday and they had Biter on tap with Pompeii "coming soon". Thank God that Pompeii is on deck, but it might be too late by then for all of the casual craft beer people that tried Biter and were understandably thinking "WTF?"

I asked the bartender what he thought about TG, and his reply was "it's in the middle of BFE and makes shitty beer"... really? That is seriously the impression TG is leaving with new potential markets right now by sending out Biter vs. Pompeii, Pseudo, etc.

Huge fail.

 

Back to taproom related business, seriously thinking about making the drive out to Decorah this Saturday to hang out at the TG taproom and Pulpit Rock, fill up a bunch of growlers and drink a few beers. Is anyone else already planning to go, and may want to do a little share that afternoon? I'm 50/50; wife's working all day and I'm looking for any excuse not to clean up around the house

 

I'd call ahead on growler availability. Pulpit got hit hard on Assassin Day and hasn't much of their stuff other than Saftig on in the past couple weeks. TG hardly ever sells growlers of anything other than Dorothtys, Nugget, and Sue.

TG should have plenty of killer bombers though. Mosaic Sue is outstanding.

 

Yeah, I see that Pulpit has only six beers on tap currently, and I remember not all beers having growler availability the last time I came to visit, e.g. Loopy Lynn, which made me sad. I'll be closely monitoring Pulpit's posted tap list today. As far as TG, I'll drink some pseudoSue and assuming its up to snuff, I'll have a bunch of growlers + Mosaic Sue to take home. That would be a success.

Worst case scenario, I would bring some goodies along to drink/share if the kind folks at either taproom allow.

 

I'll be up there with the gf so we might cross paths. Was hoping there'd be Term Oil but the new batch won't be tapped for a bit. I was told there would be a fresh XHops variant though, so that's exciting.

We're trying to make a day of it in Decorah so we're going to TG, Pulpit and probably try to find something to do before hitting dinner at Rubyiat.