What "hype breweries" are actually worth their hype?

Well put sir.

 

As others have mentioned, if "worth their hype" means standing in long lines or paying a ton of money in the secondary market (including via trading), then the answer is "none." There certainly are some breweries that get a lot of hype that do actually make good beer, although usually beer that doesn't stand out nearly as much as conventional wisdom holds to people with more comprehensive knowledge of their respective local scenes.

The worst hype brewery in my area is, without a doubt, Barrel Theory in St. Paul, Minnesota. It almost exclusively brews sexy styles (NEIPAs, fruited kettle sours, pastry stouts), and it brews mostly extra-sweet versions of such (i.e., the sweetest among the sweet). I've had multiple severely flawed beers from Barrel Theory, beyond the intentional under-attenuation, but its fanbase doesn't have adequate palates to notice, as those beers have received great ratings. In fairness, it does seem to be getting better on the quality side (with the huge caveat that many of its IPAs and pastry stouts are under-attenuated by historical standards, but that's what its customers seem to want), but it was getting huge hype even before it opened two years ago.

It plays the artificial scarcity game for special releases and manages to generate long lines for them even as the taproom is remarkably un-busy most of the time (i.e., it has convinced people they need to buy bottles of its "special" beer even as its very similar non-special beer goes largely ignored -- but, naturally, reflexively highly rated when it is actually consumed). Ironically, the three beers it has made outside of its three-fold specialty (a pilsner, a hefeweizen, and a Vienna lager) have been pretty good to very good and, of course, promptly received the lowest ratings of any Barrel Theory beers on Untappd. I've never seen a brewery so blatantly lean into the hype, but it seems to be working if we judge by ratings and line length (although, again, day-to-day taproom visits seem surprisingly modest, which suggests that it has connected more with the hype scene than it has with its neighborhood or a broad customer base).

 

Never had TH. Never felt the need to try it either. There are many great beers out there for much cheaper prices, so there is no need to spend $20+ on a 4 pack of 16 oz cans.

 

Norfolk: Benchtop
VA Beach: Commonwealth
Williamsburg: Precarious

 

You read my mind with Founders and Bell's. Their brewery only releases are always worth the trip. Even those session IPAs that Bell's released a few months back were very interesting.

I would also add Brewery Vivant to this conversation. They should be included simply for their Wizard Burial Ground release every year (but now they are making enough of that to reach retail). Their other brewery only releases are far more hits than misses.

I would also add Ellison Brewing in East Lansing (and soon to be Lansing and Indianapolis). They don't have many special releases. But when they do, I make sure I get in line. They have all been winners so far.

 

Around Chicagoland the hyped breweries are Hop Butcher for the World & Phase Three. The haze craze. They are great no doubt, but I think some other less-noted breweries worth recognition are Pipeworks and Off Color Brewing. Both in Chicagoland and continue to produce innovative and quality beers.

 

There is plenty of good beer on the shelf in New York, so technically waiting in long lines for any beer should not be worth it these days in my book. Now if you are traveling and near a cool place then I don't knock someone for wanting to try new things within reason.

Too much effort and $s make any hype not worth it as at certain point the other options are good enough and I'll enjoy drinking the beer with family or friends either way

 

Jester King

I've stood in line for Atrial Rubicite three times and will do it again as often as possible. And I'm one of those people who said they would NEVER stand in line for beer. But I did and I will at Jester King. I'd also say the beauty of Jester King is they brew numerous beers worth every penny that you don't have to stand in line for. You do have to pay a premium, but good JK beers are readily available at the brewery, and the trip to the brewery is worth it for me. It's a two hour drive from my house if you're scoring at home.

Does "hype" only mean "worth standing in line for"? If so, then Jester King is the only worth-the-hype brewery I can name from experience.

If "hype" means something beyond just the standing-in-line thing, then I'd throw Lone Pint in the hopper. Yellow Rose is world famous in the craft beer world, but Lone Pint makes so much more than just that one IPA, and everything I've tried from them has been way better than average.

Honorable mentions to Sierra Nevada, Stone and Prairie Artisan.

 

Are people not reading the topic? FFS

 

There are no hyped breweries in NJ. Thank God.

 

I do not enjoy the hype, I like the beer to gain some recognition or try some out to see if it is worth the hype. I can say it that way to see if my hindsight will always stay 20/20.

 

I can piggy back off of this and say I see short's in stores on my side of the state. The barrel aged stuff does not become really popular until the holidays roll around. I think Founder's started that trend and Atwater has been working on that one. Up by Short's I would have to add North Peak in that neck of the woods, I like their beer better and they are not as wacky with the flavors.

If you guys ever get a chain restaurant called BJ's, I would try it out, not only is the food outstanding but the beers pair well with everything that I have tried. They are worthy of getting your craft beer fix without breaking the bank at a restaurant.

 

IN New England, none. That's mt area. I've had most of the biggies mentioned. Reason,,, everybody has hits and misses. Great batches, good batches and poor.

There is just so much good/great beer in the New England area that it's not worth the effort to stand in line, or pay inflated prices for a name.

Kinda like the rock scene in the 70s. You could pay big money, for the time , to see a headliner, but a 1 dollar cover charge at a bar could get you next to the stage where a no name band was layin it down as good or better the the big names.

Just my two bits.

 

what about monday night brewing. i know about them all the way in kc

 

in missouri, side project duh. crane, bks, alma mader, new axiom, narrow gauge....its sad the hype machine only lives in two cities. Springfield is lagging. columbia has logboat and meh. these super small local places are hyped in their area and people line the fuck up for releases and draft only ones too

 

This could also be the hype surrounding NEIPAs. I know for a four pack of M-43, I could get two mix packs of four for close to the same price. Always the cycle of supply and demand, one of the only beers that is worthy of that standard.

I still want to go to Old Nation but there is just so much popping up around here.

 

Hill farmstead, fox farm, modern times, sante adairius rustic ales, Monkish, Revision, de garde

 

Kane and Troon?

 

From my experience Side Project, Casey and Sara are worth the hype (I’m partial to saisons). In my neck of the woods Eagle Park isn’t worth the hype. They’re trendy mainly brewing haze, pastry and kettle sours. I haven’t had a ton from them but nothing so far has made me want to go wait in line on a release day.