Beer

[Jay-Bone]

I don't spend any time in Erie, but that's so different than here in Pittsburgh, so I'm a bit surprised to hear it. Seems you can't swing a cat around here w/o hitting a microbrewery these days. Almost overkill. And pretty much every distributor has a decent selection of micros.

Then again, I get where you're coming from. Even the stores that have the best selections of micros likely wouldn't survive w/o selling dozens of 30 packs of the silver bullet daily.

I think that depends on the target market. Nascar fans, you better pedal a cheap lager, but the rust belt has and has had for sometime some of the best craft brewers. Founder's, Bell's, Surly, Dark Horse, New Glarus, Goose Island, 3 Floyd's, etc., etc., etc.

 

[Dove]

I was born in Pittsburgh and my dad is from Monaca - so I'm going to try a Schaefer again on your say-so to see if I'm missing something. I'll let you know if this guy raised in CT can get back to that old-fashioned backyard beer (I'm thinking no, but hey, you never know)

To be funny I bought Schaeffer for last summer's family party. I enjoyed it.

I came away convinced that when I really want to have more than one beer, Schaeffer has to be that beer.

 

[storrsroars]

To be funny I bought Schaeffer for last summer's family party. I enjoyed it.

I came away convinced that when I really want to have more than one beer, Schaeffer has to be that beer.

Of course. That's what it's made for.

 

[storrsroars]

I was born in Pittsburgh and my dad is from Monaca - so I'm going to try a Schaefer again on your say-so to see if I'm missing something. I'll let you know if this guy raised in CT can get back to that old-fashioned backyard beer (I'm thinking no, but hey, you never know)

I'll let you in on a little secret. I've come to actually like IC more than Bud/Miller/Coors/RR. Must be that Allegheny River water, lol.

Not IC Light though... yuck.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Is anyone going to Beervana fest in Cranston RI? I think it's the best beer fest in New England.

 

[HooperScooper]

Is anyone going to Beervana fest in Cranston RI? I think it's the best beer fest in New England.

Do you think it's better than Extreme Beer Fest in Boston that they have twice a year? Maybe I should take a drive down to Cranston.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Do you think it's better than Extreme Beer Fest in Boston that they have twice a year? Maybe I should take a drive down to Cranston.

It's different. It just has a great vibe to it and some incredible beers. It's essentially in a wedding facility, so it doesn't have that giant industrial feel. They limit ticket sales, so while there is a crowd (and a line to get in), it doesn't feel overcrowded. A huge number of beers are special brewed for the event.

 

[storrsroars]

Surprised to learn the #1 DIPA from this taste test of 176 different entries is local to me.

Seems the east coast did well in the top 10 at least. Heady Topper only made #48 though. I've never had it, but from the talk here, seems it would fare much better than that.

 

[auror]

Surprised to learn the #1 DIPA from this taste test of 176 different entries is local to me.

Seems the east coast did well in the top 10 at least. Heady Topper only made #48 though. I've never had it, but from the talk here, seems it would fare much better than that.

IPAs have evolved a lot over the last 15 years and Heady Topper was developed something like 13 years ago. I don't think any of the beers in the top 10 were developed more than 2 years ago. Respect to the OG.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Surprised to learn the #1 DIPA from this taste test of 176 different entries is local to me.

Seems the east coast did well in the top 10 at least. Heady Topper only made #48 though. I've never had it, but from the talk here, seems it would fare much better than that.

It is better than that. Some on this list above it are nowhere near as good. I was very happy to see Foley Brothers Prospect in the top ten though. Well deserved.

 

[methodology]

I've always felt that heady was very good but extremely overrated. Focal banger is better imo

 

[HuskyHawk]

I've always felt that heady was very good but extremely overrated. Focal banger is better imo

I've now had several cases of both. I disagree, but that's personal preference. Focal is crisper and more bitter. What I can say with confidence, buying loads of Alchemist beer since the new brewery opened, is that those are their two best beers. Only Hellbrook, a hoppy Red, was close.

 

[Bezzz]

Surprised to learn the #1 DIPA from this taste test of 176 different entries is local to me.

Seems the east coast did well in the top 10 at least. Heady Topper only made #48 though. I've never had it, but from the talk here, seems it would fare much better than that.

It's great to see my favorite little local brewery Relic from Plainville make #38 with Midnight Muse. Their stuff is delicious and I was in to see the brewmaster Mark yesterday and he was really happy.

 

[AreBee1969]

It's great to see my favorite little local brewery Relic from Plainville make #38 with Midnight Muse. Their stuff is delicious and I was in to see the brewmaster Mark yesterday and he was really happy.

These guys do a really good job. They have a reserved tap at J. Timothy's and everything I've had has been excellent. I've never been to their tasting room which is a sin because I live a couple miles away in Farmington.

 

[Milo65]

Loving Thomas Hooker #No Filter right now... so many great beers out there. Fuzzy Ducks, Too Juicy, Ice Cream Man, Fantastic Voyage... the list goes on

 

[HuskyHawk]

The Beervana Fest Beer List is up. Some new breweries and interesting stuff.

I've got to get this: Zapata Bot – G Bot DIPA aged in Anejo Tequilla Barrels abv: 9%

Sierra Nevada is bringing some really cool stuff.

 

[Zionn]

Fully agree w/. Focal > Heady. I also agree w/. #NoFilter.....nice to see them reinvent themselves.

I want to add that the new DDH from Counter Weight released last week was stellar. One of the best CT beers that I've ever had.

 

[wethyhusky]

I tried the new Hooker at the Colt building. Really nice atmosphere, and I recommend you check it out. They have all their normal beers and then 1-2 that they produce at the experimental brewery attached. They have liquor and wine too for those non beer drinkers

 

[Bliss]

What's a craft beer?

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

does anyone else feel the beer market is way over saturated? I feel like breweries are opening up everywhere every other week. It's pretty spectacular to have so many options but at some point, how are these places able to sustain? I guess it is like any type of restaurant, those that arent great just close down.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

does anyone else feel the beer market is way over saturated? I feel like breweries are opening up everywhere every other week. It's pretty spectacular to have so many options but at some point, how are these places able to sustain? I guess it is like any type of restaurant, those that arent great just close down.

I’ve been thinking about that for a while. I think we’ll start to see breweries like Harpoon and Long Trail struggle to be honest. They aren’t mega producers like Coors, Bud, etc or even Sierra Nevada, Sams but they don’t really appeal to people who are obsessed with microbrews. I don’t see how they fit in the current market. I still buy a 12 of one or the other pretty often but I’m not the type who is obsessed with only drinking the latest DIPA. It feels like everyone either drinks cheap beer or the fanciest thing they can find and there’s not much room in the middle.

 

[storrsroars]

I’ve been thinking about that for a while. I think we’ll start to see breweries like Harpoon and Long Trail struggle to be honest. They aren’t mega producers like Coors, Bud, etc or even Sierra Nevada, Sams but they don’t really appeal to people who are obsessed with microbrews. I don’t see how they fit in the current market. I still buy a 12 of one or the other pretty often but I’m not the type who is obsessed with only drinking the latest DIPA. It feels like everyone either drinks cheap beer or the fanciest thing they can find and there’s not much room in the middle.

fwiw, Long Trail is pretty much the only VT beer one can buy in the Pittsburgh area, so its distribution area might keep it around awhile. Plus it's more traditional German style than the larger micros with lower ABVs. Harpoon OTOH, yeah, I can see them going by the wayside.

My typical go-to is Great Lakes, but I'll pick up Long Trail Ale from time to time. I don't do a ton of >6% ABVs these days. Penalities for driving are too stiff, so that limits me to one big beer at most. At home I'm more prone to drink something that doesn't overwhelm whatever I'm eating. If I want to go big ABV there are a 20-ish micros in Pittsburgh metro where I can get a growler. But for regular drinking, Long Trail is solid. Good BBQ beer.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

fwiw, Long Trail is pretty much the only VT beer one can buy in the Pittsburgh area, so its distribution area might keep it around awhile. Plus it's more traditional German style than the larger micros with lower ABVs. Harpoon OTOH, yeah, I can see them going by the wayside.

My typical go-to is Great Lakes, but I'll pick up Long Trail Ale from time to time. I don't do a ton of >6% ABVs these days. Penalities for driving are too stiff, so that limits me to one big beer at most. At home I'm more prone to drink something that doesn't overwhelm whatever I'm eating. If I want to go big ABV there are a 20-ish micros in Pittsburgh metro where I can get a growler. But for regular drinking, Long Trail is solid. Good BBQ beer.

I think what could save these mid-sized breweries is what you said in your last line. “Good BBQ beer.” For my tailgates we almost always get a couple samplers of Harpoon/Long Trail. In a way they are the Bud Light for craft beer drinkers.

 

[Johnny Mac]

Montauk Brewing Co. Watermelon beer

I went to the hamptons this past weekend and ended up at Montauk Brewing Co. The watermelon beer didn't appeal to me but I loved the Wave Chaser IPA....one of the best IPA I've had locally in a long long time. Citrusy and very flavorful without the piney finish

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I went to the hamptons this past weekend and ended up at Montauk Brewing Co. The watermelon beer didn't appeal to me but I loved the Wave Chaser IPA....one of the best IPA I've had locally in a long long time. Citrusy and very flavorful without the piney finish

Do you know if the Double IPA was on tap? That's my favorite beer there by far.

 

[Johnny Mac]

Do you know if the Double IPA was on tap? That's my favorite beer there by far.

Yes...and I had that one too. It was tremendous. (Had the session IPA too and it was good but the other 2 were exceptional)

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Yes...and I had that one too. It was tremendous. (Had the session IPA too and it was good but the other 2 were exceptional)

Good to know man, I was born and raised out there so cool to see someone who has experienced it on here.

 

[huskypantz]

I tried the new Hooker at the Colt building.

Sounds like our recruiting is finally on par with Louisville.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think what could save these mid-sized breweries is what you said in your last line. “Good BBQ beer.” For my tailgates we almost always get a couple samplers of Harpoon/Long Trail. In a way they are the Bud Light for craft beer drinkers.

This is true. The vast majority of craft beer drinkers never visit a brewery and have no idea about these more sought after beers. To them, Sam, Harpoon, Long Trail and Sierra Nevada are craft. Long Trail acquired Otter Creek now, and both have really improved what the offer in the last few years. Otter Creek did lose its head brewer Mike to Hill Farmstead.

Still @Letsgohuskies11 is right, it's over-saturated in stores and in big chain restaurants, where there is a big battle among the mid sized breweries owned by the big conglomerates and the big craft players like Sam, Sierra, Stone etc.
That's why the hottest breweries are mostly going with a no or low distribution model. The real craft beer geeks aren't even going into liquor stores anymore. The breweries I think are going to struggle are those that are neither (a) big nor (b) great. Lord Hobo, Grey Sail, Baxter, Magic Hat, I could probably name two dozen. The breweries owned by ABInbev like Goose, Ten Barrel etc. are going to be hard to displace on store shelves, along with Lagunitas and Ballast Point with ties to the big guys.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

This is true. The vast majority of craft beer drinkers never visit a brewery and have no idea about these more sought after beers. To them, Sam, Harpoon, Long Trail and Sierra Nevada are craft. Long Trail acquired Otter Creek now, and both have really improved what the offer in the last few years. Otter Creek did lose its head brewer Mike to Hill Farmstead.

Still @Letsgohuskies11 is right, it's over-saturated in stores and in big chain restaurants, where there is a big battle among the mid sized breweries owned by the big conglomerates and the big craft players like Sam, Sierra, Stone etc.
That's why the hottest breweries are mostly going with a no or low distribution model. The real craft beer geeks aren't even going into liquor stores anymore. The breweries I think are going to struggle are those that are neither (a) big nor (b) great. Lord Hobo, Grey Sail, Baxter, Magic Hat, I could probably name two dozen. The breweries owned by ABInbev like Goose, Ten Barrel etc. are going to be hard to displace on store shelves, along with Lagunitas and Ballast Point with ties to the big guys.

Basically what I said with Long Trail and Harpoon early. Harpoon may be a bad example though as they have the big successful brewpub. Magic Hat is a better example. Grey Sail has Captains Daughter which is tough to come by and highly thought of by DIPA snobs.