Beer

[storrsroars]

Counterpoint - it’s probably not overrated. It’s just that it was first and you beer folk are almost supernaturally pretentious so you have to say that it’s overrated to keep up appearances as you wait in a 45 minute line to buy two $14 cans of whatever the new hot thing is.

Both you and Hooper are correct. Reminds me a lot of my time in coffee. Everyone crawling over each other to find the next new thing and report on it. Sometimes they were right. Sometimes they were very wrong. And meantime the OGs who created the specialty coffee space were still chugging along delivering the goods, but leaving the really experimental stuff to others. And I mostly still by coffee from the OGs as it's in my wheelhouse and I know they have better overall QC standards.

The other thing with beer that's like coffee is that those market dynamics allow a brewer to sell what's otherwise an acceptable but not mindblowing product for the same price as the leaders who routinely produce excellence. So a Washington Brewery "Hazing Is Allowed" costs me as much as a Julius from Treehouse.

The difference in quality between this and the General Braddock suds I posted a couple of weeks ago is very obvious to my palate. Yet it costs the same. For consumers trying all the stuff that's out there based on Untappd reviews or whatever, it can get frustrating. Your palate is your palate. Democratization of food/beer/wine reviews sounds like a great idea, but IMHO, we were all getting better information when it was a trained critic/reviewer offering their review for an actual publication.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Its still a really good beer, but oh how I miss the days of the festivals I would play at in 2014 where I would have a few 4 packs in my cooler (bandmate lived in Burlington at time and knew brewer) and I would sell them to wooks for 18 bucks a can. (2 for 30 though, bro!)

For an all in communist pinko you have quite a few capitalistic tendencies.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Thinking about going there over July 4th weekend. Friends of ours live in Mashpee so they want to take us to Naukabout. I'd rather go to Tree House but was wondering if the reservation system was going to be more difficult than it's worth. Can you get seats or is it too crowded? Maybe we'll just do Naukabout and go to Tree House in September when things calm down on the Cape.

Naukabout had live music on Saturday. This was the second band. It's a fun spot. Cape Cod Beer is worth visiting too. The beer is just so-so (although some better stuff there than you see in stores) but the outside area is nice and they often have live music as well.

 

[superjohn]

Did you do anything else except visit breweries?

Ha, yes. That's the beauty of CT., nothing is too far away.

 

[superjohn]

Thinking about going there over July 4th weekend. Friends of ours live in Mashpee so they want to take us to Naukabout. I'd rather go to Tree House but was wondering if the reservation system was going to be more difficult than it's worth. Can you get seats or is it too crowded? Maybe we'll just do Naukabout and go to Tree House in September when things calm down on the Cape.

Was going to make the trip up to Tree House but only letting you have 2 beers on their campus is a turnoff. That's the kind of destination where I would want to spend all day there. Plus I've tried a couple of their beers and you can get excellent juice bombs all over CT. now.

 

[brihman]

It's not overrated. It remains one of the greatest beers of its kind ever made. It's just not quite in the most popular current style, even if it helped create that style.

I agree it’s a legend and I can still remember to this day my first Heady. I think Focal is probably better in my opinion.

 

[brihman]

Ha, yes. That's the beauty of CT., nothing is too far away.

What did you think of OEC?

 

[karstenkibbe]

It faces north, so I'm not sure about sunsets. But it is a nice spot. The reservation system means it's never very crowded, no lines for beer or anything else. Several food trucks around the outdoor picnic table area.

People have been posting photos on Instagram of insane sunsets up the beach.

 

[karstenkibbe]

Overrated. Because it was one of the first IPAs and you couldn't get it outside the brewery.

Focal and Heady are classics and great drinking IPAs. What’s happened is that people came to craft beer after the milkshake IPA was introduced, and their beer drinking palates have come to expect ultra-sweet hop slop with malted oats and flaked wheat. I prefer an IPA that sits between both styles. But I would never turn down these two classics from The Alchemist.

 

[superjohn]

What did you think of OEC?

I liked it a lot but didn't get to experience it enough. Was only there for a flight as it was our first stop and tried some off the beaten path offerings I haven't seen anywhere else. Cool place that's doing different things than anywhere else and they have Zuppardi's pizza. I'll be back.

 

[HuskyHawk]

People have been posting photos on Instagram of insane sunsets up the beach.

That beach faces northeast, so I'd expect good sunrises, but maybe sunsets too for some reason. Charlton gets great sunsets looking back over the building from the outside Adirondack chairs.

 

[Fishy]

Its still a really good beer, but oh how I miss the days of the festivals I would play at in 2014 where I would have a few 4 packs in my cooler (bandmate lived in Burlington at time and knew brewer) and I would sell them to wooks for 18 bucks a can. (2 for 30 though, bro!)

I’ve actually only had it twice - the only two times I have seen it.

Once was in like 2012 on Church Street after the Vermont City Marathon and the other was the other night at a restaurant across the street from Vassar College. It’s not my taste, but I enjoyed it for what it was. In another ten years, I’ll try it again.

Enjoyed this far more - it’s made by a small brewery/restaurant in Poughkeepsie. Cucumber Blessings - it’s a heck of a summer beer. Best use of cucumber in alcohol since Hendricks.

 

[Fishy]

Also, I love the tasting notes on that website.

Not quite as off the wall as bourbon reviews, but I feel like we’re getting there.Thinking about starting an account there just to post which beers taste like beer.

 

[karstenkibbe]

Also, I love the tasting notes on that website.

Not quite as off the wall as bourbon reviews, but I feel like we’re getting there.Thinking about starting an account there just to post which beers taste like beer.

Beer flavored beer is making a comeback. Breweries are taking notice of palate fatigue from fruity pebbles adjuncted kettle sours and Mountain Dew syrup beers.

 

[8893]

Best use of cucumber in alcohol since Hendricks.

Not a fan of the Screaming Viking?

 

[HuskyHawk]

Beer flavored beer is making a comeback. Breweries are taking notice of palate fatigue from fruity pebbles adjuncted kettle sours and Mountain Dew syrup beers.

I like German styles, just not most of the iconic German or Czech hops (especially Saaz, but Tettnang or Hallertau aren't great either). Treehouse had a Pilsner I almost got, because it was made with New Zealand hops. Might have been really interesting.

 

[karstenkibbe]

I like German styles, just not most of the iconic German or Czech hops (especially Saaz, but Tettnang or Hallertau aren't great either). Treehouse had a Pilsner I almost got, because it was made with New Zealand hops. Might have been really interesting.

Get it. Tasman Bay. It’s a seriously refreshing pils with Motueka and Nelson. Bright and fruity flavor profile for a pils.

Also get the Palisade dry hopped version of Wanderer Helles lager. It’s a PNW bred hop that adds some nice dynamism to a Helles.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Chin Diesel]

I agree it’s a legend and I can still remember to this day my first Heady. I think Focal is probably better in my opinion.

I've always liked Focal Banger better but it's neat to drink a Heady Topper and realize all the others are derivatives of it.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Beer flavored beer is making a comeback. Breweries are taking notice of palate fatigue from fruity pebbles adjuncted kettle sours and Mountain Dew syrup beers.

I'm well past the point of thinking that some of you have lost your way.

It's beer. It isn't supposed to taste like Christmas trees or shoe leather. If it tastes like eucalyptus leaves, kimchi or roasted acorns your reaction should be "something is very wrong here" not "I have to drive 170 miles and pay $45.00 for a six pack of whatever new concoction just hit the shelves".

Learn this term: Reinheitsgebot

They came up with this in Bavaria (now part of Germany) approximately 500 years ago and this law was so important to Bavarians that a few centuries later, they wouldn't join a Unified Germany until they were assured that it would become German law, not just Bavarian law.

Below is a list of the ingredients allowed under this law:

Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast.

That is all they allow because that is all that is needed.

The four listed below are as good as it gets and guess what, each uses the four above stated ingredients. If you start drinking these you won't be making people like August West rich by overpaying for whatever ridiculous fad of the month they are able to stick in their cooler to sell to unwitting status chasers at an 800% premium.

Czechvar

Urquell

Paulaner

Spaten

You're welcome.

 

[karstenkibbe]

I'm well past the point of thinking that some of you have lost your way.

It's beer. It isn't supposed to taste like Christmas trees or shoe leather. If it tastes like eucalyptus leaves, kimchi or roasted acorns your reaction should be "something is very wrong here" not "I have to drive 170 miles and pay $45.00 for a six pack of whatever new concoction just hit the shelves".

Learn this term: Reinheitsgebot

They came up with this in Bavaria (now part of Germany) approximately 500 years ago and this law was so important to Bavarians that a few centuries later, they wouldn't join a Unified Germany until they were assured that it would become German law, not just Bavarian law.

Below is a list of the ingredients allowed under this law:

Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast.

That is all they allow because that is all that is needed.

The four listed below are as good as it gets and guess what, each uses the four above stated ingredients. If you start drinking these you won't be making people like August West rich by overpaying for whatever ridiculous fad of the month they are able to stick in their cooler to sell to unwitting status chasers at an 800% premium.

Czechvar

Urquell

Paulaner

Spaten

You're welcome.

I’m not sure who you’re addressing here since most of us appreciate the exact heritage styles you’re talking about.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

My apologies Kibbe, wasn't singling anyone out. It was a poor attempt at humor, nothing more.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I'm well past the point of thinking that some of you have lost your way.

It's beer. It isn't supposed to taste like Christmas trees or shoe leather. If it tastes like eucalyptus leaves, kimchi or roasted acorns your reaction should be "something is very wrong here" not "I have to drive 170 miles and pay $45.00 for a six pack of whatever new concoction just hit the shelves".

Learn this term: Reinheitsgebot

They came up with this in Bavaria (now part of Germany) approximately 500 years ago and this law was so important to Bavarians that a few centuries later, they wouldn't join a Unified Germany until they were assured that it would become German law, not just Bavarian law.

Below is a list of the ingredients allowed under this law:

Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast.

That is all they allow because that is all that is needed.

The four listed below are as good as it gets and guess what, each uses the four above stated ingredients. If you start drinking these you won't be making people like August West rich by overpaying for whatever ridiculous fad of the month they are able to stick in their cooler to sell to unwitting status chasers at an 800% premium.

Czechvar

Urquell

Paulaner

Spaten

You're welcome.

Come on man. Almost all of these IPAs have four ingredients. Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast. A few have more than that. The biggest change is in (a) new Hop cultivars (b) using different yeasts and (c) technique: namely hopping late, with minimal hopping during the boil. Boiling hops extracts bitterness. Hopping later allows hop esters to permeate the mash with less bitterness. For @storrsroars it is somewhat similar to Cold Brewed coffee in that respect (more like hot but not boiling). The fourth factor is freshness and no preservatives. These on-site beers are fresh, usually unfiltered and haven't been on a truck or boat for months or stuck in the back of a liquor store. It's farm to glass.

Shockingly, people have discovered some new things in 500 years. Paulaner and Spaten make some excellent beers. The best of them don't "taste like beer" meaning pale yellow lagers. There's a wide variety even in Germany. Raichbiers, Doppelbocks and Maibocks and festbiers and Hefeweizens and Belriner Weiss (which use wheat). Gose which uses salt. Ayinger Celebrator is a German Dopplebock, and I'd list it on my personal top 10 list.

Wheat Beer and the Reinheitsgebot Archives - Beer Syndicate Blog

beersyndicate.com

 

[August_West]

My apologies Kibbe, wasn't singling anyone out. It was a poor attempt at humor, nothing more.

Matches your poor taste in beer.

Also every time you drink a Czechvar, I still get paid. Sorry for partying.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Matches your poor taste in beer.

Also every time you drink a Czechvar, I still get paid. Sorry for partying.

Not sure how you get paid for the real Budweiser but if do, goody for you.

As far as taste goes, to each his own but I think you've been spending far too much time at Arby's and you're missing out on some of the finer things in life.

 

[dvegas]

Learn this term: Reinheitsgebot

Now I know how I gained instant credibility with FfldCntyFan when we tailgated at the Houston FB game, I had brought Spaten Octobefests!!

 

[Waquoit]

I'd like to throw this out here. Wasn't the great craft brewery consolidation supposed to happen by now? I haven't seen it. I've seen a few joints fold but more have come along to take their place. And places that have been open for awhile are expanding. It's remarkable to me. The beer in CT has never been better.

 

[AreBee1969]

Overrated. Because it was one of the first IPAs and you couldn't get it outside the brewery.

This is exactly how I feel about Treehouse. They've done an amazing job of creating and CULTivating their brand. Yeah, their beers are good, but a lot of breweries have caught up in quality and have made their beers more accessible to the public without overextending their capacity.

 

[Waquoit]

Overrated. Because it was one of the first IPAs and you couldn't get it outside the brewery.

When it comes around here once in a blue moon I snap it up, I still love it. I remember I hated the first one I ever tried, I hadn't made the leap yet. The guy who got it for me took it as a personal insult.

 

[karstenkibbe]

This is exactly how I feel about Treehouse. They've done an amazing job of creating and CULTivating their brand. Yeah, their beers are good, but a lot of breweries have caught up in quality and have made their beers more accessible to the public without overextending their capacity.

While I’m not a massive Treehouse fanboy like @HuskyHawk, I have immense respect for what Nate and the crew have done there. The customer experience is incredible, right down to the cleanliness of the bathrooms. Yes, there have been some bad batches over the last few years, but for the most part, their beers are consistently very good, they offer an abundance of styles at a level of quality few breweries can match. If you want to be honest, you have to say that a lot of breweries have actually sacrificed quality as they’ve expanded and dumped vast quantities into distribution. Equilibrium’s once-amazing IPAs are now overpriced shelf turds that collect dust. Other Half’s regular rotation beers are now average at best. The list goes on.