BeerBorg

Agree with a lot of this list. Funny how Goose and Magic Hat really took a dive after the buyouts. I wonder if it's reality or perception based on the ownership? I think it's both. The beers that GI actually still makes (the sisters, the BCBS line, etc) are still stellar, but the beers that are now produced at various InBev breweries aren't as solid as they used to be IMHO.

I've had several Clown Shoes beers that I've liked and some that I don't. I'm kinda the same way about Abita as mentioned by others. Sam Adams as well... I used to drink the heck out of their beers, but now the only one I seek out consistently is Old Fezzi (and that's likely because I've always gotten it at Christmas). I still really like the New Belgium sours and such, but am rather underwhelmed by their baselines.

I'll throw a few in as well... Schlafly, Sweetwater, Rivertown, Devil's Backbone, Terrapin, Against the Grain, BBC, Ballast Point, Troegs, Highland... could go a long time on this list. I am somewhat close to throwing DFH and Stone in there as well, but they redeem themselves with me with a knockout here and there. These others are breweries I used to seek out, but now I'm more likely to skip. I have had a few great beers (IMHO) from them all, but most come off as average.

FWIW, I don't drink much Stone brew, mostly due to the fact that most of them are ~9% ABV and hot alcohol taste that comes with those beers bugs me. Give me a 7% Pliney over any of them any day.

I do like some of their lower ABV stuff more, but it's rare these days.

I'd rather actually drink one of the Sierra Nevada limited edition estate or hemisphere wet hop beers, they tend to be around 6.7% or so and always are good to my tastes. They tend to be like Celebration but better.

But really only those when it comes to them. I think SNPA is kind of meh anymore (I would describe it as too much bitter and not enough hop flavor / aroma to my current hoppy beer tastes), although I'd drink it if it was on tap and couldn't find anything I liked better. I like Torpedo better then SNPA.

Anchor beers, I used to really like Liberty Ale, but I think it's kind of meh anymore, it doesn't seem to have the same hop punch it used to have. I really liked Anchor Humming, but they seem to not make it anymore, or if they do it never shows up around here. It was loaded with Nelson Sauvin, so if you like that then it was great, if you think they are hideous then you'd hate it. The rest of their beers, meh. I'd drink them if there was nothing else on tap but BMC, just like I'd drink Sam Adams or such for the same reason. They are all good quality beers. They just don't make me go "wow".

Although I love Belgians, I'm really not a fan of most Unibroue beers. The only one I really like is La Fin Du Monde. The rest not so much. I think I really just don't like the yeast they use for the most part.

A few have mentioned SNPA. I'm kind of disappointed with it now too. I don't know if it changed or I did. When I first started brewing, My ideal was to make a pale ale as good as Sierra Nevada. If I did that now I would grade it C, and try to learn from my mistakes.

mashani wrote: Anchor beers, I used to really like Liberty Ale, but I think it's kind of meh anymore, it doesn't seem to have the same hop punch it used to have. I really liked Anchor Humming, but they seem to not make it anymore, or if they do it never shows up around here. It was loaded with Nelson Sauvin, so if you like that then it was great, if you think they are hideous then you'd hate it. The rest of their beers, meh. I'd drink them if there was nothing else on tap but BMC, just like I'd drink Sam Adams or such for the same reason. They are all good quality beers. They just don't make me go "wow".

This is exactly how I feel about Anchor these days, too. And I haven't seen Humming in years now...and they are only 50 miles from me!

I certainly would agree that Goose Island has gone downhill since the buyout. As far as Sam Adams, while I think that Boston Lager is just ok, I do like Latitude 48 IPA. They also have some limited edition beers that are good. Their Tetravis Belgian Quad is very good. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale was one of the first craft beers I had. I think my tastes have changed somewhat since then. Now I find it meh, but I like their Torpedo IPA and their Coffee Stout.

I am mainly sticking to local microbreweries now, since there are so many good ones here in Indy. The only local one I don't like here is Blind Owl Brewpub. Their beer is only mediocre but they have about 50 other beers on tap from brewers all over the country. When I go there I just don't order their beer.

After starting this thread and saying everything I did about Goose Island I had to chuckle to myself when my daughter came back from a Chicago road trip and brought me these 2 bottles! I guess I'll get to see for myself if Goose Island is better then I think it is.

You won't like those. Send them to me, I'll pay shipping.

Inkleg wrote:You won't like those. Send them to me, I'll pay shipping.

I think I'll risk it and take one for the team!

LouieMacGoo wrote: I think I'll risk it and take one for the team!

You have two send me the other one then!

swenocha wrote:
I'll throw a few in as well... Schlafly, Sweetwater, Rivertown, Devil's Backbone, Terrapin, Against the Grain, BBC, Ballast Point, Troegs, Highland...

I'm surprised by Against the Grain being on this list. I know they over "imperialize" just about everything, but I do enjoy their stuff usually. Perhaps it's because I usually just get it straight from them, though.

I'll do Troegs any day, probably because I can't get it around me.


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Remember what I said about Goose Island? Bourbon County is the exception! OMG is this stuff good!!!!!

LouieMacGoo wrote:Remember what I said about Goose Island? Bourbon County is the exception! OMG is this stuff good!!!!!

I warned you not to drink it.