The Beer Thread

How many states is Lunch distributed to? Maybe some of the panelists simply haven't had it. That would explain the lack of anything by Hill Farmstead as well.

Granted, Alpine doesn't get much distribution either, but perhaps more of the panelists live in Southern California than New Engalnd.

Bagley wrote:
What?   No Maine Beer Co "Lunch"?  Say it ain't so!

in the on-going east vs. west coast IPA debate:

Harpoon Lays Claim to ?New England-Style? IPA

For 20 years, Harpoon?s flagship IPA didn?t needed another moniker.

Throughout New England, the beer is known by most beer drinkers simply as IPA. But the IPA, having emerged as the most popular style in craft beer, according to IRI, has also become somewhat synonymous with extreme, hoppy, and bitter taste ? what?s often called a ?West Coast Style IPA.?

And with an avalanche of new craft offerings flooding the market, brewery co-founder Rich Doyle decided it was time for a definition.

So, in an attempt to help call attention to their own IPA offering, Harpoon said it will begin marketing the brand as a ?New England-style IPA.?

?Twenty years later, the forest has grown up around us,? Doyle said ?It?s a really important now to start allowing people to know why one IPA might be different than another.?

While many consumers may share a voracious appetite for palate-numbing brews, others will continue to seek a more balanced offering, like Harpoon?s, Doyle said.

?We just thought we could add to the discussion and help consumers navigate between IPAs,? said Doyle.

Harpoon plans to deploy the new definition across its website, social media messages, press releases and will even begin printing the phrase on some of its point-of-sale materials.

During a live webcast with co-founder Daniel Kenary, Doyle explained what differentiates that ?New England-style IPA? from its West Coast counterpart. Doyle described a New England-style IPA as a harmonious balance of ingredients, characterized by no single flavor prevailing above the rest. That, he says, is a departure from many of the more hop-forward offerings dominating today?s tap handles.

cont.: http://www.brewbound.com/news/harpoon-lays-claim-to-new-england-style-ipa


"New England-style IPA as a harmonious balance of ingredients, characterized by no single flavor prevailing above the rest" is a a fanciful description.  funny how every beer, it seems, describes itself as "balanced".  by definition an IPA is not balanced.  event east coast and english IPAs aren't balanced, they're supposed to leave strongly towards the hops.

sweetcell wrote:
in the on-going east vs. west coast IPA debate:

Harpoon Lays Claim to ?New England-Style? IPA

For 20 years, Harpoon?s flagship IPA didn?t needed another moniker.

Throughout New England, the beer is known by most beer drinkers simply as IPA. But the IPA, having emerged as the most popular style in craft beer, according to IRI, has also become somewhat synonymous with extreme, hoppy, and bitter taste ? what?s often called a ?West Coast Style IPA.?

And with an avalanche of new craft offerings flooding the market, brewery co-founder Rich Doyle decided it was time for a definition.

So, in an attempt to help call attention to their own IPA offering, Harpoon said it will begin marketing the brand as a ?New England-style IPA.?

?Twenty years later, the forest has grown up around us,? Doyle said ?It?s a really important now to start allowing people to know why one IPA might be different than another.?

While many consumers may share a voracious appetite for palate-numbing brews, others will continue to seek a more balanced offering, like Harpoon?s, Doyle said.

?We just thought we could add to the discussion and help consumers navigate between IPAs,? said Doyle.

Harpoon plans to deploy the new definition across its website, social media messages, press releases and will even begin printing the phrase on some of its point-of-sale materials.

During a live webcast with co-founder Daniel Kenary, Doyle explained what differentiates that ?New England-style IPA? from its West Coast counterpart. Doyle described a New England-style IPA as a harmonious balance of ingredients, characterized by no single flavor prevailing above the rest. That, he says, is a departure from many of the more hop-forward offerings dominating today?s tap handles.

cont.: http://www.brewbound.com/news/harpoon-lays-claim-to-new-england-style-ipa


"New England-style IPA as a harmonious balance of ingredients, characterized by no single flavor prevailing above the rest" is a a fanciful description.  funny how every beer, it seems, describes itself as "balanced".  by definition an IPA is not balanced.  event east coast and english IPAs aren't balanced, they're supposed to leave strongly towards the hops.

Sounds smart.  Harpoon is definitely better than the overhopped IPA's that are popular these days.  A Vermont Beer that actually lives up to its hype.

lolatomic

Yada wrote:
lolatomic

I thought you would like that one.  Harpoon isn't bad though.  I have drunk it in a pinch.

Made a few brewery journeys over the past week.

Bluejacket exceeded all expectations, I tried five beers and all were above average to delicious. The space is gorgeous as well.

Right Proper, while an awesome spot, every beer I tried there tasted like a buddy's college apartment brew. All beers were reasonably priced and I'll probably give it another try, but the porter was the only decent beer I had. They also don't offer tastings which I found strange.

Furthermore, a shipment of Abrasive is on the way!  :o

long but interesting article

http://www.businessinsider.com/alchemist-craft-beer-market-boom-bubble-outlook-2013-12

James wrote:
long but interesting article

http://www.businessinsider.com/alchemist-craft-beer-market-boom-bubble-outlook-2013-12

I didn't read the whole article.  But what I read just confirms my belief that most people are extremely stupid.        Why would people drive to Vermont for beer when their is plenty of fine beer right here?  People are quite like lemmings.  You can argue them forever it won't make a difference. 

James wrote:
long but interesting article

http://www.businessinsider.com/alchemist-craft-beer-market-boom-bubble-outlook-2013-12

Great article…and I highly expect a bubble to burst in the near future. The stellar operations will succeed, but the mediocre shops will crumble. A great example is DC where the majority of the beer being brewed is only ok.

I think our Vermont favorites will survive because the beer is that good, hopefully they make smart business decisions as well but I do worry a bit about that.

Analfront's opinion will continue to be null and void since he hasn't ever had one of these beers and most likely never will. At least he'll always be able to enjoy blue moon and shock top.

After being told that one of his products infringed on a Starbucks trademark, brewpub owner Jeff Britton wrote the coffee company a check.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/12/30/258427295/the-other-f-word-brewer-responds-to-starbucks-over-beer-name

Yada wrote:

James wrote:
long but interesting article

http://www.businessinsider.com/alchemist-craft-beer-market-boom-bubble-outlook-2013-12

Great article…and I highly expect a bubble to burst in the near future. The stellar operations will succeed, but the mediocre shops will crumble. A great example is DC where the majority of the beer being brewed is only ok.

I think our Vermont favorites will survive because the beer is that good, hopefully they make smart business decisions as well but I do worry a bit about that.

Analfront's opinion will continue to be null and void since he hasn't ever had one of these beers and most likely never will. At least he'll always be able to enjoy blue moon and shock top.

There is plenty of good beer in Maryland.  Union Craft is awesome.  Vermont beer is a fad.  Its popularity will lessen dramatically.  I don't drink Shock Top or Blue Moon.  No I haven't drunk it (Toppy header)  If they want to sell it to me they need to distribute in Maryland.  I can get beer from Salzburg Austria that I like 1/2 mile from my house but I can't get stuff from Vermont here?  Nonsense.

It would be one thing if Vermont were worth visiting.  But I have been there and the state is obviously inferior in attractions to any of the surounding states.  I guess if I were a skier I might visit Vermont but not for hiking.   Beer is for drinking.  And as one of the main contributors to this threads love of Vermont beer doesn't even drink beer (6 oz a night isn't drinking beer) I am guessing it isn't all that special.

grateful wrote:
After being told that one of his products infringed on a Starbucks trademark, brewpub owner Jeff Britton wrote the coffee company a check.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/12/30/258427295/the-other-f-word-brewer-responds-to-starbucks-over-beer-name

Just an example of a corporation protecting its trademarks and someone trying to make a story out of it.

Yada wrote:
Great article…and I highly expect a bubble to burst in the near future. The stellar operations will succeed, but the mediocre shops will crumble. A great example is DC where the majority of the beer being brewed is only ok.

I think our Vermont favorites will survive because the beer is that good, hopefully they make smart business decisions as well but I do worry a bit about that.

they'll have to expand, market, and distribute to keep making money. i really hold no loyalty to any VT brewery, i doubt many people do, and on all accounts i think hill farmstead is detrimental to beer culture.  the beer snob attitude has become insufferable to me, just shut up and drink your beer (or brew ur beer and sell it).

beer is simple to make. even atomicfront can do it. and beers like heady topper are being replicated, and people will soon enough simply go to where it's closest, cheapest, and readily available.  there's plenty of IPAs out there that no one has ever heard of that is comparable, if not better than whatever is coming out of VT. 

I can honestly say that Heady Topper is still the best beer I've ever tasted. Even better than anyone's home brews. Even better than any beer I've had from Germany, Austria, California, or the Whole Foods within walking distance of my house.

Would I drive from Virginia to Vermont and back to get it? Nope.

Would I drive from my mom's house (if I were already there visiting), which is less than 3 hours away(each way) to get Heady? Yes, I would. As long as mom doesn't move or die, I'll be drinking Heady.

James wrote:
I can honestly say that Heady Topper is still the best beer I've ever tasted. Even better than anyone's home brews. Even better than any beer I've had from Germany, Austria, California, or the Whole Foods within walking distance of my house.

Would I drive from Virginia to Vermont and back to get it? Nope.

Would I drive from my mom's house (if I were already there visiting), which is less than 3 hours away(each way) to get Heady? Yes, I would. As long as mom doesn't move or die, I'll be drinking Heady.

To say one beer is better tasting than all other beers is comical.  I like blueberries and I like cherries to say one taste better?  Not really both are good in their own way.  I will say wild blueberries picked on a mountain trail in Maine taste better but that might just because you work up an appetite getting to them.  There are a ton of different beers.  If I were in VT I would have one of their beers. If I am in Munich I will have a Munich beer.   If I am in Maine I will have a Maine beer.  

How would you even compare a Dunkel to a Double IPA?  Or a Belgian Wit to a Oatmeal Stout?  I don't understand the need to rank things.  You either like a beer or you don't.   I am have gone back to weaker beers just because I can drink more without getting overly intoxicated.  A relative gave me a 120 minute IPA at Christmas and while it tastes good I don't considerate that a beer.  That is more of a liquor.  I want something that I can 7 or 8 of without getting drunk.

I like chocolate chip cookies better than gingerbread cookies. However, I'd choose a ell made homemade gingerbread cookie over a Chips Ahoy.

I like double IPA's better than dunkels. However, I'd choose a well made dunkel from Germany over a double IPA from Sam Adams.

And why in god's name would you want to drink 7 or 8 beers and not get drunk? Are you one of those people that drinks 7 or 8 sodas or coffees a day too?

The only thing i want to drink 7 or 8 of a day is water.

Do you have a favorite football team? how about a favorite restaurant? How about a favorite wife? Why not have a favorite beer?

James wrote:
And why in god's name would you want to drink 7 or 8 beers and not get drunk? Are you one of those people that drinks 7 or 8 sodas or coffees a day too?

The only thing i want to drink 7 or 8 of a day is water.

Do you have a favorite football team? how about a favorite restaurant? How about a favorite wife? Why not have a favorite beer?

You didn't say it was your favorite beer you said it was the best beer.  Quite a different thing.  It would be like if I said the Ravens were the best sports team in the world.  They might be my favorite but I don't see how anyone could say any team was the best sports team in the world. Also, my favorite restaurant is Petit Louis Bistro.  I like it because the staff is outstanding, the food is decent and has a good variety and it is very close to my house.  I would not ever say it is the best restraurant in the world.  Or even the best in which I have ever eaten.  I wouldn't even know how to come up with which restaurant I have eaten is the best. 

As for favorite wives. I would say wife #2 is my favorite and that is any easy choice because if wife #1 was my favorite there wouldn't be a wife #2. 

Also I don't drink soda or coffee.  I do like to have 7 or 8 beers over a night of drinking. I liked to get buzzed but I don't want to get black out drunk If I drink 8 120 minute IPAs I am sure I will end up in the later category potentially doing and saying inappropiate things.