Comments on: If the beer’s good why aren’t you smiling? http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/ Tue, 22 May 2012 16:56:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: danno http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/comment-page-1/#comment-90522 danno Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:26:06 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/#comment-90522 Steve, thanks for saying in a word what I didn't do so very well in a sentence. the "soul" of beer... I like that a lot... (now I've got something to write on all those scoresheets...) Lew, one RealBeerPerson right here, sign me up for some blind tasting. what'r'ya doing the weekend after next? we're having a little party up here in MN, even Stan is coming... http://www.mnbrewers.com/mashout/ Steve, thanks for saying in a word what I didn’t do so very well in a sentence. the “soul” of beer… I like that a lot… (now I’ve got something to write on all those scoresheets…)

Lew, one RealBeerPerson right here, sign me up for some blind tasting. what’r'ya doing the weekend after next? we’re having a little party up here in MN, even Stan is coming… http://www.mnbrewers.com/mashout/

]]> By: Swordboarder http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/comment-page-1/#comment-89979 Swordboarder Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:00:01 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/#comment-89979 Talking about me on both accounts, indie kid and craft beer adult. Of course deep down I still have the indie kid at heart. Maybe misery loves company, just not too much of it. Then again maybe power is just waiting to turn to the hands of the distributors. With consolidation up in the distribution industry, we could end up seeing the same thing as the music industry: lots of small breweries trying to make it big but can't get a distributor to pick them up. Of course I will be one of the first to say that not all indie bands and craft brewers are good, but that'll have to be left for another comment. Talking about me on both accounts, indie kid and craft beer adult. Of course deep down I still have the indie kid at heart. Maybe misery loves company, just not too much of it.

Then again maybe power is just waiting to turn to the hands of the distributors. With consolidation up in the distribution industry, we could end up seeing the same thing as the music industry: lots of small breweries trying to make it big but can’t get a distributor to pick them up.

Of course I will be one of the first to say that not all indie bands and craft brewers are good, but that’ll have to be left for another comment.

]]> By: SteveH http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/comment-page-1/#comment-89953 SteveH Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:00:17 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/#comment-89953 <i>"...although A-B “only” owns a minority stake."</i> Completely understood, and to emphasize my previous point some -- I'm among those who defend Red Hook, Widmer, and now Goose Island when everyone thinks the evil empire has its hand in the brew kettles. Lew -- administer? You're starting to sound more militant than me! ;) Seriously though, an underlying theme has gained a lot of momentum at RealBeer, if it tastes good, why <i>not</i> drink it? My Red Hook ESB is a good example of that to me. But bring on the blind tastings -- just keep the malted rice out of my glass, I won't get past the second sip! “…although A-B “only” owns a minority stake.”

Completely understood, and to emphasize my previous point some — I’m among those who defend Red Hook, Widmer, and now Goose Island when everyone thinks the evil empire has its hand in the brew kettles.

Lew — administer? You’re starting to sound more militant than me! ;)
Seriously though, an underlying theme has gained a lot of momentum at RealBeer, if it tastes good, why not drink it? My Red Hook ESB is a good example of that to me. But bring on the blind tastings — just keep the malted rice out of my glass, I won’t get past the second sip!

]]> By: Lew Bryson http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/comment-page-1/#comment-89903 Lew Bryson Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:42:02 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/#comment-89903 He's not talking about me, hell, I think he's channeling me! I've got two words for the folks he is talking about: BLIND TASTING. Gawd, I'd love to administer some blind tastings to BeerAdvocates and ratebeerians and RealBeerPeople. He’s not talking about me, hell, I think he’s channeling me! I’ve got two words for the folks he is talking about: BLIND TASTING. Gawd, I’d love to administer some blind tastings to BeerAdvocates and ratebeerians and RealBeerPeople.

]]> By: Stan Hieronymus http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/comment-page-1/#comment-89899 Stan Hieronymus Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:37:16 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/#comment-89899 Steve, I think the Redhook-Widmer analogy (since the are merging) is a good one, although A-B "only" owns a minority stake. As to Courage, it still hasn't been brewed for sale since 1993 (right Ron?). I heard that test batches were made about five years ago but nothing came of a possible revival. Steve, I think the Redhook-Widmer analogy (since the are merging) is a good one, although A-B “only” owns a minority stake.

As to Courage, it still hasn’t been brewed for sale since 1993 (right Ron?). I heard that test batches were made about five years ago but nothing came of a possible revival.

]]> By: SteveH http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/comment-page-1/#comment-89894 SteveH Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:26:22 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/#comment-89894 Ron brings up a point to the post I was going to make -- it seems like I gravitate more toward import macros (I guess you can call them that) than the U.S. biggies -- if we're strictly talking big breweries. I've often contended that Spaten and Paulaner Helles are the beers BMC wish they were. And those Euro "macros" tend to grasp the soul of beer much more than any U.S. industrial-sized brewer. That said, I gave the new, all malt Michelob an honest chance when it came out last year and was seriously underwhelmed. I still can't get my arms around the Bluemoon craze either -- especially when Ommegang and Allagash are beating Coors at the Wit game. OTOH, even with their A-B tainted reputation, Red Hook ESB has become a go-to beer for me -- it's just a damn good drinker. So, am I the beer drinker Brown is talking about? Maybe to some extent because here in the U.S. I still haven't seen anything from the big three to excite me, but that doesn't mean they can't surprise me! In the meantime, I'm keeping my eyes open for the Courage. Ron brings up a point to the post I was going to make — it seems like I gravitate more toward import macros (I guess you can call them that) than the U.S. biggies — if we’re strictly talking big breweries. I’ve often contended that Spaten and Paulaner Helles are the beers BMC wish they were. And those Euro “macros” tend to grasp the soul of beer much more than any U.S. industrial-sized brewer.

That said, I gave the new, all malt Michelob an honest chance when it came out last year and was seriously underwhelmed. I still can’t get my arms around the Bluemoon craze either — especially when Ommegang and Allagash are beating Coors at the Wit game.

OTOH, even with their A-B tainted reputation, Red Hook ESB has become a go-to beer for me — it’s just a damn good drinker.

So, am I the beer drinker Brown is talking about? Maybe to some extent because here in the U.S. I still haven’t seen anything from the big three to excite me, but that doesn’t mean they can’t surprise me! In the meantime, I’m keeping my eyes open for the Courage.

]]> By: Ron Pattinson http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/comment-page-1/#comment-89863 Ron Pattinson Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:42:56 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/#comment-89863 Dann, I have three words to say to you: Courage Russian Stout. The best beer I've had (by quite a way) and always brewed by one of the biggest breweries in Britain. Dann, I have three words to say to you: Courage Russian Stout. The best beer I’ve had (by quite a way) and always brewed by one of the biggest breweries in Britain.

]]> By: danno http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/comment-page-1/#comment-89701 danno Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:01:21 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/if-the-beers-good-why-arent-you-smiling/#comment-89701 yes, yes he is... (as I wonder if my old Hüsker Dü t-shirt will still fit...) we can all agree that the brewers at the biggies are all extremely good at what they do. however, I have yet to see any sort of beer from them that didn't appear designed by the marketing department, not the brewers. I understand that a beer has to sell, but look at wine (and vodka, for that matter...) the market for more character, depth, and flavor exists ... and, I just tried the He-Brew pomegranite ale, forget the name, but I wasn't that impressed. it's fairly bitter and hoppy, why let all that get in the way of a fruit with character that begs to shine through? yes, yes he is… (as I wonder if my old Hüsker Dü t-shirt will still fit…)

we can all agree that the brewers at the biggies are all extremely good at what they do. however, I have yet to see any sort of beer from them that didn’t appear designed by the marketing department, not the brewers. I understand that a beer has to sell, but look at wine (and vodka, for that matter…) the market for more character, depth, and flavor exists …

and, I just tried the He-Brew pomegranite ale, forget the name, but I wasn’t that impressed. it’s fairly bitter and hoppy, why let all that get in the way of a fruit with character that begs to shine through?

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