There are things in this world that some people love but are totally lost on me. In many cases, I’m totally okay with it. I don’t need to watch Modern Family, or read The Hunger Games books, or drink Kombucha tea to feel like I’m living a full life.
In other cases, it kind of bums me out. I want to connect with Keith Richards’ autobiography, and truly enjoy sashimi, and be able to get into March Madness, but there’s something missing. There’s no spark, no real connection, no a-ha moment where you know you’ve fallen in love.
This is true in the craft beer world as well. There are breweries that many people adore or that have been pioneering forces in the craft beer world that are lost on me It’s not for lack of trying on my part, it’s just that their beers don’t curl my toes; I just can’t fall in love with them. Here are five breweries I want to love, but something is stopping me:
Allagash: People rave about their beers and I’ve tried many of them, but I always kind of go “meh” and think they’re too expensive. I think their beers are lovely, but perhaps they are too delicate for me to connect with. That combined with the fact that they’re pricey adds up to it being a long time since I’ve bothered to pick one up.
New Belgium: The iconoclast in me refuses to try Fat Tire because of its ubiquitous popularity, and New Belgium’s sour offerings are totally lost on me. I poured a La Folie down the drain after trying several times to find a way to enjoy it. That never happened. Now I look the other way when I see their stuff on the shelf.
Sierra Nevada: I think I got into craft beer too late to truly appreciate what Sierra Nevada does. Many years ago they were making mind blowing beers compared to what else was out there, but I was too busy drinking Bass Ale to notice. By the time I got into craft beer, many other breweries had caught up to Sierra and were offering beers with more creativity and more punch. I’ve tried and enjoyed the Jack & Ken / Fritz & Ken stuff, but the only Sierra Nevada you’ll find in my beer fridge these days is five 12oz. bottles of 2010 Tumbler that I couldn’t bring myself to drink or discard.
Anchor Brewing: Speaking of Fritz, Mr. Maytag started pumping life into this wonder out in San Francisco way back in 1965, and by 1971 he was bottling five different beers, including a porter and a barleywine. That was 40 years ago! Maytag pioneered much of what we take for granted today as craft beer fans, but that doesn’t mean I can get into his beers. I’ve tried Anchor Steam and their Holiday Ale and I think I’ve had the Porter, and in every case I found it hard to get through the six pack. I love the idea of Anchor, but their beers? No so much.
Lagunitas: This is a weird one, because I’ve enjoyed many of the beers I’ve had from these rebels, but I find something mildly repellent about the brand. It might be that many of their beers are hop-forward (which I don’t always prefer) or that I started getting into them just as they were having QC issues and found that a lot of their stuff tasted like bubblegum. Anyway, I’ve had some enjoyable beers from these guys, but there’s something that stops me from making them a go-to brewery.
In all these above cases, it’s clearly me that has the problem, not the brewers. Each has been wildly successful in their own way, and that’s because many, many people love them to bits. But I can’t, even if I want to.
At least for now. My recent experience with the AMC hit Breaking Bad gives me hope. I have heard how great it is for years, but I couldn’t find the time or the will to get into it. I even watched the first episode several months ago, but failed to fall in love. But there was something about the premise of the show that I found compelling, so I doubled back and decided to watch the first four episodes on a flight to California. I totally fell in love with Walter White during this mini-marathon and have now gobbled up the first three seasons. I’m hoping the same holds true for the breweries above, because the only thing that’s stopping me from loving them is me.
.
.
.
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
you know what? I love you. ’cause you say it like it is. and you’re cute but whatever. truly,another great (albeit surely mind bendingly provocative post). btw. your site has dandruff.
Happy Holidays from Yer Fav Wench.
ETC
Thanks for the love, Wenchie! That dandruff you see is from Don’s beard – he likes to linger above the logo rubbing his chin this time of year. Weird, but we’re partners, so what can I do? 🙂
Also, I’m aware that I just dissed several very large breweries, but I did it with love (or at least with an attempt at it) in my heart.
I hear you Jim, and have the same issue with those same breweries though I have warmed up to Sierra Nevada in recent months with their Torpedo IPA and Celebration Ale. They had a nice limited release too, I think it was called “Not Quite Pale Ale” or something.
I associate it with music. People keep raving about Bon Iver but I just can’t get into it no matter how many times I listen, and sometimes I think it’s just because of the way his name is pronounced.
Ha ha! I’m in EXACTLY the same place with Bon Iver! I want to love him, but it sound like a bunch of depressed droning to me. I think my limit is Grizzly Bear (and not just cause there’s “bear” in the title).
BTW, did we meet at Victory at the Headwaters Pale Ale roundtable thingy with Bill?
Indeed, I was the one with the beard, ha!
It was a beer brunch – I’m surprised the ladies didn’t have beards!
I know where you’re coming from since I too was late to the Craft Beer party. Brooklyn is the brewery that I am having trouble loving (we’ve gone back and forth about this before. Local 1 is my favorite by a mile).
Yeah, I gave up on trying with Brooklyn, as their beers are very average. If they didn’t have the cultural cache of “Brooklyn” on their side, I don’t think they’d be on the radar at all.
Hey Jim,
As one of my craft beer “research partners”, G-Lo of @BoozeDancing, can attest, I can be a world-class contrarian at times (i.e., disagreeable pr*ck for no justifiable reason). That said, even though I do enjoy many of the brews from the breweries on your list (Anchor & Lagunitas in particular), I completely understand your reasoning and criticisms of each of them.
Perhaps I give Anchor and SN some sort of “legacy pass” resulting from the groundbrewing work they did which opened up so many new horizons (as you noted) but, without question, the craft beer industry has, in many respects, long since left Sierra Nevada Pale in its rear view mirror (and it’s been easily 7+ years since I sought one out). Their seasonal Celebration Ale is always a welcome guest along with Anchor’s Our Special Ale in my craft beer fridge and this year, Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale has been a favorite (as I commented a couple days ago).
With so many fantastic, responsible and innovative breweries out there there’s little reason for you to engage in therapy in order to better understand the reasons blocking you from basking in the glow of the love for one of those breweries.
Cheers!
@TheAlemonger
That wasn’t contrarian at all, Mr. Monger. I get the idea of a legacy pass, and that’s why they are on the list – I want to love them for their contributions, but I can’t taste that. I CAN taste their beers, and they are pretty tame compared to all the other options out there.
I’d agree on all counts except for Allagash. With each of the other breweries, I enjoy a few selections from each, but yeah, generally not go-to breweries for me, either.
I quite miss Allagash. Can’t get them here anymore. Of any brewery I know, they’re beers seem the most wine-like across the board. They are subtle, nuanced, precise and balanced for the most part—things you look for in wine.
I think if you were a wine snob before you were a beer geek, Allagash beers are easier to wrap your head around.
I always start wine people interested in beer with Allagash for reasons I’m sure you’re well aware of. I recommend it often, but drink it seldom.
In other words, I’m a goddamn caveman!
Funny you mention Allagash. A good friend of mine is very into his wine and whenever I go up for a visit with the family, I seek out beers that are more accessible to a wine person and that go well with a wide variety of food (I also can’t afford to buy something he likes, so big bottle it is!). Last year I brought up some Saison Dupont. This year I brought up an Allagash Victoria Ale. Not sure if he was BSing me or not, but we certainly didn’t have a problem finishing off the bottles, so I assume he enjoyed them.
I always recommend Allagash to wine people and always get great feedback. They really show how delicate and well-crafted beer can be. But then again, if I wanted wine, I’d buy wine!
Great post. Complete honesty is hard to come by in the craft scene. No one wants to step on toes but it is impossible to like everything. Sometimes I can’t support a brand for a good reason. Other times it is just the “cut of their jib”. I think it is okay to support a scene without liking every brand.
Not to mention it has nothing to do with the people. There are many employees of breweries that I love, even if I don’t particularly like the brand.
Kudos
I think that’s it, John. I don’t like the cut of their jib!
I used to love using that phrase when I was younger – time to put it back into rotation!
I have found a couple of good brews from New Belgium, but they are all from their Lips of Faith line. Couple were actually very good, but some are like unattainable for my pea brain. I have to disagree with you on SN however. Many a time their Pale Ale has saved my evening. Most bars out here carry their Pale Ale, and it ends up being a go to for me when we go out to dinner. But as far as the others are concerned, and on principle I am with you on New Belgium too. Their regular stuff is just that….regular. I really like Lagunitas though. I think you are wrong about them.
Do you buy Sierra for the house, or only when it’s the only option at a restaurant? I’m always happy to see it on tap, but I never buy it for home.
And I think you’re right about the pea brain thing – I blame my own mental limitations for not enjoying their sours.
The SN is a savior brew for me. And no, I don’t buy it for the house, but I drink it pretty often because it is so often the only option at a restaurant. So they get a pass from me because they have saved so many evenings for me.
If you only drink it when it’s a last resort, that doesn’t sound like an endorsement. If you appreciate them but don’t purchase their beers when you have options, then it sounds like you and I are in exactly the same boat here, fella.
Love it!! It’s funny but we all have those breweries that don’t “do it” for us. My #1 Brewery for this is Flying Dog, I have yet to have a brew from them that I didn’t dump and I have tried quite a few. Love the honesty & integrity!!
Thanks, Jason. I’ve tried a couple of times with Flying Dog, and their Gonzo thingy is okay and Raging Bitch is decent as well, but I run away from them like you do. There’s too many other great breweries out there to waste time sorting through average beer.
I feel this way about Lost Abbey (not just because of they think burning people at the stake is okay). I’ve tried to enjoy their beers and the only one that I could get through is Judgement Day.
I do however find myself surrounded by entry craft beer drinkers and casual drinkers more than hard core beer geeks, so Sierra Nevada is a go to beer to serve at my house. Why is everything always at my house?
I really haven’t had much by them, so perhaps I feel the same way!
I used to feel the same about New Belgium, but Ranger IPA and their Lips of Faith beers totally redeemed them in my book. Without the wild success of Fat Tire, however, they probably never would have branched out like that. My list would be something like this:
Lagunitas: never had the bubblegum problem, but their offerings haven’t been that inspiring lately.
Anderson Valley: lots of people love them and I don’t have a clue why.
Bristol Brewing (sorry Will!): Compas IPA on nitro is the only beer of theirs that I would try again.
Boulder Beer: love their place in Colorado Beer history, but their beer is disappointing.
Wynkoop/Breckenridge: I’ve never had a truly “special” beer from either brewery, although that Breckenridge Anniversary ESB sounds good. Maybe their recent deal with Stranahan’s will change this.
I haven’t had Ranger IPA because I kind of wrote them off before picking some up. I’d like to say I’m going to, but there stuff is usually next to the Avery and I’m easily distracted! 🙂
Try the Ranger, Jim. It’s actually a really nice beer.
I guess if I could get a single…
I totally forgot about Ranger. I drank the hell out of that beer this summer! Good catch Alex.
Alex,
I feel the same way about Boulder that I do about New Belgium. I could drink Hazed and Infused out of the can all day and same with Ranger IPA. I could leave anything else they do as a gift to the bums outside my office.
Yeah, Hazed is a pretty nice beer and I’m glad they offer it in cans. I don’t know of any other dry-hopped amber, so they have that going for them. I had some at a Rockies game a few months ago at Coors Field, which was pretty cool.
No problem Alex, to each his own, which I think makes true beer geeks the best people, accepting others even if they have different tastes than you.
I go up and down with Boulder Beer, I started drinking their Christmas Ale back in the early eighties, and then dropped them until Hazed came out. Now I rarely have their beers.
And I was the same way with Wynkoop/Breck as you, then Koop came out with some new IPAs a couple of years ago and Breck their 471s, Lucky U, and of course their Strannie ESB; still won’t drink an Avalanche anymore though.
As far as New Belgium goes, I truly like Ranger, but the rest is meh. After telling the wife about your post Something is the Budweiser of… we both came to the conclusion at the same time that Fat Tire is the Bud of craft beer!
Jim, I’m with you on Sierra Nevada and Anchor, and I’ve been drinking them both for at least 25 years.
The two places that I truly have the hate it, but don’t want to attitude are Dogfish Head and Rock Bottom. No matter how many DFH beers I try, none are to my taste, but I love what Sam’s done for craft beer. Rock Bottom has introduced more people to craft beer, and trained so many brewers that have gone on to other great breweries, but I find their beers lacking.
All I really took from your comment is that you told your wife about one of my posts, which makes me almost famous (at least in your house). 🙂
I agree with you Jim and I especially back to Allagash and Anchor Steam sentiments. I do however, disagree with Sierra Nevada because in all honesty, they don’t really make a bad beer. Their big beers are even good and Bigfoot is a cheap, amazing barleywine.
Although Fat Tire is an excellent everyday beer, I haven’t been impressed with anything else New Belgium has done.
It’s always interesting to see how well Fat Tire is received outside of Colorado. I think most beer geeks here look down on it these days. Maybe we’re just tired of it . . . familiarity breeding contempt, or something like that.
Some of us don’t even get Fat Tire (like in Michigan). The first time I had it I was surprised that it actually had some flavor. Popular beers rarely do. I could drink the stuff. Not my first choice in Colorado, but decent all the same.
I don’t think any of these breweries make bad beer, they just don’t make a beer that makes me fall in love with them. I’m not saying they suck by any stretch – I’m just not into them.
As I said in the title, it’s me, not them.
While I understand what you are talking about with Sierra Nevada and Anchor, I love the SN Pale Ale and Anchor Steam for their basic simplicity. I pass up Allagash too many times strickly based on price (why is it always so much more- when I can get a better beer for less). Only had Fat Tire, so i will reserve judgment on NB. What I do like about Lagunitas is the hop-forwardness of a lot of their beers and their pricing.
For me, Brooklyn would be my brewery. Other than Local 1, 2 and Chocolate Stout, I don’t like any of their beers. I want to. I think Garrett Oliver is a pretty cool guy, but I cannot get myself to order their beer.
I enjoy certain beer for their simplicity, but I found them before Anchor and Sierra, so my go-to “simple beer” slots are already filled.
I agree about Garrett Oliver and Brooklyn – I think he’s awesome but I’ve stopped trying to be engaged by Brooklyn’s beers – there’s just no spark there for me.
Great Post – I read it twice just to get the whole spirit of the message. My first time through I was hit with 2 of my “go-to” breweries on the list and instantly scanned through the last 2 paragraphs and instantly discredited you as a hack.
I was all prepared to make a comment explaining how WRONG you are about Sierra Nevada and Lagunitas … but then I re read your post again. I have my 5 go-to breweries and I am sure if you ask 10 other people for their list you’ll get 85 different breweries listed.
Sierra Nevada was my introduction into what a “craft” beer is suppose to be … I have had a fondness for Sierra for many years and I always have a 6 of their Pale Ale on hand – I have used them to introduce what a well made Pale Ale should taste like to friends of mine who still ask for Bud Light when we are out drinking.
Lagunitas is by far, IMO, Nectar of the Gods!!! They are very hop forward – which is exactly how I like my beer.
Having a “favorite” brewery to me is more than the actual product in the bottle. Its a mind set, its a connection to the brand or the process or the location of the brewery. Its also a personal history … where you were when you were introduced to the beer and brewery.
Do not give up on these listed breweries … they all make a fine beer and someday, you’ll be in a mood for a hoppy, malty IPA – Lagunitas might have the product that reaches your soul at the time.
It is all about experimenting and branching out and introducing yourself to a new beer.
I would love to read what your “Go-To” beers are now … and next December read if any of those “Go-To” have been replaced and why.
Happy Drinking!!!
Bill
Thanks for re-reading before passing judgement. I’m sure you still think I’m a hack, but now it’s for entirely different reasons. 🙂
I recently did a post on my go-to and no-go breweries if you’re interested: https://beerandwhiskeybros.com/2011/11/17/these-are-my-go-to-and-no-go-breweries-how-about-you/
I’ll draw some ire for this, but for me it’s Avery followed by Schlafly.
I felt that way about Schlafly until I had their Special A IPA, which blew me away and then their pumpkin ale and Kolsch. I don’t drink anything else they brew. Avery left the state of Indiana shortly after Dogfish did. Boo.
I can’t get into pumkin ales and I thought their Kolsch was middle of the road. I haven’t been crazy about their reserve seies and that’s what bothers me the most. I would like to try the special IPA though.
I buy 2 six packs of pumpkin ale each year. I bake with them, use them in ice creams, risottos and drink a few. What’s your favorite Kolsch (if you don’t mind my asking)? I haven’t had any of Schlafly’s reserve series. I see it sitting next to Boulevard Smoke Stack Series, and I always pick that instead.
Don’t know why it won’t let me replay to you Tamre, but my favorite Kolsh is By Mother Earth Brewing (the one from NC, not Cali)
That sound you heard was my head exploding…
I have limited experience with Avery, but given that I hated Hog Heaven and The Reverand (two of my favorite styles), they fall into a category from which they cannot ascend.
Avery’s White Rascal is really nice and I miss it. The rest of them, I’ve moved on from and they don’t make it into my cart when I’m buying beer out of state.
New Belgium turned me off when they came into the Atlanta market with an aggressive ad campaign proclaiming themselves as “The most requested beer in Atlanta.”
They had the same lame displays as bud and coors etc.
A bit over the top and not a good start.
Maybe lameness comes with size – NB is getting pretty big!
Well, this blog went to hell, didn’t know you frequent here.
Dare I ask what part of the internet we know each other from?
I like where this is headed…. 🙂
Wait, I need to get out my camera so I can take a picture of the train wreck!
fvsports.
RUNNNN!!!!!
I didn’t know if I should have gone with the CheaterMichael name or Bellefay1 handle. I figured if I went with CheaterMichael, I’d have to explain my defending of Cam Newton on an obscure radio show in South Florida all of last year so I went with Bellefay1.
I’ve read this site for a while and have commented on rare occasions.
Your identity is safe with me. That being said, got anything to trade before Christmas? I’ve got some interesting offerings from Sweetwater and Terrapin if you’re down.
Pick something from my list i posted on the beer thread on FV and I’ll see what can be done.
Short response; Different strokes, etc–that’s why there is such a wide selection. I personally like New Belgium’s brews–even Fat Tire–and I love Ranger IPA and Clutch.
Long response: I think we US consumers (that includes the craft beer crowd); often want everything to taste like a kitchen-sink flavor bomb. Thus we get chocolate chip bagels, breakfast cereals w/ more sugar than a Twinkie, & Troegs Mad Elf (sorry Jim.)
But sometimes a bagel is just a bagel and a beer is just a beer, and that’s alright–its what the consumer has come to expect and likes. Rather than a surrogate for pumpkin pie, Peanut Butter Cups or Cinnabons; or a 40% alcohol bomb, super hoppy IPA or carbonated pop-Lite brew; the discerning drinker may prefer a modest but tasty amalgam of malted grain, yeast, & hops, skillfully blended and brewed by a knowledgeable master.
Bottom line: When I eat a bagel, I want a bagel, when I drink liquor, I want straight whisky or brandy, and when I drink a beer, I want a beer; i.e., a lager, ale, stout, porter, weissbeer or bock; not a facsimile of a chocolate chip cookie or an apple crisp; not malt liquor, cider or mead; and not Lite soda pop.
I agree with you about the simple pleasures of simple beers, but I tend to prefer Victory Lager and Troeg’s Pale Ale to anything from Anchor or Sierra. I’m not dissing any of the above breweries because they aren’t brewing with mangoes (both Allagash and Lagunitas bend the standards quite a bit, and New Belgium loves their sours), I just don’t connect with them.
And when I want a bagel, it’s usually rye.
Great post, I think we all have our breweries that we just can’t get into.
I’ll have to agree with you on NB. Even though their beers, especially 1554, are what started me on craft beer they really haven’t put out anything above average in a while. I rarely see Allagash, and I don’t ever pick up Anchor Steam when I see that. However I do like SN. They would definitely be my favorite of the big craft brewers. Torpedo is a very good ipa. I don’t like all of lagunitas’ offerings, but their pricing is awesome.
My brewery that a lot of people seem to love but I can’t get into is The Breury.
I’m on the fence with The Bruery myself. I’ve always appreciated their beers, but sometimes I feel they are too fancy and should be saved for a special occasion. I don’t have too many of those that involve beer, so I rarely buy their stuff. But I like it when I drink it, so I kept them off the “want to love” list. Maybe there’s a new list – Breweries I love and don’t support enough!
I’ve never tried anything from Anchor or Lagunitas. As far as New Belgium goes, I’ve only tried Fat Tire, and it was pretty meh, but I’m really not a big fan of reds. Sierra Nevada is decent. I’m pretty over their pale ale, but their Torpedo Extra IPA is one of my favorite go-to IPAs, alongside the likes of Victory’s HopDevil and Baxter Brewing Company’s Stowaway IPA. I always enjoy Allagash, but often find them prohibitively expensive, so they’re more of a special occasion sort of selection for me.
One brewery I simply cannot fathom the seemingly massive appeal of is Southern Tier. I have yet to taste anything from them that I would ever even buy again in a pinch, and I just avoid them altogether anymore.
“…and your mother, husband, wife, girlfriend boyfriend significant other are butt ugly!” While not in title I love how posts like this get some to respond as if it did!
I have not been able to develop an appreciation for a few beer styles, the most objectionable to some are those with that funky Belgian yeast. If forced to choose I would pick a Bud Light Chelada over a Fat Tire and I don’t like tomato juice.
In the grand scheme of beer those beers that I Love and buy include Lagunitas and Anchor while those beers I magnanimously leave behind are for others who do appreciate and love to buy.
Thankless task as I have yet to get a smile, wave or even a simple “Thank You” from one Fat Tire lover.
While I understand fully how you feel with regards to these brewers, I am curious, as a whiskey lover, what are your personal feelings on Allagash Curieux?
Meh. I was psyched for the Curieux but I recall it being underwhelming. Of course that’s when I was really into Backwoods Bastard, which is like a chainsaw compared to Allagash’s scalpel!
You’ll be drinking kombucha tea soon enough…Production in full swing!
Now that the beard is gone, you’ll probably start brewing up Lipton sun tea.