What beer ya drinkin'?

[jmdirt]

Its October 23 and I still haven't sipped an Octoberfest beer...that's unheard of for me. Maybe I'll get to one before Halloween.

I didn't get to one!

 

[Nick2413]

Old Rasputin imperial stout is the greatest beverage I’ve ever consumed, and I don’t normally go for the dark stuff.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

It's the season for dark ale; whether stouts, porters or Winter ales.....even the Budvar Dark lager which has more roasted malt in it.

 

[Unchained]

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=STj_7j0RooA

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U1W3lw4XSe8


Pretty tough out there!!

 

[Rockestar_33]

Estrella Damm. Very crisp and enjoyable.

 

[Unchained]

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KUPSTQSGb50

 

[RedheadDane]

"Maplebrew" by Danish brewery Skovlyst.

(Just to be clear; it's not actually brewed on maple leaves...)

 

[kingjr]

I'm really not much of a beer drinker, but earlier this year, on vacation, I had a Hertog Jan Grand Prestige, which was amazing. Maybe it was just because of the high alcohol content, or placebo effect because the brewery was only about 1.5km away, but I really liked it. So if you are ever in NL, in the area around Arcen, give that a shot.

 

[Unchained]

I loved weiss beer in Germany, from a tap or bottle in the US, usually a letdown.. A place ,Total Wine opened close..I bought all the usual suspects.. Paulaner, Schneider and Weihenstephaner.. Here's a little kick.. It @$8.75 a six if you buy 3..but German drinkers know that it's usually half liter..I am getting a 6 pack of 11.9 once bottles instead.. I still remember buying Berliner from gas station and my neighbor had that red syrup you add!! That was super cheap.. And really desperate times called for Eku Pils!!available at every gas station!!

 

[aphronesis]

Schilling (New Hampshire) Alexandr, Jakobus.

 

[Unchained]

Schilling (New Hampshire) Alexandr, Jakobus.

Alexandr looks like a for sure..Combover looks little stronger but looks good, not sold at BevMo or Total Wine in my area!!

 

[aphronesis]

Alexandr is the standard. Most of the Pilsner/Lagers are clean. Probably 85% high quality ratio from them. I don’t know the distribution range. Maybe it’s like getting Russian River out here.

 

[jmdirt]

I didn't get to one!

Since I missed out last year, I hit an Octoberfest at the end of September this year! Sierra Nevada's collaboration this year doesn't have enough biscuit-caramel for me. I bought a sixer, and won't have any problem chocking it down though!

 

[aphronesis]

Einbecker unfiltered pilsner. A little sweet but my ph might be off.

 

[Unchained]

End of an Era: Rogue Ales Abruptly Closes All Operations, Citing Financial Crisis - Southern Oregon Business Journal

Nov 14, 2025 NEWPORT, OR — In a stunning and sudden move that sent shockwaves through the craft beer community, Rogue Ales & Spirits has ceased all operations, effective immediately. The closure, which included the iconic main brewery and public house in Newport, as well as all other pubs across...

southernoregonbusiness.com

I personally blame the people in Oregon and surrounding states ( wink, wink) for not being dedicated pounding patrons of many delicious beer flavors! RIP..

 

[aphronesis]

I last had their beer probably in 2010 at the SF North Beach location. Even then it felt like that era was passing. But the barleywine and holiday beers were the standard way back when. A little bit more than Sierra’s stuff, although much less on the business model and employee treatment. Of course Sierra never tried to expand their line every month.

 

[jmdirt]

End of an Era: Rogue Ales Abruptly Closes All Operations, Citing Financial Crisis - Southern Oregon Business Journal

Nov 14, 2025 NEWPORT, OR — In a stunning and sudden move that sent shockwaves through the craft beer community, Rogue Ales & Spirits has ceased all operations, effective immediately. The closure, which included the iconic main brewery and public house in Newport, as well as all other pubs across...

southernoregonbusiness.com

I personally blame the people in Oregon and surrounding states ( wink, wink) for not being dedicated pounding patrons of many delicious beer flavors! RIP..

I think that we might have discussed this upthread, but its a balancing act: a small local brew pub can likely live a long life, a middle sized brew bub that distributes locally might last, a middle sized brew pub that tries to be a regional, national, or world player probably won't last (Rogue was an outlier for 20 years..good run). Its the small and huge that seem to survive.

In 2025 we've had:
two small brew pubs stop canning, but still brew pubs
one close the pub, but still canning for local distribution
one reduce locations/distribution, but still canning
one shutter completely

That's a lot for this relatively small (~ 1 mil. people) valley. Hopefully it means that the remaining establishments do better. Brew pubs aren't the only competition for each other either...

 

[Unchained]

I think that we might have discussed this upthread, but its a balancing act: a small local brew pub can likely live a long life, a middle sized brew bub that distributes locally might last, a middle sized brew pub that tries to be a regional, national, or world player probably won't last (Rogue was an outlier for 20 years..good run). Its the small and huge that seem to survive.

In 2025 we've had:
two small brew pubs stop canning, but still brew pubs
one close the pub, but still canning for local distribution
one reduce locations/distribution, but still canning
one shutter completely

That's a lot for this relatively small (~ 1 mil. people) valley. Hopefully it means that the remaining establishments do better. Brew pubs aren't the only competition for each other either...

It's like all businesses.. Someone convinces you that instead of slowly building a build out nest egg ,savings account, they borrow and get buried in debt service.
San Diego has them dropping like flies since Covid. Many make quality brews and great food but they are leveraged so close to a cliff that if any consumer trends go negative instead of saying, it's an off week, month or quarter ,business owners go into cascade crisis of borrowing many more money to make payments on money that they borrowed previously.
One place I frequent in East county San Diego has a hybrid system, they stay in their lane, make beer and they have a relationship with taco shop that is @200ft away, brewery allows people to order, eat that food and through Wi-Fi, beer staff send orders wirelessly to taco place. Stuff like nachos, rolled tacos, chips and guacamole for example show up as fast as if kitchen was under the same roof.. Too many beer places expanded to food or just crazy expansion too fast with expensive finance options. All that said, borrowing high interest money is certainly not exclusive to the brewery bunch.. * a few places that went all out on Gucci, high tech, state of the art canning equipment in Baja have 6 packs that are @$12-14 dollars and that is way out of scale for Mexico beer pricing, even artisan places.. No market correction yet ...holding my breath.
Also industry trends are saying that people from 18-25 are drinking less overall. Both beer and spirits. Mexico has 18 legal drinking age and craft beer is a popular option. Can't see many 18, 19 year old Mexican young people being financially cool with @5-7 dollar beers and @$10-12 order of chicken wings. I personally don't see the expensive craft beer business model as a long-term play. For me 2 beers and individual pizza at place near me is @$40+ dollars out the door with tip..not something I would do multiple times per week. Can't imagine if a guy wants to treat a young woman to casual outing..hundred bucks just to have shared food, couple of drinks and conversation.

 

[jmdirt]

It's like all businesses.. Someone convinces you that instead of slowly building a build out nest egg ,savings account, they borrow and get buried in debt service.
San Diego has them dropping like flies since Covid. Many make quality brews and great food but they are leveraged so close to a cliff that if any consumer trends go negative instead of saying, it's an off week, month or quarter ,business owners go into cascade crisis of borrowing many more money to make payments on money that they borrowed previously.
One place I frequent in East county San Diego has a hybrid system, they stay in their lane, make beer and they have a relationship with taco shop that is @200ft away, brewery allows people to order, eat that food and through Wi-Fi, beer staff send orders wirelessly to taco place. Stuff like nachos, rolled tacos, chips and guacamole for example show up as fast as if kitchen was under the same roof.. Too many beer places expanded to food or just crazy expansion too fast with expensive finance options. All that said, borrowing high interest money is certainly not exclusive to the brewery bunch.. * a few places that went all out on Gucci, high tech, state of the art canning equipment in Baja have 6 packs that are @$12-14 dollars and that is way out of scale for Mexico beer pricing, even artisan places.. No market correction yet ...holding my breath.
Also industry trends are saying that people from 18-25 are drinking less overall. Both beer and spirits. Mexico has 18 legal drinking age and craft beer is a popular option. Can't see many 18, 19 year old Mexican young people being financially cool with @5-7 dollar beers and @$10-12 order of chicken wings. I personally don't see the expensive craft beer business model as a long-term play. For me 2 beers and individual pizza at place near me is @$40+ dollars out the door with tip..not something I would do multiple times per week. Can't imagine if a guy wants to treat a young woman to casual outing..hundred bucks just to have shared food, couple of drinks and conversation.

I have never understood 'foodie' pricing. There are two places near me where a cheese pizza is $30. Domino's has the same for $8. The $30 pie is better without a doubt, but is it $22 better?

 

[aphronesis]

I have never understood 'foodie' pricing. There are two places near me where a cheese pizza is $30. Domino's has the same for $8. The $30 pie is better without a doubt, but is it $22 better?

Part of that isn’t so much quality as overhead, if the other places have menu service. Even if not, there’s supply, rent and start up. Chains typically get locked in for long-term, lower rent as they’re considered low risk.

$30 is getting steep though: a lot of boutique NY places don’t break that.

 

[aphronesis]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/05/business/craft-breweries-close-sales-decline.html

 

[Rockestar_33]

I have never understood 'foodie' pricing. There are two places near me where a cheese pizza is $30. Domino's has the same for $8. The $30 pie is better without a doubt, but is it $22 better?

I wouldn't eat dominos unless they were paying me $30 US

 

[jmdirt]

Part of that isn’t so much quality as overhead, if the other places have menu service. Even if not, there’s supply, rent and start up. Chains typically get locked in for long-term, lower rent as they’re considered low risk.

$30 is getting steep though: a lot of boutique NY places don’t break that.

I don't know about in the city, but the place in Waccabuck (near my in-laws) was $25 for a large in 2017. I was shocked that a pie could be over $20, let alone $25.

 

[Unchained]

I don't know about in the city, but the place in Waccabuck (near my in-laws) was $25 for a large in 2017. I was shocked that a pie could be over $20, let alone $25.

Don't go to John's, Lombardi's, and forget Lucali!! Blind Tiger has John's No Slices right across the street!! And there is a Patsy's not much further!!

Beer Menu — Blind Tiger Alehouse

www.blindtigeralehouse.com

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fuk1Aq1j3o8&pp=ygUMbHVjYWxpIHBpenph

When they first opened, the guy went on media and said that he was learning to make pizza, women, including some I was with wanted to go to get pizza, just to look at the guy making it, Down the block is The Gate.

The Gate | Bar in Brooklyn, NY

A NYC Craft Beer Pioneer. Since 1997. Hard-to-find beers turn up at this laid-back tavern with spacious outdoor seating.

thegatebrooklyn.getbento.com

You can go for a bike ride, meet people and lean your bike against the fence.. Not saying no danger of someone dashing with your bicycle, but it's pretty safe.. Guzzling delicious beer makes you a better bike rider...according to me..

 

[jmdirt]

Don't go to John's, Lombardi's, and forget Lucali!! Blind Tiger has John's No Slices right across the street!! And there is a Patsy's not much further!!

Beer Menu — Blind Tiger Alehouse

www.blindtigeralehouse.com

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fuk1Aq1j3o8&pp=ygUMbHVjYWxpIHBpenph

When they first opened, the guy went on media and said that he was learning to make pizza, women, including some I was with wanted to go to get pizza, just to look at the guy making it, Down the block is The Gate.

The Gate | Bar in Brooklyn, NY

A NYC Craft Beer Pioneer. Since 1997. Hard-to-find beers turn up at this laid-back tavern with spacious outdoor seating.

thegatebrooklyn.getbento.com

You can go for a bike ride, meet people and lean your bike against the fence.. Not saying no danger of someone dashing with your bicycle, but it's pretty safe.. Guzzling delicious beer makes you a better bike rider...according to me..

I love 'the big city', but I also love all of the little towns just outside of the reach. My in-laws are in Waccabuck so that's the base for exploring. Before my brother in-law retired from working in Manhattan we would spend more time there. Then he got a retirement job in Chautauqua so we spent more time there (and in between). Now he is fully retired though so? My wife is heading there tomorrow because her sis is on round 3 chemo.

If you'll remember, I did basic at Ft. Dix, NJ, but the only beer I had there was a domestic at a bowling ally before I headed to Aberdeen PG, MD for AIT.