Brewdog.... is it really All That!

squonk

Just out of interest, are there any non Brewdog fans here? I've been sampling their wares over the last while and, while I generally enjoy the beers, I found their overall taste profile to be not quite to my taste. I know it's all subjective but every time there's a discussion on particular types of beer, Brewdog is invariably mentioned. For instance, taking 5AM Saint, I'd sooner go with Sam Adams or indeed Galway Hooker.

I may look back on this post in 3 years time and wonder what planet I was on but I'm not sure I will. Don't get me wrong, the beer is good stuff but I don't find that it's deserving of the amount of kudos it gets in the forum here. I'm interested in people's opinions!

Seaneh

IF you prefer Sam Adams to 5am saint, you're bonkers.

Brew dog make some crap beers, some purely gimmicky nonsense beers and also some really exceptional beers.

That said, I'd drink 5am siant out of a welly before I'd go for Sam Adams or even Hooker (nothing wrong with hooker at all, but it's not a patch on 5am saint).

drunkmonkey

There 77 Larger was scoff, couldn't get enough of it. I don't know whether I drank it all or they just stopped making it.
If anyone knows where I can get some please let me know....

Schism

I like their Tokyo stout. Any time I'm drinking one or two I invariably get asked by someone to try it. Most people don't like it, maybe I'm weird.

Other than that 5am Saint is awesome, as is Punk and Hardcore IPA. I wasn't gone on Trashy Blonde or the 77 Lager.

Herb Powell

It's not ALL THAT, it's just another brewery, but IMO their beers are very tasty. Or at least enough of them are for me to consider it a good brewery. I like the way they experiment with a lot of recipes as well as having their core "safe" beers.

Lucena

Slightly off topic, but on the two occasions (different pubs, different towns) that I tasted Galway Hooker, it was extremely gassy and I could feel the beginnings of a headache. Is this just me?

Regarding Brewdog, the hype is tiresome, very hard to brag about beer revolution and fighting against the system when you're selling your stuff in Tesco. Was initially bowled over by the 5am and Punk, but now starting to find them "unbalanced" i.e. too hoppy and not enough body.

They're still excellent beers, though!

Lovely Bloke

My father is 60odd, extremely set in his ways, doesn't eat anything with "sauce" on it etc.

"Carlsberg only" type of drinker.

Went to Edinburgh last year and got him into the Brew Dog bar, he had a pint of Punk and went literally crazy for it, bought a couple of bottles of it to bring into another pub that didn't sell it and got kicked out of there

5AM Saint is a lovely beer too, especially on draught.

ciaran76

I really like Dead Pony club (sorry BaZmO*) and Punk and I like to try most of their new stuff.

They have a good marketing team even if its a bit overboard at times.
I'm happy they exist as it pushes other breweries too to excel in their fields also.

I was signed up to 3 Brewdog people on Twitter but have let 2 go and just remained with 1 now as I said they go overboard at times.

the beer revolu

I think you'll find plenty of critics of Brewdog here. Some people get really annoyed by their marketing style and this puts them off the beers. For many people the beers are just too 'in your face' and not to their liking.

Personally, I love Brewdog and many of their beers. I find their marketing mostly amusing and a break from the faux history and heritage lessons on so many other beer labels. It is not to be taken seriously, though. I thought the names Nanny State, Sunk IPA, Sink The Bismark all very clever and funny.

For me, the some of the standout beers are: Zeitgeist black lager, Libertine Black Ale, Hardcore IPA, Hello My Name is Beastie bramble IPA, Tokyo* Stout

I also genuinely liked Sink The Bismark when I tasted a shot of it.

Ravelleman

I've only tried a couple of their beers but I think 5am Saint is great. Punk I found overwhelmingly bitter the first time I tried it but now find it more balanced. Friends have given me sips of various different ones like Hardcore and Tokyo but I don't know if I can really offer a proper opinion.

I think that they're a good brewery - they're producing a solid but perhaps occasionally underwhelming series of products but their marketing and presentation is just great. They've certainly added a 'cool' factor to an occasionally stodgy market. They're not the only brewery to do this by any means. They just do it very well.

Ruben Remus

Seaneh wrote: »

IF you prefer Sam Adams to 5am saint, you're bonkers

That's like saying if you prefer chicken to pork you're certifiably insane.

Both of them are good but they're different kinds of beers. Expressing a preference for either is perfectly valid.

Lovely Bloke

Oh, Tactical Nuclear Penguin may be a gimmick, but it's delicious.

The Drunken Destrier

I would definitely go for a Sam Adams over a 5am Saint, even though 5am Saint is a decent beer. Also, Brewdog tends to be overpriced in Ireland. For all their 'we are the craft beer revolution' malarky I find their beers fairly average, with some good ones. They definitely deserve credit for drumming up interest though, and when I was in their new Leeds bar a couple of weeks ago, I found their prices way more accessible and the bar itself pretty damn cool.

I just don't like how Punk and 5am Saint (their most common beers here) are like €6 a pint, even when they stand alongside great beers from Ireland, Germany, the UK and even America that are all cheaper. I reckon it's the hype, and the way people see the crazy buzz around this new 'craft beer' stuff that Brewdog go on about and decide it must be amazing. People who don't know any better will pay that €6 for a pint and think they're getting a good deal.

adamski8

I dont think anyone thinks 6euro a pint is a good deal but if thats what it costs everywhere to get a great beer you like then a lot of people will buy it. Sometimes i buy them when i feel like i really want a 5am other times ive choosen another cheaper pint when i didnt feel like splashing out.

Hardcore ipa is excellent for me. I also went to their camden bar which is similar to craft bars we have here now imo. I wasnt too impressed with their B selection.

Seaneh

I'd rather pay €4.5 for 2/3rds of a pint of 5am Saint than €5.50 for a 12oz bottle of something like Sam Adams, which is, truth be told, a pretty bog standard lager...

The Drunken Destrier

I really enjoy a Sam Adams to be honest, but yes, you're right, €5.50 is silly money for a 12oz bottle. That's why I never buy bottles in a bar. Even in an off-licence though, Brewdog is as expensive as a lot of the harder to find American stuff. I don't know why that is. Does anyone know why it's so dear?

adamski8

Because it sells at that price

Blackjack

Seaneh wrote: »

I'd rather pay €4.5 for 2/3rds of a pint of 5am Saint than €5.50 for a 12oz bottle of something like Sam Adams, which is, truth be told, a pretty bog standard lager...

In defence of Sam Adams, the stuff that pours on draught here is AFAIK brewed under licence by Shepard and name and I believe the bottled version also. The true Sam available in the USA is an entirely different been and vastly superior to what we now get here.

Personally, the variety of beers you get from Sam Adams in the US is huge and they have a very large selection, whereas we only get a very small selection here.

They often have limited release beers too, their Belgian session and Little white rye are beautiful.

We're unfortunate that we're not getting the real deal when it comes to Sam Adams here.

Each to their own mind, what may taste outstanding to one person can taste like puss water to the next.

The Drunken Destrier

adamski8 wrote: »

Because it sells at that price

Pretty much what I thought.

ASJ112

Regards pricing, 6.60 and I think I even got charged 6.70 before for Punk/5AM from a certain pub chain, is ridiculous. I've had those beers in one place(around Thomas/Cork Street) for 5 euros(last summer, now gone up to 5.50) and 5.60 in Ranelagh a few weeks ago. Cant blame a business for cashing in on the craft beer market though.

Brewdog is as expensive as a lot of the harder to find American stuff.

Are you referring to bottles in an off-license ? I get Punk IPA for around 2.40-2.60, and if you buy a 6pack in Superquinn you get a bottle free. Compare this to around 3.40 for an Odells. The good American beers(lets just compare IPA's) are always more expensive than Brewdog's, and I personally prefer Punk over any of them. Cant forget that we never seem to get any fresh American IPAs, this isn't the case for Punk.

The Drunken Destrier

That is true. Coincidentally, Odell is one of the hardest to pick up. So dear and often a few months past their BBEs. I've never gone for a pint of their beers here, but I did get a Hardcore IPA on tap in Leeds - lovely stuff and like everything else in the bar, well priced.

ASJ112

I think Farrington's were going to get Odell on tap for a limited time, would have been nice to try. Hardcore has been on tap here occasionally and been rather tasty, but I think it was around 4.50 for a half pint. Farringtons did have Flying Dog's Snake IPA 10% ABV at 5 euros for 2/3 pint.

I'd imagine with the work Brewdog has done, that we will eventually get other excellent UK breweries supplying here when they are able to, like Magic Rock, or Kernel.

rainbow kirby

I do genuinely like their beers, Punk IPA and 5am Saint are really good and anything else from them that I've tried has been worth it. Have been in their pub in Camden a few times too, always absolutely rammed even on a weekday night. :eek:

BeerNut

The Drunken Destrier wrote: »

often a few months past their BBEs.

Odell beers don't have BBEs. The date on the bottle is the bottling date.

Seaneh

The Drunken Destrier wrote: »

That is true. Coincidentally, Odell is one of the hardest to pick up. So dear and often a few months past their BBEs. I've never gone for a pint of their beers here, but I did get a Hardcore IPA on tap in Leeds - lovely stuff and like everything else in the bar, well priced.

Odell don't have a best before date on them, it's a brewed on date.

For example, the only I had the other day had 1/19/13, which means it was brewed on the 19th of jan, not best before then. thats a pretty fresh bottle for something thats travelled from colorado.

The Drunken Destrier

I'm ashamed that I never caught on to that. God damn it, so many beers I passed up on.

BeerNut

The Drunken Destrier wrote: »

I'm ashamed that I never caught on to that.

Not your fault. AFAIK beers are all supposed to carry a best-before date and an ABV but lots of American imports are missing one or other, or both.

squonk

Tastewise I find the character of the Brew Dog stuff to be quite hop biased. That doesn't quite appeal to me. It's not bad beer but not to my taste per se. The pricing is pretty poor on draught also. In the Salt House a pint of Punk is somewhere in the region of 6-7 quid. I'm not gong to hand over that kind of money all night when I can get equally good beer for 4-5 quid.

With all of that in mind, both the hoppiness and the overall price, I'm amazed there's such hype over the beer.

The Drunken Destrier

BeerNut wrote: »

lots of American imports are missing one or other, or both.

I've noticed some beers (Some Rogue ones, strangely enough) have white stickers with a BBE, ABV and even the name of the beer attached to the bottle somewhere. I suppose this is the work of the distributor/importer?

Saruman

Brewdog make some excellent beers but squonk you are correct. If you are expected to be paying over €6 for a pint when you can get a local Irish beer for a fair bit less, then go with the local beer and support our own micro breweries.

We don't have a 5am saint equivalent (yet) but some newer Irish beers are approaching Punk IPA territory.

Lovely Bloke

squonk wrote: »

With all of that in mind, both the hoppiness and the overall price, I'm amazed there's such hype over the beer.

Wut?

I'm not a big fan of hop monster beers myself, Saint is about as hoppy as I can stand really, IPAs don't do it for me. I much prefer a big slap of Malt, so I lean to dark brown ales, stouts and porters.

But jaysis, where have you been if you are "amazed" that hoppy beers are hyped?

BaZmO*

adamski8 wrote: »

Because it sells at that price

I'd say that the amount of hops that they throw into their beers is a big deciding factor too. Hops cost money, especially when you pile a load of them into a beer.

squonk wrote: »

Tastewise I find the character of the Brew Dog stuff to be quite hop biased. That doesn't quite appeal to me. It's not bad beer but not to my taste per se. The pricing is pretty poor on draught also. In the Salt House a pint of Punk is somewhere in the region of 6-7 quid. I'm not gong to hand over that kind of money all night when I can get equally good beer for 4-5 quid.

With all of that in mind, both the hoppiness and the overall price, I'm amazed there's such hype over the beer.

'Hoppiness' is their thing. I thought that'd be quite apparent no?

Ravelleman

adamski8 wrote: »

Because it sells at that price

Doesn't mean that it's sustainable or good for the brand. Pop economics.

youcancallmeal

I'm not too bothered about most of their stuff but I love the Punk IPA. Probably my favourite IPA in fact, lovely citrus flavours and not too hoppy. I could drink it all night but unfortunately with the price of it in most places I usually just have one and then go onto something cheaper.

Has anyone tried any of their really strong stuff like "Sink the Bismark"?

stuchyg

I used to really like punk but my last few weren't as good. Think they may have changed the eecipe.

Only strong beer iv had is TNP, tasted like a sweet sightly syrupy whiskey

grenache

I love the idea behind Brewdog and fair play to them for staying truly independent and being proper connosieurs of craft beer......

......but i just can't warm to any of their beers, the taste is just overly alcoholic about them, and not in a good way. I love my Duvels and other strong beers, but i just don't seem to like any of the Brewdog range. It's strange.

upforit101

The Punk IPA is lovely - but I can't stomach forking out 6.30 for a pint of it.

What's the reason behind their draught beers being over ONE THIRD more expensive in pubs here over Brewdog pubs in the UK?
(and that's factoring in the currency difference)

Also anyone else heard that Brewdog are seriously looking into setting up a Brew Pub in Dublin?
(They are going to open in Stockholm soon).

http://www.brewdog.com/bars/coming-soon

Mr Benevolent

Have to admit that I'm not a fan of Brewdog. Extreme hop tastes are not my thing.

Lovely Bloke

The Paradox is absolutely amazing

innominat

I have tried a few of their beers, but im a big hop-head. I loved the BrewDog Mikkeller I Hardcore You. And I enjoy dead pony club too.

Sarky

Tokyo and Dogma are divine.

Heroditas

I love Punk, 5AM Saint and Hardcore - three of my favourite drinks at the moment. Also love that Punk is available in cans - cuts down on visits to the bottle bank!
I've only had Brewdog on tap once - a pint of 5AM Saint in O'Neills, loved it!
Can't say that their marketing annoys me because I've never seen it.

Saruman

Heroditas wrote: »

Can't say that their marketing annoys me because I've never seen it.

You don't see their marketing, you experience it

Like any craft brewery, they can't spend money on marketing. Brewdog instead get other people to do it for them. Like with their infamous letter to the Portman group about Tokyo* which prompted that bunch of alcohol hating assholes to do all the marketing for them.

BeerNut

Saruman wrote: »

that bunch of alcohol hating assholes

You're getting your assholes crossed there. The Portman Group is the drinks industry.

Saruman

True and perhaps alcohol hating is the wrong term but it certainly seems that way sometimes.

Sarky

Saruman wrote: »

Like with their infamous letter to the Portman group about Tokyo* which prompted that bunch of alcohol hating assholes to do all the marketing for them.

What's this? I rarely pay attention to anything about BrewDog besides the bottles in front of me...

Hootanany

Saruman wrote: »

You don't see their marketing, you experience it

Like any craft brewery, they can't spend money on marketing. Brewdog instead get other people to do it for them. Like with their infamous letter to the Portman group about Tokyo* which prompted that bunch of alcohol hating assholes to do all the marketing for them.

Any link to the letter please.

BeerNut

I don't think the letter was ever published in full, but a quote is included on page 10 of the Group's 2009 annual report, attributed to a "member of the public".

Herb Powell

BeerNut wrote: »

I don't think the letter was ever published in full, but a quote is included on page 10 of the Group's 2009 annual report, attributed to a "member of the public".

Christ almighty, what a ****in sad shower. Some people really have ****-all to be doing.

Hootanany

BeerNut wrote: »

I don't think the letter was ever published in full, but a quote is included on page 10 of the Group's 2009 annual report, attributed to a "member of the public".

Cheers for that bloody do gooders:D

Where can you get that beer in Dublin.

BeerNut

Err... You have twigged that the "member of the public" was James, the owner of BrewDog, right?

Yeah, I thought he would have had better things to be doing too.