Beer thread?

This NY Times article nails several points that have soured me on the craft wave: IPA overload, annoying adjectives (hazy, dank, etc.), dumb names, and silly graphics.


Call me a curmudgeon but the ones I keep at my house are usually the Bavarian Big 3: Weihenstephaner, Hacker Pschorr, and Franziskaner.

jamesdeluxe said:

This NY Times article nails several points that have soured me on the craft wave: IPA overload, annoying adjectives (hazy, dank, etc.), dumb names, and silly graphics.

The truth is, the craft beer boom got ahead of itself — bloated on branding, locked in an arms race of hops, and distracted by its own cleverness. Breweries expanded too fast and chased trends too hard, trying to be everything but beer.​

Call me a curmudgeon but the ones I keep at my house are usually the Bavarian Big 3: Weihenstephaner, Hacker Pschorr, and Franziskaner.

Opinion | How to Save the Craft Beer Industry

Drinking is down, but there are a few simple fixes that can get people hoisting their cans again.

www.nytimes.com

Click to expand...

You're a curmudgeon.
I personally love IPAs and I find the adjectives helpful because the description means I can make a choice that suits my taste. The dumb names and silly graphics are dumb and silly but more amusing than anything.

I drink a large array of beer styles but they are usually ales or porters or stouts or pilseners and sometimes a sour or wheat beer. I rarely drink a lager anymore.

But yeah, breweries got ahead of themselves and the cleanout will probably be good for the industry I guess.

Sbooker said:

You're a curmudgeon.(...) I drink a large array of beer styles but they are usually ales or porters or stouts or pilseners and sometimes a sour or wheat beer. I rarely drink a lager anymore.

Click to expand...

I may have exaggerated how limited my beer palate is, although I'm certainly not a connoisseur of Sbooker's or Tseeb's level. I tend to prefer stout during the cold months and wheat, hefeweizen, Belgian blonde, and lagers during the warm months.

The writer of the article describes my general impression of IPAs as having a distinct piney taste. I know that not all of them are like that; however, I'm free to use a broad brush to discriminate against this extremely popular beer style as I see fit. I've mentioned before my adherence to the theory of contrary public opinion in many parts of my life -- "if everyone thinks one thing, then I say bet the other way."

jamesdeluxe said:

I may have exaggerated how limited my beer palate is, although I'm certainly not a connoisseur of Sbooker's or Tseeb's level. I tend to prefer stout during the cold months and wheat, hefeweizen, Belgian blonde, and lagers during the warm months.

The writer of the article describes my general impression of IPAs as having a distinct piney taste. I know that not all of them are like that; however, I'm free to use a broad brush to discriminate against this beer style as I see fit.

Click to expand...

My mates that drink the commercial ‘cold and wet’ beer that is tasteless to me think I’m a weirdo.

Liz and I have no use for IPAs. Our tastes are in line with James'.

tseeb said:

Nothing that has directly affected me, but https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/07/14/california-breweries-closing-beer-sf says “More than 50 breweries closed across the state last year, while 24 opened.” And they don’t expect it to get better, partially due to tariffs. “Small brewers are being hit especially hard by tariffs on equipment, kegs, aluminum cans and ingredients, such as hops and grain.”

Click to expand...

The loss of Anchor Steam (the oldest US Microbrewery?) was especially tragic for the California microbrew scene, despite promises to revive it.

ChrisC said:

The loss of Anchor Steam (the oldest US Microbrewery?) was especially tragic for the California microbrew scene, despite promises to revive it.

Click to expand...

Oh no. That was a go to for me for quite a few visits between 2010 and 2020.