Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Tasty crack cans!!!  (Read 3834 times)

Offline weazletoe

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2437
  • Howland, Ohio
Tasty crack cans!!!
« on: June 27, 2010, 11:11:52 am »
  I stopped at my favorite beer store here in Ohio Thursday night to pick up a few IPA's. I was just about done when I saw it, Tasty Crack Cans! I grabbed be some Hell or High Watermelon, and Brew Free or Die. Had the watermelon, and it great. Gonna go try the IPA now. Good job Shawn!!! Now I know what all the hype on TBN is about.
A man works hard all week, so he doesn't have to wear pants all weekend.

Offline skyler

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 956
  • Hmm. Human music. I like it.
Re: Tasty crack cans!!!
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2010, 12:55:12 pm »
I find the IPA sickeningly sweet, personally. If you want good canned beer, look out for Caldera beers from Ashland, OR.

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11326
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Tasty crack cans!!!
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2010, 07:27:37 am »
Found them in PA and bought a case of IPA it last week. I don't think it is a bad beer at all, but certainly not an A list IPA. I *might* buy it again if the situation called for it (like it I was heading out to the pool or back packing or something) but wouldn't go out of my way for it.
« Last Edit: June 28, 2010, 08:00:12 am by majorvices »

Offline weazletoe

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2437
  • Howland, Ohio
Re: Tasty crack cans!!!
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2010, 12:42:13 pm »
Still have not cracked my can of IPA, but will tonight before heading back to Idaho in the morning. Bummed out to hear it's sweet. Sure love me some dry IPA.
A man works hard all week, so he doesn't have to wear pants all weekend.

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11326
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Tasty crack cans!!!
« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2010, 04:46:20 pm »
Relax and enjoy the beer, Weaz. It is far from horrible. "Sweet" is relative. I agree that it is not dry enough for my tastes, but it's a good enough IPA to enjoy. I do think it is hyped a little more than deserved. Strictly my .02.

Offline kgs

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1068
  • Sonoma County, CA
Re: Tasty crack cans!!!
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2010, 07:50:46 pm »
In SF, Brew Free or Die is often on sale, making it a really good deal for a commercial IPA (particularly since buying it locally means it is really, really fresh). I don't find it too sweet. Pretty tasty for an everyday brew.
K.G. Schneider
AHA Member

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11326
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Tasty crack cans!!!
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2010, 05:25:51 am »
I had this beer again last night (still have several cans left) and it does have a little mroe sweetness than I care for in my IPA, personally. Perhaps it has some dark caramel malts in there, and I generally don't care for dark caramel malts in my IPAs, personally. But I think freshness is the key here - this beer should have never been shipped across the country. There is little hop flavor or aroma, some unpleasant bitterness and a heavy malt sweetness that is not in balance.

I would like to try this beer again - the next time I in in California. I would not pick it up locally again.

Offline kgs

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1068
  • Sonoma County, CA
Re: Tasty crack cans!!!
« Reply #7 on: July 18, 2010, 05:19:28 am »
I've bought a few sixpacks of Brew Free and Die locally (it's brewed in this city) and though it is on the sweeter side of IPAs, when fresh its hop flavor is quite pronounced and it's a refreshing, non-caramelly beer. I keep trying to carve out a weekend night when we can get to their restaurant and have their beer on draft.

I can't bring myself to buy watermelon wheat...
K.G. Schneider
AHA Member

Offline k4df4l

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 60
Re: Tasty crack cans!!!
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2010, 04:59:06 am »
In SF, Brew Free or Die is often on sale, making it a really good deal for a commercial IPA (particularly since buying it locally means it is really, really fresh). I don't find it too sweet. Pretty tasty for an everyday brew.

Are you buying it in cans and where are they brewed?  IIRC the cans sold in PA are brewed in MN by Cold Spring.


Of the three sold in PA, I liked Monks Blood the most.

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11326
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Tasty crack cans!!!
« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2010, 02:12:38 pm »
In SF, Brew Free or Die is often on sale, making it a really good deal for a commercial IPA (particularly since buying it locally means it is really, really fresh). I don't find it too sweet. Pretty tasty for an everyday brew.

Are you buying it in cans and where are they brewed?  IIRC the cans sold in PA are brewed in MN by Cold Spring.


Of the three sold in PA, I liked Monks Blood the most.

I didn't realize it was contract brewed. IMO they fudged up the IPA.

Offline k4df4l

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 60
Re: Tasty crack cans!!!
« Reply #10 on: July 23, 2010, 07:22:14 am »
In SF, Brew Free or Die is often on sale, making it a really good deal for a commercial IPA (particularly since buying it locally means it is really, really fresh). I don't find it too sweet. Pretty tasty for an everyday brew.

Are you buying it in cans and where are they brewed?  IIRC the cans sold in PA are brewed in MN by Cold Spring.


Of the three sold in PA, I liked Monks Blood the most.

I didn't realize it was contract brewed. IMO they fudged up the IPA.

AFIK, all canned 21st Ammendment beers are brewed @ Coldspring. 

There was some PR on a few blogs when the cans were first released that they flew out to MN to ensure that the beers coming off the line were to their satisfaction.

Offline theDarkSide

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3041
  • Derry, NH
Re: Tasty crack cans!!!
« Reply #11 on: July 23, 2010, 07:43:07 am »
Everyone likes it in the can.

I've had Watermelon Wheat, BFD IPA, and Monk's Blood...all were great.  What a great packaging too.  Lighter, non-breakable...now if we could just figure out how to do this at home cheaply, think how much we can save on shipping to competitions.
Seacoast Homebrew Club - Portsmouth, NH
AHA Member
Stephen Mayo
------------------------------------------------

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11326
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Tasty crack cans!!!
« Reply #12 on: July 23, 2010, 11:58:53 am »
I have looked into canning operations for our brewery and, its not cheap, especially since you have to order a  literal truck load of cans! Trying fitting that in your garage.  ;)