[pete b]

The monks at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer Ma announced yesterday that they have decided that brewing is not a viable business for them going forward and are closing Spencer Brewery.
This is a loss to the beer world and I am a little extra sad because I grew up near the Abbey and have some connections to it.
They still have beer in stores so I am going to stock up, especially on their Quad which I love in the colder months.

[BrewBama]

Though I am not a huge fan of Belgian Beer, I am sad to see the brewery close.

[pete b]

They actually don’t exclusively make Belgian styles. They have a Pilsner I like, they do a NEIPA and more.

[denny]

Which points out once again that brewing is first and foremost a business.

[reverseapachemaster]

I was just thinking at a bottle shop the other day that I should buy some of their beers after realizing I've never tried anything from them. That's surprising because I'm a big fan of Belgian beers. I guess I really need to go buy their beers before it's too late.

[joe_meadmaker]

I hadn't heard this yet.  Thanks for posting.  Sad news.

[majorvices]

People in the US aren't drinking Belgians any longer. You better have a hazy NEIPA or some (nasty) fruited sour in your beer lineup or it's going to be harder to succeed.

[denny]

People in the US aren't drinking Belgians any longer. You better have a hazy NEIPA or some (nasty) fruited sour in your beer lineup or it's going to be harder to succeed.

Well, some of us are!  But, yeah, not the trendy style any more.

[narvin]

Too bad, I never had the chance to visit. 

[BrewBama]

People in the US aren't drinking Belgians any longer. You better have a hazy NEIPA or some (nasty) fruited sour in your beer lineup or it's going to be harder to succeed.

I haven’t had a lot of hazy IPA but I like them. Tons of hop flavor without the bitterness. I can see the attraction. They’ve always been an out on the town beer for me but I need to learn to brew one.

I can’t stand sour beers and I didn’t like Belgian beers even while visiting Belgium. I always attributed it to not choosing the right ones.

[Megary]

People in the US aren't drinking Belgians any longer. You better have a hazy NEIPA or some (nasty) fruited sour in your beer lineup or it's going to be harder to succeed.

I like Hazies and I like Belgians.  But I’ve had far more awful, undrinkable Belgians than NEIPA’s.  I’ve also had a few Belgians that were otherworldly, though I can’t say I’ve ever experienced the same magic with a hazy.  My two cents.

[fredthecat]

I haven’t had a lot of hazy IPA but I like them. Tons of hop flavor without the bitterness. I can see the attraction. They’ve always been an out on the town beer for me but I need to learn to brew one.

I can’t stand sour beers and I didn’t like Belgian beers even while visiting Belgium. I always attributed it to not choosing the right ones.

truly, i've found out that people's tastebuds are different. not just "i like X/dont like Y" but they actually perceive things differently. so i wouldnt imagine or try to change anyone's mind on their choice in beer.

i get a tannins and hop-burn from hazy IPAs and simply don't like a lot of aspects about them.

i like belgians a lot

I like Hazies and I like Belgians.  But I’ve had far more awful, undrinkable Belgians than NEIPA’s.  I’ve also had a few Belgians that were otherworldly, though I can’t say I’ve ever experienced the same magic with a hazy.  My two cents.

what are the issues with undrinkable belgians? homebrewed ones? too syrupy sweet? just curious.

[Megary]

I haven’t had a lot of hazy IPA but I like them. Tons of hop flavor without the bitterness. I can see the attraction. They’ve always been an out on the town beer for me but I need to learn to brew one.

I can’t stand sour beers and I didn’t like Belgian beers even while visiting Belgium. I always attributed it to not choosing the right ones.

truly, i've found out that people's tastebuds are different. not just "i like X/dont like Y" but they actually perceive things differently. so i wouldnt imagine or try to change anyone's mind on their choice in beer.

i get a tannins and hop-burn from hazy IPAs and simply don't like a lot of aspects about them.

i like belgians a lot

I like Hazies and I like Belgians.  But I’ve had far more awful, undrinkable Belgians than NEIPA’s.  I’ve also had a few Belgians that were otherworldly, though I can’t say I’ve ever experienced the same magic with a hazy.  My two cents.

what are the issues with undrinkable belgians? homebrewed ones? too syrupy sweet? just curious.

This is just my opinion, and I’m certainly no Belgian expert.
 
I find some either too heavy, malty, unbalanced, too alcoholic, overly fruity or spicy, or just undrinkable in the sense that a few sips are more than enough.

Don’t mistake me, when done a certain way (that is, a way that I like), I find them super enjoyable.

From memory, Orval might be my favorite.  But I recently had a Rochefort 8 that I found incredibly underwhelming.

I guess this just speaks to my personal tastes and nothing else.

[pete b]

People in the US aren't drinking Belgians any longer. You better have a hazy NEIPA or some (nasty) fruited sour in your beer lineup or it's going to be harder to succeed.

Spencer actually did have a NEIPA and at least one sour. They even had a pumpkin ale.

[erockrph]

People in the US aren't drinking Belgians any longer. You better have a hazy NEIPA or some (nasty) fruited sour in your beer lineup or it's going to be harder to succeed.

Spencer actually did have a NEIPA and at least one sour. They even had a pumpkin ale.

Yeah, but with the beer market being what it is right now, it makes me wonder if they should have focused on their niche a bit more. Their IPAs and pilsner are all decent beer, but if I'm getting an IPA it isn't going to be from Spencer. I don't know if they would have been able to survive in the current environment on a Belgian/Trappist beer lineup, but it was probably their best shot. That being said, I will miss their beer.