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Beer snob thread!

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They posted a written response on their social media pages, but it's the standard "we're actively looking into this, we take these issues seriously blah blah" template response. Curious to see their next steps.

When the acquisition was announced I was disappointed, but I thought it would at least be a good step for the employees. I assumed that they'd receive access to better benefits like healthcare, 401k plans etc with a huge company like InBev running the show. Apparently not which is super disappointing.
I might be wrong here, but I'm pretty sure AB InBev isn't running the show from an operational standpoint. They left current ownership in place to continue running things as they see fit--including making whatever beers they wanted.

Last time I heard anything though was initially after the acquisition. Things may have changed.
 
I might be wrong here, but I'm pretty sure AB InBev isn't running the show from an operational standpoint. They left current ownership in place to continue running things as they see fit--including making whatever beers they wanted.

Last time I heard anything though was initially after the acquisition. Things may have changed.
That would make sense. They were obviously drawn to what Platform was doing, so it would make sense not to change anything too drastically. Hopefully management makes some big changes.
 
Platform hasn't really been making great beers since the AB InBev acquisition. Moreover, their name "Platform" was derived from the thought that everything they do should be a collaboration, highlighting local brewers and other local organizations. I heard the dude say it to Cleveland City Council. They abandoned that ideal as soon as the first bit of profit came. Now, they have AB's backing and they're just counting money made off the backs of people getting paid like garbage. Not a local company and a shitty local employer.
 
Platform hasn't really been making great beers since the AB InBev acquisition. Moreover, their name "Platform" was derived from the thought that everything they do should be a collaboration, highlighting local brewers and other local organizations. I heard the dude say it to Cleveland City Council. They abandoned that ideal as soon as the first bit of profit came. Now, they have AB's backing and they're just counting money made off the backs of people getting paid like garbage. Not a local company and a shitty local employer.
I appreciate the fact that they were one of the most experimental breweries in Cleveland. They weren't afraid to try different things, and I appreciated that.

They also have a few of my lowest rated beers of all time on Untappd. My biggest criticism of them would have been that when they made things that didn't work, rather than dump it, they still served it to people (even canned it and put it on shelves).

I obviously haven't been there in over a year now, and haven't had any of their beers in the past year either, so my opinions aren't built on anything recent.
 
They're a prime example of a jack of all trades, master of none. I will say, their Haze Jude is very good though.
 
hazy IPA.jpg
I tried my hand at a Hazy NEIPA over the weekend. Initial signs look very promising- the color is right where I want it to be. There are two dry hop additions in a few days which is a first for me. It's supposed to be a copy cat recipe of Treehouse Brewing's Julius IPA which apparently kick started the juicy NEIPA style.
 
Platform hasn't really been making great beers since the AB InBev acquisition. Moreover, their name "Platform" was derived from the thought that everything they do should be a collaboration, highlighting local brewers and other local organizations. I heard the dude say it to Cleveland City Council. They abandoned that ideal as soon as the first bit of profit came. Now, they have AB's backing and they're just counting money made off the backs of people getting paid like garbage. Not a local company and a shitty local employer.
I appreciate the fact that they were one of the most experimental breweries in Cleveland. They weren't afraid to try different things, and I appreciated that.

They also have a few of my lowest rated beers of all time on Untappd. My biggest criticism of them would have been that when they made things that didn't work, rather than dump it, they still served it to people (even canned it and put it on shelves).

I obviously haven't been there in over a year now, and haven't had any of their beers in the past year either, so my opinions aren't built on anything recent.
I have honestly never been impressed with Platform. To me they always seemed to be quantity over quality, with the idea of "if we put out a new dessert stout or hazy IPA each week people will go nuts for it, even if it isn't anything special." I'm sure they have some quality beers if people keep coming back, but I think there is much better/consistent beer to be had in Cleveland.
 
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I tried my hand at a Hazy NEIPA over the weekend. Initial signs look very promising- the color is right where I want it to be. There are two dry hop additions in a few days which is a first for me. It's supposed to be a copy cat recipe of Treehouse Brewing's Julius IPA which apparently kick started the juicy NEIPA style.
Let us know how it goes!
 
I have honestly never been impressed with Platform. To me they always seemed to be quantity over quantity, with the idea of "if we put out a new dessert stout or hazy IPA each week people will go nuts for it, even if it isn't anything special." I'm sure they have some quality beers if people keep coming back, but I think there is much better/consistent beer to be had in Cleveland.
Absolutely.

I still can't find too many sours in the area, so they were the first to really do that. Noble Beast does some really good ones, Saucy had a really good Sour Blonde when they first opened... but the selection in Cleveland is lacking. I'll drive over to Pittsburgh for Drai Laag (whatever their new name is) if I want some fancy sours, and the imports to Cleveland (Almanac, Jolly Pumpkin, etc) aren't doing it for me.

My highest-rated beer of all-time from Platform is Blue Martian.

When I think of them, I don't really think Dessert Stout. Maybe they've veered more into that over the past two years, or maybe my personal view is skewed by what I order there.

Their IPAs are VERY hit or miss, with lots of misses.
 
Bad look for Platform in their Columbus location. I'm curious if these issues were always lurking there, or if they're a result of the InBev acquisition

I went to platform a few years back when I was in OH for a wedding. I was excited because everyone I spoke to thought highly of it. After going there, I was massively underwhelmed, most of their beers were meh and the staff was blah too.
 
Absolutely.

I still can't find too many sours in the area, so they were the first to really do that. Noble Beast does some really good ones, Saucy had a really good Sour Blonde when they first opened... but the selection in Cleveland is lacking. I'll drive over to Pittsburgh for Drai Laag (whatever their new name is) if I want some fancy sours, and the imports to Cleveland (Almanac, Jolly Pumpkin, etc) aren't doing it for me.

My highest-rated beer of all-time from Platform is Blue Martian.

When I think of them, I don't really think Dessert Stout. Maybe they've veered more into that over the past two years, or maybe my personal view is skewed by what I order there.

Their IPAs are VERY hit or miss, with lots of misses.

Blue, Green and Red Martian were all very tasty beers.
 
Went to a couple of good breweries yesterday with a few friends.

First stop was Triple C, one of the better local brewers in South End Charlotte. I'm guessing they don't distribute out of the state, but I'd highly recommend giving them a try if you're ever in Charlotte. Babymaker is their flagship imperial IPA, and they have two really good darker offerings in their coffee porter Up All Night and their Chocolate Covered Pretzel Stout, both of which typically have multiple variations each year.

Next stop was the Brewers at Yancy, which is the local branch of Southern Tier, Victory, and Sixpoint. I had the DDH Dirtwolf DIPA, which was awesome.

Final stop was Lower Left, a brewery I found out about last year. I've been there several times since discovering it. Great beer, particularly their sours and IPAs.

Fun day, all in all.
 
Absolutely.

I still can't find too many sours in the area, so they were the first to really do that. Noble Beast does some really good ones, Saucy had a really good Sour Blonde when they first opened... but the selection in Cleveland is lacking. I'll drive over to Pittsburgh for Drai Laag (whatever their new name is) if I want some fancy sours, and the imports to Cleveland (Almanac, Jolly Pumpkin, etc) aren't doing it for me.

My highest-rated beer of all-time from Platform is Blue Martian.

When I think of them, I don't really think Dessert Stout. Maybe they've veered more into that over the past two years, or maybe my personal view is skewed by what I order there.

Their IPAs are VERY hit or miss, with lots of misses.

I was a big fan of their sours early-on. They did a series of 12 or so sour/Gose/Berliner style beers a few years back and I would seek each of the series out (Disco Gosefather was one).

When the "Martian" beers came out, it was just after they got the ol' cease & desist from Icee for copying their logo. Think the beer became the Martian line.
 
Several weeks back, my wife and I made a reservation for an igloo at Platform's outdoor area, The Lot for this coming weekend hoping for some sunny weather. Yesterday though I saw that they're shutting everything down until early next week. I have to assume they're in panic mode right now dealing with the blowback from their shit management.
 

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