I tried Bare knuckle Stout

[shifty brewer]

I know its an AB product, but it wasn't at all bad. I was in my hometown visiting my parents and me and the old man went out to have a few. He took me to the new place in town and they had it on tap. I really doubt too many of the morons I left in that town will drink it, so it won't be around long. But I'm glad I got to try it anyhow.
Anyone else had it? I mean it wasn't stellar, but its a heckuva lot better than anything else they put out.

[fretlessman71]

Haven't had it, but I have heard that it was very good, and more proof of brewmonkey's contention that the brewers at AB and the like really DO know what they are doing; they just have a job where they aren't being paid to do it. Glad you got to try some!

[Payson]

I tried it a while back. I'd agree that it is good. The interesting thing will be to see if AB can capture the interest of their consumers with a beer that falls outside the range of the typical swill.

[newportstorm]

Good or not - I've heard "not awful" to "why'd they bother" - it'll fail. Just as other "craft beers" made by the macrobreweries. Blue Moon used to have a full line of beers - now I see the White mostly and possibly the Pumpkin in the fall. Same with A-B's Pacific Ridge & Elk Mountain beers, Michelob's specialty beers, etc. etc. Gone.

They won't fly. Customers look to BMC for consistency - consistent blandness, yet consistent, still. There are too many craft brewers already brewing tasty beer for A-B to really bother focusing on that market. They've tried in the past - macro drinkers ignored them, craft beer lovers ignored them. It's not their forte, whether they are capable (they are) or not. They've spent millions (billions) on advertising their bland product to the masses and have been very successful. Why change?

Their new products take on imports like Heineken, Guinness, etc. - not craft brews like Victory and Anderson Valley.

Cheers!

[chazwicke]

Is the Bare Knuckle an attempt to swing over Guinness drinkers? I have not seen it nor tried it. But I do find it interesting that folks are saying it is good or has flavor. I probably would be willing to try it.

[fretlessman71]

I'd think it'd be counterproductive for any BMC to create something for craft beer drinkers - the very notion that they need to brew something different could give people the idea that they're admitting their flagship brew tastes like crap...

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Is the Bare Knuckle an attempt to swing over Guinness drinkers? I have not seen it nor tried it. But I do find it interesting that folks are saying it is good or has flavor. I probably would be willing to try it.

I'll assume so. Brewed as an Irish Dry Stout. Served on nitro tap.

I'd hope any stout would have some flavor - good flavor, though? That's subjective.

Here's how A-B describes it:
"Bare Knuckle Stout - Stout lovers all over the world will appreciate its smooth Irish character and strong American spirit - a domestic stout of the finest quality, using only the best ingredients to achieve its rich taste and creamy head."

And here's a few reviews from BA:

Kunckle up! (http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29/8842/)

Sounds like it has some flavor, but in the Irish Dry Stout category it still ranks #167 (out of 167).

Cheers!

[chazwicke]

Thanks! If I see it I might try it. I did not like the "stout-lite" comment in one of the reviews. But it seems it may be an AB product that is palatable albiet thinly. Is this only a draft or nitro offering?

[fretlessman71]

AB on nitro would be like spreading $1000 caviar on a piece of Wonder bread... ;)

[L.H.H.H.Brown]

Be nice... I also was taken aback by this but now that it was mentioned I can see them shooting for the U.S. Guiness market. The guys at my watering hole said it was " not bad ". I couldn't see myself touching the stuff after having some Speedway so I didn't try it. Still...... I may, just to be able to have an experienced opinion on the stuff.

[Payson]

I encourage every afficionado on this board to try it. "know thy enemy"! In all seriousness though, we all know AB has the technical expertise to brew well. The question is whether their consumers care.

[shifty brewer]

I've got no problem supporting a brewery that puts out a fine product. If I drank a BMC product tommorow and thought it was an excellent beer I'd probably become a loyal customer. Product is what matters to me, not the size of the brewery that makes it.

Now in reality, this is not likely to happen.

[ADR]

For me, it does minimally meet the style qualifications, but like you can read in newportstorm's link I had some problems with aroma and mouthfeel...

But, AB can do some decent beers, I liked the American Originals beers of 1996, especially the Black and Tan Porter and Muenchener Munich Style Amber (the Faust was a lot like Michelob Golden Lager, too thick and sweet)...

[Beaver]

I've had it and it was OK. It seemed like it could be a good entry-level beer into the world of craft beers. It seems like that could be a bad thing for AB.

[fretlessman71]

Exactly my point from before. Why make something good enough to convince the world that your flagship product has been bad all these years?