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"Biertourist":3mc5l99d wrote: I'm a firm believer that craft beer SHOULD vary some over time.
It's a CRAFT product, there are variations in the ingredents themselves from year over year. We can see this by looking at the alpha acid percentages for the same variety of hops from year to year and I'm sure malt reports would show similar variations.[/quote:3mc5l99d]I think as regular craft beer drinkers we are quite forgiving of variations and we see it as part of the charm of small batch production. However I think that the general public expect consistency when it comes to beer and if craft brewers are trying to go beyond 'preaching to the converted' this is a price that must be paid. It's one thing asking them to try new flavours without expecting them to embrace differences from batch to batch. I've only had Ór twice so far, once at Easterfest and once in Mulligan's this past weekend. The Mulligan's batch was fruitier but still enjoyable. As Geoff pointed out earlier this is a new venture and it will take time to get the entire process running like clockwork. My hunch is that the brewers themselves are probably aiming for consistency from batch to batch and they'll undoubtedly get there.

&amp;quot;Biertourist&amp;quot;:3mc5l99d wrote: Wine varies from year to year for the same product from the same vineyard, same vines, and with the same equipment and it's just expected and a part of the experience.[/quote:3mc5l99d]As we are all too aware people's attitudes on wine and beer are poles apart. Most people think nothing of trying a new wine every time they visit the off licence but are terrified of doing the same with beer. We have a long way to go to get people interested in beer rather than brands but let's try to knock down one perception at a time <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

I would be of the view that consistancy is paramount.
When you get a new customer to try your beer for the first time you should want it to be of the quality you had set out for.That new customer might not like it or they might like it and if they do they will
BUY another one.The life blood of any brewery is repeat customers.

&amp;quot;Biertourist&amp;quot;:1gkget7f wrote: Wine varies from year to year for the same product from the same vineyard, same vines, and with the same equipment and it's just expected and a part of the experience.[/quote:1gkget7f]

But if I wanted to drink the same wine I would just pick another bottle from the same year. Plus I have a little card in my wallet that tells me how good a wine is based on year, region and varietal, so I could use that to make sure I picked up a good bottle. If craft brews were to go this way then they would have to print batch numbers and years on their labels AND be prepared to take a tanking on "bad" vintages like the wine trade do.

I don't mind variation but I do reserve the right to purchase based on all available info. If that information is not forthcoming then I expect consistency of product.

&amp;quot;Andrew&amp;quot;:3tfibbsm wrote: If craft brews were to go this way then they would have to print batch numbers and years on their labels AND be prepared to take a tanking on "bad" vintages like the wine trade do.[/quote:3tfibbsm]

Indeed. There are quite a few American brewers printing bottling dates, vintage/year, malt and hop varieties, IBUs (for what it's worth) and even OG on labels now. I say a well informed consumer can only be a good thing.

On the other end of the scale, I was surprised and amused to hear from Seamus of Hilden that he won't always use the same hops in a particular beer of his, depending on what is available when he brews.

&amp;quot;KeeganAles&amp;quot;:3hn8mezf wrote: On the other end of the scale, I was surprised and amused to hear from Seamus of Hilden that he won't always use the same hops in a particular beer of his, depending on what is available when he brews.[/quote:3hn8mezf]

Probably more common that people are aware of, especially if the %aa is seasonally ow or price change

I think that slight variations in flavour are acceptable in a craft beer, but that is not the same as variations on quality.

If one batch is slightly hopier or roastier, or dryer than a previous one, that is just natural variation and it gives me something to comment on. The taste varies a little, but it's all still good beer.

If it is a case of something being wrong with some beers, then that's a different story. Teething problems are inevitable, so new micros might have some quality variation and that is forgiveable. Once they are established and have their system down, letting a bad batch of beer go out the door would seem foolish to me.