Comments on Pencil and Spoon: The BrewDog Prototypes 2011

Liked Blitz! too when I had it on draught during m...

2012-01-13T14:06:22.050Z

Liked Blitz! too when I had it on draught during my review visit to BD Camden. I'm always interested to see what brewers can get out of 2.8%. But it didn't set my world afire. Avery Brown Dredge is a great beer that almost made it to my Top 30 Tastings of 2011, but was squeezed out because there were just too many other good beers to fit in this year.

Mark - couldn't agree more with the blog. I lo...

2012-01-09T22:18:28.965Z

Mark - couldn't agree more with the blog. I love Brewdog to bits, but I don't think this has been a great year for their beer. Delighted to hear James and Co are planning to go back to basics - because, on their day, there is probably no-one better.

Hi Mark, I have also just reviewed these four bee...

2012-01-06T12:13:31.470Z

Hi Mark,

I have also just reviewed these four beers over at my blog. I really enjoyed the Hops Kill Nazis one though, but did not care that much for the others.

The Prototype 17 one tasted (and looked) different from the last time I had it. Do you now if the one you write about in this post is the same recipe as the Prototype 17 that was sold on brewdog.com some months back? If James reads this comment he might answer?

Getting back to basics Cask? Please please...

2012-01-04T23:26:32.185Z

Getting back to basics

Cask? Please please please go back to cask. You would convert at least one cynical grouchy critic into a massive fan.

And you should not take everything we have done over the last couple of years too seriously, we certainly didn't.

We didn't take what you were doing seriously, we just thought you were being tw*ts instead of concentrating on brewing. Glad you've reached a similar conclusion!

Sarah - I agree completely. Back to basics for u...

2012-01-04T20:09:15.633Z

Sarah - I agree completely.

Back to basics for us this year. Our aim is to cause a buzz by how awesome the beers are.

James - I think we can all agree that what's i...

2012-01-04T18:21:58.217Z

James - I think we can all agree that what's in the glass matters the most!

Though I'm sure there's an element of '...

2012-01-04T18:21:34.992Z

Though I'm sure there's an element of 'tongue in cheek' to Brewdogs approach to the industry, which is at times both entertaining and beneficial for promotion of an industry we would all love to see more appreciated, the cause of fustration for myself and others I have spoken to is that the customer or client seems to come second in line to time spent creating wacky headlines or lengthy promos.
If you have your consistency of supply, consistency of quality, consistency of customer service covered then do as you wish. If you don't, then perhaps time is best spent concentrating on this before someone else comes along (which they will) who does what you do but better.

2012 is going to be a bit of an evolution for us. ...

2012-01-04T14:54:12.472Z

2012 is going to be a bit of an evolution for us. Getting back to basics and ensure people are talking about what is in their glass rather than anything else.

And you should not take everything we have done over the last couple of years too seriously, we certainly didn't.

Seem to be in a minority here but the scotch ale w...

2012-01-04T14:16:41.787Z

Seem to be in a minority here but the scotch ale was actually my favourite of them all. HKN was good if nothing special, P17 just seemed confused about what it was trying to do and , as for blitz, how about just bringing back nanny state.

As for my views on Brewdog as a whole, still love them but its time to just stop with some of the stunts and let the beer speak for itself (how about some more paradox soon). Looking forward to spending far too much money in the Newcastle bar when it opens.

Great to hear James. I'm not fed up with Brewd...

2012-01-04T14:01:36.685Z

Great to hear James. I'm not fed up with Brewdog, I'm more fed up with hearing people talking about how they're fed up with Brewdog! Look forward to visiting the new brewery when all is up and running. Any more news on AGM yet?

Hey All, thanks for the review Mark - they are pr...

2012-01-04T13:52:43.583Z

Hey All,

thanks for the review Mark - they are prototypes, a chance to taste the first generation of these brews with no refinement. Your comments are very fair and all with definitely go through phase 2 tinkering before any would actually be released.

In terms of the other points in the blog and the comments, over the last couple of years we have perused an unorthodox strategy of trying to raise our profile by doing things which are often controversial, often edgy and a bit provocative.

We would have hoped you guys would have been able to see past as the game that it is and also understand the reasons for it. If by pushing the boundaries a little we get more people aware of the craft beer movement, we feel it is a good thing.

However, what we did not anticipate was that by doing so we would alienate some of the early adopters and main supporters we had. This was the last thing we wanted to do.

So 2012 is going to see an evolution of BrewDog. Less of a focus on the bizarre and extreme and much more of a focus on ensuring our core range of beers is consistently awesome (we know they have been a little inconsistent at times in 2011 and are working on it) and more of a focus on providing great bars where drinkers can get their paws on a selection of the best craft beers on the planet.

I don't buy anything from Brewdog anymore as I...

2012-01-04T12:41:50.516Z

I don't buy anything from Brewdog anymore as I can't help but think 'twats' when I see their beers.

I remember buying the first prototype case too I ...

2012-01-04T09:58:08.496Z

I remember buying the first prototype case too

I honestly didn't like the scotch ale, HKN was great but the name is shite.

Prototype 17 was a poor version of the one they released earlier in the year..no whisky no raspberries..just tasted like a poor lager.

Blitz was interesting but if im honest i much preferred Adnams low abv one.

Like most Im sick of the brewdog publicity machine, the tweets, the silly names, dodgy blog posts and the photos all spoil what originally started out as love affair back when i bought my first bottle of punk and the first prototype case.

I wrote about HKN on keg back here. Definitely a WTF? beer for me, and not in a good way. I've raved about some BD beers, but not for a while.

HKN sounds like my kind of beer - despite the crin...

2012-01-04T07:34:44.027Z

HKN sounds like my kind of beer - despite the cringeworthy name. Can't believe people voted that in! But it's nice to see a BrewDog post about the beer, for a change. They really need to get 'back on the ball' in 2012 and turn some people's attitudes about them around. Let's hope they can.

Ha! I know exactly what you mean. Nice work, na...

2012-01-03T22:04:08.210Z

Ha!

I know exactly what you mean.

Nice work, nail on the head etc etc etc. x

Steve, my understanding is the 17.5 was trashy rat...

2012-01-03T20:14:14.754Z

Steve, my understanding is the 17.5 was trashy rather than 77.

And on tap i thought the Scotch was best. Blitz was too thin, i preferred Original nanny state to it

Pretty much what I thought from the bottles, thoug...

2012-01-03T20:04:37.796Z

Pretty much what I thought from the bottles, though trying the scotch ale on keg made me pick that as it was less "messy". The Blitz didn't quite have enough body for me. Interestingly in the bars the prototype 17 is now 17.5, not sure what they've done differently...the original batch earlier in the year had much more raspberries in the flavour and was promising. Its 77 lager by the way, with Belgian yeast, heather honey and raspberries.
I was excited to try hops kill as i love 5am saint, but it was just a bit meh for me

AB08 is great, definitely one to look out for if you haven't had it yet