tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post2582788309871839332..comments2020-03-23T09:20:31.250-04:00Comments on Smuttynose Tavern: Why we’ve retired Portsmouth LagerPeter Egelstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12363966040632819743noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post-31983084744375840772012-12-20T14:57:31.600-05:002012-12-20T14:57:31.600-05:00NJ misses Portsmouth Lager! And my father-in-law i...NJ misses Portsmouth Lager! And my father-in-law in North Carolina does too! (I used to bring him cases.) Anywho...We miss it..we hope it comes home...too many IPA's in the world...Yeah...We miss you Lager! Where are you?!?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post-29018528654655176952009-10-11T20:41:59.850-04:002009-10-11T20:41:59.850-04:00Today is 11 Oct 09 and I just learned that a signi...Today is 11 Oct 09 and I just learned that a significant part of my past has left me. My brother is losing his battle with cancer and can no longer drink anything with alcohol in it. One of our greatest memories comes from the day we discovered Smuttynose Portsmith Lager. We had picked up a few lobsters, put my infant son to bed and sat on his patio drinking this new find while butter dripped from our elbows and chins. Now I know that both elements of this fantastic memory have left me, never to return.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post-61066031877269119792009-09-17T11:31:52.336-04:002009-09-17T11:31:52.336-04:00I will definitely miss Portsmouth Lager. It's...I will definitely miss Portsmouth Lager. It's been a staple at every cookout: one 1/6 barrel of the lager and one 1/6 barrel of the pale ale.<br /><br />It's definitely a very catchy label on the Star Island Single. My 3yo and 5yo old thing it's great there's a beer with Ariel on it. I've yet to try it but I doubt I will pick it up in lieu of the pale ale or IPA. I know I won't serve it in place of the lager at cookouts because I know the lager audience won't go for a belgian beer with coriander in it. But, hey, if they don't like the pale ale they can BYOB!<br /><br />Thanks for all the good beers! I also think it's great you guys are sponsoring some local road races. I need to get myself a Smuttynose bike jersey.Dougie Freshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post-61853833086860665892009-09-17T10:41:31.761-04:002009-09-17T10:41:31.761-04:00Op uw geznondheid - To your health.
While I was n...Op uw geznondheid - To your health.<br /><br />While I was never a big fan of Portsmouth Lager, I do like lagers quite a bit and am sorry to the beer disappear from the line up. My taste runs toward a hoppy, northern German pilsner, like Jever. Great thirst quenchers. So, I am not a big fan of the current Belgian,Berliner craze. I do like flavors in my beer, but not when they are prominent, easily detectable ones. Your Japanese cherry beer being a great exception to the rule. Wonderful beer.<br /><br />Please keep it up, Smuttynose is my brewery.<br /><br />PS: Couldn't agree more on the branding issue. It's a reflection of a different understanding of community that is prevalent in the state. unlikely to change, so stick with the regions I say. Drop the "New" and promote the Hampshire Seacoast. Being a coastal beer is good, lots of great associations, maybe orient a bit less on actual geography and a bit more on (more universally recognizable) seaside attributes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post-44040759453646387242009-09-17T10:37:11.740-04:002009-09-17T10:37:11.740-04:00Op uw geznondheid - To your health.
While I was n...Op uw geznondheid - To your health.<br /><br />While I was never a big fan of Portsmouth Lager, I do like lagers quite a bit and am sorry to the beer disappear from the line up. My taste runs toward a hoppy, northern German pilsner, like Jever. Great thirst quenchers. So, I am not a big fan of the current Belgian,Berliner craze. I do like flavors in my beer, but not when they are prominent, easily detectable ones. Your Japanese cherry beer being a great exception to the rule. Wonderful beer.<br /><br />Please keep it up, Smuttynose is my brewery.<br /><br />PS: Couldn't agree more on the branding issue. It's a reflection of a different understanding of community that is prevalent in the state. unlikely to change, so stick with the regions I say. Drop the "New" and promote the Hampshire Seacoast. Being a coastal beer is good, lots of great associations, maybe orient a bit less on actual geography and a bit more on (more universally recognizable) seaside attributes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post-59338656276435937252009-07-18T22:22:47.391-04:002009-07-18T22:22:47.391-04:00NH doesn't have an identity? Wha?
What about...NH doesn't have an identity? Wha?<br /><br />What about "Live Free or Die"? What about being the flintiest sumbitches in New England [yeah-worse than Maine.]<br /><br />There might not be market cache in an individual spot, but you could OWN the Libertarian / Republican beer market by playing up the "Live Free or Die" vein.<br /><br />What's that? Like 5% of New England?<br /><br />Any idea, in any case.<br />Peace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post-51062550971705045102009-06-01T22:20:28.938-04:002009-06-01T22:20:28.938-04:00i must retract part of my previous post, i took a ...i must retract part of my previous post, i took a good look at the packaging for the Star and i really do like it afterall. i think the red hair was a turn off but then i looked at Dixie and she is very beautiful. i think it was my own stereotypes and preconceptions. i also think the verbage that was used on the packaging is awesome. i don't know how many people actually read this stuff but it would help if they read it. i still think you should re-introduce the portsmouth lager under a new name/label to see how it does, laighton lager; lagerhead light. What does "Op uw gezondheid!" (something about good health?)NFLBrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03102324120255895922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post-78285785479217939542009-06-01T22:20:10.852-04:002009-06-01T22:20:10.852-04:00i must retract part of my previous post, i took a ...i must retract part of my previous post, i took a good look at the packaging for the Star and i really do like it afterall. i think the red hair was a turn off but then i looked at Dixie and she is very beautiful. i think it was my own stereotypes and preconceptions. i also think the verbage that was used on the packaging is awesome. i don't know how many people actually read this stuff but it would help if they read it. i still think you should re-introduce the portsmouth lager under a new name/label to see how it does, laighton lager; lagerhead light. What does "Op uw gezondheid!" (something about good health?)NFLBrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03102324120255895922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post-35989016919067746432009-05-28T21:55:44.232-04:002009-05-28T21:55:44.232-04:00I love lagers; i know i am in a minority but i lik...I love lagers; i know i am in a minority but i like lagers and pilsners (german-style); i prefer these to the current Belgian-rage that i wish would simmer down to give way to other great tastes and maybe even some new inventions. i like the kolsch you guys make and also the cream ale; i know belgian beers are popular and i do like the star island single (just bought a 6)(not too crazy about the label but the idea is good) but a lager is a good base/maybe the beer could be renamed/relabeled/reintroduced) (Lagerhead Light? or Laighton Lager) curious as to how the sales of SIS are fairing?NFLBrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03102324120255895922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post-79521439311232956762009-05-23T20:14:31.440-04:002009-05-23T20:14:31.440-04:00I am really sorry this had to be retired. Especia...I am really sorry this had to be retired. Especially this time of year when this beer was absolutely great! I'm sorry I was a minority and more people didn't feel like I do. I am not a lager fan but Smuttynose just rocks and I thought the lager was exceptional. I tried the Star Island single and while I think it is good (if you like belgian style beer), I preferred the Portsmouth Lager. I love the IPA, brown dog, robust porter and anything else I can get from Smutty. I just want to ask?? does the lager have to go away forever, can't it just be a seasonal offering?? I don't want to say good-bye to it forever...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post-39858246514296444632009-04-06T15:56:00.000-04:002009-04-06T15:56:00.000-04:00Peter - I just wanted to add a few thoughts for fe...Peter - I just wanted to add a few thoughts for feedback. I can speak for myself and a few friends here (all from the area), we just didn't make the connection from Portsmouth Lager to it being the "Town Beer". Usually you see that in vacation places like Kona Beer in Hawaii or Red Stripe in Jamaica, but I don't think Portsmouth needs a town beer. It's not Portsmouth's style. But like a previous post mentioned...I have been too busy buying IPA, Maibock, Saison, etc to buy the lager. The lager is great, as always, but I prefer other styles. And most of my lager drinking friends prefer lighter examples of american lager. I will say that I am glad to see you replaced the lager with a session ale, and look forward to trying it. One suggestion though -for the Portsmouth Lager fans who came to the table too late - maybe you could offer it in bombers once in a while. It doesn't have to die, merely fade away.Timnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post-30218976282085069612009-03-25T11:32:00.000-04:002009-03-25T11:32:00.000-04:00I agree with your comments about NH not having the...I agree with your comments about NH not having the same brand identity as VT or ME. When I travel, I tell people I live in NH and follow it up with "yep..NH...still part of the Union!" But, with regard to Portsmouth Lager, my honest opinion was that it was a good beer with too much competition -- competition from you because there is much better beer in your lineup(Smutty IPA is heaven on Earth, for example); and competition from other breweries that make that same "accessible" beer either more widely accessible or cheaper. As for marketing, Portsmouth Lager had a great label -- even better than Dixie von Trixie (sorry). That's not the problem. Please stay true to your brand....you are "Smutty" and you make great beer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941770001320930323.post-28349605230488542822009-03-23T10:26:00.000-04:002009-03-23T10:26:00.000-04:00I know I've said it over on the Portsmouth site, i...I know I've said it over on the Portsmouth site, in connection to Kate the Great, but I would think that bringing back something like the Puddledock Festival would in some way help inform the greater public about the "New Hampshire brand," perhaps even fashioning it into a beer and crafts festival of some kind, with Star Island Single as its centerpiece (assuming Kate the Great is unable to wear that mantle).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com