Most brewery openings in Anaheim don’t shock me. But when I saw an alcohol permit in the window of an empty business down the street from my house, I logged into our local online neighborhood group: “The Dudes’ Brewing Co. is opening by Anaheim Ice.”
Just like that, a firestorm of comedy ensued. “I feel like my property values just dropped,” noted one neighbor.
“There goes the neighborhood,” said another with a barfing emoji.
“Don’t they sell that at the 99 Cent store?” asked another.
Honestly, I’ve never had a beer by the Torrance-based brewery, probably for the same reason I don’t buy Nickelback albums: The word of mouth is so bad it’s meme-worthy. So when I set out in search of the company’s beer in order to give it an actual review, I soon discovered why the Dudes’ want to open a tap room. I hit Vons, the 99 Cent Store, Albertsons and three small liquor stores before finally finding a four-pack across from the Tropic Motel (free HBO!) on Harbor and Vermont, down the street from Disneyland. As I plonked my sought-after brew on the counter, the clerk snarkily asked, “Have you had that before?” (As it turns out, there is already a tasting room in Huntington Beach, but I was already on a mission.)
Once home, I cracked Grandma’s Pecan, an English-style brown, into a proper imperial, nonic glass, fully prepared to witness an underdog story. Sadly, the beer opens up like a nut-and-cheese plate with a little kick of Parmesan that lingers. When it’s cold, there’s this weird note of fake maple extract that’s way overboard, as well as a strange grittiness to the mouthfeel. Did I just get teabagged by the Dudes’? Are all its beers like this? I guess I’ll find out when the tap room at 405 W. Center Promenade opens.
Greg Nagel has been writing about beer since 2011, is an avid homebrewer of wine, cider, and beer, is a certified Cicerone Beer Server, level 1 WSET in Wine, a podcaster with the Four Brewers Show, and runs a yearly beer festival called Firkfest happening on June 29th in Anaheim!
Hi Greg,
My name is Jason Eich and I am the Head Production Brewer at The Dudes’ Brewing Company. I admit, I get upset every time I hear about someone at Torrance or on Reddit not enjoying one of our beers. But when I came across your article: “The Dudes’ Opening in Anaheim? What the Ale!” from March 29, 2019, what really upset me is where the craft beer industry seems to be heading.
I’ve always loved craft beer. I always thought craft beer was different, especially compared to the wine industry. Where wine was pretentious and judgmental, craft beer was cool yet humble. Unfortunately, once I became part of the industry, I soon realized that there are just as many bullies in this industry as the wine one. Which is a far cry from the days of Michael Jackson. Many craft beer enthusiasts don’t know this, but Michael Jackson never wrote a bad review for a craft brewer. It’s not that he never had a bad craft beer, he did. He just didn’t write about it. If there’s one thing I hope you take from this reply it is this: “angels can fly because they can take themselves lightly.”
Also, I hope you will give our beers another shot. Grandma’s Pecan Brown just won a Silver medal at GABF. And one of the beers that was selling in 99 Cent stores just won Silver at GABF: Cerveza Mexican Lager. Good beer doesn’t have to be expensive beer, we sold it to the 99 Cent stores so lower working-class individuals can enjoy craft beer without breaking the bank. If you make to any of our locations tell them I sent you. I recommend the CalifornIPA.
Cheers,
Jason Eich
Head Production Brewer
The Dudes’ Brewing Company
There is an easy solution to your concern here Mr. Eich. Brew better beer.
The Dudes is one of the best breweries I’ve been to, and I’ve hit a lot.