Let me preface this by saying I'm a huge Founders fan. I have been since I got into craft 6-7 years ago. I've always had wonderful experiences going to the taproom and they still make some really solid beer. However, from the time I've started drinking Founders offerings until now I've noticed the overall care and quality that was put into each beer has decreased, and it isn't the same experience anymore. In my opinion the quality of beers like KBS and Backwoods Bastard has gone down in recent years, and I've been slowly noticing their hoppy offerings have been suspect in the balance department. I'm not sure if this is a direct result of their expansion over the last three years, the owners not caring about the product as much, not quite being dialed in new brewing systems or a combination of all/other reasons. I know there is difficulty in transitioning small batch brews to a larger scale, but Goose Island has been able to do that with beers like BCBS without problem. The Backstage Series has really taken the most noticeable hit and the decline has been much more prominent there. The price points have all been suspect at best over the last few releases and with the announcement of their next release, Big Lushious (a 7.8% ABV Raspberry Chocolate Stout for $16.99) I finally think it's at the end. I'm not one of those beer nerds that expects CBS or Blushing Monk with every release, but I do know that it's not OK to charge the same amount for a Raspberry Stout or an Imperial Lager that you did for CBS or Better Half. If you're going to charge that much please give me a reason to buy that product at the price point. Justify the cost. That transitive proper doesn't work just because you slapped the "Backstage Series" on the label. It's not a maple barrel aged imperial stout with coffee added, it's a middle-tier abv stout with some raspberries. Pipeworks here in Chicago has the exact same beer for for $11.99. How can Big Lushious be $5 better? It seems like while they are attempting to keep the Backstage Series alive it's slowly losing steam. The last three releases sat on shelves (or are still sitting on shelves).Is this Founders taking advantage of the current over saturation of beer nerds that actually know nothing about beer and just want the next shiny thing? Perhaps. I'm full aware that brewing is business, but it saddens me to see one of the greats/pioneers slowly going this way. People have been complaining that whenever they go the taproom there isn't anything on that can't be found down at the local grocery store in Grand Rapids. The food is good, but it seems like they're leaning away from the taproom being beer focused and more about the overall business side of it (which, again, is fine. I just won't be heading there to spend my money).Maybe other breweries have just surpassed Founders in quality and consistency and I'm just a jaded beer geek trying to hold onto old feels. I really don't know. What say you TB community? Any truth to what I'm spewing or should I go back to my hole and talk about the good ole days to myself?