There She Blows!

That big, yet elusive, beer that’s hunted down at all costs by beer traders. Be it boozy, barrel aged or Brettanomyces, online you’d swear that white whales dominated the beer scene. Our forums explode with “in search of” (“ISO”), “for trade” (“FT”) and speculative-value posts whenever there’s mention of a white whale surfacing into the market, and our top beer lists are seemingly dominated by them.

But let’s be realistic. A white whale is just beer, albeit a limited one. And while the hunt might sound like fun, many have argued that their existence and subsequent harpooning has harmed the beer industry. Here’s our take, with some pros and cons.

Pros:
• They often showcase creativity.
• Fun and powerful marketing tools for brewers.

Cons:
• Limited availability, often highly priced and out of reach for most.
• Releases can sometimes be debacles from a consumer point of view.
• Quality and value bloat come into play due to hype.
• Encourages black market sales, like eBay.
• Reinforces the “ticker” consumer mentality of drinking one and done.

Cons aside, we do appreciate the pros that limited releases bring to the table. However, we take issue with how white whales are released, and the aftermarkets and attitudes they create. But that’s just us. Where do you stand on white whales?

Respect Beer. ■