Bottle shops selling out of distro beer

Its not always beer laws that limit distribution. Many brewers are intentional about staying in a local market.

 

So, you are telling me that all of those laws are unenforceable? I agree, lets not act like we are imbeciles here! I have contacted my "local representative" but, without a petition that will get you nowhere. Thanks for clearing up how the "government thing works" though.

 

Yes

 

I'm with you, I hope I didn't come off as being pro price gouging. I was just saying, for the sake of discussion of this topic, distribution laws are very black and white, and price gouging laws are basically non existent in the case we are talking about. But both can be discussed as ethical/business grey areas.

 

Well sure but it is the law that stops a bar owner from traveling to desirable brewery X and buying his stuff, then selling it in his own market.

 

Morals have no place in this discussion. Greed is good.

However, if one doesn't like the law, we must go through lawful and proper means to change it. I would not advocate breaking the law. I do advocate a free economy.

 

There was the bar in NYC that had a following from Wisconsin, that was busted for selling New Glarus Beers.
http://gothamist.com/2009/11/27/sla_raids_bar_for_selling_wisconsin.php

It is a gamble the bar or bottle shop takes.

 

I'm not here to argue economics or political beliefs. But I do not think greed is good for the craft community, while it may be good for an individual. There's a reason there's such a camaraderie between many of the brewers and bars\bottle shops. Are they competing for customers? Sure, to some extent, but they do much better helping each other out. This is why Lagunitas hosts many other breweries at its Carnival, Stone frequently has other brewers at it's beer seminars/dinners, Ommegang brewed a beer with proceeds going to Barrier, a local brewery destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Craft beer may be a big business, but it's not traditionally (or at least universally) cutthroat.

 

I have no problem with anything you've said. I fully agree with what you've said, and like it.

I also don't see anything you've said as inconsistent with my love of capitalism which, by the way, also has nothing to do with being "cutthroat" by my definitions.

 

Is Spotted Cow/New Glarus really that sought after outside of WI? Maybe I'm just jaded because I lived there for almost half my life. I believe I read the bar was charging $8 a bottle. I haven't had one for 7 months, but fuck, that's ridiculous. It's better on tap anyways.

 

I say, take away their liquor license and throw the bastards in jail !

 

Anyone narcs on the stores I shop at and I'm bombarding your favorite [non-sour] brewery with brett.

 

In NYC a Heineken is regularly $8.
A black market beer for $8 sounds like a bargain.

 

Some of the best stuff I've gotten has been "back room" out of distro stuff; but the shops I get it at don't advertise that they have it and they only sell it to regulars they trust, and I've never been gouged buying it. I say it's a good thing.

 

Thankfully I live in a place where it's legal

 

I like having the opportunity for buying out of market beers without having to trade for them.

 

This is true. I often forget a Miller Lite tap in Chicago runs $5 or $6. Shit...maybe it's $10 by now.

 

For christsakes!!! It's just beer lol. They make great beer everywhere.

 

Thanks, that's very constructive.

 

And many beer drinkers are intentional about getting those beers anyway. Hence the four bottles of pte and two supplication I have in my Massachusetts fridge right now.