Jester King to release Atrial Rubicite

To make it clear, I'm all for brewery only releases I just hope it doesn't get so out done that a large fan base ends up being cut off from the "better" or more limited beers on a regular basis due to the logisitcs involved.

Ie If Boxers Revenge was a brewery only release I don't know if I would go and be pissed off about it or just say F it and be pissed I wouldn't be drinking anymore Boxers Revenge. Either way the brewery will sell all their bottles but a brewery only release obviously limits their overall customer base and opens the door for non supporters to get their bottles and flip them on the internet.

 

IIRC the only planned brewery release is AR. Boxers, Bonnie, Funk etc are still planned as distribution releases. I'm hoping I'm right.

 

Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to imply Boxers or any other current JK beer would become brewery only. I just used it as an example because it's one of my favorite TX beers and it would be a double edged sword for me if it was brewery only. I definitley dig the reserve society type deal with an occasional brewery only release.

 

They need to do brewery pre release parties and still distribute to the rest of TX. That way they can still have a cool event without pissing people (like myself) off. Lol

 

Do breweries like FFF, Bruery, Avery, Allagash, CCB, and Hoppin' Frog piss you off, too? Breweries across the country have been doing this for quite some time and they're still incredibly popular. Brewery only releases are not a bad thing. It gives the brewery the opportunity to host a great event and treat their loyal followers with a special brew. If you can't make the release, you can easily trade for it. JK will continue to distribute plenty of great beer.

 

Yes! FFF, CCB, Bruery and Hoppin' Frog piss me off!






















Because we don't get them here!

 

Good point.. Name shit we don't get. Thanks for sharing. Your general knowledge of common beer releases just blew my mind.. What would I give a fellow Texan for a JK release?? Something they already get, or should I go out of my way and trade for something from someone across the country to get what it would take to acquire the JK beer that I'm accustomed to getting? A brewery release party would accomplish everything the brewery sets out to do, and keep their loyal customers happy at the same time.

 

Not trying to start a fight but I respectfully disagree with part of your statement. Yes, it gives th brewery a chance to host a great event and for that I am all for. I don't think it necessarily treats their loyal customers with anything. I'm loyal but now I have to drive over 3 hours to get a special beer as opposed to the guy who could give a shit about JK beers but will show up and get his bottles just to sell on the internet or hold for ransom because it was a "brewery only release".

Which brings me to my next point. Anything that is "brewery only" naturally gains more attention and popularity on BA because people automatically think "brewery only" means limited. When that happens, trade value goes up and its harder to trade for. There have been a few beers that JK has released that have fewer numbers then Huna, DL, etc and are probably better IMO but don't gain as much attention because people aren't familiar with our laws.

For instance, if Boxers Revenge was a brewery only release I guarantee the trade value would automatically go up regardless if the bottl number was the same as if it was distributed. Basically, Boxers is the TX equivalent of another breweries "brewery only release" but it gets less attention because it is distributed. Little do people from other states know how much shit we have to go through to get a few bottles.

 

Personally, I'd trade just about any JK release $4$ with a fellow Texan for beers I cannot obtain in Austin (Karbach, Lakewood, Community, Revolver, Peticolas, etc.). Isn't that what advocacy is all about? Not everyone on this site is full of greed. Additionally, a limited JK release can yield some pretty nice trades from across the country. I'm all for that. I don't really have the financial wherewithal to buy a case of JK beers, but if I can buy 3-4 and trade off 1 or 2 for something I've never had, I'll do it all day long. I would love for the day that a JK release is as highly sought after as the "common beer releases" I previously mentioned.

 

I share a lot of the same feelings. Hoarders can ruin things for a lot of people. You're right about the fact that limited brewery release often inflate the value of a certain beers. I feel that a lot of the extremely limited brewery releases out there are definitely overrated. I also don't really seek them out. I prefer to trade with people like you who can't necessarily get to the release for something that I can't obtain in Austin. Unfortunately, there aren't enough people that feel the same way on BA.

 

Personally, I hope it isn't a brewery only release. But, that is because I'm selfish and would love to get some and have no chance if it is a brewery only release. I live in Houston and I know I could make the drive to Austin but that just isn't in the cards. It would be hard to convince the wife I need to drive to Austin for a beer.

 

That's awesome of you and I'll be more than happy to take you up on that offer if and when JK does a brewery only release. I'll send you a check or local beers you can't get. I agree 100% thats what advocacy is all about. But you also say that it would be nice for JK to "yield some pretty nice trades from across the country" which is part of the problem. I'm not saying I wouldn't trade a bottle or two if it was a brewery only release but thats where it alienates its loyal customers.

I'd be lying if I said I got my "allotment of 5 bottles" and didn't trade one or two for other beers I've always wanted. I would do that or at least give them to regular trading partners for nothing. But by doing that how many "loyal" customers living in TX just got screwed out of bottles? Answer is a lot.

I know thats the way it is now a days and like I said, thats great, I just hope it doesn't happen too often. BTW, I know not everyone is greedy but I promise you there are BA's on this site that will use the "brewery only" release to gain leverage in trades (which is stupid) but that's why they are excited at the thought of having a brewery only release.

 

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I got a little too fired up, and I apologize for being rude to you in my last post.. There are pros and cons for consumers when it comes to brewery only releases and I'm just on the side where I'd be getting shafted on JK brewery only releases and that upsets me since I'm a big fan of Jester King.. You raise a valid point, but I'd like to be have the the convenience of being able to buy their beer like I'm used to. They're already gaining popularity as a young brewery and I don't see that slowing down at all without them doing special releases.

Sorry again. That was uncalled for.

 

The real question is if JK keeps on growing, how long till they break past the brew pub max limit? Or, are they going to stifle their growth to remain under that limit?

 

I'm just picturing Ron and Jeff reading this, saying "dance puppets! Dance!". Just kidding of course. I like reading everyone's opinion on this. I'm already planning on having to trade for this. Personally, I don't want a brewery only release. I live close to San Antonio and like someone mentioned before, JK limited last a bit longer so I won't have to worry to much about that. That's me being selfish and I'm okay with that. On the other hand though, I love what JK does and I love their brewery and I want them to be as successful as possible, so doing a brewery only release would give them more money in hand. I'm also cool with that. They are gonna do what they are gonna do, and we will all just have to adjust fire. I just hope I don't miss this one...or the strawberry one.

 

As the Dude would say "Ah, fuck it". This is BA, we bitch and argue, no hard feelings. I'm just glad I could draw some of you lurkers out with what I knew would be a controversial topic. Yay for participation.

For the most part, I may not agree with everyones opinion but I respect it.

 

Right now I am perfectly fine with brewery only releases because I live in Houston, my parents live 10 minutes from Freetail and my wife's parents live 15 minutes from Jester King. If a brewery in DFW came up with a sought after brewery only release I would be SOL, but until then I will survive.

 

The brewpub limit would be raised to 10,000 barrels a year with the new legislation. I believe Jeff posted in another thread that they sold 1,500 barrels last year. They don't strike me as a brewery that would choose to double in size year after year, so I would think they would take some time to max out the brewpub limitations.

 

They plan on releasing Viking Metal at the brewery as well.

 

Did they specify a brewery only release for that or just that they would hold an event at the brewery when bottles were approved for sale? It seemed unclear.