Jester King Craft Brewery

Oh damn...that's just a silly law

 

I was curious if it was a TX thing or if places outside of TX did it. I often forget that those places in Austin are brewpubs as well.

 

Where did you go? I was there two weeks ago an none of the breweries had guest taps

 

Except they want to distribute. I'm curious though if it will change things if they have a separate production brewery and only distribute from that location

They have to distribute I believe. Which is why Whip In, Draughthouse, etc should still be able to have guest taps.

 

They want to distribute or self-distribute? Different things. You only lose the ability to have guest taps if you self-distribute. Which is still stupid.

I doubt Scott et al, aka Freetail, could own a brewery AND a brewpub in Texas. Our laws are still stupid.

 

I think that having guest taps only effects brewpubs that choose to self distribute. At least that is how I read it on this breakdown of the laws:
http://blog.freetailbrewing.com/2013/03/14/on-deals-and-disagreements-beer-bills-move-forward/

 

well he's working on finding a location and building a production facility currently. I'm assuming they want to self-distribute but I'm not sure. He may only want to self distribute if he has a delivery lambo

 

Which is very understandable.

 

I'm not picking on you, but doesn't drinking "guest taps" at Stanley's defeat part of the reason you go out to JK?
I was looking forward to trying some of the guest beers at JK, but now that that's ending, I'm happy for JK to be instituting a business model that will allow for more income and investments in high-quality brewing. I think the loss of guest taps should be a very low priority concern, but to each his or her own.

Anyway, I care about samplers more than the prices. I think developing a good sampler should be paramount if JK wants to: add some customers, increase buzz, and especially become a beer tourism destination.

As far as prices, they are not bad. They use an expensive brewing method to create high-quality beer. And being young, there are probably capital investments to be paid off. That said, I've had a few JK beers for $3 for 8oz when certain bars have 'happy hour day' or whatever. I wouldn't expect that at the brewery (though that'd be amazing).

I think it is very fair to compare the prices some of us have seen for JK in Austin bars to what the brewpub will charge, and people who think otherwise, well, I don't get why you think it's not a fair comparison. What I would think is a fair, slightly marked down price would be if they took off 50 cents from each posted price for each 4oz, except for the five regulars (on tap).
Perhaps this is too low, but it would set them more in line with pricing some of us have seen for other sour/B-A brews at breweries. I would think without a middle-man of some sort in the way, they'd still net more per pour. And some of the bottle prices are more expensive than in stores. That's intriguing to say the least.

Edit: Even if they don't lower prices, I would still go out there on occasion and support them, once I had had a good sampler of most/all their brews

 

Are we still talking about all the European guest taps that JK got from Shelton Bros, or just any guest taps? I don't think anyone cares about Victory Prima Pils, they care about the awesome European stuff that JK got and was part of their tastings.

And as far as pricing goes. I never knew how good we've had it in TX until I went to California and every 375ml sour I saw was at least $10. Whereas here JK puts out stellar sours in 750 ml format like RU-55 and Funk Metal for around $15. I'll take that over Russian River every single day of the week. Now when a bottle of JK Gueuze goes for $35, then I'll start bitching. But not until after I buy a bottle.

 

No?

No more than the guest taps at any other brewpub anyhow.

 

This is accurate. The new law (specifically 515) states that "the holder of a brewpub license ... who sells alcoholic beverages manufactured only on the brewpub's premises may [self-distribute]." The section about distribution through wholesalers and distributors omits the line about "only on the brewpub's premises."

[Source]

 

Yes, with a Brewpub license we could have guest taps of beer that's licensed for sale in Texas. However, we'd have to give up our right to self-distribute our beer to have guest taps. With Stanley's next door effectively offering guest taps to people who visit the ranch, we'd prefer to keep our ability to self-distribute our beer. However, if we opened a second location on its own separately licensed premises, we could sell guests taps alongside our own beer there.

- Jeff

 

Holla at more Cantillon kegs

 

If we opened a second location or when we open a second location?
San Antonio would welcome you guys!

 

Woah...now he just had to throw this out there.

I am guessing they would have a tap room somewhere in Austin so people dont have to make the drive....

 

This would require a trade off: second Freetail location in Austin and second JK location in San Antonio!

 

Fuck Austin!
Sorry to my pals who live in Austin but you already have enough cool shit. San Antonio has Freetail and. ............. The Friendly Spot!?!?!?

 

Freetail is ours, you can't have it. :-[

 

Seeing as you are from such a friendly city, this comes as no surprise