So Fall beers have started hitting the shelves...

I work at a "packie". Was told last week by distributor that SA summer was all gone, but we still got 2 cases in. Is SA not supposed to release next beer to fill the void? Should I not sell October if it comes in next week? Either way, not totally worried Bout freshness as it is not an IPA!

 

I feel like the smart thing to do is release Marzen's early as Oktoberfest is Sept21 - 0ct6 and hold off on pumpkin beers so you get have them on Thanksgiving!

 

I'm ready for Bruery distro to MI which I hope includes my favorite fall release: Oude Tart!

 

I pound em' down.
Dark, light, yellowish, brownish.
Hell I don't even mind if they are a little red now and then, or even a bit aged.

Beer is beer and can be enjoyed at any time and any weather. I enjoyed an 2013 Old Stock in 95 degree weather on my porch last week, pretty sublime.

 

Based on this information, we would expect to be enjoying Christmas Ales/Porters/Stouts on Labor Day.

 

Yeah not last year, at least not by me. The stores just put Celebration next to Tumbler when they saw what was happening. I sort of felt bad, Tumbler is a pretty good beer, surprisingly balanced for an American brown ale. I just prefer less hops in my brown ales, so I don't usually by it.

 

This whole situation makes my blood boil. Technically August 6th is the midpoint of Summer and the idea that I may not be able to buy any more Naragansett Summer Ale is beyond infuriating. I guess next March I will place an order for a whole Summer's worth of it which I estimate to be 9 cases.

 

It's a business guys.

Summerfest in Late September is a clearance item. Xmas ales quit selling on jan 1. In retail you plan a season ahead.

Rest assured that every single Oktoberfest on the shelves now will sell. The same is not true if you release if in September.

 

Not the biggest fan of Tumbler. Alesmith brown ale, now that's some good shit.

 

Oktoberfest beers sell through Halloween. Pumpkin beers sell through Thanksgiving. I know. I've been doing this over 20 years. At my store, we don't put out the Pumpkin/Fest beers till as close to September as possible. I'm sure we're going to have an Indian Summer in NJ this year and we could sell certain Summer beers after September 1st. My owner wanted me to buy enough Leiny's Shandy to last through September, but our distributor just told us they won't be getting anymore. I want all our Summer beers gone by mid August, but we'd probably still sell Shandy in September if it's over 70 degrees out. Leiny's Shandy is now my 2nd most hated beer after Corona since I consider them both 'sheep beer', meaning they're for the unenlightened masses. I'm proud to be a snob when it comes to beer.
You are right that anything with the word 'Christmas' on it stops selling after December 31st. From January 1st to mid May is the worst time for beer since Spring seasonals are least appreciated. Summer is the longest Season, Autumn and Winter are short but have good choices and that's when customers spend money. Spring is the redheaded stepchild.
Sure, Fest and Pumpkins would sell NOW, but any smart store won't put them out till they've run down their Summer inventory.

 

Saw Tumbler yesterday and was thinking it was a bit early. However, I would love to have some SA Octoberfest right now. Wonder if it's gonna be canned this year as well.

 

Yes, SA is doing cans of Boston Lager and every seasonal beer, including the Octoberfest.

 

Doing my best to not purchase any fall beer until September - we stocked up on SA Summer and Leinenkugel shandy until the weather gets a little cooler

 

Yea there's nothing I look forward to more then drinking a pumking in 90 degree weather after cutting the grass

/me pukes........

 

Ya, gotta love these stores that stick Pumpking on the shelves all early and then have a bottle limit as if people have no common sense. They have this We Have It So You Must Want It attitude.

 

You can't even step into a package store around here without having to scale a giant ass mound of Shipyard Pumpkinhead.

 

So can we start placing bets how many years this thread will be created before people just accept that this is the way it is now?
i am going to say 5 years. 6 if we are counting last year.

 

Distributors and stores actually love having pallets worth of oktoberfest beers in october and even into november.

 

It'll probly be there awhile..thats one of the Crappiest ones!

 

Easily the most popular fall beer amongst the BMC crowd, stuff moves like crazy come September.