Jester King Possible Reserve Society Discussion

I was about to do this, but was formulating a few options for a poll.

Remember this is all just brainstorming!

I like how Cigar City did it. The crazier the launch time the better for me, as long as it's a normal week (2:13 AM on Tuesday is great).
Edit: normal week means not major holidays that people travel for. There's only a few and I don't travel for all of them, but it might shut out locals who travel. Full disclousre: I am a transplant local.

 

Make it for TX residents only, since the brewery capacity isn't such that we should be having out-of-state people using proxies. I realize this would include me, but I really do think priority should be given to known supporters, such as those who will attend F&S3, and were there for the Atrial release.

Something in line with the Bruery RS would be nice. $300 for 2 bottles of each of the known fruited sour releases (AR, AL, ND, O&P, and the Tempranillo sour), and 1-2 bottles of all seasonal releases.

 

Also, I am all for an in-person sign up. I'll happily make the drive from Houston if necessary. Some form of effort should be required. Another internet sign up free-for-all will just end up being a mess like F&S3 bottle tickets just were (not criticizing you Jeff, none of us had any way of knowing it was going to be THIS ridiculous).

 

I think something similar to the AR release might work for registration. If locals are the main concern I think a couple of these ideas may help:

-For the actual registration you would preregister online and you have a couple weekends you can go and signup and pay in person. If you don't make it out the slots will open back up on a designated day to the public once again.

-Do not allow trustees, this will help to keep it more local.

-Allow only a certain amount of time to pick up bottles so JK does not become a storage facility. Maybe every 3 months or even 6 months before the bottles go back on sale again.

 

I like the online pre-registration idea. Would make it less of a mess with hundreds of people showing up to sign up. However, this makes things easier, which may not be the best way to handle something that is obviously going to be in high demand.

 

Just copy/pasting part of what I wrote in the other thread:

I am in favor of a reserve society. Maybe use the lists of names you have from previous events/the AR release as a priority list for a reserve society since they have been supporting the brewery for bit longer.

 

If Jeff really wants to make it for mostly TX beer lovers. Than maybe a 2 tier system. Top tier is a small TX only tier and we could get together have tasting, special events, early access to tickets for events. Second is everybody TX and out of state. Everybody gets bottles, but maybe the top tier get the very limited ones or more of the limited ones.

Just my input I am sure it is filled with holes. I do like CCB method.

Cheers!

 

I'm pretty sure I'm the only person if not one of very few that is against the RS membership. Most of the people supporting a RS membership seem to be doing it for purely selfish reasons I.E. I deserve this beer and it will guarantee I can get it or I don't want to have to drive to get this beer and JK will hold it for me. One of the reasons that I'm not in favor of an RS membership is that you are forced to buy beers you may not want in order go get beers you do want. If there is a beer I really want I'm going to make the effort to get it but if it's not something I want then why should I have to pay for it to get something else?

 

I'm in favor of a reserve society.

 

Good point. Could a reserve society allow for this? I'm sure that Jester King's goal would be to make more than just the amount that would cover a Reserve Society. Perhaps allocate a certain number of bottles for RS members to pick up within a certain time frame. Otherwise, they get sold at the brewery to whoever wants them.

 

The one issue with this is that I randomly go to their tap room and no names are taken there. I tend to avoid the bigger functions as I just am not a fan of the crowds and waiting in line for beers. I am going to the sourfest though. Why should people who just do not go to their big events be excluded when I frequent the tap room instead?

 

First off, I don't think the model for The Bruery would best fit Jester King because of the number of barrels produced per year. Jester King has expressed wanting to serve locals first, so with that being said I think it's helpful to take a look at Crooked Stave's and Cigar City's format.

CCB has a entry price of $150 which includes 5 bottles, a t-shirt, a membership card, and 15% off taproom purchases, which is extended to extra bottles that aren't purchased by members if and when extra bottles are available. The only thing about this system that wouldn't fit Jester King is out-of-state purchases through trustees. They're also able to provide this since their barrel output is significantly bigger than JK's. Also, they have released extra beers at an additional cost to members only. If members don't choose to purchase it, it's available to the public. I believe 1500 memberships were sold in total.

Crooked Stave has a higher entry fee of $300 but includes 20 bottles (10 beers - 2 each). They also include glasses, shirts, and a taproom discount. They sold 400 memberships and included out-of-state members/trustees, but I think Texas alone could do that for Jester King, if not more.

Both systems include the right to purchase a membership for the next year before the public. Whatever JK ends up going with if that's the chosen route, hopefully these things are considered.

 

This way, I coudl buy extra and sell them to pay for my membership.

 

Sounds reasonable however I can also see people complaining about this. Not that people wont complain about anything. I can foresee people complaining that they already paid for that beer so JK shouldn't be able to sell it.

 

This wouldn't be fair at all, I already have to work my ass off to get anywhere that sells Jester King when ever I can, but then I would have to be in Austin on a certain day to sign up? Houston is alot easier to do that from then Tyler/Lindale; just because you are so much closer doesn't mean you should get all the benefits.

 

How about limiting it to Austin residents only while you're at it

 

While I somewhat agree with you, I believe this would be for the people who go to the brewery often and are big supporters of the brewery....which tends to be the people who can get to the brewery often.

 

Haha, I was born in Tyler @ Mother Francis Hosptial. I still have property in Texas, so I guess I'm technically a local (even though I live in Colorado). I support Jester King to the best of my ability (E.G. Brad, Mark, Lindsey, ect) and am pretty opposed to limiting it to Texas residents only. I'm a member of both the El Catador Club and Crooked Stave Cellar Reserve and don't think they should limit their memberships to only locals (even though they easily could). I'm happy with both of those membership programs (I didn't like the 500 member gmail free for all for CCB though).