Crooked Stave 2014 Cellar Reserve

L'Brett d'Or was $12/bottle at the brewery. If it were to to hit retail, it would likely be $13-14. How much was Origins in stores?

 

I said for the sours...aka Origins, L'Brett D'Or, etc.

 

Same here. I could do without the glasses, t-shirt, and the Tin Tacker. IMO, it'd be better if those were not included in the price.

 

Origins were in stores for $12. Might have even seen it at $11. I'm sure there are higher priced stores but most I go to are right around the same price or a little lower. Of course by the time you pay tax you are paying more then the $12

 

$6.99 for regular lineup; $10.99 for Origins (gone); don't recall Nightmare, but 'twas no $12.99 Not even the 750s were that much

 

I think it's generally lame that they are not including any new base beers (except hopefully the TBD ones), and just putting out fruited varieties of base beers we have seen for the last two years. I would personally rather see smaller batches with lower limits like in year one. Even if some of them were a miss IMO (looking at you, Sentience), it was at least interesting and the experimentation was cool.

With so many other beer clubs out there, it's getting harder to pull the trigger on this one again.

 

Here is one that's getting a lot of press

http://secretbarrelsociety.wordpress.com/

 

I think I am going to start charging a fee for people to like my posts or call me or know me. Next thing you know, liquor stores are going to have a cover charge just to get in the store. It's a bunch of hoobaluh boobaluh. But on a serious note, If CS raises the prices again, I will wish Chad the best.

 

To me the fruit-based versions of existing beers are worlds apart from the original. The names are the same, but they're porter vs. IPA different in terms of taste and look.

 

Thought I'd get that like in before you started charging

 

At $4 more per 375, I don't want anymore misses.

 

while i enjoyed them both very much - i think the fruit versions of base beers are much more reserve-society-ish than grand-cru versions of the base beers like we got earlier this year (origins grand cru, nightmare grand cru).

dont get me wrong, i loved both of those beers, but they were little more than a blend that went into a leopold barrel for a few extra months when compared to the origins and nightmare that went to retail.

 

I wonder the reason(s) for this hike. Did they not make enough $$ last 2 years? Or, did they see they can make more? Were there unforeseen expenses?
Not that it matters to my bank account--gonna skip this one

 

Agreed. While good, those have been the most forgettable of the reserve beers.
For anyone who did it the first year - was there a price difference between year 1 and 2? I'm still in since I've enjoyed all of the beers, but this isn't exactly good news.

 

I was a member the first year, but didn't rejoin this year since I'm a trustee for a guy that doesn't max out (and I get his extra allocation). But, I was considering joining this year. Let's be honest, CS beers trade very well. But the price increase and the extra 100 members...will these combine to invalidate the value? Not being contentious, I'm looking for honest opinions.

 

I think if you try and justify the cost increase (which is a sizable chunk of change, tax aside) by including "re-sale" on a gray market, then you're probably closer to looking for a reason to get out (or not join) than you are joining up. Last year I didn't think twice about signing up (a good friend of mine had just moved to Denver, so instant trustee) because the beer was delicious.

I'll probably re-up again this year, but still have some reservations of price increases elsewhere. I'd love to know if there will be tax charged on additional allocation sales, and if additional bottles will be $10.20 again, or if they too will see a price increase.

I guess my personal gut feeling is the day I think of it as an investment for hopes a larger return (either in beer, other people's enjoyment etc.) I may pull out and actually have that money make money, as a good investment should.

 

Wasn't in it last year and regretted it, which I'm sure 100s feel just like me. Even at $350, only 10% or so will drop but there will be 5x as many to fill their shoes. Minus the costs of the shirt, glasses, and discounts, you're still around $28-30 per 750ml. It makes sense then that the price for their membership specials will be above $12/bottle. Definitely a steep price but people have mentioned The Bruery and Cascade, both of which are readily available to buy online at any time, where tax and shipping adds to the cost. Exclusivity and rarity can always charge more.

As for your 2nd question Scott, will additional CS beer owners over-saturate the market? If you expect the number of people outside of the CS Reserve that want these beers to remain the same, then yes. But I think that number is climbing at a higher rate than the total number of memberships available at this time.

 

Just replying to this to clarify cause I know JWB... Their OG Membership is for a minimum of six 750mls, which he wants to add at least 2 to, which would make it 8 total (wants to over-deliver instead of over-promise). Also gets tshirt, 2 free members only events, an opening party that gets you an additional 1-off 750ml as well. Also there's the wrinkle that it's for a crowdfunding campaign to help him get started and actually make the beer on that scale, so there's an added factor that allows him to charge a bit more than normal.

I understand the comparison but just wanted to throw out that it's not quite the same as just straight pre-selling beer.

 

And if you renew with Wakefield next year its at a discount, not a 25% increase.

CS is making the best sours out there in my opinion and it seems like every batch they roll out is better than the last but man the price increase sucks. I renewed but its got me thinking about how much is too much to be spending on beer, 8% beer at that.