Your thoughts on Alpine's decision?

Good for them I say. I'd say it's a huge win for those in SD who enjoy this on tap at the brewery, but a slight loss for those who enjoy an ice cold growler of the stuff at home during the super bowl, man do I love DIPA growlers on Superbowl. Some assholes ruined my Younger Growler for Superbowl, and now those who enjoyed a nice growler this on Superbowl Superbow Superbowl, no longer can. I still support the brewerys choice. Don't blame the brewer, blame the baying anuses. Both the sellers and buyers.

 

I think its a bit of a mixed bag, arguements for both sides.

However the true problem is not Pat, or the sellers, the problem is that all but 2 of the listings on that page are "Sold".

 

I have somewhat mixed feelings about this one, but I lean towards the side of overreaction. Alpine has a few other beers that are currently up on the 'Bay. Does this mean that they will stop bottling these as well?

The eBay thing is just a product of a growing market, and I think it's a somewhat slippery slope to stop bottling/growler-ing a particular highly sought-after beer just because it's showing up on there. These days, it is just a product of producing high quality beer. Sucks that it is that way, but unless a contingent of craft brewers devote resources to flagging these eBay posts and enacting real change in the way eBay runs things, there's not much that will stop it from happening.

 

It looks like the growler didn't even sell.

 

I appreciate and agree with much of what you say. I fully admit I am idealistic when it comes to topics of this nature but I am not naive. This is a much bigger issue than just Alpine and this action will ultimately not solve much of anything. When it comes down to it however, if you believe in something so deeply you have to stand up for it. I cannot support the idea that there is nothing you can do about it so you might as well not even try. The brewer is talking a stand, I applaud that.

 

You can't fault someone for standing by their principles. Especially if standing by them could cost you $$$. You may not agree with the principle or the reaction but that is not really the point.

 

That's fair, I just get tired of seeing posts bashing eBay all the time without anything really being done about it. I won't claim to know a whole lot about the intricacies of it, but I wouldn't think it would take a whole lot of lobbying to convince eBay to, ya know, actually enforce their own rules. Perhaps that is me being naive.

 

this. i'm fully behind the brewer's rationale and decision here.

 

The sellers found the loophole saying they are selling "collectible bottles" and that is good enough for eBay to turn a blind eye. I would definitely agree that it would take an overwhelming response to make it worth ebays time to enforce. Much like other complaints on these forums (bottle dating and freshness particularly) people like to complain but taking action is too much work.

 

I know for a fact that the GROWLER seller pulled it off Ebay because of the warning that was made about not selling anymore growlers. Very commendable on the sellers side to do so I thought. I dont see any harm in buying beer off Ebay . Unscrupulous people do exist and while the few may ruin it for the many I say live and let live !!!

 

I see you actually read the threads as well! I try to refrain from complaining much.

 

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Dear wassailwilly2,

I heard the owner of Alpine mention that if he saw any growlers on eBay, he'd stop growler fills completely, so I didn't wanna be responsible for jeopardizing that for other people.I removed the growler in hopes to keep this from getting out of hand.

Cheers,

- trastrifecta
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Is there a time stamp on when he took it down? If it was after the Alpine newsletter he's obviously just covering his own ass since people on BA can be quite persistent about finding people responsible for bad things and giving them shit about it endlessly.

 

To: wassailwilly2
From: trastrifecta
Sent: Jan-26-12 09:06 AM

 

I guess there is no harm in buying beer from Ebay unless you consider the possibility that you can fill a growler with anything you want and call it anything you want. I guess buyer beware.

 

Shit that's waay before the newsletter isn't it? Its refreshing to see and eBay seller that actually respects a brewer's wishes.

 

was trying to sell it in the first place. exploitative scum. if you want to get into the beer business, start a brewery or a bottle shop.

 

I am 100% behind his statement. His product, his protection rights. Somebody can sell a growler that was opened already, flat, and the product is misrepresented. In that case, the seller isn't seen in a bad light, the beer is.

My brother-in-law and sister were fortunate enough to be able to fly out to Russian River from New York for Younger Day. If he received a half flat, oxidized growler of Younger on eBay he probably wouldn't search out other Russian River brews. Instead, they went out there and drank pints of the stuff and contributed to the brewery directly. Vinnie makes virtually no money on Younger and does it for the love of the fans and brewing in general.

I understand that once the growler passes hands to the consumer, it is now their property to do with as they wish, but the person who made this beautiful beer possible asked not to do something and people (a person) betrayed his wishes. In order to protect the quality of his product he chose to cut benefits. Good for him, as second hand growler sales help him out in no way whatsoever. He fronted the capital for the brewery, ingredients and the time to make the product. It's his right to have it represented how he chooses.

Trading beers is a completely different animal. It grows the hobby and there's less, albeit come, of a chance that the product will be represented improperly.

 

maybe with the time they save not filling growlers they can start bottle dating.

 

Isn't there the "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone" that pubs use? ID everyone, and if they aren't local, refuse to provide the growler filling service. Then, if a growler ends up on ebay again, blame the locals.