Bell's Black Note (2013)

Bell's is obviously acting intentionally when they go the quiet release route. These releases are rather small, I can only assume that Bell's is looking to spread the limited product as far as they can. By keeping the release quiet, I believe you are able to increase your market for beers such as Black Note.

We can use KBS as an example here. Many people were aware that April 1st was the retail release date, KBS came and went before most people even had a chance to see it hit shelves. With a quieter release, people do not have the time to plan and coordinate, the product is likely to move less quickly giving more, or at least different, customers the opportunity to purchase the beer.

 

On a micro level, this is why I prefer a random release (e.g., on a random day at a random time) vs. a pre-announced timed release. It actually creates more of an opportunity as opposed to everyone and their mother knowing precisely when the beer will be sold and therefore getting in line 4 hours early. Unless you're willing to beat them in line, your chances of actually getting the beer are significantly decreased.

 

No release is entirely random – some amount of information always leaks out. The way Bell's is handling it just means that those with the very best connections are sure to get all the Black Note they want, and the rest of us have to just hope to get lucky.

 

I spoke to a Northwest Indiana liquor store today. They said their distributor told them distribution probably next week, but very limited and that they would likely get none. Makes sense. This store isn't a big craft player.

 

This isn't true at all. No one knew a thing about the Black Note release until it randomly showed up on shelves in Minnesota and then hit the shelves at the General Store a few days later. The employees didn't even know about it until that morning.

 

Locals always have an advantage, that is a given due to nothing more than proximity. If you look at the parking lot when Bell's has a release, there must be a lot of people with the very best connections because the parking lot is full of out of state license plates getting all the Black Note they want (or at least the bottle limit).

To be honest, most of the locals I know are not going crazy and making several purchases to circumvent the bottle limit. The number who do really does not exceed that we could expect with any other release.

 

ONLY??? Like it's a good price. It's $25 a 4-pack here.

 

I think you missed the sarcasm, and the line following the price

 

Thats awesome. This is the first I've heard about black note being in NY at all. I haven't seen it in queens or long island yet.

 

Selling by the case was a good way to keep a lot of people from getting to try it.

 

I was happy to get my two bottles. There were only 32 tickets. $6.99 a bottle.

 

Black Note should probably hit Manhattan before Queens. It's a crapshoot if it hits Long Island. Heard Brooklyn had only 20 cases allocated to stores. Glad I got mine earlier today (Wed). Bottle date was 03/12/14 in case people want to know.

 

Glad you were able to get some. Awesome.

 

I had no idea it was even being released, what with all the KBS hullabaloo.

 

I drove 5 hours roundtrip to get my case of BN. It was worth it to me. Shared with friends, didn't pay out the ass for inflated prices, don't have to chase distro trucks, and didn't have to spend hours going from store to store getting two bottles at a time. Well worth it for me.

 

Got mine yesterday! First timer! :-)

 

Enjoy it! I have gotten 1 bottle the past two years so I was thrilled to get 2 this year!

 

Never tried it yet. I've had a bottle from 2012 that I got in a trade over a year ago and never opened. It'll be nice to try this year's and last year's side by side. I might throw kbs 2013 and 2014 and do a comparison.

 

If you like BA stouts, I'd bet a decent sum of money that it will rank high on your list. Enjoy!

I got a four pack last year and didn't have the discipline to age and haha

And on the KBS topic, I think I'm done aging them very much if at all. It doesn't seem to hold up.

 

sounds like an amazing stout maybe I can trade for one