Westbrook Mexican Cake

You know you didnt have to just stand there waiting in line. The point of numbered tickets and calling people up in numbered order was so that you didnt have to stand in line for 2 hours. Many people were at the bar or outside drinking beers before it was their turn to get bottles.

 

yep, well aware, and I tried to do that. I went inside at one point and tried to get a drink and ended up leaving cuz lines were long, and wasn't sure how soon I would be called as they were never calling numbers, only names, so didn't know if they were at 60, 70, 80, etc. not looking to debate this issue, clearly they are capable of moving the line along efficiently, as they did yesterday, so hopefully they improve their process for the BA release. why make people stand around in the loading bay w/ the doors open in July in Charleston waiting to pick up bottles when they don't have to, when they could be inside enjoying a beer at the bar, or the items on tap outside, or food truck, etc.?

 

The regular MC release is much easier, as there is only one option. BAMC had 3 choices with up to 4 bottles for each person. That takes a bit more time. Rbradley was calling out names slowly to help us sort out orders. We could have had more people, but they were out of tablets to use.

 

Thinking back on yesterday, I'm not sure Westbrook could have changed much about the release to make it work out any better. They received unprecedented demand and did a good job getting people in and out with their bottles efficiently. These guys were seriously busting their asses to get people through the line and were sweating as much as anyone who had been standing outside. It's also not like they had to turn away hundreds of people -- the line had dwindled to a few dozen by the time they ran out, and there will be plenty of options for local pickup before long.

I'm not sure I get the simmering out-of-towners-stealing-from-the-locals sentiment -- I'm lucky that my company was generous enough to give us a four day weekend for Memorial Day, and that's the only reason I was able to come down from Raleigh. I'd wanted to visit the brewery for a while and piled a bunch of business on them beyond just the bottles of Mexican Cake. There are plenty of ways Westbrook could eliminate me from the pool of potential buyers of their beer (eg. announce the release right at 4pm the day of), but I'm hoping they don't resort to that type of measure.

<waves> I was the other guy at the store when you were there.

 

^^^ Small world! I ended finding some great beers at that shop too so it wasn't a total bust of a trip.

 

that's a valid point that I hadn't considered. However, from what I could see while I was waiting at the BA release, almost everyone was opting for the full allotment. another thing there that had me scratch my head was there were 2 people taking payment, but one was for cc only and the other was cash only. considering most people were spending over $160, almost nobody was paying cash, which resulted in a frequent bottleneck at the cc payment station, and the cash person twiddling their thumbs for most of the time instead of being able to take help out by also taking cc payments.
However, I do realize that it is very easy for me to criticize, being on the outside looking in, and i'm sure these special releases are a major pain in the a$$ for u guys, and the last thing you need is to hear somebody complain. I was pressed for time on the day of the release, which is nobody's problem but mine, and almost certainly made me notice these things more. I do love Westbrook, as is evidenced by the ridiculous amount of money I spend on their beers, and I feel very fortunate to be close enough to drive to the brewery.
You guys did do a great job yesterday and I am glad I got some cake, and now that I look like a big whiney bitch, I'll STFU!

 

Drinking one now. It's so much better when it's barely cool. You can taste vanilla, cocoa, cinnamon and peppers way more than when it's cold. I think that goes for all Imperial Stouts.

 

If there are 3 BA variants, I have an idea for the release: Issue numbers, for each person, spin a dreidel. Whatever face comes up means they get 2 bottles of that variety. The 4th face gets you a kick in the crotch and sends you to the back of the line.

 

IMO it should be either 1-2 bottles of each variant per person. I bet it'll be like that.

 

I would like to thank Morgan for being so awesome. She was walking around with a tray with two pitchers of free beer and offering it (IPA and Gose) + 20 glasses, while we were all in line.

 

I think they should have a BA Mexican Cake release WEEK. On the first day, have it be the big celebration with food trucks, etc. and all variants available on draft, but only one variant of bottles for sale. On the subsequent days, have none of the other extraneous things but release the rest of the bottles. On the second day, have the second variant available. And the 3rd day, have the 3rd variant. Or have it be a week and cap it at 1 bottle per person per day. Spreading it out would potentially eliminate the horders and Whalez Bro crowd. Sure this would cater immensely to the local crowd, but Im local so Im biased towards that and proud of it haha.

 

This is officially Whalez Bro status.

 

I still like the idea of only selling BA Mexican Cake to people with a SC driver's license!

 

Those people will just hire/find SC "mules". Still good idea though.

 

I like the week long idea, however do online sales of wristbands/numbers prior, then serve certain #'s Monday-Thursday and Friday is leftovers/unclaimed allotments.

 

Not that I really get into these locals vs. heathen beer hoarders from elsewhere arguments, or that this was even serious; but what makes someone from Greenville (for example) more of a local than someone from, say, Savannah just because of a license? College kids? Recently moved? There's no "fair" way to do that.

I do like the staggered release idea, makes it more of a party too.

 

Breweries take care of locals by putting beer in kegs and then spacing out their releases at the brewery and with local events

 

I consider local the tri - county area but if you want a difference state wise I would say taxes.

 

Maybe give the real locals, ie people from families that have been here for at least 3 generations, to get first crack at the BA variants. We had to put up with so many years of no craft beer, we should be rewarded. I'm prepared to bring lineage proof.

 

As if everyone opposing the stone bill is a newcomer. People from off != bad.

Zip codes. Within 10-20mi of the the brewery. Your zip code is on your dl. Will there be mules? Of course, but shit happens.