Your thoughts on Alpine's decision?

That was in reply to someone else, I think the point I was trying to make was clear there. The only reason I bring in RR is because of the double standard I perceive. I do not always agree with Pat and Alpine, if the old forum was up you could read my opinion on the Ichabod issue. I do believe he can go a bit overboard from time to time. I just agree with him here. Nothing offends me in this thread, I am just opinionated and enjoy and get caught up in the debate. It is difficult to determine my intent by words alone but if we were sitting down having a beer this would definitely be a friendly debate.

 

Ok so my 2 cents is that the RR analogy doesn't really hold. From what I've heard the rationale for RR not doing growler fills was partly about quality control but mostly about the fact that by doing growler fills they were running out a lot earlier so that more people didn't get to try the beer. I have no problem with Pat not doing growler fills, I think his reason is maybe a bit of an overreaction but totally justified, he just came across like a bit of a dick the way he worded, absolutely "taking my ball."

What I do have a serious problem with is the fact that he said they aren't going to announce any of their releases more than a day or two in advance. The only reasoning for this is that he wants to protect his local customers, but again from the tone in the newsletter, he makes it sound like he thinks anyone who isn't from San Diego should go to hell and he doesn't want their business. RR doesn't do this, they don't do growler fills fine, but they announce their release for PtY months in advance so that people from out of town can plan accordingly and everyone who wants to try the beer can get a good shot at it. This isn't a question of whether or not it's within Pat's right to not do growler fills, it is, and as RR has shown there are very good reasons for not doing growler fills, re-selling on ebay is not the best reason. I think if he was willing to announce releases ahead of time, no one on this forum would have a right to complain. Not to bring up entitlement, but I think we as customers (or potential-customers) have a right to be upset when a brewer basically says he doesn't want our business because we're from out of town.

 

Russian River has done quite bottle releases before for the very same reason. Letting everyone know sound like a nice thing to do but turning a release into a circus really does not benefit anyone. If the old forums were available you would see all the people praising Bell's for the unannounced releases with their 750ml bottles.

Until someone from San Diego start complaining it is hard for me to take these complaints seriously.

 

I mean of course it isn't going to hurt the San Diego market, but I don't live in San Diego, I live in Chicago. However, I was able to fly to RR last month for PtY, and yeah it was a total circus but everyone had a really good time, so you can't say it doesn't benefit anyone, it benefits the people who are willing to travel distance to try a great beer and wouldn't be able to under different circumstances. We all talk about how cool it is to have different beer cultures in different regions of the US with special beers only available in CA for example, but what's the point if people from other regions don't even have the information to be able to get a crack at them in the first place? California can have it's own great beer culture, but why would a guy from Chicago care unless I actually go there and am allowed to drink some of it, see what I'm getting at?

 

There are plenty of beers to try and we are focusing on one. If someone were to be traveling through San Diego I would hope that there would have a chance to try too many amazing beers that they would not care about the one they missed. If something happens to be on tap that is a surprise it just makes the trip that much better. No one is saying that you are not allowed to drink anything, keeping it quiet can provide a more enjoyable experience to the local and the visitors who are passing through. Sure, advance notice can benefit some, it will not benefit all everytime. Often widespread information causes more harm than good.

The fact that people are focusing so much on one beer no longer being available in growlers and not being announced is just another indication that the community as a whole priorities may be a bit backwards. There are too many great beers in Chicago for a Windy City local to complain. I hope you get to try amazing beer when you travel but just feel it would be beneficial not to expect anything and it may be more rewarding when you are surprised.

 

Never had an Alpine beer, and couldn't really give two shits if I ever do. I'm just tired of people whining about eBay.

 

I doubt they stop bottling it due to the revenue it creates for the brewery.

 

Nicely played sir!

 

i can agree with that. i don't see anything wrong with ebay in general, though i get annoyed with people that drive to a release JUST to buy up beer to resell. then again, if their time is worth a $30 profit for 2 hours of driving and 2 hours of waiting in line, i'm willing to pay that. i'm a humble guy, but my time is more valuable.

 

Really? Its got to be a joke at this point, right?

 

again with the insinuations that i'm not a guy? what the hell is happening to ba?

 

No, I believe you are a guy. It is the humble part I do not believe. You know, since you seem to mention it in every 5th post or so.

 

Shit you have never been to Philly area. We have tons of RR on top. This is happening Monday.


It’s time for another Monk’s Mad Monday
This is our annual Russian River Pliney the Younger event
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Fundraiser
Please Bring Plenty of Cash

Once again, we are raising money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Fergie & I are paying for the keg of Younger ($410) and are donating 100% of the sales of Pliney the Younger to this charity. We were lucky enough to get a half keg this year instead of the usual sixth keg. That means instead of having 640 ounces of beer to raise money for this cancer charity, we will have 1984 ounces. We will raise over $3,000 from the keg of Pliney the Younger, but we want more from you.

Our goal is to raise $10,000 &
we need your help to reach that goal

We will be pouring on draft:
1. Russian River Blind Pig
2. Russian River Consecration
3. Russian River Damnation
4. Russian River Pliney the Elder
5. Russian River Pliney the Younger - CASH ONLY!
6. Russian River Supplication

Now back to the fundraising aspect of the event:
We will be pouring 6 ounce glasses of Younger for $10 CASH ONLY -100% of which goes to the charity. We will raise over $3,000 from this beer alone.
We will also donate 10% of our sales of all other Russian River beers. We need your help to reach our goal of $10,000. Please come out to support Alex’s Lemonade Stand and enjoy great beer while doing just that.


One More Treat:
A friend is bringing a keg of New Belgium La Folie as a BYOB and will be pouring from a picinic tap. He is requesting a $10 cash donation for a glass - again 100% of which will go to this charity. CASH ONLY!


RAFFLES
4 separate raffles.
Only 100 tickets sold for each raffle @ $10 Cash each.
The more tickets you buy the better your odds of winning
100% of the raffle money will go to Alex’s Lemonade Stand
Need not be present to win
RAFFLE TICKETS ARE CASH ONLY

I dug deep into my personal collection to come up with these outstanding groupings of rare beer. This is a chance of a lifetime to get your hands on these beers.

Raffle 1 - Lambics all bottles are 750ml
Boon Framboise Mariage Parfait 1986
Cantillon Gueuze 2000
Cantillon Iris 1996
De Cam Geuze bottled 2007
3 Fonteinen 1999 Geuze
3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze bottled 2001
3 Fonteinen Schaerbeeks Kriek bottled 2005
3 Fonteinen Armand’Spirit Eau de Vie of Oude Geuze

Raffle 2 - Belgian Trappiste
Achel Blonde - 2 bottles
Achel Bruin - 2 bottles
Achel Extra - 1 750ml bottle
Chimay Grand Cru
Chimay Premiere
Chimap Triple
Orval (fresh) - 2 bottles
Orval (aged) - 2 bottles
Rochefort 6 - 2 bottles
Rochefort 8 - 2 bottles
Rochefort 10 - 2 bottles
Westmalle Double - 2 bottles
Westmalle Triple - 2 bottles
Westleteren Blonde - 2 bottles (good chance they are oxidized)
Westvleteren 8 - 2 bottles
Westvleteren 12 - 2 bottles

Raffle 3 - US Rarities all bottles are 750ml
Grand Teton Black Cauldron Imperial Stout
New Belgium La Folie
New Holland 10th Anniversary Moxie Sour Ale
3 liter bottle of Threee Philosophers signed by brewer Randy Theil
Port Cuvee de Tomme
Russian River Supplication bottled in 2005 (12.8oz)
Russian River Toronado 20th Anniversary


Raffle 4 - Philly Beer Scene (thanks to Mat Falco)
Guest spot on the Tasting Room Panel
2 cans of Alchemist Heady Topper
Weyerbacher Riserva 2010
Weyerbacher Riserva 2011
Philly Beer Scene logo T-shirt
Philly Beer Scene Posters from 2010 & 2012
THIS IS THE NEW STUFF FROM JERRY VIETZ:
all these items have been signed by Jerry.
2 - Grande Reserve 17 750ml
2 - Cherry 17 (very rare) 750ml
2 - Special Christmal Ale (not even available on the market) 750ml
2- Replica Bowler Hats, just like Jerry always wears

 

wanted to stop posting here BUT i meant always. not sometimes. most bars only have one on at a time

 

whew. glad you clarified. yes, i am humble, too.

 

I regret ever being farther than 30 minutes by car away from monks.

 

If I really cared, I'd pull a "Levitation" and post links to all of the posts where you mentioned that you were humble in a completely serious manner. It would be slightly amusing.

 

rr doesnt make enough beer to have 3 taps secured at every bar they have an account with. i know a few bar owners who would die to get just one rr tap let alone a "mandatory" 3, but they are not taking on any new accounts at this time

 

but you do care, because you keep responding when i mention it. i, being humble, am flattered, but i won't let it get to my head.

 

Amen brother