Trade value observations and how it doesn't make any sense

I think part of it is also that there's no more front page, where every forum you're subscribed to pops up when you are on the main page. I used to almost exclusive look for threads on the front page, but anymore I hang around the Great Lakes, Beer Talk, and Trading forums MUCH more than any other topics (with the main page setup, I was subscribed to almost all of the US regions, as well as the trading forums). I don't do as much "trade homework" (reading reviews, hawking regional forums, etc.), so to speak, so I've kinda become one of those annoying traders who doesn't always know what he's looking for specifically, just says things like "I just want some good beers, brah". I apologize to my regulars for that

 

Seconded. That's exactly my case as well.

 

I started using the What's New tab. Unfortunately you can't unsubscribe from things so there is a little clutter, but it works similar to the old homepage so I enjoy it

 

That's the weird thing though... I find that I actually enjoy the new setup better. I'm less informed (maybe, I still spend way too much fucking time on this site ), but happier

The American Way, I suppose...

 

FWIW, I do remember going crazy for the new barrel selects and then I tried them...I wasnt going crazy anymore after tasting them. CdC is still good, but isn't anywhere as good as the 750 versions.

 

But there were only 240 bottles of each, they didn't taste rare? I was pretty pissed when I came up short for those, but apparently it was for the best.

 

Coolship Red was really good. Honestly most all of their other sours were pretty average (at best). The hype is dead because it deserves to be dead.

 

arent the bell's 750 releases silent? and those beers trade huge

 

If a beer is really genuinely spectacular, the reviews should reflect that and the hype should follow naturally - regardless of whether the release was announced or silent. Of course, sometimes there are just too few bottles to make anyone take notice. For example, NEBCO's Chardonneighbor of the Beast was one of the most spectacular barrel-aged beers I've ever had, and at only 300 bottles seemed like it should have commanded some serious trade value. After being out for a few months, though, it still only has six reviews - and six reviews, even with a 4.61 average, isn't going to make anyone pay attention.

On the bright side, the lack of hype over the delicious CL Mother Barrel means I'll probably be able to pick up a few more bottles at my leisure next week.

 

This is a huge point. I certainly spend plenty of time on here but constantly clicking to every single forum takes way too much time. I basically look at trading, general, and new england forums regularly - but then only occasionally click on some of the others.

Also, to add to this - the ISO/FT is inundated with noobs who have never even heard of Captain Lawrence or Allagash Coolship. If they can't easily see the release forum, they don't even know about them. Thus the people driving a lot of the trade demand these days legitimately believe that KBS, BCBS, and King Henry are the rarest things out there.

 

If no one knows about the release no one is going to ISO it. I also figure a lot people keep the chatter about silent releases to a minimum. People outside of a 2 hour drive pretty much give up and locals get it for themselves.

It's interesting that people are so ready and willing to drive 3+ hours in the middle of the night to stand in line all morning but when a beer gets a silent release and you can show up at your leisure for at least a month no one bothers. Though a big problem with Allagash was that the retail shop was closed on weekends and anyone outside of an hour's drive and a normal 9-5 job was out of luck.

I like the silent releases. They are very good for anti-hype. Wish I could've gotten that Chardonneighbor of the Beast though.

 

Yep, probably a good idea. Big release parties and beernews are bad things for this community, in my opinion as the hyped releases really brought out the worst in people and lead to all this ******ed hysteria.

 

Is that a serious question? Yes, I think we would have the same options today without having had a bunch of insane camp-out beer releases in the middle of nowhere. How were these clusterfuck releases a "key element" to the current state of craft beer? The craft beer community is much, much bigger than beeradvocate or ratebeer and is driven by consumers wanting good, readily available, diverse quality beers, not by hype, hysteria, and limited bottles.

 

Dude.... I heard hype made brewers like totally bummed out man...

 

A tiny minority of limited release geek-focused beer have almost NOTHING to do with the current growth of craft beer.

Do you really think 2000 bottles that get gobbled up by a tiny number of people have any influence on the national growth of craft beer?

Ever hear of SN Pale Ale? Blue Moon? Fat Tire?

 

Allagash and CL aren't the "hyped breweries" at the moment like they were a couple years ago. The current "hyped breweries" include HF and Upright.

 

That's absurd, but we obviously won't agree. This starting point for this conversation was that when ultra-limited releases (Allagash, Captain Lawrence) go unannounced, the beers become less sought after and easier to obtain. I agreed with an above poster that not announcing these ultra-limited releases is better for the community as we can now avoid these freakin sleepover, line-cutting, drunk at 7am in a parking lot situations. You responded that these "hysteria" situations have helped bring about the widespread acceptance and superior selection of craft beer. As any sane person would do, I questioned whether this was even a serious point you were making.

Maybe we're just talking about different things. If you're saying that people's desire to drink craft beer has led to a greater selection of craft beer, I'll agree. Yay. If you're sticking to the point that hysteria over ultra-limited bottle releases has somehow led to this greater selection and general utopia, well then I'm afraid I can't help you anymore, man.

 

Limited releases create word of mouth. Take DLD for example... People I talked with about DLD, who know essentially nothing about craft beer, were essentially "sold" on craft beer just by explaining a little bit about why it's cool. Hell, even people my friends work with (even their bosses) the week before DLD were chattering about it. It's all about getting the word out, no matter how limited or difficult getting the beer may be.

 

A tiny fraction, maybe. 1% on a good day.

but in the overall world of people who drink good beer, how many have even heard of BCS Rare? RR Sours? etc.? The latest limited release trade-bait whale has nothing to do with the craft beer market as a whole. NOTHING.

I mean, thanks to the people on these trade forums, hardly anyone has access to those beers anyway. How would they have any impact?

 

So the 10 people you talked to about DLD not only started drinking craft beer because of said stories, but also had a national impact on the overall craft beer market?

Impressive.