Parabola in Chicago

My buddy who manages the beer section at a small grocery store just texted me that they got their case.

 

Again. I appreciate you sharing your insights. Thanks for that. The points that you bring up in the paragraph above are certainly legitimate, because there needs to be a matter of getting from point A to points B,C,D efficiently. That's not to be argued by any rational being. However, the concerns that I have are related to how much of the big3 is on those trucks. This MAY be a matter of the craft breweries not having enough product to ship out to every location, but I feel like it's a hastle for some breweries to get space on the truck.
The following may or may not serve as a good example, I'll hope for the best. I don't think that Binny's is probably ever close to selling out of cases of Bud. However, they can't seem to keep a six pack of Gumballhead on the shelf. If FFF was able to produce enough GBH to have a six pack left on the shelf on the following Wednesday, I don't believe that the big3 would allow for the truck space to be taken up without consequences being delivered to someone, someway. That being so even with the many cases of their product taking up space in the storage room of the liquor store. I have no experience with the backroom of a Binny's, so maybe I'm wrong. But I am led to believe that they have a lot of piss in bottles taking up space. There's a lot of conjecture here, so please go easy on me if I am incorrect!

Also, if I am highjacking this thread, I apologize in advance to all who are upset. I know a lil blue dot here makes me think there some chance that I may win the "parabola lotto", and I'd hate to know that I got someone's hopes up unnecessarily.

 

FFF said that if they switched to brewing nothing but Gumballhead, they still couldn't meet the demand for the beer. There is something real to the issue of the big 3 having too much power over distribution, but there's also a real lack of supply on most well liked beers, and we're lucky when we can get them.

 

For those that inquired the shop I mentioned is Olivia's Market in Bucktown. They got one case and are limiting it to two bottles a person. Grab some other stuff while you're there

 

Thanks for posting the info! Really wish I would have known that 30 mins ago on my way home as I drove past it. Not prepared to drive back through traffic now, probably would miss out anyway

 

Thanks! I got what I thought was the last bottle, then the guy pulled out another case. They closed at 9 though....

 

I cant keep Gumballhead on my shelf because one out of every 5 people that walks into my store asks for it and FFF only brews so much of it. That's it. Nothing more. Demand outpaces supply, driving up "hype" factor and leading to shortages. For reference, i have had instances where a case of FFF has not made it to the floor because the delivery came in as people were asking for it and they wanted to wait for the cases to hit the floor, and then when someone else saw it, they asked for a six pack, then another, then another, until we sold out of everything. Literally.

They are also distributed by one of the aforementioned "Craft" distributors, and have been for a very long time, so no issue on truck space there. No distributor in their right mind would want to give up space to a product that sells itself by the time it hits the floor.

As for my back room, you're supposed to ask a lady out first before conjecturing upon her back room.

 

I've seen Adam's back room. A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell, though.

 

Distribution patterns and buying opportunities are all so funny -- my BA tasting tonight was made even better when a friend of mine who lives in Logan Square brought a bottle each from the last two vintages of Parabola , which I have yet to be able to get out here in the western 'burbs (oddly, he hadn't had Sucuba before, so I was happy to share with him and my other compadres). Yet he and the other two guys who came in from the city were impressed/shocked to see that I had nearly two full cases of ZD in my garage....

 

My co-workers and managers know to simply transfer inquiries to me or to answer with a straightforward "I don't know". Eventually, after not knowing something so many people seem to want to know about, they'll ask me, after which point I keep them updated with what I know. The second I know something, others will know it. Now if only I knew anything about this damn Parabola release... (shakes fist at distributors and FW for making him look bad)

Oh, and when you're hunting for a beer, don't call: stop in. Trust me, this is not just my hatred of the phone (infernal invention...): I know I can't speak for all beer guys out there, but I, for one, appreciate it more when people actually take the time to come in and speak to me face-to-face, rather than mass-emailing or phone-blitzing a bunch of stores looking to score a bottle or two. Plus, it's always helpful if the beer guy remembers your face...

 

Not gonna out anyone's secret store. Check beermenus
Limit 1.

 

Binny's on Grand got 3 cases around 1pm. There's a list but I think it's not full and i did see a walkup get one. limit 1. $14.99.

Good luck!

 

Available at the Binnys in Lakeview. One bottle limit.

 

BS list on Grand. I called twice this week adn no one told me about a list. Raised hell to no avail

 

I aggressive. I've called them half a dozen times over the past few weeks. Spoke to their beer guy every time and never once told me about a list. Hell when I called yesterday they said it would be in today like I could just go get it. I will not shop there again.

Kind of annoying that it finally hit so many stores today and I went out of town. Awesomely I found plenty of bottles in DC at $15 so I really shouldn't complaints.

Also Fischmans was thinking they would get Parabola today if anyone wants to call and check with them

 

how much was left at lakeview? i'm a handful of blocks away from work but won't be done for another couple of hours at least. ...ah crap i just spent the last of my liquid cash and i need a new debit card. DOH time to search for a branch.

 

I don't think the list has been around for very long because I called this morning and was put on the list and it wasn't very long, I was something like the 10th person on the list. I would call a politely ask to be put on the list.

I will say that for all this screwiness of misinformation and misorganization of distribution that was this cluster fcuk known as the Parabola release, the people at Binny's on Grand today were super nice about it. I think the two beers guys names were Matt and Dave (or David) and when I called this morning to inquire about their shipment today they were super nice and said "haven't got it yet, beer truck should deliver it around noon, then we'll unload and it should be available around 1. Limit 1 bottle, oh and by the way do you want me to put you on the list to set aside a bottle?"
Then when I went in there just after 1pm they were still de-palletizing the beers but Dave (or David, sorry don't remember exactly) stopped unloading and specifically unloaded the parabola and gave me the first bottle. A real class act.

 

They decided to create a list today for a beer that people have been inquiring about for weeks? Wow. I don't know how one could reconcile days of telling customers "it'll be here soon" with then telling later customers "hey, want us to reserve one for you?" Talk about changing horses mid-stream... not to mention incentivizing people to call your store EVERY SINGLE MORNING and give your employees the third degree for any future rare release.

 

And Dave was out to lunch when I was raising "Hell". Stuck around to give him a piece of my mind but had to go back to work.
2 cases at LV Binny's at 4pm and Zombie Dust at a reasonable price as well.

 

I was feeling the same way since I've also been calling for the past 2 weeks and always asked about a list. I don't know if they just decided to create a list today or not, all I'm saying is that every time I asked about a list for the past 2 weeks they said they didn't have one, then when I called today they offered to put me on the list. It was completely unsolicited on my part, they were the ones who openly offered.

moefriedman - If you were unable to get a bottle then I'd be pissed too. If that's the case then I'm sorry bro. If I could have bought more then one then I'd give you one.