Smuttlabs: Shebang Triple IPA Release

Discussion in 'New England' started by JayT, Oct 23, 2014.

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  1. JayT

    JayT Initiate (0) May 21, 2004 New Hampshire

    This Saturday at the Towle Farm brewery, the next Smuttlabs beer, Shebang, will be released to the public. It's a single 50 barrel batch of triple IPA, weighing in at 10.5% abv and featuring a blend of Bravo, Zeus, Summit, Pacific Gem, Falconer's Flight and Centennial hops. Bottles ($10/375ml) are brewery-only and kegs will be shipping out to all our US markets, but there aren't many of them.

    We'll see you at the farm!

    JT
     
  2. bluehende

    bluehende Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2010 Delaware

    $10 a bottle :grimacing:
     
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  3. EnronCFO

    EnronCFO Pooh-Bah (2,193) Mar 29, 2007 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Seriously. Works out to $17+ bomber-equivalent price. I can get a growler of Trillium Congress St. for that price. Or 3-4 bottles of Hop Stoopid.
     
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  4. smanson56

    smanson56 Pooh-Bah (2,070) Feb 15, 2014 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah

    Wow $10 a bottle must be golden hops. Mastermind is only $10 a 4 pac.
     
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  5. bluehende

    bluehende Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2010 Delaware

    That is the worst part. In home brewing they are some of the cheapest hops around.
     
  6. EnronCFO

    EnronCFO Pooh-Bah (2,193) Mar 29, 2007 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm not a brewer, but I looked that line-up and said "It's not cascade, but those seem pretty common". If it was galaxy and other harder to get varieties, maybe. But even then I'm not sure.
     
  7. Jesse14

    Jesse14 Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2011 Massachusetts

    I think it might be more about the amount of grain needed to reach that high ABV and the amount of hops needs to balance it out with the right bitterness level. Not so much the hop varieties. I still agree though that it is too rich for my blood.
     
  8. bluehende

    bluehende Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2010 Delaware

    Brewing a 5 gallon batch of this ABV would be about 20 lbs of grain. I can buy it for 1.25 a lb by the lb. I would guess I would use 8 to 10 ozs of hops. With these variety's I can get them for about 12 dollars a lb. With a few extras I could guess 35 or less for 50 beers. A brewery should be buying the supplies for half that. They also should have much better efficiency than I can get. If you add a pretty good fudge factor 50 cents a bottle for ingredients is a good guess. I know they have tons of other costs and this is not the biggest. It is however is the biggest difference between this beer and brewing a pale ale.
     
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  9. trevorpost

    trevorpost Pooh-Bah (2,054) Aug 3, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Small batch = expensive. Packaging is a huge cost. If memory serves, the other Smuttlabs beers I've seen have been about $7 or $8 for a 375ml.
     
  10. emannths

    emannths Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2007 Massachusetts

    I think it's more because you need find fewer suckers to buy an overpriced smaller batch... :wink:
     
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  11. smanson56

    smanson56 Pooh-Bah (2,070) Feb 15, 2014 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah

    May just have to head that way on Saturday and take the tour again they should have samples after the tour just to see if it's anything special. But that's the only way I'll taste not for $10 a bottle.
     
  12. NAPO

    NAPO Pundit (819) Jan 7, 2014 Massachusetts

    Is this a joke? $10 for a damn 375ml? I'll pass and instead wait for Jack's Abby's Triple IPL.
     
  13. Pahn

    Pahn Initiate (0) Dec 2, 2009 New York

    costs too much. if packaging is driving that price, should have been draft only.

    sounds like a really nice beer though.
     
  14. WeymouthMike

    WeymouthMike Savant (1,097) Jun 22, 2004 Massachusetts

    Since when is 50 barrel a small batch? 1500+ gallons @375ml is not rare
     
  15. Newport_beerguy

    Newport_beerguy Pooh-Bah (1,860) Feb 24, 2011 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Glad I had a taste at Beervana last week. Very good but at that price I'll pass on the bottles.

    That said, my guess is now that Smutty is more of a destination brewery they will have no problem moving these...
     
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  16. jefffalcone

    jefffalcone Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2013 Massachusetts

    I agree with everyone else. This goes too far. Too rich for my blood.
     
  17. jefffalcone

    jefffalcone Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2013 Massachusetts

    Yup. I'm sure you're right. but I hope not.
     
  18. dennho

    dennho Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2006 New York

    I had some at Beervana and it was one of my favorites.
    I've brewed five gallon batches with 16 lbs. of grain and 10 oz. of similar hops but I rarely make something this good. It would cost me around $25.00 a case for ingredients, but what's my time worth? What's my kettle, burner, fridge....worth? What's my shelf full of books about brewing worth? The name Smuttlabs implies experimentation. That's going to add cost too.
    Yes, it's expensive but I don't think anyone is retiring off the profit on this.
     
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  19. EnronCFO

    EnronCFO Pooh-Bah (2,193) Mar 29, 2007 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    I just can't wrap my head around how this beer is $10 for a 12oz bottle and the Wheat Wine, Barleywine and Baltic Porter are 22oz for like $6. Also, how is it going to be priced on draft if the bottles are this much?
     
  20. T-RO

    T-RO Pundit (886) Nov 9, 2012 New Hampshire
    Society Trader

    I'm a big Smuttynose fan and generally run over and grab any and all smuttlabs releases not knowing if they will be $6 or $12 ... this time I'll probably pass and buy a 4 pack of Big A which is awesome and like $12 for 4 pack? @ 9% abv
     
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