Other Half Brewing

What are everyone's thoughts on silent releases? There's a lot of bitching about this year's Mexican Cake release over on the South-Atlantic forum. It's a bit of an Apples to Oranges comparison (Westbrook vs OH) as Westbrook distributes to several states, but I thought it was an interesting conversation.

 

Wonder how many cases they were started with?

 

No offense, but bitching over distribution is never interesting.

 

None taken. I was more so referencing how breweries handle their releases. I think we can all agree that people will bitch regardless, no matter how distro/releases are conducted.

 

From their instagram "kolsch brewed with some Maine oats, Mandarina Bavaria and Mosaic hops"

 

As gets mentioned ad nauseam, no method is perfect, and will piss somebody off. But I'm definitely a fan of silent releases. Easy for me to say when it comes to Other Half, I know. But I feel the same way about somewhere like Hill Farmstead. I'd rather drive up there and have a rare chance of a nice surprise, and know that someone that goes 20x more than me has a higher likelihood of scoring something good, than going up for a pre-announced shit-show where nobody is happy.

Edit - but with the lower limits allowing cans to roll into today, I don't think OH are yet at the point where they need to think about this.

 

I like the way you think! That local person who goes to the brewery week in and week out needs to be rewarded. There is room for everyone whether they show up once a week or every 6 months, but rewarding the regulars who keep the brewery afloat is key.

If OH mixed up weekend "selling some cans" and weekday "selling some cans" this could accomplish giving everyone a shot and avoiding said shit-show.

OH doing a great job with all of this and trying to keep the customers happy.

 

I don't think that you could describe yesterday's release as a shit show in any way, shape or form. No one was shut out or missed out, so that alone makes the weekday release a success. OH is doing it the way they're doing it; we, the consumers, need to assess whether or not their way works for us.

 

Wasn't specifically saying yesterday at OH was a shit-show, just a general reference to what some releases at any breweries are. Shit-show is a bit subjective too. By all accounts OH releases handled smoothly, but someone could consider people lining up hours before a breweries opening waiting for beer to be a shit-show even if it is a well run event.

 

Hopefully the crew from BFF doesn't go back for seconds today.

 

Nope, that's simply supply and demand. Like I said earlier, you, the consumer, decides if waiting in a long line for beer is worth it to you.

Or not.

 

the guy taking the money recognized the girl in front of me coming back for 2nd's...politely sent her on her way
i appreciated that

 

What the hell is wrong with people? Really rude and selfish behavior. Glad they weeded her out.

 

Supposedly she wasn't the only one trying. Someone may have even pulled it off by coming back through with a hoodie on for seconds.

I bought a 4-pack of each and some guy asked me to use my extra allotment to buy an extra 4pack of AGE for "his friend". I declined.

Boogie Board Stuntz is just crushing right now. With the Kolsch yeast quality it does actually remind me of a juicier, less grapefruit driven Boat Beer. Very dank right now. Curious to see how it changes over the next week or two.

Also, Mosaic IPA still extremely dank. I was surprised. Also imbibed some Red Wine BA In Absentia and that was nice to check in on, too.

 

I'm just confused why they have to run everyone through the bar area first, instead of straight into the garage (creating a tap/growler line separate from the can purchase line). Even when they don't have a sale that bar can be extremely cramped, as they've clearly outgrown it. Now, the whole process feels like a weekday rush hour subway commute.

That said, I'd do it again for more of these delicious Hop Showers.

 

What's available for sale in cans if I make a trip tomorrow Sunday?

 

I don't know for sure, but I would say 99% chance AGE is gone now or if not will be gone today. Not sure about Hop Showers.

 

I wonder if there's a legal/liability issue with having people go directly into the garage (and bypassing the tap room).

 

Thanks for the info

 

I was thinking same thing.