Other Half Brewing

Discussion in 'Mid-Atlantic' started by mikeburd1128, Jun 8, 2014.

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  1. BltByKrmn

    BltByKrmn Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2013 New York

    I grew up 15 miles from the brewery. I've lived in the NYC area for 30 years of my life. I have close friends who are close with the owners. My statement still stands.
     
  2. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,145) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Yes, you got us, we made the whole thing up.

    Same for Plan Bee, made that up too. Next release get there around noon, you 'll be fine.

    Cheers!

    Edit- wait a minute, you aren't Bitzy, are you?
     
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  3. BltByKrmn

    BltByKrmn Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2013 New York

    Did I say you made anything up? If it wasn't clear enough, I'll clarify: no one is beating down their door on a regular basis. Yes, they had a few fevered releases, fine. Just like South Hampton had a few fevered releases but no one is beating down their door either.

    That said, nothing CL is producing on a regular basis is highly sought after. Which is exactly why it's not similar to what's going on with OH no less Hill Farmstead which is an outright ridiculous comparison.

    I have no idea what a Bitzy is.
     
  4. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,145) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Yes, perhaps it is you not getting the point. We are talking about Special Releases, not regular distro, and this is why it is EXACTLY the same situation as we are talking about at OH, and hopefully something that will not occur at OH.

    Captain Lawrence STOPPED doing the hyped up special releases, because they turned into shitshows, and attracted Police attention, and probably insurance agent attention as well.

    They still make great special release beer, such as Rosso, and Cuvee de Castleton, and Flaming Fury, and Barrel Selects, and the mere fact that you don't know anything about them, or don't like them if you have ever tried them, is what it is. Now they choose not to put their customers through a shitshow and release them without hype and, usually, with no prior notice.
     
  5. Birmy

    Birmy Initiate (0) Jun 18, 2011 Connecticut

    Hopefully the frequency with which they release will keep the large crowds from happening consistently, and the fact that they are releasing the same beers quickly not Dark Lord that people wait for all year. I also think the location like many have pointed out makes it less then ideal to buying a case or two and bringing it home. Driving there can be fine and it can be a nightmare like anywhere in NYC and having that experience one time or a couple might keep a regular from being a regular.

    After speaking to Sam a few different times he seems to be of the mindset that you should not wait in line or pay a premium, they will make more which is certainly true. I also like that they will be releasing on weekdays once in awhile as well to help people who work weekends which will also keep crowds down. I am sure they want to keep it simple and the more people that show up at once the worse it is for them. There are complaints after every release no matter how well they plan and try, so reducing numbers gives more opportunity for service.
     
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  6. Nmelione

    Nmelione Initiate (0) Dec 28, 2014 New Jersey
    Deactivated

    Yes, I have to take a little over an hour subway from the upper east side and there is no way I can buy two cases and get them back to my apartment. I normally get 1 or 2 4-packs of each.
     
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  7. BltByKrmn

    BltByKrmn Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2013 New York

    Is there a reason you're being belligerent? No, we're not talking about special releases. What beer that OH is releasing in cans a special release?
     
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  8. JimmyGuy

    JimmyGuy Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2014 New York

    How often were those Captain Lawrence releases?

    With Other Half doing a can release every other week it seems more BAU than special
     
  9. thenamestsam

    thenamestsam Initiate (0) Sep 13, 2012 New York

    Would really prefer to see lower limits. I'm sure these releases are a headache for the people at OH, but by keeping the limits so high, it only contributes to the mindset that these are going to sell out within the first 15 seconds which is driving so much of the headache inducing situation. And nobody needs to be buying that much of IPAs that are falling off after a couple weeks anyway.
     
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  10. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,534) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think we need to have an academic discussion regarding what constitutes "special" :grinning:

    Seriously, I get where you're both coming from. No - people aren't lining up outside CL for their IPA, but then again it's not really apples to apples as their IPA is widely distributed/available in bottles.

    Maybe the OH hoppy offerings aren't "special" in the barrel-aged/sour/exotic ingredient sense, but in the limited-run, only available at the brewery sense you can argue that there's a basis for comparison
     
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  11. JimmyGuy

    JimmyGuy Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2014 New York

    "special-ish"
     
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  12. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,534) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Weird - never saw the notification you responded. Now I see why we're talking about HF haha.

    Like I said - I know up front that it was wishful thinking. And while I see where you're coming from, both OH and HF are inconvenient in very different ways.

    I can only use anecdotal evidence based on my experiences, but just to illustrate this - I only live one mile from Other Half, but my wife has been to Hill Farmstead more times than she's been there. Maybe it's just because we both love the countryside up in northern Vermont, but it's been easier to persuade her to go up there for a weekend, than it has been to get her to spend 15 mins walking to OH haha. I guess my point (which as @jrnyc pointed out was definitely under-estimating the average beer geek, but what can I say - I'm an optimist) is that beyond the beer itself, there's not much to incentivize somebody to go to OH, especially if they're not a beer nerd. With HF, assuming you're not agoraphobic or a total city-slicker, once you commit to the long drive, there's a lot to offer.
     
    #2572 rozzom, Jun 2, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2015
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  13. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,145) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Every release in cans has been a special release at OH, and they have had advertised releases in bottles as well. They could send the whole run to stores without any announcement. they don't.

    Not trying to be belligerent, it seems you are purposely misunderstanding that we are talking about the lines outside of breweries, and the possibility of them turning in to shit shows. It is a function of demand outstripping supply, and using rarity marketing to whip up hype. Don't mean to seem like I am angry I am not, but I must admit it is frustrating a bit to try and communicate with you, as though you are purposely misunderstanding. My apologies.

    Maybe I am misunderstanding. If so, please point me the right way, and explain if we aren't talking about these advertised releases of beers, like the upcoming one on Sat. at OH, and the shit shows they can turn in to, like they were at Captain Lawrence, than what are we talking about? Thanks.
     
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  14. SpeedwayJim

    SpeedwayJim Pooh-Bah (2,753) Jun 19, 2009 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Genuinely curious... when is the last time CL did a silent release? Maybe I don't check their website enough but nothing's been released at the tasting room since Hops and Roses right? (Besides FF at special event Sour'd)
     
  15. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,145) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Well some of us expected Flaming Fury and the different barrel selects at last year's Sour'd, but they haven't put any bottles out since then, that I know of at the brewery, or around here (New Paltz) either. Smoke from the Oak kegs have been around, and some really tasty pilot batches show up on the regular. Widely rumored that CdC is gonna release at this year's Sour'd, and that they made a lot.

    I haven't been to the brewery in a while, maybe others can answer better.

    I will say it was a great pleasure to be able to buy Rosso E Marrone bottles for two months after last (silent) release on local bev. store shelves.
     
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  16. SpeedwayJim

    SpeedwayJim Pooh-Bah (2,753) Jun 19, 2009 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Good to hear. I've been under the impression that CL has mostly abandoned their sour barrel-aged beer projects... besides FF, their stance on these beers has mostly been to tell people that they're "coming" but with nothing really in the works. After 2+ years of this, I've pretty much abandoned hope.
     
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  17. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,145) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I hear ya, but too many brewery employees have commented on how much CdC there is, and sooner or later it has to be ready to go. Hope springs eternal, I guess haha.

    Keep your eye on my friend Derek Dellinger who now is brewmaster at Kent Falls in Connecticut, gonna be some crazy wonderful stuff coming out of that brewery in very near future, speaking of breweries in out of the way places that likely will be overrun with rabid beer geeks seeking BA wilds, saisons, and sours.
     
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  18. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,145) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    So...

    Anyone on line yet?
     
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  19. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,534) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah there's a guy standing outside and he appears to be using his ipad to access the internet
     
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  20. MisterBisco

    MisterBisco Initiate (0) Feb 18, 2009 New York

    I'll be the first to openly say it here - I think the visitor's experience at OH down right sucks. Too-cool-for-school bartenders aside, you've got a dinky (and easily overcrowded) 12'x12' space that, up until now, was a hot, steamy mess when there were more than 5 people there. Additionally, when it actually is crowded, the only place to stand becomes the unintentional social space of the brewery loading area which, aside from essentially being a large parking space, usually smells like garbage. As in, really smells like garbage.

    Do I like going for releases? Sure, especially since I'll usually run into one or two folks that I know. That said, I wouldn't even begin to classify it as a destination unto itself, were it not for the always-outstanding-or-better beer on tap and for growler fills. But me? I'm crossing my fingers they open up some kind of more consumer-friendly space sooner than later.
     
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