Russian River Beatification Batch 007

We got there a little after 9am. Got bottles almost seven hours later. A friend showed up at like 6 pm and only had to wait about 30 minutes. Good times. What can you do. We were worried about possibly getting shut out if we didn't get there in the AM, given the frenzy about it and state of craft beer nerdery in 2015.

 

About 15 people in line now

 

I hate beer

 

Coming from someone that stood in line for Batch 5, Batch 6 and Batch 7... That was aweful. 7 hours in line just isn't worth it. I ended up sticking it out but I felt trapped. I was in too deep already and had to stay. I won't be doing that again unless RR changes something.

For Batch 5 and Batch 6, I spent a maximum of 2 hours in line.

I do have to commend Russian River though for trying to keep track of names of who purchased the beer. I'm assuming they're entering first and last names into a computer.

 

The whole rope thing yesterday makes more sense now lol

 

We felt the same way. After about two hours of the line not speeding up a single bit it was like we've wasted way too much time already to leave empty-handed. We were pot-committed so to speak. I get that it would have moved quicker if they were only selling the Beatification but the fact of the matter is that their packaged beers are essentially only available at the pub anymore. You bet your sweet ass I also maxed out on PtE and Temptation.

 

I got in line at about 4:10am. Didn't get an approximate position but I'd say no more than 100-110 people were ahead of us. We didn't get our bottles until 10:30 or so. It was pretty brutal and much the same as the rest of you - We had already spent 4 hours in line, may as well wait it out. The line was moving very slow but I guess their systems went down, so whenever someone paid with a card they had to run into the tap room and charge it there. Not very efficient, but I guess there was no choice.

Not a terrible experience, but it was far from smooth.

It's got to the point though where nothing at these releases surprise me. The fact that people started lining up at 9:30 (almost an 11 hour wait for bottles) however was almost pure insanity. I can understand not wanting to get shut out, and it does show dedication, but if this is the trend these releases are just going to get crazier.

 

If whalz were easy to get, they wouldn't be #whalzbro

 

They'd be #whalezfoo'

 

The line to get bottles today is flying. Just a few minutes. In and out.

 

What a shit show yesterday was. Guess they took the negative feedback about slow service to get bottles in and out today.

 

If they took feedback, then yesterday wouldn't have been a shitshow.

 

I hate you so much right now.

 

Perhaps one more credit card register or maybe just offering Beat on release day from the back tent would take care of this, not sure. Gotta say my pain of the long wait was lessened a bit by seeing Natalie Cilurzo doing the payments and Vinnie running (literally) around completing boxes of orders; owner involvement from start to finish.

 

Surprising considering that 1000 person rope you mentioned yesterday. Good thing for people who werent in line yet when you posted yesterday decided to wait until today to get their bottles.

 

How is this any different than last year? The reason the first day is always shit is because you get a huge bottle neck. Why folks aren't just waiting for the next day is beyond me. Then again, it's people who post poor information about 1000th person in line that create the scare tactic that make people flock to first day releases of RR stuff even though every year, it's soooo much easier to get it the next day.

Last year I kicked myself for waiting in that line instead of just going to chill in S.F. for the day and do the beat pick up the next day when there was literally no line for it and you could enjoy a pint in the pub with ease.

They took no insight on the lessons they could have learned from yesterday or last year and won't next year. This will always be a shit show on day one because that's how they like it to make that noise.

 

FOMO.

This is what is driving all of the hysteria of many of the releases of beer across the country.

 

I like how after the fact, that it's as easy as "just going the next day". How about most people work on Mondays? Or maybe people were kiling 2 birds with 1 stone this weekend at RR with Zwanze and Beat?

 

Just got back from my lunch break and it was about a 30minute wait for the "To Go" Line.

 

shhhhhhh