BA Mexican Cake Release Thread

Less than 2 cases left the brewery in the hands of employees. As I said, we didn't plan to release those beers, and they were never released to the public.

 

Any talk of a Westbrook beer club for this type of stuff?

 

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what age the Pappy Barrels were that l were used for the Pappy Cake? Typically it's pretty well known which barrels have been used for other beers (Assassin, Eclispe, black Magick for instance) but I haven't seen Westbrook or anyone else mention which ones were used here.

 

20

 

Why? The pricing on the Westbrook list seems way more ridiculous. Sure, there are some high numbers on that HoTD list, but they are beers brewed 10+ years ago more often than not. They certainly don't jack up the prices on newly released or 1-2 year old bottles.

 

People complaining about pricing and i dont really know why...because you want a bottle but dont want to pony up the money to get it? here is how i look at the situation...if i am ever in charleston for the night, or actually go on a vacation there (long time want of mine), i intend to go to Westbrook for some beer. If i am with my brother, wife, or anyone else who would want to try one of the BA cakes, we split it and get a pour of it. People drop hundreds on bottles of wine all the time...hundreds on steaks or seafood all the time. Why is it that big a deal that a brewery is charging quite a bit for quite possibly their best bottle of beer? It lasts longer and gives other people a chance to try it. the bottle counts were extremely low, and the counts on the 2013 variants has to be getting low, so selling them to public would have been a disaster and more people would be pissed off than are about the price a brewery is charging. They do not owe us anything...if the price is too steep for you, drink some of their other beer and be happy. I swear....people waited 5 montsh for the release of BA cakes....people who bought a ticket within a 2 hour window (which is pretty long considering some other releases online) got 6 bottles with absolutely zero trouble (outside of maybe the weather which nobody can avoid)...I for one was stoked because i did not have to wait outside all night in the elements that would been present that Friday night. Be grateful they released it the way they did and enjoy the beer you have. if you are dying to try the pappy cake, take 3-4 guys with you, pay 50.00 each, and get a 5-6 oz pour. anyone who receives a bottle of pappy cake should share it with others anyways.

 

The problem that I have more about the changes we are seeing in the industry. Yes people will pay the prices, I just hate to see that this is the direction craft beer going. Even more so, one of my favorite breweries is leading the "charge". I mean we are talking about malts, water, yeast, hops, spices and an empty barrel of bourbon.

 

I've been saying for a while now that I think there's a good chance that craft beer will eventually start to follow the Wine sales model, and I am not even sure thats a bad thing. It may drive down the craze and decrease the power of the secondary market.

 

You are my hero.

 

Probably has something to do with the fact that none of us has ever seen a brewery directly charge a customer $150 for one of their newly released beers.

I haven't seen complaining about the price so much as just being a little repulsed by it.

Just leaves a bad taste in the mouth. If it doesn't bother you, then great.

 

i just do not see why it needs to be talked about so much. if they put their bottles at say 50-80/per bottle, people would be repulsed at them selling out within a week. We are the ones that have made this supply/demand issue so skewed in the demand side. if people were not psychotic about beer, maybe bottles would not be so expensive.

 

It's an adjunct stout guys. There will be another one next month and another the month after that.

 

First off, let me just say that I have NO problem with WB charging huge premiums for sought after vintages. I think it's a cool option for those who want to pony up.

However, I think the main reason people are complaining (or why it leaves a bad taste in their mouth) is for several reasons. Just addressing the '15 BA Cakes: they are charging more then 100% MORE then they charged for these bottles to go just days ago. A slight markup for on-site consumption is expected.
As for your point about people paying much more money for wine or other things: wine and most every other items we buy take a gradual route in increasing prices...aside from the unusual example of something being released way below expectations. These prices doubled overnight...literally.
Also, this is one of the first examples of a brewery trying to fetch close to black market prices...without proceeds going to charity that I am aware of. Again, not saying that is wrong, it is just surprising.

I really don't care...I don't need to try these, but as a local I wouldn't be too thrilled if a bunch of out-of-towners just rolled through and payed $35ish for bottles days ago, and I'm asked to pay $85 at the bar.

 

If Shaun Hill put bottles of Ann/Art/Flora Cuvee for sale at Hill Farmstead for $100 on the on-premise only bottle list, would people have a problem with that?

 

Probably not? I don't know. I think those bottles mentioned have a few more reasons to justify higher cost though.

I just got back from VT and HAPPILY paid $30 for a 750mL of CD 13. Let me tell you, it was fantastic and worth the experience with friends. I am sure many will say the same for these Cakes. My only is the '15 cakes pricing.

 

It did sell. That's why it was marked up. Bottles are dwindling so they upped the price

 

It's a capitalist market. Why should Westbrook turn down the change to make money? It's just like half you homies on the trading board. Errrrmegeerhhhhdddd, it traded for nilla and prop once out of 100 trades so I'm gonna get 2 x nilla and prop. All of you want to get the max value out of your trades (or at least most of you) but the brewery who makes the beer shouldn't seek a higher return on their own beer? Or even better yet, you have shit like a $20 bottle of morning delight being turned into $475 on MBC and the brewery shouldn't seek out that $455 of lost profits? What makes the consumer worthy of obtaining the actual market value but not the producer? What other business models do you know that are like the beer/wine/bourbon markets? Maybe the breweries are just being smart and finally getting what's theirs. The MARKET determines the value anyway (ie the neckbeards paying 300x cost for a bottle). So if you don't like it, don't buy it. It's really that simple. But don't blame the brewery for making money...it's why the opened to begin with. How many companies come out with a business plan, "oh lets just make everyone happy and if we make a few dollars then cool, if not, whatev's?"

 

Please quit referencing MBC (not just you, everyone.) That is not the market. That is one market. That is a few rich dudes not giving a fuck about their money and 'doing whatever it takes to get the latest hype bottle.' They don't represent the average beer release attendee or beer fan that drives a good distance to try new beer.

There are plenty of other business models like beer/wine/bourbon markets. Any in demand collectible falls victim to this same situation (retailers selling for a low, accessible price and buyers flipping them for major profits in the secondary market.)

 

You're making a great argument for ABInBev and craft brewery acquisition.

 

That isn't the only market. People immediately reference MBC for their trade values. I mentioned that as well. "Oh man, my nilla is selling for $200 and that Assassin I want is for $300 so that means to land an Assassin I need to add $100 worth of secondary market beer to my trade." You see shit like that all the time. That directly affects the trade market bc people use it as a point of reference. So then those of us who actually like to drink beer and not hold it like a f'ing stock end up never trying these beers that have value derived completely from what they are selling for on MBC or other stupid methods of valuation. It's no longer, "hey, I have this great limited beer so lets trade for your great limited beer."

Well for that to happen someone has to agree to being bought out. That would be the brewery owner. If they want to make money by selling their successful brewery to ABInBev then so be it. They built it up, they can profit from it. It's not like there won't be a million other small breweries popping up all over the place chasing the same dream of making it big. There is nothing wrong with success through selling out when you busted your ass for years to make it successful.