Bourbon County Black Friday DFW?

GI sells a 16.9 oz bottle for $10 and people bitch like crazy. JesterKing or Prairie sells their stuff for even more and that just the economies of the market.

 

THIS cannot receive enough likes!

 

But GI isn't a bunch of artisans using free range barley and naturally occurring awesomeness.....

 

This is correct. Smith Street is the flagship release for GI Bourbon County for Spec's in TX. The format has changed this year, in addition to the package format mentioned.

As I understand things, each major market (DFW, Austin/San Antonio and Houston) will have a "flagship" release for one of the major chains complete with all of the variants (including Rare). I'm not sure who's got the other markets this year.

 

Dang dang dang...decisions decisions....To line up or not to line up

 

I expect it will be worse this year, the people in line at Specs in Dallas were pretty cool but that whole set up was not ideal IMHO. Why does Specs get the lions share? Other states seem to get the variants pretty well spread out across non-chain stores.

 

As mentioned, Spec's is only one of the chains getting this sort of treatment. That is not to say other stores, Specs or not, in these markets will not also see product.

The "Lion's Share" argument is a valid concern. A lot of these allocation numbers come from distributors based on sales. The larger the store/chain the larger the allocation because of the volume sold. But, this does not neglect smaller stores/bars. I couldn't speak to specifics, because I don't have/know them, but distributors can/do use these items to build relationships with smaller/niche customers.

I will be the first to admit, the system is less than ideal. I would also say that I can't think of a better system of rewarding those who do the work all year and justify the product while also kicking the occasional favor out to someone who hasn't.

 

I've already been told there will be campers parked in wait...

Last year the line started at midnight the night before and we weren't the "official" release location.

 

Looking for someone to share a tent with, forever alone......

 

Is it really worth it to camp out all that time just for a couple of beers? I would imagine they place a limit on the amount each person can purchase.

 

Depends on why you're waiting. Is it just for the beer? Then probably not worth it. Is it to hang out with your drinking buddies early and drink coffee while shooting to bull to be rewarded with tasty beer at the end? Yeah, that is worth it. To me at least.

And they do place limits. That particular Specs usually does double limits for the first N people in line though. It's known to have a line for many releases.

 

I no longer wait in line for any beer. There are too many options out there these days. Last year I walked in to my store and got the regular, coffee, and vanilla with no wait. If something like that doesn't happen this year...fuck it I'll buy some Clown Shoes, or BA Legion.

 

Our buyers have approached this release with the intention of this being the biggest, stupidest release we've done. There will be a handful of things offered that you've not likely had or even known you could have in package.

I don't entertain the idea of waiting in line for beer, but this will be worth it.

 

Which store are you referring to? The Spec's in Houston? Any Dallas area stores doing something like this?

 

Smith St. in Houston. Dallas likely getting BCBS, but nothing like Houston. Information in a previous post as to why.

 

No offense, but that's always the hook for these kind of events. "You've never had it." I'm over that. I understand it sells beer, and that's great. I've just always been dissapointed with that attitude towards releases.

 

No offense taken. I want to make sure and put as much information as I have out there for you to make your decisions one way or the other.

 

Any idea when Smith St. will release event specifics?

 

That's the current conversation in the office. Working on it.

 

DFW will see a solid list of beers. Going to be an expensive day