Availability Question Re: Portland v Seattle

They've had it in the past, but it's probably been at least a year since I've seen anything from Uncommon there. I wouldn't be surprised to see some old cans kicking around town though, particularly at places like Capital Market or Liquor Outlet. I don't seek it out though, so who knows.

 

Uncommon cans are at Whole Foods up here on a random basis. Never bought their stuff.

 

I've never seen Buoy here in WA ... someone tell me I'm wrong!

 

I believe i saw their IPA and pilsner in Vancouver Freddys about a month ago

 

Draft pops up around here, don't recall seeing packaged though.

 

Founders doesnt distro bottles or cans to OR, but I've been running into their stuff on draft pretty frequently ever since CBC this past summer.

 

Anyone know why it's easier to find Avery's non-6-pack specialty beers in Washington? I remember hearing something about a disagreement with their Oregon distributor (or was it the OLCC?), but not sure if that's still going on.

 

Ale Apothecary IS available in WA, the others I haven't seen though I wish Sixpoint would come here. Bummer that RR pulled out, but they will be back here sooner rather than later.

Buoy IPA is available sporadically in WA, last I recall seeing it there were bombers for $3.99 or something like that.

 

I don't ever expect that to happen. They're selling all the beer they can make, and Natalie & Vinnie have repeatedly said they have no desire to get bigger than they are.

 

Chucks sold Ale Apothecary El Cuatro bottles once for a sour festival. Don't expect bottles again anytime soon. :-(

 

They are still at capacity, but the notion of "never getting bigger" is not something that I have heard recently, the opposite actually. It won't be next year, but likely within 5 years there should be some major growth.

Sahalie is still available in Bellingham, it does come into Seattle rarely. Even if we only get a shipment once or twice a year its a win in my book.

 

Well, that's a news flash to me. They've very publicly said that they like their business, and their lives, where it's at. Things change though, so who knows. But, given some of things they said when they pulled out of WA, I'd be surprised indeed if they came back. I could see them sending more to Denver and Philly before we ever see a drop.

 

Some zombie threads on the topic of RR:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/russian-river-pulling-out-of-wa.58855/


http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...rewing-not-very-welcome-in-washington.111429/

 

I was super bummed when they first left. I loved Pliny and was just getting into sours --- at the time, Consecration was the best sour I'd ever had.

But the game has changed a lot since then and I don't miss RR at all. If they don't want to sell here, oh well. There's just too much good beer around to be bummed about missing out on one brewery.

 

Wordizzle that shizzle.

IMHO, anyone who feels that they're missing out on beer from a given brewery, just buys into the hype to play into the game. Does brewery X make better beer than Brewery Z? Dunno, but I suspect that they both make enjoyable beers. Does one have hyperbole, and the other doesn't come in to play? My cynical, skeptical, suspicious self says hell yeah. If one likes the beers from Brewery Q, and other folks hate on them, screw that. Be happy with what ya like.

Shit. Hoppy New Beers, ya bunch o knuckleheads!

 

FOMO is a real problem. I have to remind myself on a regular basis not to fall victim to it.

 

i moved to WA in 2013 and upon arrival, was supremely bummed to learn RR distribution to WA was no longer a thing. i've spent a stupid amount of time in California the past three years, and a significant portion of those trips have been spent either seeking out where to buy RR, where to drink RR, at toronado, or at the RR brewery. i've noticed a few things over the years.

first - pliny is still as hard to get as it ever was, and blind pig is nearly impossible. two weeks ago i was calling a bunch of stores I knew received RR just to find out if it was in stock. i used the "beer finder" feature on the RR merchweb-site to find who sold it. I called the local stores who i've had previous success with. i've learned the days they receive shipments. i know there's a silly limit everywhere. it's almost always 2 per person, or 1 per person if they received only one case or in the rare event a sour shows up. a local grocer in Napa told me that there's a 5 year waiting list even to be considered to receive RR distribution. with 100% confidence, i can say this is the worst beer-buying experience i have ever had since moving to the west coast.

second - i really like the format of everything they do. 500ml is the perfect IPA bottle size. 375ml is a perfect size for the sours. 3L is the correct amount of supplication. that said, prices are whack. in seattle, i can get a $6 growler fill of lucille after i've tried about 500 ml of free samples of georgetown's hoppiest offerings. the economical comparison is hilarious, pliny is almost 4 times as expensive per ounce.

last - i like that people get crazy and reasonably excited about RR beer, which is especially true when you visit the brewery. the taplist is always amazing and the place is filled to the brim with people who are excited about beer. it's a rad scene and i'm okay with not getting RR over those folks.

so, i like RR but personally despise working so hard to find good beer. the days of me rushing into consumer mode and calling around a bunch of grocers asking if they have a very specific beer available are probably over. what a silly way to enjoy beer.

 

Always been a big RR fan, but they very rarely bring anything new to the table. It all remains quite solid, but stagnant.

 

Haven't seen em at my end of WA, but we're generally the last to see anything new to the state.

 

What specifically do you mean by "non-6-pack specialty beers"?