Twelve Percent in NJ

Yes. Meet me down at Stillwater's brewery. Been workin' there for more than twenty years. I can show you a thing or two if you'd like.

 

12 Percent is an importer which also acts as a "master distributor" for some small US breweries (shipping beer to wholesale distributors in other states). They also have a license to distribute (sell to retailers) in NYC and, now, apparently also in New Jersey - so, yes, the 12 Percent-represented brands are, in theory, now available in NJ - if a local retailer is doing business with 12 Percent in whatever geographical region of the state that 12 Percent is concentrating on (reads like mostly north Jersey at this point, which makes sense for a Brooklyn-based company).

 

Can't wait for ibb but wish we were getting the bourbon barrel ibb. It would save a trip to NYC to get it. Maybe next release. Also hoping for Mexican cake this year in NJ

 

If we see it down here it probably won't be for a while.

 

Does anyone know if 12% will distro Stillwater's collab with Other Half, " Rockstar Farmer," to NJ?

 

anyone else notice that the majority of these "new" beers from Twelve Percent are dated as far back as September and October? saw some Yacht canned in September.

looks like NJ is experiencing a bunch of their overstock from months prior. not sure how dumping off old product inspires new clientele.

 

I noticed.

 

Ive notice too... I'm hoping that the initial wave of releases was just to stock shelves and empty out their old stock (lame, I know, but it would be understandable). I pray that we don't continue to have second rate distribution from them, which is the reason why I asked my question above re: the stillwater/other half collab release.

 

I'm just surprised that the breweries they distro aren't more irritated.

Imagine being a brewery and introducing your beer to a new state - one of the most densely populated in the country - only to have new drinkers perceive your beer as shoddy, because it's 5-6 months old (and they likely don't know).

If any brewery rep dealing with 12 Percent is reading this (@MealChiMixwell), know that you are being perceived very poorly in NJ because the consumer's first impression of a 5-6 month old hoppy beer is NOT GOOD. Not a lawyer, but I imagine there are grounds for a lawsuit if the breweries want to pursue it, since the distro's neglect/sliminess is negatively affecting their product's perception and likely turning off potential consumers from considering a purchase in the future.

12 Percent can get the hell outta NJ for all I care if this is how they treat consumers in the state.

 

@Mineo i have to agree with you. I picked up a 4-pack of Evil Twin Citra and it was 5 months old and not very good at all. I've had and love that beer fresh.

 

Yeah, seriously -- stuff like Yacht, Evil Twin Citra, etc are all solid beers when fresh. A shame that many will be tasting them for the first time in this terrible form.

Heck, if they were 2-3 months old I wouldn't be complaining. That happens.

But 5-6 months old is just absurd to the point where breweries should have a legitimate case for product misrepresentation. These bottles should have never seen the light of day, plain and simple.

lol @ 12 Percent expecting to compete with other NJ distro. I hope they lose money and go out of business, frankly. Tired of businesses attempting to manipulate consumers in this country.

 

not seeing anything down SJ, and I imagine if we do, it'll be even the older stuff that they couldn't rightfully put on shelves in North J

 

I see your point, but I'm really souped to see the brews that 12% carries finally to land in NJ. I would like a little more transparency on their end - but by no means do I want to see them leave. From what I'm told by a friend who manages a store, they are quite the enigma.

 

Any sightings on this coming south?

 

Went to the Boonton Liquor store on Sunday and it, finally, looks like 12% is sending fresher items to North Jersey. Most of the hoppy beers had a born on date of February or March (there might have been one or two that were late January). Here's hoping the beer only gets fresher.

 

On another tangent, I noticed you did not mention Andy's Corner Bar, which was the state of the art back when I lived in NJ. Is Andy's still good, or have they dropped some?
Also have you tried River of Beer? Just opened and I've heard good things.

 

Any new sightings? I don't really like buy rite in plainfield and don't go to Westfield anymore since the Trader Joes burned down.

 

The Boonton Liquor Outlet just had a ton of fresh beer come in from 12%. The selection keeps getting better every couple of weeks.

 

Anything coming south?