Dark Lord Day 2016

For the sake of discussion there will likely be variants we don't know about yet that will still be available in the later groups and will still be sought after if that's what's important to people.

 

I haven't had any of the BA variants before, so I'm sure that slightly factors into my feelings, but:

1) I'll be happy with almost any variant I get, unless it seems to fly completely in the face of good taste (a Malort BADL would probably trade well, but I'd rather drink my beer than trade it, and I don't like Malort)

2) If given the chance to grab a BAVDL I'll do it (just to see what the hype is about), but given how many vanilla stouts are on the market now, and how I'm slowly getting slightly tired of them, I'm not going to get upset if I miss out on this bottle. However, if I were selling/trading it, I suppose that's a different matter.

 

As others have touched upon, it's a precondition of sale this year, which is significantly different from year's past. I know this sounds crazy these days but there were definitely people who I spoke with who "won" a variant in a later group and declined to drop $50 on a variant they were not interested in. They didn't want the variant, so they didn't buy it. This year is significantly different in that we all already bought a variant, whether we want the variant or not, and whatever it may be.

 

I personally would be totally OK with this. So many people would be able to taste the 6th best beer in the world, people would be less concerned with trying to score the "best" variant and focus on enjoying the event. Plus the pours wouldn't be huge and they could charge $10+ each, so they would definitely not be losing money.

 

I doubt they would....but man, it's just hard to know what happens at beer releases sometimes. I remember on Black Friday the Big Red release had 330 bottles of rare to give to ticket holders. I got ticket 327 and missed out...somehow. So nothing surprises me anymore.

 

Totally agree. I choose D because I'm not a morning drinker at my, *ahem*, advanced age. I'll arrive around noon or so and go from there. Wouldn't turn down a Vanilla, but just happy to get a variant. I've had very good luck with the scratch-offs (3-3) over the years, and selected nice variants @ 6:00 PM.
Worst case scenario, I don't like the one I get this year, I'm sure I can easily recoup the cost in trade or $. Why ruin the day worrying about what variant you pull, right?

 

I understand, the variant is a sunk cost embedded in the ticket price. This should change the mindset of ticket purchasing rather than how the event is run. So when purchasing the tickets, lets say you get group D or E, that is the point where you have to rationalize if the $200 ticket is worth it. In previous years, you could probably justify the ticket price because it was truly the price of admission (and an opportunity to purchase bottles) so people were more eager to purchase a ticket in group D or E because no sunk costs associated. I think going forward people need to change their mindset during the ticket purchasing process, if they go to get a "good variant" and they get a later group the ticket price might not be justified and they can decline purchase. Vice versa.

 

This is one of the reasons I don't think I'll be trading at all this year. Plus it always took a lot of time out of the day to track down the 4 or 5 trades I had set up. This year my bag will be lighter and hopefully I'll have more time to get some good stuff on tap.

 

Your argument would be valid if all 10 variants and bottle counts, as well as tickets sold in each group, were available and public knowledge prior to tickets going on sale. Unfortunately, we are operating on incomplete information and paying for something that is unknown at the time the transaction completes. It would be reasonable to assume, say, that if there are 3000 bottles of, for the sake of argument, MEGA WHALEZ RAR VARIANTS A, B, and C, and maybe 7 other variants that are of average desirability, that someone buying a ticket in Group D or E or whatever should reasonably anticipate their not getting MEGA RAR AWESOME VARIANTS A, B, C, and then can make a purchase determination based on that assumption.

I'm not in a later group, don't have a dog in the fight, just think that it would be a bit more desirable to just get whatever is in the bag and be done with it.

 

Disagree. Now the option to purchase regular Dark Lord is tied to purchasing a variant. So a person who isn't lucky enough to get an early group has two choices: Drop $50 on a variant they might not want or get no DL at all. That's a crappy option. I'm not particularly picky about variants (not in the VBDL or bust crowd), but I despise pepper beers. If I'm stuck with some jalapeno tainted variant, for example, I'll be pissed....because I know I won't like it and I think its resale value is marginal. I'm hoping with this mindset, they'll stick to some pretty mainstream variants that are less polarizing. I'm not holding my breath.

 

I see what you are saying. I am just using historical assumptions, I thing the rational when purchasing the ticket shouldn't "which variants are available and how many" but rather the consumer coping the realization that the variant selection offered will be picked through. Historically you are correct, 2-3 cool variants and a few lackluster variants towards the end. And I am with you, I don't have a dog in the fight. First time in 4 years I am not in group D or E (only won a variant once).

 

I think it's personal preference. We know going into it that some variants are less desirable and I truly hope they stick to mainstream variants and/or ones that have historical success. But it was ultimately your decision to purchase a ticket in that group knowing that the BA variant might not be up your alley, consumer's choice.

Two years ago I was in group E and walked out with a portuguese brandy dark lord and it was not very good, so I feel ya.

 

Yall need to stop worrying about the variants and just chill. DLD aint about the variants, and if it is then you are in it for the wrong reason.

 

I think the point is -- when the ticket price increases by $140, it becomes a whole hell of a lot more about the beer you're buying than the beer you're sharing/drinking.

I don't necessarily disagree. I'm glad I'm in Group C, because I've got a shot at something I might actually like.

 

Actually, I'm in group B, so it's far less of an issue for me and my guest. The other two pairs going are in D an E however. I'm speaking more hypothetically than anything.

 

I think it's safe to say that if you don't like your variant, someone else will (tickers gotta tick) and you will be able to get $50 worth of something decent in a trade or just sell it for $50 and you are no worse off than the old system. Minimal risk here.

If a whale BADL is the only reason why you are going, you are doing it wrong.

 

It's about whatever anyone wants it to be about. But the variants are the one major surprise at the festival every year. Of course it's going to generate the most buzz. What else are we supposed to gossip about? Regular Dark Lord?
"Hey, guys! You think they'll put 2% more sugar in this year's batch!? I was really hoping for just 1% more."
"FFF just tweeted. They're definitely making regular Dark Lord this year!"

 

The one year I had Group E before I ended up with Port Dark Lord, which I traded for a bottle of Murda'd so I think I did ok.

 

2013 Group D - Traded my Muerte fro a Fou Foune + 1 couple of 375 loons. All good.

 

That's true - the pre-DLD is fun and worth following. Speculating on the variants - cool. Worrying if one gets a whale level variant - waste of time.

Now here's a radical idea. If all the hot ones are gone after A & B, next year price the tickets reflective of that:

Group A - $250
Group B - $225
Group C - $200
Group D - $175
Group E - $150

Those that want MEGA WHALEZ RAR VARIANTS A, B, and C so badly, can pay a premium for access to them. Not unlike a VIP or Early Access pass at many beer festivals.