Bruery 2016 RS/HS Allocations

I didn't really join Hoarders (and keep renewing) for the initiation package though. I'd honestly rather have a choice of what beers I want to spend my money on. Yes, it helps make up for the cost but if they're all going to trickle down to Reserve anyway (which is how it's looking this year), there's not a huge incentive to join Hoarders over Reserve. Unless you just want more beer. Which I guess then does make you more of a true hoarder. So point taken. Maybe that's what The Bruery's intent was all along.

 

I think it's odd that in your statement you are a bit contradictory. So you say that it's because of user feedback that they're changing things - so that implies that we should be vocal with concerns and what not. But then in the first part you're telling us that we should just keep our mouths shut about this and not throw "a fit". As if being vocal about a concern is such a bad thing.

So which is it - do you want us to be vocal with customer feedback to get change going or do you want us to just stay quiet?

It's not about "feeling" special any more than giving RS is balancing the scales with HS. But given that Hoarders do pay a bigger up front and the benefits seem to be getting fewer and fewer, it does lead one to wonder why not just do away with Hoarders altogether and just make everyone an RS equal member?

I think that it should be a given that hoarder accounts are more than likely shared more so than RS accounts. So that's why the extra tickets made sense. To accommodate that unspoken statement that HS did actually have more folks to be taken care of. Regardless if they know anything about beer or not.

 

I don't know that you can expect any business to operate the same way for years on end. The business can change so much from year to year. I have a solution though, offer the 4 tickets to HS and any tickets left over should fall down to us RS

 

Yeah, I think this is the way to do it and in waves if possible.

The problem I am running into is I'll take the gf as my +1, but my brother is SOL. Hopefully he'll wind up as our friend's (RS) +1, but even if that works out carpooling becomes more difficult unless he wants to stand out in line for an extra hour. I fear he'll wind up as an RS +1 then down the line extra HS tickets might become available and really rub salt in the wound.

 

Yeah that would really burn! Hopefully he gets in with you guys

 

I'm so glad I'm out of State, things like this have no bearing on me. I can see both sides, but until the details are final I think some of the hate is a bit much.

And really, booking a hotel way far in advance without any idea of what might be going down, that's a little stupid.

 

But honestly, that's some times needed. Look at FWIBF. You basically have to commit to the event many months before even details on when it is on sale otherwise you'll be paying really insane rates.

 

Sure, but you book a refundable room for that so you can drop it if you don't get tickets. I don't know anyone booking non-refundable rooms for FWIBF.

 

Let's talk about beer!

I had a 2011 Melange 3 last night, and it was incredible. @mattolesh any chance of getting White Oak Sap released, even if it's just a taster at the anniversary party? I would very much like to try it on its own.

 

I disagree with these statements. Setting aside the hotel room, I had booked my airfare about a month ago so I can get a cheaper rate. Booking travel far in advance, as far as I know, is a pretty smart idea cost-wise. I don't think people are to blame for booking their hotel rooms in advance. I struggled with whether to book at the non-refundable rate and chose against doing that, but especially if you're making a longer stay of it (like I am), even $20-$40 per day can start to add up. And waiting to book could have made the rooms even more expensive. Not everyone has a budget that can afford those sorts of things.

As to the broader debate, here's my 3 thoughts to contribute:

1. I realize this isn't how it has been done in the past, but I like the idea of this party being something that is largely Society members. I like the idea of it being a party for US and something so exclusive you literally need to be in the Societies to attend. But I understand bringing an SO so I like the idea of 2 tix per member max.

2. I don't love that up to 75% of the people that have historically enjoyed the "HS only" beers and the "HS only" extra hour at past anniversaries are not even members of any Society. That's frustrating and devalues my RS membership. I feel I should get perks above the "general public"--even buddies of HS members.

3. I do get that people have made plans (both the type that cost money (like booking nonrefundable travel-related items) and the type that don't (like promising to bring friends, etc.)). This really is something that should have been made clear at the time we were committing to the Societies, and not something that is only being brought up now.

 

I know what the "extra stuff" is going to be. The renewals for your 2017 membership are going to be due even earlier. Partial or full payment of your 2017 HS/RS membership is due at the door May 14. If not attending please log onto your account for payment.

 

I'm in HS by myself and live in Texas. I was counting on getting 4 tickets. 5 of us all already bought plane tickets. One guy splits with @mhksuccess so he has a ticket there. Fortunately one other guy is RS so we'll all get in, just 2 of us get in an hour later. For some unknown reason I was worried about the reduction in allocated tickets happening. I'm glad we all get in, albeit 2 of my group are somewhat impacted. I'm fine with the ticket reduction, My issue is that they should have notified us about that when they announced the date. I'm guessing it was known at the time what the plan would be.

Another thing, I believe that since everyone pays the same admission price, there shouldn't be beers only accessible to HS members. It's not like they won't be getting pours for their RS buddies anyway.

 

So wait. people only want Bruery members to attend? I mean, would it be fair to suggest that the extra ticket RS get only goes to another society member as well.. which in that point this whole extra ticket doesn't make sense. And why should it be that just because they're sleeping with you that your SO gets the pass on not being a member but still being cool to go to the event?

the rationalizations to limiting it to only 2 tickets are really stretching here. Regardless of who is a society member, folks get extra tickets that go to their friends. How is that unfair for them to show up?

 

i hear you 100%, theres nothing wrong with being vocal about customer feedback. im just saying, at least give them a chance to give you all of the details before getting out your pitchforks.

there HAS to be a good reason why they dropped the limit. I dont see them doing this just because to fuck with people.

 

Honestly, with the inclusion of PS into more society stuff I can see them giving more PS access to tickets this year. Which is the easiest way to get more tickets without increasing overall numbers? Pull 2 away from HS. Knowing The Bruery though, they should have something to make up for the 2 tickets.

 

I opened a bottle of SHIT shortly after I picked up the allocations a few months back. I definitely thought the bottle was off in flavors and border line infected / tart flavors coming through. I was thinking this was not the intended flavor profile of the beer ?

 

Man, now that we have "My hoarders membership isn't special enough" posts braided in with "my bruery beer is infected" posts this thread is really hitting its stride!

 

I hate to add in, but the wife and I cracked a bottle of shit and couldn't get through it. Something was very off compared to the pours we had at the Bruery tasting room right when it came out. I sadly drain poured half the bottle.

B #2661 12/03/15

 

My first and only bottle so far of SHIT was on point from what I'd expect. Black Tuesday lite.

 

All the pours I had at the tasting room were awesome. I initially thought our taste buds were off and thought nothing of it until seeing the few posts. Also still had the bottle and my batch matched the first posters. Just FYI. I'll crack another this weekend, all my bottles are same batch.