The Alchemist (July 2016)

Half limits. Fewer people overall will be willing to go at 12 cans v. 24. This would also ensure they can make it through the day, so anyone who would prefer to go later rather than earlier can do so rather than simply missing out for the day.

 

This would definitely help increase allotments per day, but probably wouldn't help with lines forming before they open. I'm just strictly speaking about stopping line formation (vs having them meet demand). If they could pump out the same volume of beer as Trillium, maybe they'd have smaller lines, since theoretically they'd satisfy more customers more frequently.

And honestly, lowering allotments seems like it would just up the hype even more and they might even see more people in line. Just my thoughts though, I know nothing about owning/operating a brewery.

 

1. Then people would just hang around all day waiting for other offerings
2. If they ONLY sold beer by a ticketing system, no one would drive to Stowe hoping to buy beer at the brewery (since this scenario implies they stop selling beer outside the ticketing system)
3. Yup

It will be a problem for them if local residents start complaining about it

 

Lines have thinned out. I arrived yesterday at 1:00 and was out in 15 minutes. Small window though of short line time where there is still beer left.

 

@Sweatshirt how's about YOU start acting civil and respectful to others on this site, or maybe...just maybe...YOU might lose your privelages from posting for awhile. Hope my point is very clear.

Cheers!

 

Sorry for trying to point out problems where they exist and pushing back a bit when called out for the bullying I wasn't doing. Do whatever you need to do. I'll stop posting.

 

This was great. Almost as great the heady topper I'm drinking right now.

 

Ahh nothing like The Alchemist brewery opening to create a veritable shit storm in the beer forums, eh?

 

Any guesses as to what the first new small/specialty batch will be?

 

Haven't been up to the brewery yet but is anyone else surprised by how naive The Alchemist owners/operators have been toward opening their new location? Obviously the Kimmich's are great people and have been pioneers in the beer scene over the last decade or so but it just seems like the initial "promises" with the new brewery will not be met for at least 6 months.

I mean 2 cases of beer per person, every single day? Available from 11-7 every day? No need to line up because they will always have plenty... When I first read that in their blog a few months ago I was so skeptical of a brewery their size being able to achieve that, at least up front, and it's clear that they are having growing pains. The beer scene right now is a scary beast, especially now that it's summer, i'm just surprised that John actually thought they could brew enough, and continue to distribute, to allocate 2 cases pp every single day. Obviously the lines won't go away until they find a way to guarantee beer to everyone on any given day.

That being said, I'm making the trek up to VT next Tuesday and really hoping there's at least something left for me when I get there!

 

I've been following this thread to start to get an idea of how I could drink some Alchemist on my next NE trip. I'm not really trying to criticize here as much as I am just observing. But it's insane how much tension to go sales create especially when the format is cans. I can think of big list of breweries whose beer is (although I love Alchemist) way better than Alchemists, but they merely keg beer and serve a taproom with certain beers available for growlers, and in the process almost avoid chaos entirely. These breweries sell all of their beer quickly by having it on tap and sending kegs to surrounding bars. Meanwhile they never pose any threat to their neighbors and in return the existence of their business isn't threatened either. Anyway, just an observation. If there is a path of least resistance, this isn't it.

 

File this under great problems to have. Alchemist is selling out their daily allocation. From their prospective, what is there to change? Keep the limits at a case per person and if sales start to drop, you just raise the limit to two cases per person or sell more to retailers. Its really a win win scenario for them. They grew enough were they'll probably make twice as much money, but don't have to worry about getting too big at once. In addition, the truth is that scarcity sells. Their goal is to sell out each day, not guarantee people X amount of beer per day.

As long as customers park in the parking lot and not at other business or houses, I don't see the harm in people lining up before opening. Serving 100 people from 11am to noon is the same as serving 100 from 11am to 1pm.

 

A bit of an aside, but does anyone have any experience with how much (if at all) this brewery being open has reduced pressure on other retail accounts? The one time I made the trip myself, I got most of my Heady at random gas stations, but it was Saturday AM. I wonder if those are lasting any longer...

 

Extra 4 pack today: Sterk Wit

 

sounds delicious!

 

I'd like one of those glasses...

 

So is that Sterk wit on now instead of the crusher? Heading up tomorrow, excited either way

 

No. The way I understand it is Crusher is the current "seasonal" which should be available all summer. Sterk is the first of their small batch one offs that will pop up randomly.

 

Just a local so my opinion is different...

I won't be going (back) until they figure out a solution for the lines and long waits. Same reason I stopped going to HF before the expansion. Stopped by today when taking the dog for a stroll and turned the car right around. Obviously they don't need my business to sell out, so good for them.

No chance I'm waiting in line for any IPA in VT in 2016, far too many other great options available with no line.

Unsurprisingly if you look in the parking lot it is filled with out of staters. Yall seem to love lines, never did understand that.

 

Awesome. Sounds like the best for everyone involved.