Bruery 2016 RS/HS Allocations

The worst part for me is looking at the cases and cases of Bruery beer in my cellar that I don't think I will ever get through. I was over zealous in the first few years, to say the least, and now pretty much don't purchase anything other than one or two bottles of the stuff I really like (mostly sours, because I know I can get through them without needing help). I still like being a Hoarder, for the events, access to unique beers and for the stuff you get just for the initial fee.

 

I added up my first year in RS (2014), and will never do that again. I can't even imagine what I've spent this year in HS but it's easily double that first year already, and there's plenty more months to go. Add in shipping, and yes, it's insanely expensive. The plus side for me is I manage a craft beer store and get a lot of free beer here as well as trying tons of stuff on tap free, and I have plenty of friends bringing in bottles to share and plenty of bartender friends giving me free beer when I go out. So in reality I don't spend any more on beer now than I did before when I wasn't a member, I've just spent the bulk of it in the past three years on Bruery beer and way less on everything else. Some people I know buy bottles of everything out there, so the cost I put into the Bruery doesn't really seem as bad to me since that's all I'm buying. $2000 a year of beer, whether it's all Black Tuesday or 500 different bottles is still $2000.

 

IT'S NOT THE SAME!

I add this to my own odd list of "hate this despite it being derivative of that or vice versa": Love tomatoes, hate ketchup; love pickles, hate cucumbers; and yes, love plums, hate prunes.

 

Same here. I need to split my HS membership with a local next year or get out. It's getting to be an expensive PITA because I buy too much and the costs of going out there to pickup and ship back add up quickly. Lol

 

Hate prunes and plums, love the flavors of them though and love their usage in beers.

And who hates ketchup???

 

BBQ sauce or die.

 

I'm also a first year Preservation lurking in this group waiting for a Reserve invite. Ssh... don't tell anyone

For me, I know there's some serious FOMO going on, but whatever. Beer is really the only thing I splurge on. I'm at about $1,400 so far this year including shipping in-state. Even with the discount, I have no doubt I'll spend at least $3K once in reserve. If I were out of state I feel like it would be a hard sell for me. Also, I'm really excited about sharing beers with friends. I took a White Chocolate, Cinnamonk, and Scotch Poterie on a guy's cabin trip a couple weeks ago. Splitting each bottle across seven people was perfect, and they all loved it. Well worth the price of admission. Also, signing up was my fiance's idea to begin with. So, unless you want to make friends with neighbors, that might be another strike against Ohio.

Or, if you're looking to justify it, I realized I was tired of buying $8 bombers of rando mediocre IPAs simply because I hadn't tried them before. I'd rather take that "premium" beer money and push it all-in on Bruery, and buy good tried and tested (but less expensive per ounce) table beers in four and six packs.

My biggest worry is not so much the money (well, I suppose there's some worry), but that I'll get burned out on them but keep buying out of habit. One nice thing (at least for the non-sours) is that they age well. Finances permitting, you could go all-in for one year where you max out on everything and do one or two huge shipments (or take a CA road trip) that's a little more cost effective. Then don't renew and just live off those bottles for a couple years.

 

Do any of you out of state members use a freight service to have your beers picked up instead of shipping them via FedEx or UPS? I had a guy I used once but he's not responding to emails or texts now.

 

Thought about using freight, and since I have a business address it's an option, but it would require way more logistics than I'm willing to do. Plus I think it'd only be cost effective once there's a pallet worth ready, meaning a very long wait between drops.

 

Last time I had 13 cases waiting and the guy charged $300. Factoring how much it costs to ship boxes to and from CA it came to over $500 so it was more cost effective. Even a $400 charge would be awesome.

 

who hates avocado?

 

Normal ppl.

 

In that case, it does save quite a bit. I'd just go apeshit having to wait that long..

 

about this coconut BT thing...

do yrselves a favor. go buy GOOD coconut rum. not syrupy gross ass Malibu. I use Don Q CoCo from Puerto Rico. drop a tiny bit into a glass of your favorite BA stout. blow yr fucking mind.

we do it to all the stouts. search "homeless proprietor" on untappd

 

Probably the best feud on BA right now! I want to trade with @SDReaper and package the beers with avocados now haha

 

In theory this is what I do. In practice I haven't been as successful.

 

why didn't I think of that

 

Tack that on to the "list of reasons I don't trade with Mr. Rider". I forgot what the other reasons were so I may need to start a new list. Probably because you are in LA and your pictures always show that nice background on your porch.

 

A Randal Jr. and toasted coconut works wonders too.