Toppling Goliath Brewery appreciation thread...

Every business makes decisions on a scale. Maybe they care most about making the experience at the brewery the best it can be and because of that they don't focus the "experience" of obtaining a ticket for a difficult release. They are in the business of brewing and selling beer and a taproom. They aren't going to be as good at selling it on the internet.

BTW - this is all relative. it's going to be difficult anyways. Honestly, an hour of hitting refresh at a computer isn't as bad as waiting in line and being the first one to miss out - which happens to somebody at plenty of other big releases throughout the country. If you got a ticket, great, if you didn't, that's a bummer but at least you know more than a month in advance so you can plan to go or not go as you wish.

I have to agree - the vitriol from this has gone above and beyond.

 

I think those the the people that are most upset, how are the scalpers going to pay their bills now?

 

I'd agree that it's a flip-flop if the beer was paid for, but the dude is literally selling someone else's beer at this point.

 

Tips for the next BPT release. The key was 4 browsers. One being refreshed every 15 seconds, one being refreshed every 30 seconds, one being refreshed every minute, and one being refreshed every 5 minutes. Then one window open that you never refreshed. As soon as you could see the "Mornin' Delight" tab name instead of the URL on one of the browser tabs you stop all of your other loading browsers so you don't compete with yourself and just like that you were in. After 50 minutes and 400 refreshes.

 

Honestly it's this false perception that's part of the problem. There absolutely are better ways to handle releases like this. The problem is two things get conflated: what particular type of release to run (in person, on-line, lottery, silent, etc.), and then how that particular choice of release gets run.

People upset about the execution of a particular type of release often suggest a solution by changing the type, and vice versa, and sometimes they're upset about both.

Yes, as long as there are too few bottles for the quantity of people who want them, there will be people upset, but there are good ways to run almost any kind of release, and depending on what your objectives are (increased hype, decreased hype, raising funds for charity, rewarding extreme locals, rewarding more far-flung fans, etc.), there are good choices of which kind of release you'd like to run.

It is also incredibly hard to parse the responses because mixed with a lot of valid criticism are a lot of suggestions that would benefit the individual consumer, and possibly that person's particular butthurt for not getting a bottle (when as you suggest, the chances were exceedingly slim to land a bottle to begin with).

 

I hope you're not assuming butt hurt or vitriol from me. I'm just enjoying the discussion. I did not get a ticket, but I'm not butt hurt about it at all.

I do take exception to people saying outright that there's no better way anyway. That's my only beef. As far as your comments about them worrying about the taproom experience and not being good at selling on the internet...you're really making my point. If they're not good at it, and not making an informed decision on how to improve, then it's not a priority for them. I'm fine with that...it's their choice, but it is a choice.

Rare beer releases have been happening for quite awhile. If you're in their position you either choose not to find out what works or you choose not to use it.

 

How else are you supposed to pay for your flight from CA, NY, CT, etc?

I too am a little salty about the giant waste of time and TG's response to it, but if I'm being honest I probably would have just traded my botles anyway. After having it at Dexter's I wasn't blown away. More power to the people cashing in early before reviews get out I guess.

 

I hate the taste of bad reviews. Even salty ones.

 

Sorry, but the way you painted the picture in your first comment just makes it sound like they don't care about the consumer period - in every facet of their business. I don't think that's the case for a business where the owner clearly makes alot of effort to interact with his customers. My point is that divvying out entrance to a limited release is a very small part of their business. That they choose to focus more on things like the beer they brew, the taproom, etc. is definitely their choice.

Also, I think you have to take them at their word they are trying to make it better. They tried this way and it wasn't perfect - but I also think the overall reaction (not saying you personally) seems as if TGB stole a bunch of firstborn children.

 

Agree, they focus on beer and always are great to their customers.
They went with a poor product and it failed. Many people knew it was going to happen, but they chose it anyway. We don't know why those chose that product, could be a number of reasons.

It happened and let's move on.
Enjoy beer.

 

Either that or more flip-flopping.....
https://twitter.com/TGBrews/status/771043023711002625

 

I hope Clark drops a couple round bales off at the new brewery for the future NG-style releases so these Twin City folks stay well fed.

 

getting back on topic...

 

Back on topic. I would think it would help TG to get feedback on a forum like this to improve how they get their rare beers out to the public.

 

Any more word on the Sosus this week. Find it hard to believe they won't have something for labor day weekend.

 

So thoughts on the bottles of MD being a newer batch then the kegs at GTMW.

 

That's great news. I thought MD at Great Taste and Dexter's was just so-so.... bitter coffee, barely any maple

 

The MD they had in taproom that same weekend was great. Wonder if they were from same batch?