Modern Times League of Partygoers and Elegant People - Fall 2016

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by wolf13, Oct 13, 2016.

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  1. wolf13

    wolf13 Pundit (760) Dec 11, 2014 California
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    quarterly thread now started...
     
    #1 wolf13, Oct 13, 2016
  2. Coldstorage

    Coldstorage Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2014 California

    Reposting this here as I always find it useful to reference in the other thread and want it at the start of this one:

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    The League of Partygoers & Elegant People:
    Now Accepting Acolytes


    "Throughout history, mankind has seen its share of elite, secret societies. The Knights Templar, The Illuminati, The Wu-Tang Clan, all have captured the public imagination, but none has managed to achieve the elegance, the panache, and the sheer, jaw-dropping badassery of The League Of Partygoers & Elegant People." -L. Ron Hubbard

    Created by Modern Times as part of our 2013 Kickstarter campaign, The League of Partygoers & Elegant People (heretofore referred to as "The League") was a way for us to give a little love back to our supporters with exclusive early access to our barrel-aged and special release beers. Now, for the first time in two and a half years, we're opening up The League to a limited number of new members.

    For their $350-plus-tax membership fee, the 400 new initiates of The League will be getting 10 extremely rare barrel-aged beers, first dibs on an extensive list of the bomb-diggityest of danksauce whales, exclusive growler fills, a saucy welcome party, special events & advance tickets opportunities for Modern Times events, exclusive League merchandise, and much more. Full details below:

    --Benefits--

    Membership includes ten 22oz or 750ml bottles of barrel-aged beer. Anticipated beers (subject to change) are:

    -Monsters' Park aged in Spanish brandy barrels (League exclusive)
    -Monsters' Park aged in Nicaraguan rum barrels w/ cinnamon, cocoa nibs, chilis, & vanilla beans (i.e. Mexican Hot Chocolate Edition) (League exclusive)
    -Triple Barrel Monsters' Park (a blend of rye, rum, & bourbon barrels) (League exclusive)
    -Monsters' Park aged in Tennessee whiskey barrels w/ orange zest, coffee, & cocoa nibs (League exclusive)
    -Monsters' Park aged in Barbados rum barrels w/ vanilla beans & coconut (League exclusive)
    -Realism Island (white wine barrel-aged sour blond with cherries) (League exclusive)
    -Valley of Sound (sour blond w/ peaches) (limited availability)
    -Palace of Paper Sacks (sour saison w/ nectarines) (limited availability)
    -School of Certain Victory (sour saison w/ apricots) (limited availability)
    -Nautilus Harbour (white wine barrel-aged sour saison with plums) (League exclusive)

    League members will have first opportunity to purchase all special releases from Modern Times for one year, beginning December 1st, 2015. Any beers that do not sell out in League sales may be made available to the general public. League members will have a 3-month pick-up window for all purchases; all pick-ups will occur at the Lomaland Fermentorium. Proxies are not permitted. Anticipated beers (subject to change):

    -Looking Backward (white wine barrel-aged sour blond) (limited availability)
    -Kingdom of Dolls (white wine barrel-aged sour saison) (limited availability)
    -Delectable Mountains (sour blond w/ kumquats- ~300 bottles available) (League exclusive)
    -Empty Hats 2015 Edition (limited availability)
    -News From Nowhere 2015 Edition (limited availability)
    -Palace of Cracked Heads 2015 Edition (limited availability)
    -Rampart Junction 2015 Edition (limited availability)
    -Oracle of the Bottle 2015 Edition (limited availability)
    -2 or more TBD dark sour variants (League exclusives)
    -TBD dark sour 3-liter bottles (League exclusive)
    -Monsters' Park aged in bourbon barrels (wide release)
    -Monsters' Park aged in bourbon barrels w/ coffee (wide release)
    -Monsters' Park aged in bourbon barrels w/ coconut & cocoa nibs (wide release)
    -Monsters' Park aged in bourbon barrels - 1.5L bottles (extremely limited availability)
    -Monsters' Park aged in WL Weller, Eagle Rare, Four Roses, & Old Forrester barrels (extremely limited availability of each through one retailer, otherwise League exclusive- ~250 bottles of each)
    -Symmetric Orchestra (oak-aged Brett sour, wide release)
    -Symmetric Orchestra w/ passionfruit (League exclusive)
    -Symmetric Orchestra 3L bottles (League exclusive)
    -Funky Monsters' Park aged in bourbon barrels (League exclusive)
    -White Wine Barrel-Aged Funky Universal Friend w/ Pinot Grigio (League exclusive)
    -Monsters' Playground (sour stout with citrus zest) (limited availability)
    -Monsters' Park aged in rye barrels with NOLA coffee (coffee, chicory, vanilla) (limited availability)
    -Devil's Teeth aged in bourbon barrels (limited availability)
    -Devil's Teeth aged in bourbon barrels w/ bourbon barrel aged coffee (limited availability)
    -Devil's Teeth aged in bourbon barrels w/ almond, cocoa nibs and vanilla beans (limited availability)
    -Aztec Mummy (tequila barrel-aged gose) (limited availability)
    -Aztec Mummy w/ mango & guava (limited availability)
    -Monsters' Park w/ coconut & coffee (TBD availability)
    -Neverwhere (TBD availability)
    -Asteroid Cowboy (Brett sour IPA; TBD availability)
    -Additional TBD single barrel, unique variant, and one-off opportunities

    --League Merchandise--

    -Two 32oz League growlers which can be filled with special release beers otherwise not available for growler fills. Beers will be listed in a regular League email newsletter.

    -League hoodie, membership card, custom glass, and challenge coin (if the challenge coin is presented to another League member who is not in possession of their challenge coin, they must buy you a beer).

    -Opportunity to purchase a League-exclusive, year-long coffee subscription module, including invites to cuppings and educational events

    -First opportunity to renew membership in 2017, including any additional tiers or add-ons

    --Events--

    -2 tickets to a League welcome party on December 13th, 2015 at the Lomaland Fermentorium. Members will be able to pick-up all white wine barrel-aged sours at the welcome party, including any additional bottles purchased through a League pre-sale.

    -First opportunity to purchase tickets to all Modern Times events, including festivals, Anniversary Party, Black House Black Friday, tasting room mini-fests, etc.

    -Opportunity to purchase 2 tickets to an annual League celebration

    -2 tickets to an exclusive preview party at our forthcoming L.A. brewpub & café (i.e. The Dankness Dojo)

    -2 invites to an exclusive unveiling party of our new packaging hall

    -Opportunity to purchase 2 tickets to TBD educational and social events

    -Occasional ne plus ultra tours, including visits to our barrel house & QA sessions with our brewers & founder
     
    #2 Coldstorage, Oct 13, 2016
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  3. ModernTimesJacob

    ModernTimesJacob Initiate (0) Apr 24, 2012 California

    Just to clarify on the tier thing: I certainly want to do it, I just don't want it to be half-assed. With our current resources, I don't feel we have the ability to make a second tier what it should be. It's possible that could change between now and next year, but that's where we stand today. And we are certainly tracking the buying habits of members closely, so if you're participating at the highest levels in the League, you will definitely be first in line for the next tier whenever that happens.

    As always, I would love input on what you all would like to see as part of that next tier. Broadly speaking, my thought was that it would include higher initial bottle allocations and limits, more exclusives, tier specific events, and a higher level of personal engagement. I've got some ideas on specific merch as well. But I'm all ears on more stuff.

    Cheers & thanks,
    Jacob McKean
    Modern Times Beer
     
    #3 ModernTimesJacob, Oct 13, 2016
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  4. BeerZombies1

    BeerZombies1 Savant (1,105) Jan 20, 2014 Nevada
    Trader

    This is spot on exactly what I was hoping for from a tiered membership.
     
    #4 BeerZombies1, Oct 13, 2016
  5. tyrsis

    tyrsis Savant (1,074) Mar 13, 2009 California
    Trader

    FWIW, I don't like tiered memberships. Feels like you're just encouraging this weird elitism within your own fans.

    imo, of course
     
    #5 tyrsis, Oct 13, 2016
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  6. Coldstorage

    Coldstorage Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2014 California

    This is the only thing I would care about. I'd love my loyalty to be weighed when something like the single barrel MPs come out. Seems only fair the folks who have spent 1000s in other months get first jump over the guys waiting in the cuts for the ones they know they can trade or otherwise exploit.

    Yes, this is obviously self serving.

    edit: obviously not this round of single barrel mps which were advertised as limited availability to all of the league, but for releases like that in the future...
     
    #6 Coldstorage, Oct 13, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2016
  7. Xtent

    Xtent Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2013 California

    This ^
    I have been a member since Kickstarter but don't always max out due to having a family and other financial commitments.
     
    #7 Xtent, Oct 13, 2016
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  8. wolf13

    wolf13 Pundit (760) Dec 11, 2014 California
    Trader

    My two cents from basic to pipe dreams (and yes, a lot are borrowed or have been previously stated):

    1) Higher allocations for initial sales. Right now it's kind of annoying having to be billed three separate times at some sales (initial League, second League, and some public) also it would make it easier to keep track of with fewer BPT email receipts.

    2) It would be great to have tier specific events, however as I'm in OC, I can't make mid-week events, so it would be great it you'd have a couple on the weekend.

    3) Higher ticket limits to the public events (maybe double what everyone else gets?). Maybe one free ticket to the member, automatic upgrade to VIP tickets for price of general admission, early entry to the member and their guest(s) to events, or some other sort of thing for events.

    4) Allowing higher tiers to fill a growler per visit/week/whatever with ANYTHING on the board. Or just always allow them growler fills of anything up there.

    5) Special merch might be good, but I'm still just hoping for a whale logo polo shirt that I can wear to the office to go on sale generally

    6) It would be nice to have special one off/rare/unique bottles or for a higher tier (similar to Hoarder exclusives).

    7) Special iscounted prices or a percentage off for beer/merch/etc.

    8) Additional bottles in the "included with membership beers." I.E. Two (or more) Spanish Brandy MPs instead of only one.

    9) Ability to have a proxy or be a proxy for someone else, which may be a nice community thing for for non-SD members since we can't always get down there as frequent as we'd like

    10) Tasting Rooms - Larger glasses for tier only, or special mugs they can take with them to fill (say 2 oz more for the regular price). Special tier only fills (probably not possible due to size of League yet). Maybe first taster free, or buy X number of beers/growler fills for a free one.

    11) Mega Challenge Coin, where even if you challenge someone and lose, you also get a taster/beer when you have to buy someone a drink (at the tasting rooms of course).

    12) Blending events/competitions (even if just an idea for a beer versus actually blending something) for new special releases or adjuncts.

    13) Secret Decoder Ring/Unicorn wand/whatever that unlocks a rarer level of bottle share bottles.

    14) First entry/front of the line pass to ticketed tasting room events so you can grab a seat at the bar or a table instead of having to stand the entire time. (Especially helps those of us with bad backs that can't stand for long periods).

    15) Even earlier purchasing for events so that you'd essentially be guaranteed access to limited size events. I.E. The special release tastings so you don't have to F5 with everyone else in hopes of getting in.

    16) Longer beer beer pick up window than the rest of the League.

    17) Beer pick up concierge, where they will have all of your orders boxed up and waiting for you with 24 hour notice. This would also allow someone to stop in first thing in the morning when the cafe opens to just grab their beers and go (but with no non-cafe purchases) instead of having to wait until the beer bar opens.

    18) Holiday/seasonal cards/newsletters (think the Bathroom Minutes from Dollar Shave Club) that highlight members/staff/events/etc. and provide some sort of coupon or discount.

    19. Special Vegan-BBQ dinner and beer tasting. I really enjoyed the 2nd Anniversary event at the Flavordome.

    That's all I've got for now, thanks for asking!
     
    #8 wolf13, Oct 13, 2016
  9. aquazr1

    aquazr1 Maven (1,325) Jul 27, 2013 California

    For those of us who make the 500+ mile round trips down there, which I do sometimes once a month or more, it would be nice to get extra perks at the tasting room as it is very hard to make any mid-week league event.
     
    #9 aquazr1, Oct 13, 2016
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  10. krisandarcy

    krisandarcy Devotee (305) Apr 4, 2009 Idaho

    Still waiting for MT beanie
     
    #10 krisandarcy, Oct 13, 2016
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  11. wilymobastardo

    wilymobastardo Savant (1,012) Jan 12, 2015 California
    Trader

    What about lower tiers that could include things like smaller allocations, lower bottle limits, and warm hugs?
     
    #11 wilymobastardo, Oct 13, 2016
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  12. Coldstorage

    Coldstorage Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2014 California

    @ModernTimesJacob I take it back... one other self serving request.... PLEASE consider extending the pickup window for league members. even going to 4 months would be a dream. 6 would make me overjoyed. My work is so seasonal its actually really hard to get down there that regularly. (Mandatory 6 day work weeks from 1/15 to 4/15.... ) Plus its like 1300 mi and about $300-400 per loop and thats if my wife doesn't make me do the nice hotels. Would love to get the travel costs down and be able to justify spending more on the beer.
     
    #12 Coldstorage, Oct 14, 2016
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  13. reefer_bob

    reefer_bob Savant (1,010) May 13, 2014 California
    Trader

    Or maybe make it so a Member can proxy for a Member... even put some limitations on it or something...

    Why did I just think of the line, "Only Ninja can kill Ninja".
     
    #13 reefer_bob, Oct 14, 2016
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  14. riko

    riko Pundit (756) Jan 18, 2008 California
    Trader

    I echo those who say no tiers. The bottle limits are already very generous and we often get even more generous second chances. The club is already small and exclusive, why split it further other than to create divisiveness and more elitism? I say add seats instead of tiers.

    And yes, this is easy for me to say because I live close by, but I don't think MT needs to cater to out-of-towners in any way. The club sold out in seconds this year and I know a lot of locals got shut out. If someone from out of town wants to join, he knows what he's signing up for and should deal with it. Just like I've dealt with being a non-local Reserve Society member and the inability/challenge of taking advantage of the tasting room discounts or attending the Society Member Mondays, blending events, etc.

    The whining from L.A. people in the other thread is so tiresome.
     
    #14 riko, Oct 14, 2016
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  15. 175doubledrop

    175doubledrop Initiate (0) Sep 12, 2009 California

    Hate to say it because I'm sure we'll both get flack for it, but you just summed my thoughts up entirely. I'm blown away by some of the complaints I've read in the MT thread(s) from those from outside of SD complaining about the lack of convenience with the beer club they willingly signed up for operated by a brewery hundreds of miles from their residence. And yes, this is easy for me to say as well as I live less than a mile in the fermentorium, but I'm also there usually at least once a week supporting this brewery. I'm also a bruery reserve member and I knew full well what I was getting into when I signed up for a beer membership with a brewery that's 100+ miles from my house.

    Don't get me started on the league members who walk into the fermentorium and immediately act like they own the place either...
     
    #15 175doubledrop, Oct 14, 2016
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  16. David9

    David9 Initiate (0) Mar 25, 2015 California

    On the scale of importance this probably ranks at a one for most but some new Ts and a few options for hats would be cool. Obviously not a league only thing but would be nice none the less.
     
    #16 David9, Oct 14, 2016
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  17. skunkpuddle

    skunkpuddle Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2011 California

    And all from people participating on a website called beer advocate.
     
    #17 skunkpuddle, Oct 14, 2016
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  18. Coldstorage

    Coldstorage Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2014 California

    Jacob has specifically asked for feedback from his customers in this thread and people have respectfully given it. I find it strange that the feedback you guys have is: you would prefer modern times to not take actions to accomidate existing league members for which you would receive no benefit. How is your league experience negatively effected if out of town members are given greater flexibility in picking up purchases? You two must be a blast at parties.
     
    #18 Coldstorage, Oct 14, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2016
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  19. J-loco

    J-loco Savant (1,042) Jan 23, 2015 California
    Trader

    Can I make a poverty request of more sticker options? That'd be cool.
     
    #19 J-loco, Oct 14, 2016
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  20. DougOLis

    DougOLis Initiate (0) Aug 15, 2008 California

    We have a league special growler and you can do this already
     
    #20 DougOLis, Oct 14, 2016
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