Other Half Brewing December 2016

This is NYC. It's all about the $$$$$. I think we'll just have to wait and see what happens when the expansion is done. There's really no reason for them to change what they're doing. They make beer, they sell beer, quickly. All the collab beers make it out to bars and locals have many opportunities to try them. Nothing's going to change no matter how many people complain on BA. People line up for sneakers, clothing, cronuts, hats, phones, tickets, you name it. If people want to piss, shit, vom, drink, smoke, on the sidewalks on NYC thats their choice. If they get ticketed for their behavior that's on the individual. I highly doubt Sam, Matt, or Andrew will come out and give a stern wag of the finger to the law breakers. It just doesn't work that way here. Sorry.

Edit: If you check out SOLD (stand on line dudes) on Instagram they said they had 6 people on line at other half starting at 5am for orders for their clients. People will do whatever they have the means to do to get what they want here. It's just how the city works.

 

Yeah, I guess as someone who grew up elsewhere, I'll never get used to living in a place where so many other people want to do exactly what I want to do. Sends me back to when LCD Soundsystem's "final" show sold out instantly. Just gotta get over it I guess.

 

Their system works for them and it hasn't changed since they started canning, aside from not going through the tasting room any more, right? So I don't see much change.

I'd like to see just a simple 'small order form' like Tree House. You write down how many 4 pks of each beer or how many of each bottle you want. Employee inputs the order into his iPad, hands it to the beer guy and then asks if you want merch. You pay and then your beer is there. SIMPLE!

Only other addition that I'd like to see is pre pay with an iPad. Someone could start taking payments prior to open. You get a wristband when you pay, so they know you paid.

I know its up to them to want to make the change. For me, it's all about being efficient and providing good customer service. In today's world, I think having someone stand in a line for 1-3 hours is just not being fully efficient. I get they have blown up over the past year and have to deal with the crowds. But I think they aren't fully exploring all the options.

Just my .02.

 

So has anyone else noticed that huge expansion next door? Yes things are changing. Be patient.

 

The " continue to do whatever is best for the business" arguments I totally get and respect. And if they were located in a truly industrial zone then it's open and shut - whether their method of choice is convenient for me personally or not.

But I don't care if they are not technically liable for other people's behaviour - if, as a result of them deciding to go this route for releases (which encourages people to line up for hours in a partly residential area), people are pissing and behaving badly - then that is on them to do something about, bottom line be damned. It's called being a responsible member of the community.Maybe it's because I live locally and have a small child (saw the comments about the father with daughter picking up empties etc), but it really grates on me.

Edit - and seeing Kanger posting at the same time - this can be as simple as communicating HOW and WHEN things are going to change with the expansion. Rather than these vague comments from time to time being like "relax - things will change - we're working on it".

 

This.

 

Well when should be early next year hopefully. The expansion is coming along nicely. The how is to be determined. But do expect more availability of cans.

The main goal right now is try to ensure that everyone who comes to a can release will get cans of some sort.

 

If that's the goal, why are limits always case per person per beer?

 

Couldn't agree more. The stigma that people who wait in line for several hours "want it more" and max out actually want to try a beer more than someone who just wants a 4-pack. I usually don't buy beer by the case, especially a beer I've never ever tried. If I want to just grab a 4-pack, why should I be subjected to stand in line for several hours? Really like the approach LIC is taking for their next release. I just wanted a 4-pack of each, so I was able to purchase that and ensure that I don't have to wait on a line.

 

Everyone who came to this past Saturday's release got cans. Someone might not get what they wanted, but everyone got cans.

 

Of course you had to add that lest you be tagged with the dreaded "entitled" label everyone loves to sling around here. I agree with your post 100% and really do wish our local craft scene, awesome as it is, did not come with long lines, hoarding, over-hyping, etc. Another reason why I really appreciate Carton these days. You can get a case of most new releases weeks afterwards. And their beer is as good if not better than the others. Less hassle is a good thing.

 

Kanger, can you provide an update on the Burial / Other Half collaboration that Burial posted about a month ago?

 

I am at the tap room almost every week either for cans or to just hang and I have honestly never seen it. Would I be able to check it out if I asked someone working while im there?

 

Velvet Magnum? It should be coming out soon I believe.

I don't think the taproom employees would take you to check it out, but you can definitely ask! Also you can get some people together and schedule a brewery tour and see it that way. Or if you're in the area during the week, the garage door is usually open on that side and you can look in.

 

This.

The fact that the only thing we've heard from Other Half regarding Saturday's shitshow was "Thanks to everybody who waited today. We're always trying to improve these releases." is absolute garbage. I don't doubt that there are plenty of things going on behind the scenes in preparation to make things better, but the loyal following of Other Half patrons who come through every other Saturday for releases and countless other taproom visits deserves more of a response than that.

Hell, it could literally be as simple as "We understand that Saturday's release wasn't the smoothest in recent memory and that there were some bad eggs that made the experience unpleasant for some. We're looking into ways to make these run smoother and more fun for others as well as cracking down on poor behavior in line."

Ignoring the line issues doesn't change anything. It makes customers bitter.

 

If OH has shown one thing, it's that they listen to these complaints and address them. From moving the line to the garage, to adding extra registers, to adding a cash line, etc... they have made successful attempts at making the experience better. They can't control every aspect of the line, who shows up, and what people do in line. If people aren't willing to police the line themselves I don't know what you expect the employees to do. If you think the line moves slow now, wait until the employees look for wristbands and argue with those that don't have them. I'm sure that won't slow things down.

As for apologizing to the customers, there is no need. The bad experience is coming from other customers not OH.

And finally, OH doesn't owe anyone a timeline with exact dates on the expansion. We aren't shareholders, so they tell us what they want to tell us.

 

My issue isn't with Other Half or the line per se. It's with a lot of the dirt bag type people that wait in these lines. Some examples from this past Saturday:

• Guy who brings his wife & 5 year old daughter, & makes them wait in the freezing cold.
• Guy who sets up a stereo near his chair & starts blasting Pearl Jam at 5AM
• Guy who stands in the street and walks up & down the line smoking a giant cigar, stinking up the entire line.
• Guy who yells at & antagonizes the people who are coming back from the methadone clinic nearby.

Anytime I see things like this, it makes me question being part of the entire craft beer scene as a whole.

 

Wow, someone was yelling at people coming from the methadone clinic? Man you can't even make that up. That's awful.

 

As far as customer experience I completely agree. We're not shareholders and OH doesn't owe anything in terms of having to update us or keep us in the loop everytime one of us wants to have a good whine about wait being too long, or limits being too low/high, or pricing, or timing of releases etc etc

My point (I'm replying just because you were responding to someone who was agreeing with my post - I don't want anyone thinking I'm an entitled beer nerd) is that it is on them if their releases (even indirectly) are negatively affecting people who live close by who have/want nothing to do with beer. "Civilians" if you will haha. I don't see how so many people absolve OH of any responsibility on that front. If they didn't do these releases, then people wouldn't be rocking up acting like dickheads anmd causing trouble for local residents. Simple as that. Sure it's unfortunate for them - but this is part of the package. And these guys aren't coming for a charity drive either. OH are making $$$ here.