Ram Brewery Side Note Releases

This is 100% accurate. When i went there at 10:30 AM CST the guy at the front door didnt even know where i needed to go... Then when i went there at lunch i asked if they had Morning Fog on tap in which they replied "I'm not sure what that is"... Went to the bar and of course they had it on tap. At the time Shaun was actually taking cases up to the bar himself and stated that he still had another 10 cases left in the back and he already had brought out 20 cases. This was about 2 1/2 hours ago from this post.

 

I got here about 20 minutes ago and waitress told me they're sold out. She thought there was still some then came ask and nada. I must have just missed as a few people at the bar still have their 4 packs (1 guy with a case)

Still on draft and crowlers though, so getting 2 is fine by me.

Oh and taste is in point.

 

I was just there too about 30 minutes ago. Seeing everyone with their cans made me jealous but I got a growler, gonna be my NYE drink.

 

I wish they would implement some sort of ticket system at these releases.... I was close to the front of the line and people just show up 15 minutes before the release and jump in line with there friends. Some guy in the front was yelling the whole time at some line jumpers he did not like for 15 minutes and looked angry enough to do something about it.... it was really awkward.

If you hand out tickets maybe an hour or hour and a half prior to the release to the people in the front of the line, people can't cut is the point. Anyone without a ticket when the release starts in line has to go to the back of the line. A lot of people do this and it assures people who got there early and waited are taken care of while punishing those who think they can just show up and get in line with a buddy or sneak in their wife/girlfriend who doesn't want to wait right before the release starts.

Something else to note, many people in line can't see around the corners. You can't manage a line you can't see... people just jump right in... another huge problem. People sometimes self-manage the lines but a line that has blind spots is a huge problem.

J

 

I was probably 10 ppl behind you around the first corner and didn't see any of the activity you mentioned, so I definitely agree about blind spots in the line.

Also, when I got there the line was single file around the corner. By 9:30, there was a group of about 20 ppl clustered at the corner. I was in conversation with a few ppl the whole time so I didn't see the cluster forming. For this release it was not a big deal because the beer lasted for awhile.

But if this had been a stout release where the first x ppl got 2 pp and everyone else got 1 pp, there would have been a lot more anger and ppl taking line management into their own hands. With the amount of money RAM brings in with these releases, I think they should start thinking about line management. Like a ticket system you mentioned.

Cheers

 

It sucks that people take this hobby and ruin it for other people... I wish people could just respect the line... get there early and keep it single file but that is not what is happening. The stout releases are the worst.

Maybe online ticketing for the stout releases needs to be explored since people can't behave like civil people. People can't bottle share and clean up after each other and people can't just stand in line properly. I wouldn't be surprised if Ram does the easiest thing and go to online sales to avoid both.

J

 

I'm assuming it will be but did anyone get an answer from Shaun yesterday?

 

Man...my line problems included a guy debating if he wanted 3 or 4 4-packs...

I showed up at 11:30 and was "second" in line. I grabbed my 2 (even though there were no limits at that point) and left.

I consider that a highly successful and well run release. Maybe if everyone could actually do the same...we wouldn't have have a page full of complaints.

Oh and loved the beer! Nice and hazy! (THIS IS THE PURPOSE OF BEERADVOCATE)

 

No offense, but you showed up late... an hour and a half after the release time and have a comment on people waiting in line when there was no line?

You should try this when they release a stout. There won't be a line because all the bottles will be gone at 11:30 or an hour and a half after the release time.... and the first person in line was there at 11:30 the previous night.

I'm not sure what your entire post was about to be honest... No line = well run event?

J

 

My point being. People need to relax. If I get it I get it. If I don't I don't. But listening to people argue like my 1st grade daughter about line skipping and he said she said. It gets old. Every post in the Great Lakes forum is just that. Complaint after complaint. What makes you better than the next person for beer. Right.

I honestly wish there was a wineadvocate cause I would join just to see if people complain as much.

Shaun - thanks for the limit up front. Spread the beer out. Get it in more hands. I'm going to share my 2 4-packs with friends and family who all with enjoy it. Not hoard a case and complain the guy in front of them got a fresher set.

 

Also FYI this was my first release and worked a full shift before seeing it was still available.


But the best part...being "late" gave me the same chance at allocations as you

 

You really think there aren't wine forums????

 

Ironically on Whineadvocate, no one complains....

 

Anyone know if Morning Fog is still available on draft?

 

I would say so. On Instagram, Shaun said there was 6 kegs.

 

Awesome beers Shaun. I got on the train late and have started with your beers with Juicy and Meh-He. I will trade some lambic hopefully for a semi easy swap, as I can't imagine many of the early side notes are being swapped anymore, or many around at all.

Cheers

 

So you must not be a member there....

 

Morning Fog is still available on draft and for growler fills.

Separately, their 'coming soon' menu (and chalk board above bar) indicate Chaos Theory (imperial stout) and a 'double dry hopped DIPA' are on deck next.

 

Does Ram fill outside growlers?

 

No.. Only their own, of which there are two kinds. I think the plain/cheaper one is $4 (and same style as Half Acre growlers) and they give you a new one each time you come and bring back your old. This just ensures that the new ones are completely clean and ready for a fill.

They also have 2L growlers, like the Hill Farmstead and Russian River style, with that flip top that makes a really nice seal.