Ram Brewery Side Note Releases

I think I agree with your assessment. I'll go further and say that initially I was down after missing out on the TG release the day before... but after today I think I feel like I won the true lottery for great beer. I have no idea what Assassin and KBBS taste like but I have 2 bottles of Chaos and was given probably the most generous pours ever received for a BA beer at a beer release... Chaos exceeded my expectations in flavor.... for an economical $75 for the two bottles, 2 pours, a sweet glass, and food.

I wish all of their stout releases were like this event. Super-relaxing enjoying beer with fellow beer geeks.... it was a great experience.

 

I agree 100% with your assessment. I think this event proves there is a better way for allocating beer and stopping the muleling and line cutting that comes with every release line. I noticed that the entire place was packed the whole time... people eating, drinking, socializing... .having an amazing time up until may a half hour before the event ended... and then people began to leave. When you have mules and resellers in line... they don't even drink the beer they get but look at the beer as a commodity.... and ruin this hobby/past-time. People at the event truly were there for the experience of the beer.

 

Again- why? What is bad about the online tickets? The last side note, 800 people showed up. If they do another lineup, the 400 that got shut out last time will surely show up earlier than the 2 hours before opening they did last time. So then the Ram gets to explain to their insurance carrier that for the next release, 1000 people will be camping in their lot at 3am like Black Friday, where it was proven people would be constantly drinking on their property, when that has been shown time and again that people can't behave like adults in line.

Make no mistake, if they go back to a lineup, you will have to be in line no later than 6am for an 11am open to be in line with a chance. So the people that actually get bottles have to wait 5 hours in line? And the people that wait 4 hours then get bupkis despite their efforts? Why isn't it better that the decision of allocation is worked out in advance, rather than turn it into some sort of survivor competition to who can game the physical line? If you want to say no tickets is preferable, explain why.

 

Step back from the edge... it will all work out

 

Thanks mom.

 

FYI, I was at the morning session. I did not miss out.

No argument that ticketed releases are easier on the brewery and staff.

I never necessarily said that I'm against ticketed events. I only said not every release from a brewery should be an online ticketed only thing (ex: CCB Huna ticketed, MZ variants not... FFF DLD ticketed, random limited bottle not). It potentially shuts out the local fans who have been supporting the brewery. I enjoy going to releases and seeing familiar faces. If you think it's too tough getting to the brewery early to ensure yourself bottles, how many more people you think online tickets are open to? You got people states over and everyone in Chicagoland fighting servers all at the same time until they break. You can't sit there and tell me you wouldn't be the slightest upset because you missed out on a release you were excited for, was easily accessible to you, had nothing in your way to stop you from attending, but the server crapped out and decided to choose someone 300+ miles away who has never been to that brewery instead.

Also, not every ticketed beer release has gone as smooth as today did. There will always be flaws when people don't act considerate and humane.

 

I think you can accomplish a good medium with ticket sales, tap room release, and perhaps a mug club... there are lots of ideas already being implemented by a lot of breweries to handle distribution of the rare tasty beers.

If you have the rare beers on tap, the people who don't appreciate the beer don't show up and most of the locals have access to the beer where online sales allow anyone to get tickets.

Mug club members with access are typically slated for locals... and access to just one of every rare release would not be that hard to implement... a fair trade to give up half an allotment to not wait in line for hours or miss out of online sales no matter how you go.

My observation of how Ram Schaumburg is taking is off is that there are lots of issues that are going to have to be addressed. Each release, the lines are getting longer... people are getting there earlier... and the supply of what is released is not increasing to meet the growing demand. People are going to have to get creative going forward and I don't think what is in place will last for much longer.

 

I went yesterday after the event to grab a drink of what was left. Hops on hops was so juicy and hazy. A real winner. Coco nilla was even better. It tasted like a mix between liquid snickers bar and a chocolate milkshake. The board said it was 10.75% abv but good luck tasting that!

Even though I didn't get tickets for the event it was really nice to go afterwards and try 2 of 3 from the day.

On a side note, there seemed to be some massive bottle share going on in the side party room

 

I saw that on a facebook group post. I think every so often there is a really good bottle share that goes on at the Ram with most all of them are friends of Shaun.

 

Currently doing growler fills of Hops on Hops and Coco-Nilla.

 

Awesome!!!! I'm going to be on my way!

 

Better hurry up if you're looking for Hops on Hops. Bartender said it's going fast.

 

Who's at RAm now? I'm at bar in bears hat. Im looking around at alot of possible BAers

 

Im at the end of a bar near the big screen in a brown winter hat.

 

I'll be there in like 15 mins but I've got too many hopps to drink in the cellar. That coco-nilla though, I definitely want more of that!!!

 

I think I overheard something about them running out of glass. If you are coming for a fill, might be wise to bring your own glass. Normally they don't fill growlers other than their own but I think they are making an exception today. Just FYI

EDIT They have some swing tops left. $12 for the glass

 

They are out of the regular growlers but they do have flip top growlers they are filling. $12 for the growler plus the fill.

 

Plenty of swing tops ($12 each) left but they will fill other glass if you bring it- special exception while they are out of the reg growlers. $20 a fill for either coconilla or hops on hops, limit 1 each.

 

I had Coco Nilla on draft then got a growler of each. $20 fill feels like a bargain on a Sidenote. It's sweeter than I'd like but very good. Not sure when I can open 64oz of it though lol

 

I dont know how anyone will be able to open a growler and finish it the same day alone. Perfect if you had people to share it with but it would be task to drink it all in one sitting.

I just received my lil beavers Ukeg last week and once I got my growler home it went right into that. I really want to see how well the beer will taste weeks from now in the ukeg.

Does anyone think they will still be filling Coco-nilla tomorrow?