Appalachian Wild Ale Society

I'd be completely fine with the price if it came with 5-7 club only bottles (like every other bottle club in America). Hell, even 300$ for 7-9 bottles.

Having first right of refusal to 6 beers that I've already been able to purchase in the past isn't a bonus or worth the 130$ bucks extra (70$ for two beers and swag). Also of those 6: What Beers will they be? How many of them can I buy? etc The lack of information doesn't help.

As many have mentioned It's just an "out of towners VIP club" and should have been marketed as such.

 

Again if I knew what the bottles were I'd consider it. However, this is a beer fast pass without knowing what the ride is. Will it be teacups or the kick ass coaster. Step right up folks...
The price is steep, but not having to worry about making it up in time and waiting in line for multiple releases does have a value.

 

Alot of the beer clubs around this country reward their customers by charging less per bottle because they are blindly buying a years worth of releases. This circle of loyalty and appreciation from the customers and the breweries help foster a better community. This circle is what got you guys to this point....and the fact that you make great beer. When I first read what was included, i read it as getting 8 beers for $200. In doing the math, we've been paying $20 for 375's this past year. So 6×$20 = 120. For the remaining $80, 2 750's, a tshirt and a glass sounds like even money to me. This would be a great way to reward your loyal customers who blindly fork out a years worth of release money at one time. Then i realized the $200 only reserved the right to buy those other 6 bottles. Thats just plain not right. It wasn't a year and a half ago that you guys were charging the same amount for the 750mls as you are for the 375s now. I find it insulting that you want me to believe that you guys were working half as hard 2 years ago filling those 750s than you are now filling those 375s. Ive been to your brewery many times over the past few years and I have seen nothing but hard work taking place everytime ive been there. Your beer does demand a premium price but I guess $200 for 8 beers wouldn't have been premium enough. Please don't take my tone as angry or insulting. I am truly saddened and hurt by this show of greediness and lack of gratitude that has been displayed

 

If people really thought there were that many other comparable wilds being made in the state or nearby states then they wouldn't even care and definitely wouldn't be melting on here and everywhere else lol. It's funny when people say that there are, but never seem to name the ones they're talking about.

 

I thought a good nights rest would have helped me look at this issue with a more postitive outlook but in rereading @WanderFlora 's post from last night it saddend me even more. This is what bothers me:
"Just average everyday folks. With that said, we can't afford to pay a PR team/person. As mentioned above, the price tag for the society is steep, yes. But it reflects a ton of hard work on our part, and us listening to all of the complaints of previous releases over the last couple of years. We arent telling anyone that they can't buy these beers without being a member. We are simply offering this option, which will greatly help folks that have a hard time making it to releases, and help us make our brand bigger and better. None of us make any real money at our jobs. We all lovingly struggle to pay our personal bills. So I can assure you that any profit from the sale of these memberships is not going into anyone's pocket."

The average everday folks are the customers who like to spend what little extra money left in their paycheck, after paying our bills, on a bottle or two of beer. The average everyday folks are the local folks who live in the surrounding towns in Western North Caroilina who support you during those weeknights when the tourists arent filling those seats at your bar. We are the real people who are struggling to pay our bills and that probably should be saving their money instead of spending it on booze. To say that you are offering this as solution from the complaints from people who can't make the releases is ridiculous. You are offering this "solution" to the "fast pass" people in life in that have the expendable income who enjoy this type of luxury. You are definitely not offering this to the "everyday folks". The everyday folks are the ones waiting in line for 6 hours, in the freezing cold, sharing bottles with one another in order to try mutiple bottles of beer that they dont have in their budget to buy on their own. I don't believe that you truly care about us everyday folk and that no one profits from this action. You may be investing those profits in the new building but please don't try and play us everday folks as fools.

 

To be fair, I've never seen a FF 375ml, and I'm pretty sure a 750ml of jitterbug b1 was 25 bucks vs the 500ml vs 18 bucks with a much nicer label. That doesn't really seem like a price hike to me.

 

My bad. I thought the new little bottles were 375's. We can put the math to that as well. Given my initial statement about not caring for the Marketing Swag they are offering, for $320, you will likely receive 4,500ml of beer which in American is the equivalent of 6.9 bombers. This means that those bombers cost the everyday folks $46.37 a piece if they have the ability and desire to participate.
However, my point that you qouted is still the same because those 500ml bottles still cost $20. Volume doesnt come into effect because the amount of those 8 bottles is still the constant. The $200 spent still works out to what those beers will cost if waiting in line. This is definitely not rewarding their everday customers.

 

Are we all forgetting about the membership card?
This thread is making my morning!

 

^ This is what bothers me. I think @WanderFlora stated the brewery's case perfectly. And that still isn't enough for you? You may be unhappy with all of this and unhappy with the pricing and their statement, but don't say they don't care about everyday folk because they do. I see it every time I go in there and they remember my face/name. I see it when the bartenders are slammed and they are still polite, courtesy, and show great hospititality. Take the time to talk to the people who work there and put everything they have into the brewery.

 

Price aside I think this would have been a great opportunity for people that love FF but don't have time away from work to be in line for hours on a saturday. But that opportunity was ruined by doing a lottery open to people in California, etc with local mules.

 

This is exactly why I want to join. I work saturdays, and usually need to ask off of work to attend the releases...thereby losing money. This club will pay for itself for me after the first two releases. I understand the dismay people are feeling, but I'd rather do something like this than prepay for 12 bottles. I really do dislike the ability for there to be proxies, and I think that would be the only downside to this.

 

Right, i get your argument. I wasn't trying to debate that it is/isn't a good value for everyone. It's something that works very well for my schedule/budget, but I can see how it doesn't work for others. It's even better for me because if I get in, I have a friend who's in the same situation and he's willing to foot some of the bill to be able to have access to my increased allotments to split. My math works out like this:
2 bottles x $30 (club exclusive bottles)
1 shirt x $25
1 club glass x $15
= $100
+40 from by buddy
=$140
so I'm paying $60 for an entire year to skip lines, get increased allotments, (probably have first access to zwanze day if they get it again), never have to miss work on a saturday (which could cost me over $100 per saturday missed)...so for me it works out great. I can see how others wouldn't think the same.

Now I just have to win the lottery haha

 

I'm gonna try to split one with someone I think, maybe multiple people.

 

I don't think I've see anywhere that you'd have increased allotments, only that you'd be at the front of the line. I think you're allotment would still be the same as whatever limit there is that day. Without the ability to go through line twice since you wouldn't be there (though for some of these beers going through line twice isn't an option anyway). It'll be interesting to see how they work this with limits depending on the number of people in line, if they continue with that method as well.

I really wouldn't bet on getting first crack on Zwanze day either. It might happen, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

Yeah. Those perks are the types of things that would make this VIP pass almost worth the money. As you said, neither are mentioned in the membership page.

 

I live 4 hours away, so my gas bill for a FF release is between 30-40 bucks. Then when you include food, coffee, etc. It's a 50-60 dollar trip for me each release just to get there. This program saves me money. As I understand it saves me money not having to constantly drive. Helps with my work schedule as I do have to work the occasional Saturday. And makes the trip up to FF more relaxing, it's a much different place when there is no release and a crowd of people. I understand if you're more local how this doesn't make any sense, but for me it's a good deal.

 

It only saves you money if you can pick up all the beers in less trips. Which may or may not happen. They've just said they will have release windows, not how wide the windows will be. You may have a week to pick up for all is known at this point, thus not saving you any money. It does guarantee you bottles tho, so it may still be worth it for that reason alone.

 

Allotment sizes for AWAS members will always be higher than allotments to the general public. The release dates for these brands are undetermined to allow for proper aging and conditioning.

Nothing mentioned on their page about being in the front of a line

 

Im sorry that what I said bothers you.
Again, I am not mad but saddend. I do take the time to get to know every bartender/server that has served me, including the folks at FF. Building relationships with the people I come in contact with in my life is very important to me including the people on this board. Please feel free to look at any of my posts on this board and and I think you will find thst I am overall a positive person. I guess I am just sick and tired of the business people and politician types that are donning a metaphoric hat of the everyday folk in order to play to their weaknesses. By doing this and then saying that the reason is to please us by giving us the chance to pay a hefty LUXURY tax is bullhockey. This only benefits the people that don't think twice about spending that kind of money and those that accept that money. I know there are folks that appreciate the benefit of paying that much for a speed pass but i just dont think that commoners like myself a happy with this new way of life.

 

It says on the awas post there will be increased allotments. I'm not counting on any extras or surprises, but in my experience, FF has always taken feedback and tried to adjust their release methods etc as they go along. Call me a fanboy or a homer, but I really love and respect what these guys do, and I love to support them.