Bruery 2017 RS/HS Allocations

Normally look at the location tag for the tasting room, then click through hashtags people use. Works well for seeing how crowded a tasting room is before going (not just bruery).

 

At SMM now, and it's very chill. Tables and seats are open and the process to get a stamp and pours was very fast. Almost no line ATM.

 

I agree somewhat. I will still renew my membership, no hesitation there. And l will still go once a month (tonight for SMM). Only diff is instead of 2 flights, I'll just get one with the new stuff. And instead of 2 fills I'll get none. It's not about the money, I'm going to spend it on beer anyways. It's the perceived value. I'll use the 2nd flight money at BL and the fill money for bottles. I wanna say I'll spend it at Mr K's but I'll probably just buy more allocation instead... guess Bruery is just gonna win this in the end

 

@Blackcomb - Tim, what are the other "changes" that were made? Can you tell at all? Obviously they opened early but what else is different from last month?

Also, how long you hanging out?

 

Unfortunately I already left (have to get daughter to softball practice). They moved the stamps inside and back into the barrel area and put additional seating over there. That with the full patio should add a good amount of seats. Pour lines are the same config but there were a lot more staff around. Seems like they took the feedback to heart after the last one. Did a good job.

 

Newb RS member question - First time getting tix to the anniversary party. Got my allocation (2) and (1) DD tix, does anyone have detais on the DD ticket? do they get to wander around the event or have to stay in a certain place? I am assuming most of us will have wristbands for beers and food and they don't get anything? Also, does the Bruery ever offer additional tickets or does this event sell out fairly quickly? Thanks for your responses!


Also - my 2 cents on the price increase: The hate runs deep on this issue (queue Star Wars *deep breath*) but they are really aligning their prices to what most other breweries around the area charge for comparable barrel aged goodies. Should they have spread out the price change over a few months and raise it a quarter here or quarter there, sure. I think the major change has feathers ruffled but as always the dust settles and everyone continues to chomp at the bit for their fair share of barrel aged goodness. I also do agree that there is no consistency in pours at the taster level in the tap rooms, getting an additional OZ? sometimes I see them underpoured, sometimes to the brim, meh on that. Also, as long as bottle prices don't fluctuate that drastically and bottle size doesn't change, or there isn't a push to move to cans (smaller size) , I will be a happy camper.

 

They got to wander last year. They had a different color ticket and were not handed a taster glass, IIRC so beer fills were not allowed. They could high as fuck on caffeine from the coffee vendors though and eat a lot of bbq.

As for additional tickets, they allowed some to go to PS last year. Since they gave HS double the amount of RS again, I doubt there will be extras that go on sale.

 

Either I've always been getting big pours, or nobody informed these bartenders of the intended increase

 

I'll be there.

 

Yea, sorry, but this is really just ridiculous. We aren't idiots and we can do simple math at the very least. The worst part for you guys is, we also have a good idea what your competitors are doing.

Now I went to SMM tonight to get my stamp and some tasters of the new allocations because I don't want to wast money on beer I won't like. While there, I noticed 5oz pours of both White Chocolate and Melange 3 for $8. And right on the counter-top? Bottles of these beers for $30. So what you're saying is that it's $40 for a bottles worth from draft, but $30 in the bottle. That makes no sense.

Are we being charged for the privilege of your company? The ambiance? Please tell us a competitor, colleague, or "benchmark" that charges the customer more to drink at the tasting room?

I love your guys' beer, and I won't be cancelling my membership by any means, but when it comes time to recommend a tasting room, you guys will go from first on my list to last.

 

Is M9 as delicious as it sounds?

 

Anyone have any reviews on the new allocations from SMM?

 

Isn't that how it usually works? You go to a bar and order a $6 draft pour of whatever craft beer would cost $2 per bottle (or less) in a 6 pack. As you start talking about fancier beer the discrepancy becomes less extreme, but in my experience it's pretty normal for something to be more expensive on draft than bottled.

That's especially the case for smaller pours, where you're paying a little bit of a premium for not buying in bulk as much.

 

SMM was much better tonight that last month. Not sure if it was from opening earlier or the luster wore off but I got in line at 6 and had my tasters by 6:05

Beret with Peaches and vanilla was great. Tons of vanilla comes through. Chocolate Rain was as good as expected. Wasn't a huge fan of Share This. Didnt get a ton of orange/chocolate but maybe unneeded to let it warm up more.

 

How did you like ST: Coffee, for comparison? I thought the coffee edition was pretty excellent and was really looking forward to O.C. as a result.

Thanks for the reviews!

 

I enjoyed ST coffee as I feel the coffee really came through. I didn't get a lot of orange or chocolate from this beer

 

So I purchased RS growler fill of Mash & FT on Sunday and it was $20. That seemed extremely reasonable or they didn't charge me properly. Either way I'm still a happy RS member.

 

I think we take our Bruery rep here for granted a little. I don't think he has to post here. This just happens to be a place to provide information. We could just as easily be relegated to e-mailing them with any questions or issues. Considering the size of the societies I don't know what kind of majority or minority we have on BA.

I'm also not against raising prices. maybe it will thin the herd a little in the tasting rooms.

 

Skipped SMM... In Protest of a $40 growler fill.

 

I have a quick and dirty review from my notes at SMM.

Turo - From taster glass, it was a dark wine maroon color, and uncarbonated. Scent was of a cab sav/Sirah with a hint of Sour blonde. Taste was of a Cab Sav and Tobacco, not very dry and spicy finish. Thin mouthfeel.

Valise - Light golden color, lightly carbed. Strong blonde sour scent on the nose. Taste is of bitter apple and pear, sour blonde notes come through with the thin mouthfeel. To me, it was of Chardonnay fruitiness and a medium dryness.

Share This: OC - Dark black, normal fizzy stout carbonation. Smell is of light citrus and smokey stout of the Share This series. Very mellow roasted malt flavor with dark chocolate on the front and orange smoothness on the back. Mouthfeel is bubbly and thin to medium. The citrus notes balance the dark stout malts and house yeast the Bruery makes so well.

Chocolate Rain - I found this to be in the same vein I found the Mocha Wed this year. They just keep getting better at their processes year to year; and this is another beer that keeps getting better every time they brew it. I found it to have more chocolate and less booze bite than a 2015 chocolate rain. Less head on it than previous years and a better mouthfeel.

My 2 cents.