KBS Statement from Founders

I'm pretty sure beer releases (Everywhere) need to start going this way soon.

Eliminate camping out, eliminate drinking in line, eliminate the party atmosphere that apparently now starts on the property the night before.. I bet you see a lot of these issues fixed (Except of course, line cutting.. that's a harder sell).

 

Good lord that sucks bro! Lol No way I would have sat on those portajon seats! you should have went to the bus station..

 

So what you mean is take all the fun out of the releases. You sound like a guy I'd love to have a drink with.

 

That's a tough call man, Port-a-jon where you know that like minded individuals have been using it for a short period of time or Bus Station public toilet, where Lord only knows what type of people have been using it....

 

After a belly full of BK breakfast and a bunch of barrel aged dark beers, it just wasn't gonna happen. I don't know if I can ever forgive myself....

 

I'm telling it how it is. It can't go on forever.. it keeps getting bigger and more ridiculous. You can ignore it all you want, but someone is going to have to address it sooner rather than later.

 

I'm sure you're right that somewhere there will be a tipping point. At that point I'll really stop going to releases. I know we disagree on this point as we argued over the Hi-Fi release, but once I'm not allowed a bottle share in a release line I'll stop going. I know I'm not the only once who feels this way as well. Bottle shares are well over 50% of the reason I go to these things.

I arrived at Founders at midnight because a friend had an extra spot in his car and I figured why not. I had a horrible time for most of the entire night because it was so cold and at that point I didn't care about the beer. Once the morning came and I warmed up a little and the bottle share started it was great and I had an awesome latter half of the day. So I guess for me my limit is somewhere around standing around sharing beer for 5-6 hours before I become miserable and swear off ever arriving any earlier.

I said this same thing in the Hi-Fi thread and it applies here as well. Once craft beer releases becomes work I will stop doing them. The Hi-Fi release was perfect, and I'll continue doing those for as long as possible. The KBS release was work to me, so I won't go next year unless the system changes.

We all have our breaking points and I just know where mine is.

 

I can only hope Founders does the rest of their Backstage releases are on a weekday.

 

I agree. Most of the time I could care less about the beer. The line itself is the fun part of the day. Once breweries start putting the axe to that, I will not be attending. So that's two less people.

 

Craft beer already is "work".

I just find it odd that you draw the line at whether you are able to share or not share beer.

I really think it's the fact that many people turn releases into 5 AM parties (or night before camp out parties) that craft beer has become "work" to many of the others in this hobby (and let's not even get into the mess of distributed beers, people following trucks, taking time off of work to go to a liquor store at open, getting on more lists than I could ever imagine having time to do, etc). Yet, you equate work as not being able to drink in line.

I really think we agree on some things.. but obviously, there are some key differences we differ on.

 

I share the sentiment of the "end sharing in line and I will stop going" crowd.

 

I think it's fine that you've found your personal line where it has gotten ridiculous.

To me yes, the line is whether or not I can drink and share beer in line with friends. i know I'm not alone in this either. I have grown to love the people of craft beer more than the beer itself. I have an amazing group on friends who i have met through Beer Advocate. When I moved to Chicago 3.5 years ago I did not know a soul in the area. Now I feel like I can call the member of my tasting group some of my closest friends. This craft beer thing has gotten to be much more bigger than just about the beer.

There are some cool ass people in craft beer, some of which because of logistics or distance I only get to see a few times a year, either at release parties/ festivals or large tastings. I'll be damned if the few times a year I get to see these fine folks I cannot share a beer with them.

 

And maybe that's one of those key differences.. you hang with BA Folk. A lot of them. And BA members flock to these things.

I generally hang with industry folk, a slew RBers, a good many people that aren't on either community(CBS), and a couple BAs..

I think it's great you love sharing a beer with all those BA Friends in line.. I have opened my fair share of beer in lines with RBers and a few BAs over the years. It's good fun. But you are essentially making an argument to eliminate bottle shares, no? Especially for breweries that can't/don't want to handle the increased traffic, craziness, hassle, attendance for releases they are seeing.. "I'm not even here for the beer, I'm here to share my own beer on the brewery's property for free. I wouldn't be here if I couldn't.".. perhaps that is a piece of information you should keep on the down low going forward.. should you hope to preserve the practice.

 

I'm gonna agree 100% with weatherdog. Getting in line for a beer release at 5am is not that bad if I am there sharing beer with people and having a good 'ol time. If you take that away from me I am not sure I go.

I'm already not looking forward to the BA Pt5th release at the 4 Elf party next year.

 

If they let people relax and actually enjoy the party and then just call numbers, I think that would have been the perfect release party. Tons of great beer, great people and great food. It was just dumb to have to stand in line after you're already inside the party.

 

I agree. No beer sharing, but they opened up the brewery....if people thought KBS Day was cold, they have no idea.

They just needed to check the tokens when you got to the front, way too much cutting going on. It was my first time at the party, but it was real cool, and had a tremendous tap list.

 

agreed. They are a bunch of book cooking, bait & switching, ponzi schemers!!!

 

You stood in line while drinking from one of the best taplists that one brewery could even think of putting together! 4 Elf party was VERY smooth!

And from what I have heard.....there will be no BB Plead the 5th in 2012!

 

And I think I should write down everyones name who is complaining about this release and writing off Founders....you will all be the same ones buying KBS when it hits shelves...trading for CBS, and standing in line at the next big beer release!!!

See ya there

 

That is all petty crime. By far the worst offense was Founders sending around chain letters at the KBS release.