No Double Bastard this year. Does Stone hate its loyal fans?

Hopefully you are wrong and they will bring all these back, but I am with you, if they dump these I dump them.

 

The good news is that this can only be because they're busy making other beers which are strong sellers. I agree in concept, and I hope this doesn't happen to other brewers, but I also understand the need to keep the pipeline filled for your regular beers.

 

Looking at their release schedule, they definitely have become an IPA-only brewery.
http://www.stonebrewing.com/beer/release-schedule

"this year’s lineup includes the marquee beers that define Stone’s past and the delightful new addition of beers defining its future."

Bullshit, no it doesn't. Or else it would have Self-Righteous, Imperial Russian Stout, Old Guardian, Smoked Porter, Levitation.

 

maybe they should fruit it. seems to be their MO this year. replace the regular special releases with fruit and or adjunct. meanwhile I'm working through my cellared IRS, OG and DB bottles and not purchasing the new new. We miss you Mitch Steele!

 

I feel like Stone and Victory are sharing the same how to stick it to your loyal fan base playbook these days

 

From Stone:

Well I guess that says it all. If cutting Double Bastard means that Stone's "loyal fans" are getting ignored, then perhaps those fans are fewer in number than some believe. Should Stone get criticized for cutting beers that aren't selling... or should they get criticized for cutting jobs when their numbers aren't what they need to be? Can't have everything.

 

They're trying to create a hype around some of their popular beers by taking them away. Like Jordan brand only re-releases sneakers every now and then and the demand is huge. Same thing. Wannabe organic marketing.

 

That's fine. One less bomber on the shelf collecting dust.

 

Does it suck that breweries have to make business decisions and discontinue some beers and rotate others? Sure. Breweries, especially large ones, have to think of the bottom line and beers that aren't selling as well are dead weight.

 

I agree, but as consumers we can vent and can also move on to other breweries that meet our needs

 

They both have investors and have to push core lineups.

 

Absolutely! That was kind of my point. Breweries are making decisions based on quarterly sales numbers and consumers are making decisions based on which beers they like to drink. If a brewery isn't making what you like then I'm sure that you can choose another that does.

 

Or, more specifically, those beers that maximize their profit margins and are the best sellers.

 

It was probably simply a smart business decision. Double Bastard doesn't exactly fly off the shelves.

Unfortunately, IPAs are the hot sellers. Causes many breweries to be one dimensional to maximize sales.

 

If..and only if they sell. They could collect dust and implode.

 

Not a fan of Xocoveza?

 

I want my freakin Zeltbier Victory.