Bourbon County 2017

Yeah you got bamboozled. Goose (nor any other manufacturer) has much of a say over what happens with the product once it hits shelves. If Binny's actually did that (which, I doubt they did) it would've been their call not the brewers.

 

Stumbled at Northwoods at a local Mom and Pop shop tonight. They had Blacknote four packs for cheaper than binnys the other day, so I figured I’d ask.

The guy kind of mumbled the reply, so I clarified - “did you just say six zero?” Yeah, he replied, “it’s very rare.”

So, there you go. $60 Northwoods at Griselle and Juniors if anyone feels up for a stiff gouging.

On the way out, I noticed some dusty bottles of Rev Gravedigger Billy. I didn’t ask on the price...

 

Because the reason for making Candy (Insert What Ever Stout they use) is not to make all the neck beards moisten up. Its to collect toys for kids. They feature the candy case stout as part of the toy dive. Thats the reason to go.

 

LP has a massive stack over by the humidor of regular.

 

So the toy drive lasts all month, are you going each day to contribute or only when they have the candy cane stout?

 

I brought a fidget spinner, that entitles me to candy cane prop14, c'mon bro.

 

I was just comenting that you should not just make it at home because it is brought out for a good cause. Also. its the 15-21 not all month.

 

Gotta love the yarns the that Binny's employees spin. On CBS friday, I got a bottle at 12pm, my buddy goes into the same store 30 mins later and they told him they never got it in. And that's just the most recent tall tale I've heard. Well, I shouldn't just single out Binny's most liquor stores pull this crap.

 

I dunno about that, I was told information unsolicited and brought it here to confirm, deny or perhaps even educate if it was true. I didn't really know if there was truth or not to the statement and honestly didn't care. I honestly wish Binny's (or most retail places for that matter) would just tell their employees to leave people alone unless they ask for help. I seem to always find the guys who want to be chatty.

 

In full disclousure I used to work for them.

If is entirely possible that your buddy spoke to another empoloyee that was just not aware. Typically only the beer guys and managers know what actually comes in or not. If you just got a rando employee there is a good chance that are not trying to spin some lie. They may just not ahve the msot up to date info.

 

As a former employee I have a question for you - what's up with most/all Binny's now having the "limited release shelf" but not putting out all of the limited releases on it & still holding certain beers in the back? To me that defeats the purpose of having that shelf & can create confusion with consumers (not just BA's or people on this site).

Downers Grove & Oak Brook were both mentioned in this thread of having second drops of Reg & Northwoods that they held in the back & you had to ask for. As these are the two stores I visit most frequently I know they both have "limited release shelves" right by the entrance to the back that these weren't put on.

I still ask if they have anything in the back if there is something I'm specifically looking for, but overall just curious about this practice from an insiders perspective given that all of the stores I've frequented in the burbs now had the specific shelf.

 

I can touch on some of this. This year we have added 2,000 new beers to our system. Obviously all stores aren't going to have all 2,000 but they will have many of them. Many of these are also quick in and out packages. It is virtually impossible to cut all of these on the shelves each week and still have an organized appearance. So this and ease of shopping(having all of the new items in 1 place) contribute to the new item shelf.
As for keeping things in back it is honestly a protection and a way to reward the regular customers. If we have a rare beer and we put it on the shelf, someone is most likely going to come and buy many if not all and no one will get a shot. We can put a limit 1 sign up but this would not prevent our registers from ringing up multiples or helping us make sure that every cashier throughout the chain knows every limited beer that comes in. We are in an impossible situation with the extremely limited items. I feel strongly that we should do what we can to make sure a majority of our most sought after beer ends up in carts of our best customers but this is easier said than done. With the misinformation, we try to be as transparent as we can, but with the amount of limited beers, we can't expect every employee to know everything.
As a longtime employee who frequently lurks on the boards, I'm always available to answer any questions. Happy Holidays!

 

Actually, he spoke to the same manager that I did via phone. He told me he got it the night before and "had a ton", I went in got mine, then when my friend got there he asked the same guy an they didn't get any. I agree that sometimes this isn't intentional, but a lot of times it is. Just last week another manger of a store I try not to frequent but I do straight up told a customer who asked for a certain product "I wouldn't tell you if I did get it." On some level I almost appreciate the honesty there, but he was also pretty darn rude to that customer. He could've said "We got it and _____ is our plan for it. My apologies."

 

This has been rehased this a million times all over this site but sometimes there is literlly just not enough to go around. This coupled with having to monitor a shelf for truly ultra rare stuff is just way to hard in a place as busy as binnys.. The limited release shelf is just that. Beers that have limited runs but maybe limist dont matter as much. Thinks like backwoods or the like. Its limited but it doesnt necessairly need strict limits. Something like Northwoods is never going to be on a binnys shelf. Its much more difficult to monitor something like that 1pp if its just sitting on the shelf. The practice isnt perfect but it is what it is. They do way to much volume to have someone watch a single sku like a hawk. I agree the practice isnt always the most transparent and certianly has its faults but I have yet to come accross a system that is better. In all honesty BCBS Variats are probably the most fairly sold thing at binnys. You are told allotment, price, and location far ahead of time. You just have to be willing to wait in line. Silent drops of Cantillion that just show up and go to emplyees and friends are much less "fair". Just my .02.

 

I agree with this.


Also...Binny's sells Cantillon, or am I reading that wrong?

 

It's distributed in the US by Shelton Brothers, so, yeah, technically they have access to it and can sell it..

Now how often they get it and what bottles show up is another story altogether, but... the answer to your specific question is "yes"

 

Man if I stumbled into any cantillon on the shelf at any of my local stops I'd probably just go buy a lottery ticket afterward and call it a day. Would be epic.

Heard beer temple has put some bottles on their bottle list in the tap room, but prices are very high. Outside of that, I've never seen it at all in the wild here...on site consumption or to go.

 

Yes, used to be a shelf turd at LP Binny's, no-one wanted to pay $25 for some weird Belgian beer. Even when it was popular, it used to silently hit the shelf and you could occasionally luck into a bottle.

Now it seems more of it is allocated to restaurants for on-site consumption. Much like Pappy. Last time I remember LP getting a drop they put most of it behind the bar in the taproom onsite only.

Also, have you guys forgotten the Fou Foune on the shelf at Walgreens?

 

To your last point. Sure. Most reasonable people will accept that. The probelm is some people are twats and its just easier to say sorry no we dont have/didnt get/ ect.

 

In the 3 years I worked there we got the regular geuze twice.