Olde Hickory Release - Spectrum?

I believe it was 3 sets per person last year

 

-It may look intriguing, but it tastes fucking amazing. More spices than cake, but less than abraxas. Huna is the best reference point. The heat is perfect.

 

That was the limit, but they didn't sell out last time. They haven't sold out completely of a release day of release since Calico Jack I believe. Which is kind of nice.

 

I hope Huna is not the reference, because Huna last year was basically RC Cola. I'll take Abraxas over Huna all day every day. And 2015 Mexican Cake over both.

 

-Personally, I think the huna I've had was good (not sure the vintage), but it just doesn't come near the hype it gets. Especially in a world where MC and abraxas exist. But with S4, I was just going on the heat and spices level when comparing it to huna. I think the base beer is better, of course. And it's barrel aged. Never had BA huna.

 

Release date of March 10, 10 am just announced.

 

Hope this one lasts a little later in the day. Alpha Hops tasting is that morning as well.

 

And FF Funk n' Monk is that day as well. As much as I enjoy the AHS events, I'll end up missing this one. OHB release and FF event are both higher priority. I had originally thought that the AHS event was in the evening like most of the others have been so was gearing up for a marathon.

 

Is there a reason that all of these events get planned for a single day? It seems like I'm looking forward for whenever the next big release a brewery announces then all of a sudden there's 3 events on a single day. Why can't they space them out so that fans can go to all of them instead of having to choose? I've been really looking forward to the next Spectrum but also haven't been able to get much from Fonta Flora since I didn't get into the club and their releases have mostly been on weekdays as of late.

 

AHS/Sierra Nevada is completely separate, but I have a feeling that there's some unofficial coordination from FF/OHB around dates. At least, one sets a date first and the other announced their event for the same date. Considering OHB is in the morning and FF is in the afternoon, it actually lines up really well... if you don't overindulge at the OHB bottle share during the release.

Actually makes it easier for the travelers since they only have to come up from Charlotte/Raleigh/wherever once.

 

Anyone in the Raleigh area want to car pool to this? I will do the driving and can be dd (other then a draft or two). Can plan a meeting spot in advance.

 

I think it works wonderfully for people to experience both of them. I'd love to get my hands on bottles of both which would possibly work out if I went to Fonta Flora first and hoped that Spectrum doesn't sell out early. I've missed so many Fonta Flora bottles and I've been looking forward to Spectrum too. I hate having no big releases for a while to have to make a choice when there's multiple releases going on at once. I'm not angry about it, just don't necessarily understand it. It'd be nice to have a more steady stream of releases.

 

I definitely get it. We don't know how the Fonta Flora release is going to be I don't think. Obviously it won't be just dropping the bottles randomly since they've announced a date, but they've done releases 3 other ways as well, wristbands where you get a number during the week or Saturday morning, online pre-sold tickets, or stand in line. I -think- the Funk n Monk release has always been a stand in line deal, but not certain. Usually when they do that though they set the limits so that if you're in line at the start of the release, you'll get bottles. You may not get whatever magnum they're doing that day (if they do magnums for this release), but you'll get the main bottles. So as long as you get there by 3 you -should- be okay. That being said, we don't have any details, so who knows?

On the flip side, OHB releases -usually- don't sell out day of. They have for a couple, but the last Spectrum certainly didn't sell out that day and that was with people that wanted to getting multiple allotments after everyone that was there went through. Though, I've heard from friends that have tried these Spectrums are a lot more immediately approachable than the last Spectrums (which realistically needed a year in the bottle to mellow out) so sales may be brisker.

Sooo... whole lot of unknowns so you gotta do what you gotta do and make your bets where it makes sense for you. I'll be at OHB in the morning as they're my hometown brewery so of course I have to, but also because the bottle share during the release is a helluva good time! Then I'll get over to FF, hopefully in time to get bottles there as well.

 

Some serious first world problems here.

 

I find this comment interesting, as although I definitely enjoyed the spectrums, I mostly felt like the adjuncts were on the subtle side when fresh - with the obvious exception to the cinnamon version. I wouldn't have wanted to wait a year with 3 of 4 of them, but that's just my experience.
Hopefully I can try this years as well, I'm a fan of ohb.

 

The cinnamon was the main culprit. Its drinking really well now. The others the adjuncts have definitely faded a bit but are still definitely there. I think it was the coconut vanilla one that had probably faded the most so it was just a solid stout. But that was also after having drunk a copious number of beers that night so my palate probably wasn't the best anymore

 

They've officially announced a Friday night bottle share, 7-10pm. Woohoo!

 

Shouldn’t be an issue getting to Fonta on Saturday now.

 

Looks like High Wire is doing a small batch sour festival on 3/10 as well. LOL should be a busy day of beer for everyone!

 

Just because there's a bottle share the night before doesn't mean we shouldn't ALSO have a bottle share at the release