Sixpoint: Alpenflo Helles Lager

Sixpoint is distributed statewide in NJ by Hunterdon, so it should be available to any store that carries Sixpoint brands or other brewers' beers from extensive Hunterdon portfolio. I don't see Alpenflo in a lot of stores in central Jersey (I think the fact that it's 12 packs might discourage some retailers? Or maybe they're just shelved somewhere other than with the rest of the Sixpoint sixpacks?) but it's around and, likely, can be ordered assuming Hunterdon still has some in inventory.

Have noticed lately that the stock I see is from an early May canning - would be nice to find some from fresher batches (altho' Sixpoint's "Best Before" date is 6 months from canning for this beer).

 

Thanks @jesskidden I appreciate it. I should've done a follow-up. I found a bunch of 12 packs at Total Wine a week ago. You are correct in that almost all of the places that carry Sixpoint typically do not have 12 packs of Alpenflo. I think the bigger stores like Total Wine have them more often then the smaller accounts. I picked up a couple packs and then I realized that they were canned in 4/2/18. They're not drinking bad at all but not quite as incredible as I recall. I was hoping for just a little bit fresher. NBD, though pretty happy with it (if you told me 10 years ago that I would be complaining about 4 month old beer I would kick myself in the face).

 

Hey Shane

My friend’s store got another shipment. Still the May 7 canning (not that it is a problem). I thought you said you decided to go year round with it. Just curious if you have canned another batch since then, or when you plan to again. Side note, my beer fridge is looking as good as ever. I haven’t seen the @Sixpoint Fest beer yet though

 

This beer continues to have lousy distribution in Long Island. I love it, but finding it has been a real goddamn chore. Has this been brewed recently?

 

Saw it at Total Wine Westbury not long ago (stacked on the floor as opposed to being on the shelf with the other 12 packs)... but couldn't tell you how old it was.

 

Total Wine happens to be the ONLY place I have found it - but it's a bit of a pain for me to get there from Floral Park. Not impossible, but annoying.

Sixpoint is in pretty much in all beer stores I know of, but this beer seems to have horrible presence. Also, at 21.99 a 12, right now I am getting 24 Hofbrau Original for 23.99....so I wont be making special trips. I would purchase it if it were available at Beverage Barn

 

@Sixpoint

Has Alpenflo been canned and distributed since the initial release?

 

Felt lucky to find a sixer at TW after it first came out here in NorCal. Would definitely buy more if I see it again.

 

How'd you find a sixer when it's released solely in twelve-packs?

 

You've never seen retailers who save a few cents by buying cases of cans and cutting them in half to make 12-packs, or 12-packs to make sixpacks, binding them with clear packing tape?


Sometimes they buy rolls of new plastic rings and give the cashiers the annoying job of making the sixpacks... (wouldn't work with Sixpoint's non-standard cans).

 

Heh -- this is just what I thought about* when @THANAT0PSIS posted his reply -- I saw that sort of re-packaging a lot... in Wisconsin. But It's been a long time.

*But... why do you have an image of this practice?

 

I don't - but Google Images does.

 

Wow. Google does have everything.

(what the heck did you search, packing tape beer? )

 

I have (I've even had to do it myself when I worked at a liquor store), but I've never seen it with craft beers. It's always AALs. I guess that's what could've happened with this particular case of Alpenflo. Considering how great the beer is, though, I wouldn't want any less than 12.

 

Eh -- I've seen it now that "craft" beers are available in cans. Seems like it's always at convenience-like stores.

 

My memory has failed me? I can usually find their other offerings in Sixers though (ie Resin, Jammer) so maybe thinking about them. Also the beerfinder was no help - maybe because there are so few Germans in California

 

yes it has

 

Are Long Island stores just not placing orders? I'm really bummed to not see this in stores, as it fits my routine needs extremely well

 

@Sixpoint do you distribute Alpenflo in San Francisco? I can find the other year-rounds and seasonal's but not this one

 

Sixpoint's mobile app let's you search for where individual beers are being sold. I think @Sixpoint explained earlier that the app beer search is it's tied to individual beer SKUs scanned at the actual store, so it's almost real time. Also....