Bruery Autumn Maple 2012 Soured?

I checked our stock last night before I left, every bottle we had on hand came from the 091712 LOT 647 batch. It'll be interesting to see if any are left when I get in this afternoon.

 

looks like I know what I'm drinking tonight... and I know where to find more infected bottles

 

Yeah, last time I looked we had 2 cases plus. If you can't find them, shoot me a PM.

 

It's a little sour but it's very pleasant. there's still plenty of spice flavor and some sweetness remaining but I like it. I might have to find a couple more bottles of it.

 

Had an infected one, it really wasn't bad. I'd give it a 3.75, but i need to find an uninfected one so i can taste how this brew was intended.

 

I brought it up to the boss, who said we won't do anything until we hear from our distributor. I brought it up to our rep, who said he won't be returning to the warehouse until late January, wouldn't be able to swap it out until then and hadn't heard anything about it from his "superiors" and therefore couldn't swap it out anyway. I brought it up to my DM, who supposedly contacted our rep, the rep came to the store, and said this wasn't he infected batch, although you and I both know it was. The rep was conveniently contacted, and checked the bottles on my day off...I can't help but get the feeling I'm being fed a line about it, wouldn't be the first time. I'm currently battling the same rep to swap out some hoppy (no longer) Port Brewing stuff that was bottled in early 2011...USELESS!!!
Unfortunately, after I pulled the product from the shelves, and labeled it "DO NOT STOCK!" my apparently illiterate boss put it back on the shelf, and tossed the box, which had the lot number 648. The dates weren't printed on the bottle labels as they should have been, only 2 miniature, indecipherable lines of laser-etched code. Since the box with the code is gone, this rep could have said these bottles were tainted with the bubonic plague, or that they were worth more because they contained the golden ticket. It seems that all my "superiors" would have heard was that people will give us currency in exchange for them. They also told me to put the Port '11 stuff back on the shelf while we wait for it to be swapped...which I did not do.
What this boils down to is that there are at least 5 bottles from the infected batch(notice I didn't say bad, some of you seemed to rather enjoy it) are still on the shelf in Turlock. I'd love to try this brew the way it was intended, it sounds amazing. The bottle I tried, from the infected batch, was interesting, but nothing like I'd expect based on the ingredients and description. But, that won't happen, as there are too many layers of bullshit to go through in the corporate universe to make it happen. I'll gladly be traveling an hour or two to find a clean batch.
In the meantime, to avoid any further disappointment to our less-informed customers, I'll be purchasing what's left at the end of the week. If any of you out there would like an infected bottle, contact me at [email protected].

 

Stevmo, i contacted your manager about the infected bottles. Sadly, i knew they would be on the shelf the next day and a week after that. I think it just comes down to higher ups just looking at it as a bottle of beer (& money). They most likely find us beer geeks annoying because we can drink a beer, tell something's wrong, and rightfully complain about it. There's no love of the craft with them and they most likely wish we would just drink the damn beer and shut up.

Here's a pic of the box label from your store, not that it really matters anymore.

I've been in contact with The Bruery via email about this. They offered me "A tulip for my troubles"...nah, i'm cool.

Sry, if i offend anyone but i was suprised at some of the BA's reaction to this. Instead of looking at it for what it is, a bad batch of a beer, they almost look at it as a limited release. Also when i brought up the fact that they offered me a Tulip, some BA's said i should graciously accept it and be happy with that. I can't help but think this is do to the name of the brewery and that ppl think they're so good that i should drink the damn beer, take the tulip i was so graciously offered, and shut up.

As for the Port Brewing you mentioned, i'm at your store atleast 2 times a week and have seen the same bottles for the past year. Lol keep on fightin BA, maybe they'll finally listen, and do what they're suppose to do.

 

Hi CA_Infidel-- Unfortunately due to California ABC law, we aren't able to directly give you a replacement bottle or a refund since it was purchased from an outside account. The return needs to occur in the same manner as the sale, so retailer credits you --> distributor credits retailer --> Bruery credits distributor. It's not the most efficient way, but that's what is legal. If it was purchased directly through us (Provisions or Tasting Room), then it wouldn't be a problem.

As a brewery, we're only able to offer customers up to $3 in "free goods". This is why we can send you one of our tulip glasses (which costs us just a shade below $3). From a customer service perspective, we'd love to offer you more, but it's the best we can legally do under the circumstances.

Thanks,
Patrick Rue
The Bruery

 

I understand, and thank you for responding. I'll continue to look for an autumn maple w/ a bottling date, as i am still very excited to taste this brew as it was intended.

 

the ones without a bottling date are believed to be good as well as stated by Patrick earlier in the thread.

 

My bottle and all the bottles from the case that i posted above, do not have bottling dates.

 

Wow, Pat. Even your "bad" beers are amazing. Can we have a dinner event based on beers that happened by accidet?

 

shit, now I'm sending a trading partner a craps shoot...

 

Possibly, i just got a bottle from out of the area. For all i know, it's as jacked as the last one i had.

Because there's no bottling date...

Really dude? ...really?

 

Don't feel bad, my store is just like that. Bevmo doesn't care about beer because there isnt much of a profit margin. If its a Vineyard Partner Wine, different story though. I have 2 cases of 22s of Sculpin that expired back in June sitting in the back room and every effin' week they try stocking it. Just write it off already. Its ridiculous.

 

My personal favorite is when I pull a product that is long out of date, and our distibutors are kind enough to rotate it out for product that is slightly less out of date!

 

Good Karma is San Jose has an infected keg of Autumn Maple on right now and its incredible, wish this was a regular thing.