Misconceptions about beer distribution

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Misrahi, Jan 27, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. beerinmaine

    beerinmaine Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2009 Maine

    False.

    Example to prove it: Bier Cellar, Portland, ME. Opened this spring/summer, carries ONLY good stuff, and has apparent problem getting lots of good stuff (i.e. De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva '10, rare enough?)

    The bottom line is, any generalization will be incorrect, because every state has their own laws and every distributor has their own practices.
     
  2. SmellsLikePoor

    SmellsLikePoor Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2011 West Virginia

    Excuse my ignorance, but do importers usually have to pay the same excise taxes that breweries do?
     
  3. AxesandAnchors

    AxesandAnchors Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Oregon

    So you're saying you're driving over 100 miles to purchase bottles at a shop? Or just that you are trading? If the answer is the former and not the latter then in the words of Mr. Sean Carter, "I feel bad for you son".
     
  4. Errto

    Errto Zealot (643) Oct 20, 2009 Connecticut

    I'm pretty sure that makes you a serious outlier, even among BAs. That said, I feel bad for you. :slight_frown:
     
  5. DelMontiac

    DelMontiac Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2010 Oklahoma

    As you should, lol. I'm not into trading much. You guys have it soooooo damned easy up that way. It's amusing to hear the complaints streaming from that direction, 'cause down here on the plains...it's a bitch, man. It's a real bitch.
     
  6. DelMontiac

    DelMontiac Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2010 Oklahoma

    Yep. I frequently go to OKC, Tulsa, Wichita, Dallas, or KC, and I'm usually hauling back 3 or 4 boxes full of stuff. Gotta plan ahead like livin' in the bush off the beer grid, lol!
     
    funhog likes this.
  7. AxesandAnchors

    AxesandAnchors Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Oregon

    These aren't beer only trips are they? You're a salesmen or outside rep or something right!?
     
  8. SammyJaxxxx

    SammyJaxxxx Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2012 New Jersey

    While 100+ miles seems pretty far, 20 miles is nothing. A half hour is nothing for a special release.
     
  9. DelMontiac

    DelMontiac Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2010 Oklahoma

    Usually have other business on those excursions. I have been known to tell the wife and daughter I'm "taking you shopping out of town", but they know there's a beer run scheduled too. :wink:
     
    SammyJaxxxx likes this.
  10. AxesandAnchors

    AxesandAnchors Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Oregon

    20+ miles for a limited brewery release = no big deal
    20+ miles for a limited/seasonal shelf beer = rediculous

    I understand this isn't the case for everyone, some cities have larger scenes than others, but when distributors are manipulating the system in a way that hurts breweries, retailers, and end consumers there is a problem. Take Jacobs example, his distributor told him he wouldn't give him a particular breweries seasonals (the next competitor is 20+ miles away), so in this case Jacobs customers loose out, he looses out, and the brewery losses out...and all because of some stupid sales tactic.
     
  11. Waldomega

    Waldomega Aspirant (280) Jan 15, 2013 Nevada

    is going 100 miles every few months to stock up on quality brew really all that far? im in vegas, and go 2-3 times a year to la and or sd to grab a bunch of stuff we dont get here
     
    SammyJaxxxx likes this.
  12. cornontherob

    cornontherob Initiate (0) Oct 15, 2011 New York

    Unfortunately this is capitalism at its finest. If you are a distributor that gets 100 cases of rare beer X. You know you will definitely have more demand then you can supply SO you can use them to infuence stores to buy the crap that there isn't demand for...

    I had an ower of a new craft beer bar in my area tell me that he's paid drivers to get him high demand kegs away from the big distributors in the area. Dog eat dog!
     
  13. AxesandAnchors

    AxesandAnchors Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Oregon

    That's different, your talking about beer that isn't distributed in your state not beer that your local bottle shop couldn't get because the distributor is strong arming them.
     
  14. SammyJaxxxx

    SammyJaxxxx Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2012 New Jersey

    If I could get Nugget Nectar 30 .miles from me, I would have 2 cases right now. Instead of waiting another week or 2
     
  15. AxesandAnchors

    AxesandAnchors Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Oregon

    Look I get it, your willing to travel far and wide for your beer, but the point I'm trying to make is that you shouldn't have to. There are always exceptions, the brewery is only going to make so much beer and they can't make enough to supply everybody. However when the supply is out there being held hostage by a distributor that is bad for everyone, and a failure of the system.

    It shouldn't be the bottle shops responsibility to hock the unwanted goods the distributor decide to warehouse just to get a seat at the big boys table. It all seems very frat boy and douchey to me.
     
    SidSquid likes this.
  16. Nectar

    Nectar Initiate (0) Jan 17, 2013 New Jersey

    So because you drive 100 miles for the majority of your beer, that makes his comment irrelevant? If anything, I feel bad for you :slight_frown: time to move? Lol
     
  17. AxesandAnchors

    AxesandAnchors Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Oregon

    You make a fair point, generalizations can and on occasion are proven wrong, however your example is extremely rare from my experience...plus I find it hard to believe that they ONLY carry good stuff. I've not once been to a single bottle shop that didn't have at least 25% junk on the shelf. Obviously this is subjective to personal taste.
     
    westcoastbeerlvr likes this.
  18. gothedistance

    gothedistance Initiate (0) Jul 23, 2009 South Carolina

    No- not true at least with my company. Did you read my post about our seasonal beer release sheets we do? Everyone gets a fair shot as long as they communicate with me what they want.

    Very few exceptions to that. If we didn't allocate hopslam, for example, the first sales rep to get a presell back in would take everything, and that's not fair.

    I will say though, your quote is saying kinda: a new bottle shop should have the right to cherry pick everything. That's hard. But it does happen. And yes, breweries encourage but do not require more limited beers going to strong supporters of the brewery overall.
     
    IceAce likes this.
  19. AxesandAnchors

    AxesandAnchors Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Oregon

    That's great, it's just too bad that it's not industry standard (or that the breweries don't have more control).

    Any bottle shop should be able to pick what it is they want to stock in their stores and not be forced into carrying product they don't want just to get access to the product they do want (Again the whole supply and demand thing isn't lost on me). Once again I'm not talking about a situation where the bottle shop carries few of X breweries year rounds and then expects to get X breweries seasonal or limited releases. What I'm talking about is the shady sales tactic of making a bottle shop buy A B and C breweries beers in order to get X breweries seasonal or limited releases. That I am almost positive would (and isn't) appreciated by X brewery, but the fact of the matter is that this seems to be common practice with many distributors. One of the worst parts about this is that in most states these breweries have little to no control over what's happening with their product because they're locked into a ridiculous contract with their distributor.

    Yours sounds different, and to that I say bravo. I hope you guys pick up more great brewery accounts.
     
    gothedistance likes this.
  20. digdug1810

    digdug1810 Initiate (0) Mar 1, 2011 New Jersey

    Anybody care to explain sheltons distro of Cantillion :slight_smile:
     
    DelMontiac likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.