Abyss in Texas

We call them the good 'ol days!

 

Yes, this is true, but due to a back injury, I guess it got in my head that I am feeling old today, so they are the good old days for today. I am also a yankee transplant to TX, so my southern slang gets confused...double excuses! lol

 

Yeah, the age catching up thing gets old. lol

 

It is really catching up while I wait on this damn Abyss!

 

Ha! Love the hyperbole!

<Insert bad photoshop of old person withering away waiting for 2012 Abyss>

 

THis is how it was when I went in. I'm sure half his shift was running back and forth. The cashier seemed a little peeved, too. He said "Man you guys are buying the hell out of this beer, there better be some left when I get off"

 

Oh noes, he has to work at work. :tear:

He should have set up a station. Bring out a case, help 12 people, then go get another case.

Even if you grabbed 3 bottles at a time you cut walking by three times.

 

Yeah...the system that had set up was a little silly. Why not just keep it at the express check out?

 

Because they couldn't let people know how much they have. lol

 

I landed two bottles of '10 at CM while I was in Iraq thanks to an awesome friend and an even awesomer beer lady (we miss you, Suzanne!).

 

Exactly... the only beer back then that would draw mobs was the divine reserve. No other beer seemed to get this kind of attention. I remember Abyss sitting on the shelves at the sugarland specs for at least a month and nobody would touch it (sort of like how they still have Hop in the Dark sitting on their shelves now).

 

That should tell you something about Sugarland Specs. At my 2 normal Specs there hasn't been a Deschutes Bomber on the shelf for more than a couple of days in the past year.

 

Tells me there aren't as many beer douchebags in the area?

Because as far as selection goes, they have a much better selection than most stores. And they had a much better person running the beer section than the smith store has (those people don't seem to know sh*t). Unfortunately he's now running the beer department at Whole Foods in Katy.

 

They are apparently sending beer to the wrong markets if there is a REALLY old Hop in the Dark on the shelf. I am, of course, saying this if its a regular thing and not an anomaly.

 

Lol. Iraqi Whales!! This just reminded me of the cases and cases of NA beer we went through when we were there.

 

Yes beer interest is increasing country wide and it is quite sad. I remember 07 Abyss being around for a few months and 08 Abyss for just about the same time. 09 Abyss is when it started disappearing faster, in Nor Cal at least. Back in CA, the Nugget near me used to have 08 Goose Island BCBS on the shelf for over a year (into mid to late 09) and every time I came back to visit the parents I would grab a 4pack. Then boom everything started disappearing late 09. Quite saddening.

I think there are two big problems, the first is the hype. This happens in every industry I know and I don't see an easy way around it. The people jumping on the bandwagon due to hype will always annoy those who have been in the game longer and reduce the availability of the beer. The positive is this may introduce more people into craft beer, which increases the number of craft beer drinkers, which will hopefully increase industry production. Which leads to the second point, I would love to see consistent and more local competition. I love Deschutes (Mirror Pond got me into craft in 07) and plan on always buying them, but I would love some true competition in every state. This will reduce some of the hype and mass buying of outside beers, provide more competition (improve quality) between breweries, and in the end provide more options. Abyss has very little competition (great combination of body, taste, price, and aging capability) making it a run-beer. Honestly TX really doesn't have competition for it right now which is bottled. St. Arnolds Barrel series was good but honestly not there yet. The body was too light and honestly if I wanted a stronger bourbon forward beer I like central waters (at $3 a bottle) or BCBS more.

So in closing, I think we should all just let me buy as much Abyss I can without competition and everyone go to your local TX brewer and tell them to start improving their barrel stouts as they will sell.

 

I am getting tired of reading sentiments like this. No one is entitled to beer. The increased interest is a good thing. You can't be an advocate for good beer and then complain when more people are buying good beer.

 

Ladies and Gentleman, I give you a true BeerAdvocate.

 

There are times when you can. When people hoarse beer to make a huge profit. See Craigslist ads for examples. The more popular it becomes, sadly the more douchey it becomes.

 

I dunno man, I was there for ten minutes and he literally just walked back and forth the whole time. I'd end up pretty tired, too.

As for bringing out a case, people wait for that guy to turn his back and grab shit when he walks out of the aisle. Someone once Azzy'd a whole case of Stone Mint Choc while he was helping someone else.