Vlad Release

In all fairness, they did have to import it across the room.
Belgium. Humph.

 

Do I sense a revolution a'brewin? I keep me pitchfork in me trunk for just such an occasion.

 

I was underwhelmed by the only bottle of Vlad I've tried. Add that to the fact that I can drive 2 miles down the street and buy 750's of Tilquin Gueuze for $20 = No $40 Vlad's for me (including shipping)

 

I imagine this has been discussed before, so please forgive my naive question here but: aside from the probable ability to (eventually) sell out at this price, is there anything specific about this that makes the price point so high? I imagine that the cost of production is a factor? This is a sincere question from me, so if anybody has insight I'd be interested in hearing it.

Don't get me wrong -- I love me some Cascade sours, and on my last trip to Portland, Cascade really was the highlight. But that was also the first time I'd ever had any of their offerings, because for the first six months they were on my radar the price of anything I'd see around Seattle was (and I guess remains) a huge deterrent.

 

Was actually planning on buying Tilquin thursday. Better then Vlad? I was also planning on picking up The Bruerys Rueuze. Has anyone tried this?

 

Don't waste your time and money with Rueze IMO, especially if it's between Rueze and Tilquin.

As far as I know Vlad and Tilquin are different styles. I don't think Cascade's going for a gueuze with Vlad, so while I say yes, Tilquin's better than Vlad, they're different styles of sour.

 

Cascade is over [insert Fred Armisen]

 

It's been a while, but the last time I bought Vlad it was $22 (and Bourbonic was $25). So they've definitely jacked up the price from a few years ago. Cost of production may have changed, but I highly doubt it changed that much. I think this is mostly just Cascade realizing that they can get away with charging more. Anyway, I'm not biting at $30 (that's high even for Bourbonic).

 

IMO, it was over when Ron grew a beard. Chin beards are over.

 

I will pass on bottles at this price. I will try a glass at the Barrel house and be done with it.

 

I'm surprised people think $30 for this is so crazy. Their normal releases are $20 and this is is a limited release. What makes you guys think they will release this online?

 

From their FB page:
Finally! The much-anticipated release is here! Vlad the Imp Aler 2011 will be released in bottles this Saturday, Feb. 2nd from Noon to 6pm at the Cascade Brewing Barrel House on the production side and in the Den at the Raccoon Lodge & Brew Pub. Price is $30 per 750ml bottle. Online sales also start at Noon on Saturday, Feb. 2nd. Note, we will not hold orders until the release of Bourbonic - if you want Vlad, you need to order now.

 

I thought it was ALMOST ridiculous when they released Vlad for $22 last time. I'd probably buy one bottle at $22 but $30?!? Like Brian said earlier, I'd rather buy Tilquin all day long...for less than $30/bottle. Plus, all their sours have the same underlying acidic taste.

 

Their normal releases are $17. Until recently, their limited releases were $20-22. There's been a huge and rapid run-up in their prices in the last 6 months.

We think they will release it online because they said so in 3 different places (email, Facebook, twitter).

 

As mentioned previously in the thread, it took over a year for the last run to sell out at 22 dollars a bottle, and that was with online sales. So they clearly found the price point between mad rush and won't ever sell out. I can see this being available until the next run.

Also, the beer isn't terribly special anymore since it tastes like just about every other sour Cascade creates. The overuse of back-fermented lactic acid is grating, and it's a pain they refuse to do anything different. This coming from a former fan-boy. (I postulate that the barrel house was a bad thing for them because it's my opinion they're letting their beers sit too long in barrels.)

 

This is just smart marketing (or smart gouging, depending on your viewpoint). By jacking up the price AND releasing it on-line, they'll guarantee that people across the country who haven't had a chance to try it will be snapping it up to have it shipped to them. Clearly they've been taking notes from FiftyFifty (which I say without prejudice, since I order Eclipse from them every year).

I'd wager it'll be gone the day of the release.

 

Ha! Funny we posted exactly the opposite thing at the same time.

But I've been continually underestimating the exponential increase in demand for good beers over the past year or two. Would be nice to be wrong for a change.

 

Guess we'll find out. But with the vast majority of Portlanders headed to Corvallis, and after the wallet burning month of January (Fantasia/Peche 'N Brett), it's only going to sell out if there are enough online sales, and I doubt that, since Vlad carries a pretty low trade value.

 

While I was typing my response I rec'd a conversation from a good trading buddy saying he was going to order some on-line & asking if I wanted one. I'm amused for the day.

 

They've sold everything they've released recently online, except Figaro. Blueberry, Cerise Nouveau, and Noyeax have all been available for months. Which is to say, I'll take that bet.

Seriously, I actually wouldn't complain about slightly more hype around Portland releases, but I wish it were going to more deserving breweries.