Limited release: better or worse? And, for whom?

If CBS were available more regularly we probably wouldn't be talking about it right now. Creating a limited supply of a desirable product is a way for breweries to get people to pay attention, which leads to a higher profile for their entire product line. The near mythic status of these beers is a huge marketing boost. Founders is probably my favorite brewery but I don't think they'd be as popular as they are if not for their limited offerings.

 

Because the syrup barrels CBS is aged in are pretty limited themselves. 3 Floyd's doesn't make more DL because they don't want to be responsible for a diabetes epidemic.

 

Exactly! Craft breweries can't afford traditional marketing, so they have to find alternate methods to generate buzz about their products. Having a sought-after limited release in your repetoire is probably the best way to do it, because it elevates the profile of ALL of a brewery's brands. For example, Victory has tried to break into the special release market, first with Dark Intrigue, and then with Red Thunder, and I'm betting there are plenty of breweries across the country who try to generate buzz and interest with a special release.

Marketing experts will tell you that a consumer's relationship with products he or she buys can be complex, and I think that is especially true in the case of craft beer. Think of the lengths people will go to get a special release, the joy they will experience at getting it, the cameraderie created among a group of people who share a passion for craft beer who meet at a special event, or the sadness and disappointment some might feel at missing out on a beer. A lot of what determines the beer people choose to buy is determined by factors other than the beer itself.

 

If FFF made DL year round, the sugar industry would be booming. So would the barf bag industry.

 

Youd be happy with no Zombie Dust or KBS?

shame on you

 

The vast majority of beers I buy are limited/seasonal/semi-rare, and expensive. So clearly this practice is good for the breweries and bad for me.

 

I know that in the case of Kern River, they have not been able to expand their brewery because of water issues in the septic-only, 1600 person town of Kernville. They have a steady demand for their "house beers" (their red, blond, normal IPA, stout, etc), not to mention the brewer actually prefers to drink Just Outsanding to Citra. Each batch of these take approximately 1/2-1/4 the time of Citra, due to the extensive dry-hopping schedule, and they are much much cheaper to make ingredients-wise (the amount of hops in Citra are far and away the most expensive part of the bill). Because they don't want to charge $20 a bomber, they choose to only make it as an occasional treat for their loyal fans, because it's just not cost effective for them. Plus, there's all the difficulties in arranging large hop-contracts for exotic hops such as Citra. I'm sure I'm leaving out other considerations as well.

 

Part of the reason we are independent craft brewers is to continually innovate. Just because us brewers hit the nail on the head with a perfect brew, remember, many of us started out to push the limits of what we can create! Not what we can mass produce. We get bored making the same great beer over and over and yes we do it, but not to the point that it will stifle our creative flow.

Also, you just can not buy all the Simcoe, Citra, Amarillo, etc hops any time you want to. I would love to make our Biter year round, but then their goes the Golden Nugget.

As far as the price being expensive, the profit margin is always less (for us anyways) in our new creations because typically they take more time, ingredients, hand work, barrels etc...versus the beers we "mass" produce.

Don't chase away the innovators unless you want to go back to the choices in the 70's and 80's of most beer being barely distinguishable in taste from the other 6 breweries running the show.

Cheers

 

I'll throw in my hat with this guy, seems to me a brewer can only do so much at once.

 

It's very justified hype.

 

When something is available all the time it loses it's luster. When people know they can only get something for a limited time they tend to purchase it more aggressively.

 

Considering the higher cost (in ingredients, equipment use, etc.) of many smaller-batch beers, I'm curious if there are instances of brewers pricing them below cost to act as loss-leader publicity for the rest of the product line.

 

I would I love anything aged in maple syrup barrels its not just CBS I really want to get to try Fayston maple barrel aged maple imperial stout

 

what is the story of how it came about? (for those who don't know)

 

KBS is good but also overrated regular Dark Lord is much better and the barrel aged is even better yet as for zombie dust I don't like pale ales. Please if your reading this Three Floyds consider sacrificing anything it takes to make more Dark Lord or at least let me buy a case on Dark Lord day I'm sure I'm not the only one with that wish.

 

I like seasonals, but I don't get too excited about limited releases or rare beers. I like that seasonals give more variety, they're usually (obviously) seasonally appropriate, and I can enjoy them because I know another seasonal will come and I'll get to enjoy this one next year. With limited releases/rare beers, there's just more stress involved. Getting your hands on it, locating it, fighting the crowds for it, paying for it, and then if you love it, who knows if you'll ever get it again? I know that's a rush for some people, or if you just want to tick it, but I don't really care for it.

I'll always enjoy seasonals, but I generally won't pay a huge amount just for the chance to try a limited/rare beer. If it became a regular seasonal or I know it'll be available again, I'd be more interested in paying for it.

 

I would take KBS over Dark Lord any day.

Behemoth, Gumballhead, Dreadnaught and the rest of their double IPAs are just as good as Dark Lord too, and they are easier to brew

It doesnt make sense for a brewery to make so much of a 15% beer either.

I also imagine its a sticky mess to make. Considering how sweet of a stout it is

 

I'm not saying I don't like any of the stuff you mentioned but to me Dark Lord is in a league of its own and if you include the barrel aged versions is one of the greatest beers ever made and one I wish I could drink every day or at least once a week and when you'll take KBS over Dark Lord any day does that mean you'll trade me all your '13 Dark Lords for any '13 KBS I get?