Where did all the KBS go?

Personally, I would venture to say that your last paragraph is the answer to your first. Tripling production has little effect when you've tripled your accounts.

 

I've been very surprised by this year's KBS release. Based on the volume of FIS we got in Columbus (still cases and cases sitting around, whereas it wasn't trivial to even get a few 4 packs the last couple of years), I was hoping that KBS would be a little easier to get. Unfortunately not.

 

I believe they are tripling the amount they put in barrels this year, meaning there should be considerably more KBS produced next year. At least that's been my understanding.

 

Sounds like they're sending more to new markets, not more to current markets.

 

Also I'm under the impression that they did make 3 times more this year, but that beer is in the barrels to be released next year.

Edit... beaten to the punch

 

From what I understand from the articles I've read, the tripling of production won't actually be seen until next year. I believe that the production is increasing for what they are making this year, which will age in barrels and be put out next year.

This years was ridiculous though. I got completely shut out, so I'm really hoping there is going to be quite a bit more for next year.

 

I thought that was for this year's release (2013).

Back in March 2012:

"Unfortunately, because this beer is aged for about a year in bourbon barrels in the caves beneath Grand Rapids, we brewed it about a year ago–when we were still limited to the production capacity of a 30 bbl brewhouse. Next year’s release will be about three times the size, because we were able to brew it on our new 85 bbl brewhouse just recently. We understand that this will still, most likely, not get supply up enough to match demand for this product, but we see it as an improvement."

Source: http://beerpulse.com/2012/03/founde...ease-hysteria-says-it-is-brewing-3x-for-2013/

 

This.
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/founders-made-more-kbs-for-this-years-release.60788/

Like has been said increased production is for 2014. At the same time you have to think about increased distribution so who knows if it will be any different for you. I know that Founders is beginning distro here in FL late this month or early May and I am not sure how many other new markets they are going into.

 

Isn't this the exact same thing they said last year?

I hope that what you say is true. It would be nice to get 2 entire 4-packs every year without all the hassle and without all the guilt.

 

I look forward to getting 3 times 0 next year.

 

I could have sworn that at last year's kbs shitshow, a few founders employees told me that they would have triple the production ready for the 2013 release. I was pretty buzzed up that day though who knows.

I do know that the store I frequent had their allocation cut despite having their best year selling founders beers.

 

I thought the increased production wasn't going to be seen until 2017.

 

As before, what I understand is that they nearly tripled production starting last year for this year's release. We just haven't seen the fruits of that increase due to Founders' increasing their distro by probably that much.

 

In any event, it's nice that there are still plenty of alternatives (at least around here):
- Substantially increased production of BCBS, which wasn't difficult to get even living in the alcohol-capped state of Ohio
- Big Bad Baptist, which is awesome and, at $11.99 a bomber, very reasonably priced. I'm hoping this one stays under the radar
- BA BORIS
- Dragon's Milk
- Rye Rebellion, which I tried for the first time last night and thought was pretty good

And I suppose I'll drive up to Great Lakes next year for the BA Blackout release. I didn't do it this year since I was inaccurately counting on getting an abundance of KBS.

I'm a pretty big believer in market forces, and I'm hoping that all of this obvious demand for Barrel-Aged stouts is going to be met with increased supply, whether it's greater production of existing beers or the introduction of new beers. That's helping me get over my butthurt about KBS.

 

KBS Variants.

 

Are people upset about there not being enough bottles, or is this also impossible to find on draft in MI? If the former, it has nothing to do with their expansion into TX, which from a KBS standpoint sounds like it amounts to about 10 kegs for the entire state. If the latter, my apologies on behalf of the state of Texas.

 

There was a similar discussion that took place in a (now locked) thread in the Beer Releases forum, FWIW.

 

A lot of bad information going around this thread.

The benefit of 3x capacity was suppose to be seen this year!

I agree that in the metro detroit area we got shit on again. The shops I know got minimally more, if at all. Unfortunately the demand is also increasing at an alarming rate as well as the footprint of Founders. I am sure it will sit on shelves somewhere like BCBS did (middle of nowhere Indiana), and in places like metro detroit it will be a 1 bottle limit and you need to basically blow the store owner or spend ungodly amounts of money all year long to get anything more.

 

Pick up a pack or two and age them. You won't regret it.