Freetail Bottle Releases: I want your input

Hey homies,

I wanted to start this thread, as we've got two big bottle releases on the horizon (Super Mega Awesome Bottle Release Day on a day to be determined in September, and Dia de La Muerta on Nov. 2). There was another thread about ideas for the next bottle release, but it was geared more towards the bottle share, so I figured a new thread was appropriate.

First off, I really appreciate everyone's support as we've grown our bottle releases from a cool thing with a handful of people to the behemoth it has become. I especially appreciate everyone's patience as we've tried a few different models to do bottle releases. I want to continue to improve the process for everyone so we can provide the best, most enjoyable experience possible.

So I now turn to you, my beer-loving brethren, for ideas on how we built it faster, strong, more bottle-releasier.

First, details on the upcoming releases.

Super Mega Awesome Bottle Release Day

You'll recall last September this included Raspberry Ananke, Yo Soy Un Berliner, Porto Gallito, Fortuna Roja & RealTail 2012. This year's will include:

• [Beer they said would never be bottled]: somewhere between 150-350 bottles.
• [Wild ale we made a few years ago that a certain Austin Beer Guide editor spilled in my lap at the GABF media luncheon]: less than 200 bottles.
• [Wild ale we released at the same time as the one previously mentioned]: less than 200 bottles.
• [A fruited sour that isn't Fortuna Roja or Raspberry Ananke or anything with Blueberries]: about 700 bottles, most likely
• [Maybe something else]

The date is still TBD but it definitely will not be the weekend of 9/14 as we don't want it to interfere with everyone's plans for Zwanze Day (including mine). And it won't be 9/28 as that is the Texas Craft Brewers Festival. Stay tuned on the date.
Dia de la Muerta
This will be another typical Dia de La Muerta. Saturday 11/2. Approximately 1500-1600 bottles. Seems like Ananke Day has begun to approach the popularity of Dia de La Muerta, but we'll see!
So How Do We Do This?
Because of the varying bottle counts, I'm especially concerned about how Super Mega Awesome Bottle Release Day will turn out. "Well why don't you just produce more of these beers?!?" We would love to, unfortunately we just don't have the beer. I'm really looking forward to Freetail2 when we can significantly increase our barrel aging program.
I've heard a lot of great ideas: Southwest Style cue is a good one. I'm open to any ideas of how to do this. Our bottle releases/bottle shares have always been a democratic process, with people sharing beers, and I want that to continue. Some basic guidelines to consider though:

• "People who show up first can buy as many bottles as they want" is not an option. As I talked about in this blog post (http://blog.freetailbrewing.com/2013/05/07/deets-for-ananke-day-2013/) - I want as many people as possible to have a shot at getting beers.
• "Raise the price to weed out some buyers" is not an option either. I think beer is a democratic drink and that all people should access to the best beers. I don't like how Wine and Spirits have pricing that means only the wealthiest drinkers have a chance to enjoy it. Beer should be of the people!
• Advance ticket sales (like Dark Lord Day) are not an option. I don't have a philosophical bone to pick with breweries that do this, I really just can't take on a project of making this happen!
• Bottle share needs to end at 11am. That's when we open for business and we need to transition at that point for our customers who aren't there for the bottle release.
• I think trading is cool, but you're at the bottom of my priority list. Seriously, I do think trading is really cool and I'd probably be a trader myself. But seriously, your trade is also the last thing I care about.

Okay, I think I've rambled on enough for now. I'm looking forward to your feedback and the discussion that ensues!
Scott

 

Oh yeah, let me also say before anyone gets too excited: any beer we release is still dependent on it being ready. All these beers are still in barrels, and only two of them are ready to come out. The beer everyone is likely most excited about is the one least likely to be ready (though we aim to have it ready). If it's not ready, then it's not ready...