Official SA Bishop's Barrel thread

Isn't this pretty much how all of the Bishops Barrels have been so far? Except #2, that was a nice drinking beer. They need more stuff out of wine barrels!

 

grabbed two bottles at Star Pizza on Washington at 5 pm.... they said they only had 2 more left when I walked out...

I wish getting these wasn't such a hassle, otherwise I'd probably be more excited about the releases... this is the first one i've actually gotten a bottle to have at home....

wish i didn't have to spend $6 on a dessert to be allowed to buy it..... JUST RELEASE THE BEER IN A STORE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!!!!!

 

I think the point of BB is to "reward" their accounts by offering something that people can't get in the store. I may be off on that, but I think that's at least part of the purpose. What I don't like is that some establishments use this to hold customers hostage or charge ridiculous prices.

 

I understand the concept of "rewarding" the businesses, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with it.

Ultimately, the product needs to get into the hands of the consumer. It is we, the consumer that supports the business by drinking their beer... Why not reward us, by allowing us to purchase the beer in the manner we're accustomed to, that for most of us also happens to be a lot easier. Why force us to go out of our way to attempt to get this beer at a restaurant, many of which (1) hold us hostage to buy their food, (2) have been price gouging and/or (3) don't have a "to go" license/simply won't sell it "to go".

Between these facts, I haven't bothered much at all with the majority of the bb releases and, from what I can tell... I am not alone. There are a number of establishments I've walked into that still have bb3 and 4, in the cooler... And when I ask how much and hear a $10-12 price tag... That's where they'll stay. Add on top of that I have to ask for a glass to pour my beer into and I am handed a typical pint glass (well to be fair that only happened in one place).... Well I've just been straight up turned off to the project, despite a love of SA beer.

Unfortunately not being able to consume this beer how I like (at home where I'm focusing on the beer and not social interaction with others) just kills it for me. I'll enjoy the 2 bb5's I got, but I won't go out of my way looking for anymore... Or any of what follows unfortunately... It doesn't need to be a pain in the ass to get good beer.

 

I second this, I get rewarding bar/restaurant accounts, but all this seems to do is reward them with the ability to gouge the ultimate consumer ( either via food, price or on premise requirement). If they did this whole project draft only it wouldn't bother me, just the fact that it would be just as easy to make it a normal release is frustrating.

That said, it's their choice and I can get it every time if I want so I won't lose sleep over it

 

Any ATX sightings yet? :-D

 

I don't necessarily disagree with you. I was just directing my reply to your statement about why they weren't releasing it retail. There are definitely some problems the way BB is being released at some businesses.

 

If the intent is to reward the businesses then why not just keg it? Save money for SA, save money for the businesses, save money for consumers, and it would last longer so more people can try it.

 

Exactly. Unless the intent is to reward businesses by allowing them to use this beer.....

I won't chase it. If I happen across it, fine, but I've never gone out looking for it.

 

Look at the new label that was created


http://beerpulse.com/beer/saint-arnold-bishops-barrel-6-imperial-pumpkin-stout/

 

Don't blame Saint Arnold's for who gets BB, that's decided upon the distributor Silver Eagle.

 

I understand the frustration of BB only being released at certain accounts but I don't believe there is enough to release/distribute to both on and off premise accounts like their other releases. If they did it would be so limited that hoarders would gobble it up and most of us would never get a chance to try it then everyone would be bitching about that.

Remember the first DR series? The bitching was non stop and the accusations were false and border line hilarious. "Brock is keeping it limited to drive up hype" or "they never increase batch sizes". All false. Then the typical "Im done chasing it". Well now there is a chance to try it but you have to drink it there (in some instances).

Personally Id rather be able to go to a place that I know will have it and be forced to drink it there rather than not try it all. As for the mark up on bottles, boycott the establishment, that is basically out of St A's hands. Regardless of how it is released there will always be places charging more.

 

I wish that places selling it for on sight consumption would keep it in the realm of reasonable.

I think $12 for a bottle that costs less than 4 is a bit silly.

 

First off - let me say that I am trying to have a constructive conversation on the topic. The intent of my posts is not bitching and complaining.

However, there are a couple of things that I think are important here...

While it's not stated on the website for No. 5, based on the volumes of 1, 2, and 3 produced the batch size is likely somewhere around 900 cases. Stating that this is not enough to release/distribute via typical retail sales is ridiculous.... Karbach dreams of being able to roll out a batch of the FUN series this size, and everyone seems to get a dose of this for sale... and those of us that chase this stuff always come up with what we want.... Why can't you release this beer in 2-packs or even singles, put a limit on it with the locations and let us have it?

I agree with you, that if it's going to be a restaurant/bar only release, just put it in a keg.

My problem with the restaurant/bar only distribution of bottles stems from not being able to drink the beer how I like. Bottles make transportation easy - why tease me with a bottle if you're going to make it so difficult for me to get?

I am not joking that for BB1 I paid $13 or 14 at what will remain a unnamed (very popular) establishment in Austin.

For BB3, I stumbled upon a glass at a local place not far from my house. $12 for the bottle. And they served it to me in a bottle. I had to ask the server to go back and get me a glass... after about 10 minutes of waiting, they brought out a standard shaker pint... was a little perturbed as I just paid $12 for a bottle.

When I go out for dinner - I'm not particularly keen on pairing a BA beer with a dinner. If I'm paying for a premium beverage, I kind of like to focus on what I'm drinking, especially if it's new to me. Pairing it with dinner is not my idea of a perfect first sample. And after I finish up, I don't particularly want to hang around to have the beer... especially not one 9%+ ABV when I'm driving home.

Rarely will I go out to a bar just to try a beer. I have enough beer at home that I haven't had that I don't need to go out and sit by myself to try a beer. When I go out to a bar, it's to be social with friends. In this situation I don't want to drink a heavy barrel aged beer for a couple of reasons: (1) it's usually a night out and I don't need to be drinking 9%+ beers if I'm going to be out for while, (2) all my friends aren't beer nerds like me, and I don't need the "you paid $$$$ for that beer?" and other incredulous statements all night, and (3) the focus of my evening isn't the beer, it's the company I'm with... I find that the nuances of beer will be lost to the conversation and that's the way it should be.

For these reasons, I just want to buy this beer and take it home, without the hassle of having to sit in the establishment or buy their food, or whatever.

/endrant

I think these are valid reasons that a lot of other people around share about this series and why it's still sitting in many establishments in the cooler.

 

The Ginger Man had it yesterday

 

I really don't get this...If you care this much to try the beer you would go to a place that has it and get it. If you don't want to go get it then that is your fault not SA's. It is not difficult to obtain and yes some places do gauge on prices but ever since knowing about these releases I have had 0 issues getting multiple bottles at <=8$ everytime which I think is a reasonable enough price.

 

I wish DFW had places that sold these to go like Houston. Jealous.

 

Oh, I'm also not bitching. Just an observation. I have no complaints with the price. I've paid it or traded for it each release.