HopSlam availability - SEPA

that is not what I was saying….what I am saying is the smaller shops may not purchase a beer in fear of it sitting around and not selling. Shangy's has brought in so many beers over the years.

Reading the other posts….I am not sure why everyone acts like 14 year olds over business practices. Obviously your intelligence shows and immaturity. If you don't want to make the drive, then don't. Don't cry about it.

I am not trying to offend anyone…its the same posts every year in the Hopslam threads. It gets old after a while. Sorry

 

Most of the complaints against Shangys are a product of PA's beers laws. For a large percentage of the population in PA, the only wholesaler stores have for Bell's is Shangys due to mandated wholesale contract exclusivity in individual PA counties. The demand for Hopslam is so high, and stores get small allotment (no matter how much they support Bells) that many sell out quick. When most places sell out before Shangy's, and Shangy's is the only one left with Hopslam, and they're local shop is telling them "We cannot get anymore" (Which is the truth), people complain, and most of the blame gets thrust on Shangys. Hence the prevelant idea that Shangy's hoards Hopslam.

 

And the biggest counterpoint to the whole Shangy's hoarding thing, is that kegs of Hopslam are EVERYWHERE. If your local bottle shop didn't get any I guarantee a bar or several nearby got a keg. Go drink it then. Sure having some in your home might be nicer but just be happy you can get any. The majority of the nation doesn't.

 

Boo hoo Philly. Its not enough that you have the best selection in the country. You're seriously going to bitch about having to drive a few hours for one case a year when us in the L.V have to drive down there for limited releases all year? I mean, we seriously get no Lagunitas in the Valley at all even though I know there is a solid demand, but you don't see threads about Origlio hoarding their brews.

 

Maybe you should be complaining. I'm amazed at consumers that slap down other consumers for registering displeasure with a business. Of course, it's obvious by now that Shangy's business practices work for them and they aren't going to change, but what harm does it do to make it known that a bunch of people don't like it, to show the business that it causes negative good will to handle the Hopslam release the way they do? What is so bad about being critical? Really, I'd like to know what the harm is.

 

Hopslam is a good beer, you guys.

 

I actually think the way Shangy's handles their Hopslam allotment is fair and pretty much in line with how most distributors handle high demand limited release brews. I think the one case per car rule is fair and the fact that they allocate a certain numbers of cases based on how much Bell's product they purchase throughout the year makes sense. Trust me, I am no fan of Shangy's in general. I live and work within 15 minutes of that place and it is most certainly NOT my beer distributor of choice. In the case of Hopslam, though, I think in general they get it right.

 

In theory, it promotes the concept of ensuring that the greatest number of people have access to the product. I agree that in reality, it isn't perfect. It's all about perspective. If you want a case that badly, get in a car and come to Emmaus. If not, enjoy any one of the other world class DIPA's available in your area that are arguably a better value than Hopslam (Sucks).

 

Exactly. Shangy's does claim their wholesaler and retailer are separate entities, if you believe that. And in stark contrast, Bell's western PA wholesale distributer, Westy's, distributes their Hopslam to their retail customers quickly and you you don't hear complaints about how they distribute Hopslam on that side of the state [Shocking!].

Yup...count me in that group. I love Bells' beers... I went out of my way to have Bell's Two-Hearted on tap for my wedding. If I see Bell's Two-hearted on tap I can't resist ordering it, but otherwise I won't buy Bells beers in my area because I know some portion of that sale supports Shangy's business. If their practices change or if Bells picks a new wholesaler, I'll change my purchasing, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

FWIW, I've done more than my share of Shangy-bashing in the past, so this will be my only post on the subject.

 

Sahngys has been

Shangy's has been bringing imported and craft beers to the area long before craft beer was popular. They were one of the few places you could go to get something new. Now they are fighting in an exploding market. I hope shangys keeps every single case they get, that way I know right where to find it. Beats the hell out of hunting the white whale in the philly area and then paying triple the price.

 

“I live and work within 15 minutes of that place and it is most certainly NOT my beer distributor of choice.” If you don’t mind me asking, why isn’t Shangy’s your “distributor of choice”?

Cheers!

 

I'm lucky to get my 2 cases every year. It stinks but at least a few of my customers get to enjoy the legend of the Hopslam. Now nugget nectar is a different story

 

They have no issue selling product that is passed its prime, which is a major concern. I have been burned a few times with this. Also, If you aren't into Belgians/obscure European beers and are primarily an American micro drinker, Shangy's selection really isn't THAT incredible. At least as compared to Tanczos and Stockertown.

 

“They have no issue selling product that is passed its prime, which is a major concern.”

I live quite a distance from Shangy’s but I was in the vicinity a few months ago. I stopped in and I saw a big pyramid of Golden Pheasant Lager (my favorite European brewed Bohemian Pilsner when it is fresh). There were no dates on the case so I called over a young fellow who works there and inquired about how old the Golden Pheasant was. I specifically mentioned that the bottles would likely have dates on them (with the hope that he would permit me to open a case and see). Instead he called over a more ‘senior’ employee and that person informed me that the bottles have a production code where you need to go online to obtain a brewed on date (again there was no offer to open a case). I must have given them a ‘skeptical’ look because the senior person went on to say: “We sell these beers very briskly. I am sure that they are fresh”. Based upon this interaction I purchased the case. When I go home and opened the case to my dismay the Production Code was ‘blacked out’; there was no means for me to confirm the brewed on date. I drank the first bottle and to my disappointment the beer tasted ‘tired’; this beer was by no means fresh.

I did and asked everything that I could think of (at the time of purchase) to confirm that the beer I was purchasing was fresh. The only thing I can think of is that I will only purchase beer where I can explicitly see a date in the future.

The fact that the Shangy’s employee explicitly stated to me: “We sell these beers very briskly. I am sure that they are fresh”. Is very, very disturbing to me. Needless to say but it could be argued that I was a fool for trusting them?
Based upon this latest experience with Shangy’s I can certainly understand why it is not “distributor of choice”. They have unethical business practices.

Cheers!

 

John the short answer to your question is no. I live quite a distance from Shangy’s (about 1.5 hour one-way drive). I am not too motivated to return to Shangy’s for two reasons: It will cost be about 3-4 gallons of gas and 3 hours of time and since the production code is ‘blacked out’ I can already hear them saying something like “our inventory sheets state that this beer was received only x months ago and therefore is still fresh” (or something like that).

If you have any better ideas on how I could resolve my ‘problem’, I am all ears.

Jack

Edit: With no clear, readable production code I can't 'prove' that the beer is not fresh.

 

John, thank you for your thoughtful response. I will consider what you have suggested and maybe I will do something about what you suggested. Where my head is tonight, I am inclined to think that I was simply ‘screwed’ by a business which practices unethical business practices. I could ask why the production codes were blacked out but I am 99.99% sure that Nima (or whoever from Shangy) would simple respond that the product was that way when they received it and therefore it is the importers responsibility (and not theirs).

In some perverse way it could be argued that I am at fault since I have read numerous posts about Shangy’s selling old product. With that in mind, it could be argued that I should never, ever purchase a beer form them unless it was clearly dated. The only defense I have for my behavior is that I made the effort to speak to Shangy’s employees and specifically enquire about the freshness of the product. It could be argued that I was a fool to believe the statement of: “We sell these beers very briskly. I am sure that they are fresh”.

The only thing that I can state with 100% certitude is that Shangy’s practices unethical business practices. The best advice that I can give to others is twofold: either buy you beer from some other retailers or if you buy beer from Shangy’s make sure there is a date on the case.

That is the best that I can state at the moment.

Cheers!