Are you over the Chase?

I do feel this way about some beers. I am in LA and look sometimes for Russian River when at local liquor stores or Whole foods but more interested in sours. I don't go out of my way but when I am shopping I ask if they have any,

In California, Pliny bottles are not a big deal because it is easier to find Pliny on tap. I do like to find Blind Pig. Feels like is is more limited.

But, there are still beers out there that I am in search of. We have just moved from past Pliny to barrel aged beers, sours and etc. If you are in San Diego IPAs are not the hardest thing to find.

 

Yes

 

As far as the concept of "the chase" goes, then yeah I'm not interested (and never was). I've only traded once, I have no idea what the delivery schedule is for any store I go to, I don't go to stores that I wouldn't frequent anyway when something limited comes out, and I don't butter up store employees.

But sounds like the question is more - what should stores do with limited release beers? And yeah I don't like the idea of beers being kept in the back that much either. Personally I think put them on a shelf with a limit, or trickle them onto the shelf a couple at a time.

As we all know though, the handling of limited release beer (by both stores and breweries) is the unsolvable beer nerd problem - there will never be a consensus.

 

I was never really seriously into it. I don’t go after anything anymore that is a lot of hassle meaning very high prizes, personal favours, rituals, whatever. Luckily for me a lot of the beers that interest me aren’t very highly sought after. There are plenty solid beers that don’t have any hype attached to them.

 

Seattle to a large degree isn't as affected by this as much as other areas, but for the beers that are in that category, I won't bother. It just seems so contrary to what I love about beer. Standing in long lines, bottle allotments of one or two, lottos, wait lists ... screw that!

In almost every case I can find something available locally that satisfies me just as much without any of the bullshit attached to procuring rare flavor of the month beers. This has been my mindset for the last five or so years, and I've enjoyed it.

 

I still chase but not like I used to. If I luck out and get it then great but like several of the Ops here have stated, there are so many great beers out there available that I have plenty of good stuff to drink and right now I can honestly say I do not lack for variety in any way. I go to San Diego about 6-8 times a year and when there I will ask for PtE, Blind Pig, or any RR Sours but if they do not have any I still very much enjoy the trip and still find some amazing things to bring home. And as to RR on tap, I always seem to find something of there's on tap somewhere when visiting so I still get my fix on.

 

I only do it for beers I love and brews my BA friends like once a year, and I send them out. I'll do it tomorrow for BCBS I'll hopefully find 2 4 pks, which is about as good as it gets here. I'll probably look for OH Omega as well when it's available, again for friends, that kinda brew isn't a first love.

 

If I know when and where a beer is being released I will show up and buy my allotment most likely. If I cannot show up, I've met enough awesome people that someone will probably share whatever the beer is so I can still drink it or give me one or two, or let me pay for them. I've never gone from store to store to store or made a day out of trying to buy up as much of a beer release as possible however.

With BCBS variants specifically, I know they'll be long gone at 5pm on Black Friday, but there are a few stores not releasing them when they open tomorrow morning. So that gives me a shot still I suppose.

 

Never really been into "the chase". The closest I come to a chase is I always make a point to get out of distro beers when I'm in a different part of the country. I generally drink what's local and good with the occasional new tick.

 

Absolutely, I have no interest whatsoever to chase!

There are so many good available beers out there that I’ve yet to try there is really no reason to go crazy over any of them. I don’t seek brews at all, but will greatly take them without stress when they fall into my lap.

Additionally, the insanity has been the catalyst for me becoming a homebrewer. I have some hits and some misses, but overall I can match sometimes beat the commercial products; with the added bonus of the pride that comes with a job well done and the enjoyment of others.

 

Being naturally lazy won't allow me to chase, stand in line, or seek out limited beer releases. However, fate seems to drop the occasional hard to find beer right in front of me. I just never know what it will be, which is fun.

 

It can get crazy at times. A store near me used to put limited release beers in the back but know they just put a limit on the items. But I do enjoy it on occasions. Its like going hunting for me you don't always get the prize your looking for and sometimes nothing at all.

 

Short answer: yes. I am totally over the chase.

Longer answer: The evolution of the craft market has made the chase a completely superfluous experience. In times past, the best of the best tended to be the hard-to-find whale-ish releases. With the modern availability of world-class beers, there is no need to chase down rare beers anymore.

That being said, there will always be a certain portion of enthusiasts within a hobby to whom the "mine is bigger than yours," "look what I found," "WALEZ BRO!!!!" mentality will appeal. To them I say, good luck and happy travels as I enjoy beers that are equally good or better with little to no effort, and far less damage to my wallet.

 

I'm getting there. Between BCBS and KBS....I'm getting to think it's ALL BS

 

Just looking at the requirements to get BCBS this year which reminds me of sleeping out for tickets to the rock concerts of the seventies. It is a young mans game. There are many great stouts out there that are just sitting on the shelf waiting to be chosen.

 

I agree with Sqhead, why bother to chase a beer when the shelves are chock full of beers you already know you love? And if you want to try something new, there are new offerings everyday! In fact, there are so many breweries now doing limited and special releases that you couldn't keep up if you wanted to; and to a certain extent the proliferation of special brews and collaborations has taken the fun out of it.

 

I've given up the chase of beer in any sense, i've really just started enjoying the classics and old favorites.

 

For the most part. But, I will stand in line early tomorrow morning with the hopes of landing a few Proprietor's.

 

Never really started the chase, seems most of the chase involves stouts, although I like them I prefer IPAs which don't require much of a chase. Long lines, mules, line cutters, selfish rude people is really not enticing to me at all. Although I acknowledge the many magnanimous people at these events who selflessly share their beer and camaraderie.