Bishops barrel 8

Sorry, what exactly is the rationale for this type of release? Especially on a beer like this, which just begs to be aged, what's the point of only distributing to bars, where the point is to turn over the cellar as fast as possible? And then there's the price gouging that goes on... Does anyone on this site actually think this distro approach is a good idea? Seriously St. Arnold's, WTF??? And if you're wondering why it took a new release of what many consider to be the best thing you've ever brewed -before I wrote something bitchy? Well...Read the last sentence again.

 

This comes up every time a BB release happens, and everybody, including me say the same thing (I mean same varying opinions, and nobody ever agrees ). You can either accept they are trying to get it to as many people as possible or not. I like the release for the most part. Of coarse there are places that gouge, and places that you have to wait in line. Though I always enjoy going out with a few friends when this is released and having some. If people are so butt hurt about prices and having to go to bars...don't go. It will make my day better

 

Here's an idea, since its brewed in such small quantities relative to their other beers maybe they should just release it to off premise accounts only. That way all the hoarders and their mules can get the majority of the bottles and the rest of us won't even have the opportunity to try it at a bar or elsewhere.

Other breweries do have similar releases. I know GI released Prop in small numbers to the public (they also have a much bigger BA'in program) but when I was in Chicago some bars had it for on site only consumption. I was thrilled, I was able to go to one bar and drink the shit out of it for $35-40 a bottle until I didn't want anymore (notice the marked up price as well?) If they didn't do that there's no way in hell I would have ever been able to find a bottle.

As has already been mentioned, most people didn't throw a hissy fit when JK stopped distributing the majority of their beers (I did). I understand why they did it but now I, and most of you, have to drive several hours round trip, get a hotel room, put mileage on our cars, yadda yadda yadda for a one bottle a day limit. Oh but the ambience!

So what if you have to go to a bar or restaurant and drink it there? It's really not that big of a deal. Perhaps when they are able to expand their barrel aging program then they will release it differently.

Price gauging? Yeah, that sucks and it happens with hundreds of other brewery releases around the country. Maybe you should bitch to the establishment (ie Friendly Spot) instead of blaming it on St A's. I'm sure there's plenty of places in Dallas and elsewhere that jack up the price of a JK bottle for on site consumption only. I don't cry about JK price gauging, I laugh at the price and order something else.

 

i can bring out the dead horse if anyone wants to take a swing or two

 

Whip it

Whip it good

 

um actually it's called the whip in

 

Nah

 

Sorry. Dead horse here. Well, contrary to assumptions of those who replied, (and just couldn't avoid the condescension, could ya?) I'll restate the point. Simply put; I think the distro approach they use, short of brewery only, fails to accomplish their stated goal. Why bother bottling at all if it's only going to select bars? I dare say, with the same volume sold, you'd hit a wider range of consumers at any bar with a tap, than overpriced bottles on a menu.

 

What is their stated goal? Is this posted somewhere? I'm just asking because I'm too lazy to search the world wide intranet.

 

Well, Champ103 seemed to talk like he knew. As you will notice, my initial post started out with the line "Sorry, what exactly is the rationale for this type of release?" As you don't know the answer to that question, I'm a little surprised you had such an elaborate reply.

Reaching the widest "audience" is certainly the most noble goal. What else is there? It's less trouble than doing the DR dance? In any case, the point stands: They can/should do better.

After pulling out all the snark, I'm still waiting for a disagreement.

 

I'm not familiar with the word snark nor was I snarky in my reply. It was elaborate, part truth and part my opinion.

I thought I remembered St A's stating they released it the way they did for two reasons. 1.) to reach more people and 2) to "reward" some of their better accounts whether it be sales, first place to start carrying St A's, etc but I don't recall seeing any of that in writing which is I asked if you had.

So you think it would reach more people if they kegged it? I think you think you have it all figured out but you're clearly over thinking it. I don't claim to have all the answers. As I said my response was a mix of fact and opinion. As far as kegging it goes, I could make the argument that it wouldn't help reach more people and I will only because I'm bored.

Do you have any idea how many different accounts BB goes to across the state? Do you know how much each account gets? I don't but obviously if they keg it, even in slim kegs, it will be spread out much more thinly. For example, I know a restaurant by my house got one case last time. Im sure there's several other places around DFW and the state that got more, maybe less. Point being, by bottling it they are able to spread it out more across the state thus giving MORE people an opportunity to try it.

If they keg it obviously not nearly as many accounts would get a keg, more accounts would be po'd they didn't get any and it would be much harder to find. Hypothetically, say 10 places around DFW got a keg. It would most likely be a kinda big deal, they would announce what day and time they're going to tap it and only the people that are able to be there on that day and at that time would get to try it. In likelihood there would be a "small" group of people that would order a couple each and the keg would be gone within the hour thus reaching LESS people.

Again, price gauging is going to happen no matter what and you can't blame St A's for that. I can almost guarantee if that was served on draft it would be an 8 oz pour at most places and probably $10-12. I understand that's less than some people are paying but more than others. There's no way to avoid that other than boycotting that establishment or maybe emailing them with your complaints.

There's your disagreement but don't feel so lucky, I may not be so bored tommorrow...or snarky

 

I don't think rationale is required for any given company to release its product.

If they want to package the beer in large Easter eggs and require customers to dress as bunnies to find one, that's their prerogative. I think they should.

 

ISO: Easter Egg BB8

 

Overall there is no perfect solution and I think some people are getting way too worked up over this. The fact is this is the SW forum so people are going to complain, God and the SW forum know I'm guilty of that. Throw in the name St Arnold's and expect the complaining to double.

I'm sure they are doing the best they can with the limited amount they have and I promise if they released it another way someone else would be next in line to voice their disapproval and tell us why it's a shitty idea.

 

I'd sure as hell dress up as a bunny for certain beers. I bet there would be a line of bunnies at JK Atrial release or Huna Day if that was the requirement.

 

I just had two different BB's today. It is not hard to get. Maybe I don't know what Saint Arnold's true "goals" are. Though, it has been said many times that these releases are incredibly smaller than even DR's. Regardless, I don't really care. I have no problems getting any, and enjoy the releases. I guess that is all that matters for me. Everyone carry on, and continue to complain.

Edit: Again, I think I have said this exact same thing in the other threads for this release. I guess I am part of the problem too, but it is not that difficult to understand. Can we stop talking about this dead horse, it is the same every single time...enjoy it if you want, or not. Considering that nobody says anything different in these, no message is getting through to anybody.

 

Just hashing out one point. Where I work we stored a case of BB1-7 on our own..and were fortunate enough to turn that product into a pretty awesome event with Brock. I guess I just point out that not every bar treats this product the same. If this product was sold everywhere I doubt we would have recieved the second case of BB to be able to create an event like that.

And in all fairness plenty of places even in DFW offered this to-go when their license permitted so obtaining 2-3 to cellar at home has never been an issue. #4 & 5 sat on a particular shelf in Dallas for a long long time

 

OK then. I haven't really watched all the previous threads where the same or at least a similar gripe has been posted. By the same token, I didn't know the production numbers were that low for BB. Given those failings and the genuinely civil replies you guys posted, I offer my apologies and an agree to bury the horse. Cheers Gentlemen.

 

No apologies necessary. Sometimes I can get a little to enthusiastic, and need to take a step back. It is just beer after all, and I can understand why some people feel frustrated.

 

I noticed the BB8 google doc is up so feel free to add dates/times for releases.