BCBS in Charlotte

For what it's worth, Total Wine is charging 14.99. Ducks charging 21.99 is only a 50% markup over retail.

 

I got mine in Hickory for $11 with tax.

 

If anything, people should be pissed about a store like total wine selling for $15 than a restaurant/bar charging $21 take out. I have zero problem with Duckworths selling at that price. Their whole business is to get people to drink THERE, not take it home.

 

Was able to pick up a handful of bottles of BCBS. Was hoping to grab the Barleywine but 201 central was all out when I got there. Would be willing to trade someone local in Charlotte 2 bottles of the BCBS for a bottle of the Barleywine. Any takers out there?

 

For what it's worth -

I was out in the mix with everyone else running around to get my Bourbon County fix. I hit most of the usual suspects in Charlotte and saw a lot of familiar faces. A fair amount of new shops and locations had it, and certainly there were a few who stumbled with their new found - if fleeting - popularity.

One of the major complaints I saw (although I think the complaints were somewhat poor sports/butthurt) was that places were advertising that they had a case of Rare or two cases of Regal. When folks lined up, they naturally counted how far back they were in line or raffle and tried to figure out if they were there in time. Much of that math relied on a 12 bottles per case logic. That is true, but didn't account for bottles held for employees (absolutely no problem with this, especially if those same employees were working the release) or loyal customers (a totally different debate). This caused a lot of anger for people who were 10th or 23rd in line. Of course, if you had gotten there earlier, you wouldn't have been so far back - but you all know how it goes with the beer heads.

The point of this was that one shop (all the other ones I went had some variance between 12 bottles per case and what was ultimately sold to the public) had one case of Rare and one case of Regal, and people 1-24 each got a variant. This meant that the employees of that shop recieved no special treatment and no regulars had a bottle or two held while they ran to other spots to try to get extras. Nope, at this shop, the owner sold all 24 bottles to the general public on a first come, first serve basis at the advertised time. Didn't even keep one for himself - to Jason and Salud, well done guys.. Veteran move, perhaps something for some of these newcomers to learn from

 

I was able to pick up a fair amount of BCBS at Total Wine... but not the Rye or Reserve (which is what I was told they also had). I also dropped by an independent store I frequent (won't mention the name) just on the chance they had some. AND GOT A FUCKING LECTURE from the owner on how it's not "craft" and what bullshit it is - and that it would never be sold at his joint. Christ. I mean - it went on long enough that I just started laughing and left.

 

I'd like to know where this was so i can avoid it.


I'd also like to point out that Mark at Ultimate Ales in Mooresville also sold every bottle he received without keeping any. Solid dude.

 

Really? First of all it was 72 degrees Black Friday so not sure you would "freeze". And second of all I walked in to Frugals and paid 8.99 without a wait.....I hope you enjoyed your 21 dollar Duckworth special.

 

They weren't out , the shops did not get any.....

 

Great to hear this ! What a great way to handle a release. I know another shop where you have to kiss the ring to get a bottle......I won't mention its name :-)

 

As told by multiple people the NC coffee allocations had labeling issues and are supposed to be hitting shelves at a later date. Does anyone know when or heard anything about this?

 

Just curious, in your opinion why does this guy have problems?

 

I know the question wasn't posed to me @marine1975 - but it's obviously easily debatable. It's well in the rights of a store owner to decide which beers he does & doesn't want to sell. In all honesty, he's only hurting his business by not providing a product the public is clamoring for. So that would make him a man of principle. He apparently believes in his cause strongly enough that he eagerly enters into a sermon regarding why BCBS isn't a true craft beer. That's all his call. But I'm a consumer. I was looking for a product he refuses to sell. I've also spent easily a grand in his establishment. To lecture me on why he doesn't sell the product I'm searching for is absolutely unnecessary. A simple statement would've sufficed. To me it smacked of anger that anyone would search out that product. There was a massive wave of folks in Charlotte buying rare Goose products on Friday. The Huntersville store sold out in about 30 minutes. If he's a supporter of "true" craft, good on him. But don't lecture me on what I should desire to purchase. Don't treat me like I'm betraying the little guy because I like BCBS. I'll buy any damn beer I want.

 

Since I consider you a friend as much as a customer I didn't feel like I was "lecturing" you. Sorry if you felt that way. I try to always do what I consider is right. You seemed shocked I wasnt selling it. I was trying to explain my reasons.

 

As I said above, it's the store owner's choice what they sell. Deciding not to sell a beer everyone wants, because it's not a true "craft" beer, displays strong principle. That's admirable. I wasn't shocked you weren't selling it, but I did feel like I was being lectured. The debate about what is and isn't craft is - as always - fascinating. Very cool that you're openly standing up for yourself in this forum when I didn't mention any shop, or names. That too is admirable. I'll chalk the entire experience up to your conviction to only sell brews made by the little guys. I consider you a friend too. Cheers.

 

I stopped going there a while ago after having a bad experience. At the time I thought it was just me who didn't care for him. I was asked by several people how could I not like the best shop in Charlotte. A year has passed and I can't even count the times I have heard people telling the same story about how they had a bad experience. Nobody seems to say this in a group setting - maybe for fear of being ousted form the "circle". I don't even initiate the conversation anymore it seems to have grown to a pretty large group of people that feel the same as I. The whole thing surprises me as there is more competition now with Charlotte having several world class Bottle shops.

I am sure my comment will get criticized by the store fanboys but I just don't really care......

 

I smell a new boognish alias.