Did we ruin Bourbon County?

Obviously, it's impossible to tell how much "hype" influences people, since we can't take their actions before and after hearing said hype in a vaccum/under the same exact circumstances. And for sure, people tend to buy more of "hyped" releases, 1) because they know this might be their only chance, 2) because it's good trade bait, and 3) because hype usually indicates a quality beer.

I also have no problem with arguing that there are other comparable beers out there, that you don't have to jump through the same hoops for. With that being said, I think there's also a reason that industry-wide, BCBS is held up as a paragon of barrel aging. So while someone's individual taste may disagree, there are clearly a lot of other opinions that back this idea up. Does that make it right? No. But it's a numbers game, and if so many people decide they want BCBS, if you want some, you have to play by their rules (which means lining up, "knowing" someone, getting lucky, etc.). So chances are, the people you see in line aren't passing up "better options;" they're lining up for what they consider their best option, and I would imagine not all are happy about it. I'll be the first to admit I've lined up for BCBS before, and I absolutely hate doing it. However, I'm a huge GI homer (BCBS and the Clybourn stuff, to be specific), so if I'm going to wait in line, it's probably for something local.

Look, I'll be the first to admit the hype for Bourbon County is out of control. But that's how a lot of beer releases are now. Black Note never blew me away, but it's pretty impossible to find in my area. Parabola, Sucaba, etc., they all disappear pretty much instantly as well. And while the Eclipse beers are good, the ones on the shelves aren't good enough (to me) to justify a $30 purchase, especially when I can get as much Bourbon County for less. The last time I saw a price tag for BA Narwhal, the shelf was empty, so it's not like I had a choice on that one either. At least with BCBS, I generally know when it's coming in (at least for the launch week(s) ), so I can plan for it.

The point is, there are plenty of bad things to come out of the BCBS hype (and the hype of other hot beers), but it's not fair to dismiss the quality of the beer, just because you prefer other options. I'm a big advocate of all the many awesome BA beers there are out there now, but if you like something, you like it. And frankly, Prop '13 is my all-time favorite beer, and '14 was phenomenal as well, so GI has earned the hype in my book.

With all that being said, while I'd like a bottle of Prop '15 to enjoy at my house, it's definitely a disappointment to me (had it at FoBAB), as is Regal. The only one that really justifies the hype in my mind is Rare, and that's just too expensive (and even harder to get, somehow).

By that standard, I hope that you're boycotting the majority of major BA releases, as they're all comparably priced. Hell, Spiteful just released some BA stuff this week, and while they're relatively tiny and a newcomer to the BA game, both of their beers hit in the mid $20s. GI isn't really charging more than anyone else; I bought a 22oz. bomber of Parabola 2 years ago for $18, and picked up 2 16.9 oz. bottles of BCBS today for $20 total.

 

Not even all BA Stouts
All of the BA versions are less available and harder to get
All of the BA ones are more expensive.

 

I believe BCBS is allocated by sales of Goose Island through the year. I would think that the big goose Island drinkers are not BCBS drinkers allowing for disconnects in demand and supply.

 

I agree with many of your points and am by no means saying the bourbon county line isn't an industry standard and so forth- I am really just questioning the point that the situation has reached- I think its all getting pretty ridiculous- and am tiring of seeing rants about people who can't or didn't get the beers after standing in line like they were somehow owed. Maybe a different tangent but is all part of my general point that the hype is getting pathetic.

Also don't you think that your statement plays a role in your point of view :

"However, I'm a huge GI homer (BCBS and the Clybourn stuff, to be specific), so if I'm going to wait in line, it's probably for something local."

 

Please see my prior posts where I addressed the same things you just mentioned. I disagree with both of your statements.

 

sounds like you're still missing regal. I can help you out with that. I would normally charge $190, but you seem nice, so it's yours for $189.98. I don't take diner's club.

 

I see what you did there

 

clearly GI isn't charging enough

 

I understand if you don't want to pay the prices when a bottle shop jacks it up, but not sure how this is InBevs fault. Your avatar pic is of Clown Shoes. Not sure if that particular one was $15 like most of their "specialty" beers are but price per ounce is .68, price per ounce of BCBCS and BCBBW are both .70, price for reg BCBS is .59. I understand Regal and Rare are more but everything else seems like it is in line with Clown Shoes.

 

The OP will probably do the same thing next year and then start an "I can't believe i did it again" thread.

My store, with a bar in it, was giving out tickets at one for a selling start time at 3. They told me earlier that they were only receiving like two cases of the variants. At 11am on Black Friday, i called them up to see if the times were correct. They told me people were there at 7:30 waiting so i strolled in at two, sat at bar and drank GI Night Stalker, 2013 Goose island BCBS, a Matilda Lambicus. 3 o'clock rolled around, sipped beer until my group of ticket numbers came up, walked up, bought 4 bottles, could have had more if i wanted to spend the cash, paid, went back to the bar area and sipped some more beer. Not a bad day.

 

Distributors and retailers have ruined Bourbon County mostly.

 

I feel it's two-pronged: a) there are too many people willing to go to great lengths to track down beers like this (which is of course their prerogative but it adds to the "ruining of Bourbon County" that's being discussed here).

However, there's also b) the whole Black Friday nonsense brought on by GI at the behest of their overlords, I would have to assume. I used to live in PA before GI started distro there and would go back to Ohio for Thanksgiving and I would always hit up this place called Party Source (in KY) for a beer run of out of market stuff and they always had plenty of BCBS just chilling on the shelves. Hell, the first time I tried it was when I found several bottles of the 2008 in a shop in Chicago in JUNE of 2009. It used to just be a great seasonal beer that came out when it came out without unnecessary fanfare. Really seems like the ABInBev marketing crew knew they had a goldmine with tons of people willing to go great lengths to get a "limited" (I believe they make exponentially more BCBS then they did pre-ABInBev) special release beer and they ran with it to create this Black Friday mess we have now.

 

Mr. 2AM is factually correct on his points, tho. Those are good to great beers, and it's subjective anyway, but agree to disagree on them being "better" than BCBS.

 

I didn't have to work Thanksgiving or Black Friday for the first time in a mighty long time. I didn't wait in line for anything ... even beer. I would say that I am not ruining BCBS and it is not ruining me.

 

Speedway stout isn't even BA so why is it being mentioned? Seriously.

 

It's not ruined. Yet. Hopefully it will not be down the road.

 

Does barrel aging automatically make a "better" beer? I would seriously question your question.

 

I think the post below is part of that particular puzzle-

But I have also been told by a retailer in the area that the ABI-owned distributors get preferential treatment. So, if you are in an area that has an ABI distributor and sells a lot of GI products as well---> that's how places like NYC get their huge allotments.

 

Actually I don't think anything he said was true, but just felt like trolling along and making a big thread which he succeeded at, so take that for what you want

 

Never said it did, but you aren't comparing similar things. So again, why? Might as well say Pliny is better and cheaper than BCBS.