Darkness in Chicago

Binny's Grand had 5 or so of the BA this morning. Gone in 3 minutes; people waiting in the parking lot before they opened. They still have the regular but you have to ask for it. They got 3 cases of it, no idea how much is left.

 

People are dumb.

 

The label is awesome, totally agree!

 

It really sucks that this is probably the way releases are gonna go from now on. Anything mildly exciting being barrel-aged (or in fairness to Darkness, just being a phenomenal RIS) is going to fly off the shelves within an hour or two. I'm just glad Surly made some non-BA stuff, so as to at least cut demand for that particular bottle by 3%.

 

Early bird gets the worm....
This is my first Darkness score, wasn't able to get it last year. I was hoping they got enough of the BA but I should know better after experiencing all the hoopla surrounding the release of BCBS. What gets me are the people posting photos of their 13 bottles of rare, prop and everything else from this year. Even if I wanted 13 bottles of the shit, I couldn't afford it. I don't know how people do it.

 

As someone who has a few relatively expensive hobbies (for someone firmly in the Middle Class), I would imagine that for some of these guys, beer is their only consistently money-consuming hobby, so it's probably where all their non-essential money goes. My definition of afford is "money left over after living expenses/clothes/existence of a girlfriend/etc." but to some people it's just "money I didn't spend on living/eating."

Honestly, as much as I begrudge people the lengths they're willing to go for beer/the amount of money they're willing to spend on it, if this is their thing, fine. Beer is one of my bigger hobbies, but not big enough that it gets all my extra money, so I can't hate on others for having more money to devote to it; I could stop buying bourbon/clothes/videogames/etc. if I really cared that much.

 

It is expensive at the time, but it is still cheaper than trading for it or buying it at the bar. I think the people going after a dozen or so bottles most likely have the income to support it and really want it.

 

No wife or kids helps! LOL But seriously, I was into videogames and bought all the new releases all the time. Then I got into the craft beer game. Now I only buy a couple games a year (Star Wars Battlefront and Black Ops 3 are the only ones I bought in the last few months), and beer takes most of my free money.

 

No Fallout 4???

 

So when should I break the news to my wife that I am divorcing her and am gonna be a dead beat dad? lol

 

Does she like beer? Maybe grab her a bottle of Darkness to explain/as a peace offering (not BA, that would be crazy).

 

haha, nah shes a vodka girl

 

I wanted to buy it but I bought 2 BA Pipeworks bombers and Darkness instead. This beer is like Pokemon...gotta catch em all!

 

Distro'd limited releases of the not so distant past
Store employee: "Hey, look at this new release, beer x, we got in last week. You might enjoy it."
Customer: "Oh sweet. Thanks for the suggestion."

Distro'd limited releases of the present
Customer: "According to my distributor delivery schedule for this store, you'll be receiving beer x today, probably only a case at that. I'm going to wait around here until the truck comes in. I'll be over in aisle 1 looking at bottles. Anyone else who comes in asking for it is behind me, ok?"
Store employee: "uh, sure."

Distro'd limited releases of the not so distant future
Customer: "Hey, I've been waiting here since 9 and you close in about an hour. Where's the beer x delivery that was scheduled for today?"
Store employee: "Yeah we just found out from the distributor that all the cases of beer x were taken off the truck earlier in the day by guys in one of the cars which were following them. At a stoplight it seems. The distributor is going to try and bring a replacement case tomorrow."
Customer: "So I can stay here overnight then?"

 

Lake Zurich got Pipeworks BA and Darkness today

Limited you to 1 Pipeworks and 1 Darkness.

Apparently there were lurkers for the BA Darkness, I left about a half hour ago no BA left but there was probably 5 Darkness. Not sure how much Pipeworks was left it looked like it might be gone.

 

Those in the SW burbs. Cardinal Liquors in Joliet has Darkness, no BA. Glad I work close to there. Grabbed one and a BA Hyper Dog.

 

They have a few left at Galleria on Southport, but as is tradition with that joint they are pretty grossly overpriced at $29.99.

 

Why do people stalk beers? This "game" is getting nuts. Next thing you know they'll be jacking people in the parking lot who just paid for it.

 

This is the first year I was able to walk into Binnys and get a Darkness.

The last time? Wife snuck in a Dark Lord in her purse several years ago to a Surly brewery tour and traded for one

 

If you work 9-5 M-F, getting BA beers are a chore or impossible now-a-days. I guess that's what happens when more people buy to trade rather than buy to drink.