Holy Mountain Midnight Still

Well, this quote does make one wonder:

"Either way, it's perfectly fine. So what? We're not going to up production on these beers, so they can sit on a grocery store shelf and be ready to grab whenever someone feels like they should have access to them. As some of you know who come down to the tap room, we release stuff silently all the time, and will continue to do so."

 

Let's not lose focus here. People suck. Holy Mountain doesn't suck. People suck.

 

It's not like they can up production. They're pretty small.

Whatever. I hate lines. I hate the whole cant miss out uber hype beer scene of now, but I also love supporting my local breweries and I love Holy Mountain. Damned if I do and damned if don't.

 

Being a somewhat sensitive and guilt-prone soul, my first reaction when I read this was to feel bad about my ribbing, even though it was only intended in the sardonic spirit of this forum and for the amusement of those whom I knew would see it here. But then I quickly remembered why I held the position I do, and I thought of the following: how is it cool to knowingly and deliberately force people to wait in line for 2-3+ hours if they are to have any chance at all of trying one of your beers? How is it cool to actually deny certain people (including loyal and legitimate HM fans) the opportunity to try a beer just because work, family, life, health, an aversion to crowds and boorish behavior, etc...prevented them from being able to go and commit all that time at the precise instant you chose to release said beer? How is it cool to, wittingly or unwittingly, encourage the worst traits and behaviors of the craft beer scene, the aforementioned hoarding, muling, etc..., by conducting a limited release as a "your only shot" event, which further drummed up demand and consequently limited broader and fairer opportunity for people to try it?

It's great, and something of a miracle, I might add, that everyone who waited in line yesterday to get a bottle got a bottle. I'll leave aside the other question of whether the greatest good for the greatest number was truly served notwithstanding such a happy outcome, and only say that there is bound to come a time, sooner or later, when someone who chooses to wait in line several hours, someone who only wants one bottle to try and share on a special occasion, waits all that time and still gets shut out completely. Such an outcome could happen any number of ways in a scenario, like this, where demand exceeds supply, but playing into this pattern of release only makes it more likely. All due respect, it's a race to the bottom, and you should at least consider the possibility that you're becoming a part of it...

But, really, everything else you're doing is fantastic, and you have every reason to be proud. Also, is there any way I can at least try one of your mom's cookies?

 

Hey, they're not going to up production on those cookies, so they can sit on a grocery store shelf and be ready to grab whenever someone feels like they should have access to them.

(Too soon?)

Edit: I have enjoyed the 2 Holy Mountain beers I have had the opportunity to try thusfar, and am looking forward to visiting their location later this year so I can try more. Even if they don't have cookies. (No hard feelings?)

 

If I find out they were oatmeal raisin, my favorite, I'm really going to be pissed I decided not to go.

 

They were chocolate. I think. I dunno. I didn't take one and now I feel bad knowing they were made by momma Holy Mountain.

 

EdwardAbbey, I agreed with you 100% until the Oatmeal raisin thing. Yuck.

Seriously though, I worked until 230 on Saturday and knew there was no chance I'd get to try my favorite style of beer done by my favorite local brewery. And that sucks. I'm not asking to be able to buy HM beers at the QFC up the road. I'd be satisfied with picking up two bottles at the brewery later the same day. Feels like being punished for having to work weekends, which is already it's own punishment. But whatever, I'll just spend the money on another BBADS.

 

Oatmeal Raisin cookies, that look like Chocolate Chip cookies, is the reason I have trust issues.

 

Next time, if you throw on that clown costume and learn how to make balloon handtrucks for the traders in line, we can work out a special batch for you. Oatmeal Raisin cookies are on point around these parts.

 

Sweet Boneless Jesus!!!!! Yes, yes, yes and hell yes!

 

I've felt "punished" for having a M-F job outside Seattle that doesn't allow me to leave midday to get bottles before. There's never going to be a perfect system unless they move to Brown Paper Tickets and showing ID when you pick up bottles. And people would hate that too.

 

Well, a thought I've had (admittedly, I get so few thoughts, most of them die of loneliness) is to release some on the downlow, while also having an official release, while also keeping a few cases stashed for a couple weeks, until the the initial rush is over, and then stealthing them out. Flaws in that plan are blatantly apparent.

 

Good to know. I'll keep studying YouTube videos and other sekret sources in an effort to hone my craft. Just don't renege on your promise!

 

I ended up just skipping the release and enjoying my day visiting a bunch of other great breweries in your city. Still, I have to say, HM was the best one that I did visit (on Friday without crowds).

Just from my perspective on waiting in lines - it happens everywhere in the country. The worst experience I have had was showing up at Hill Farmstead at noon on a Wednesday. No special release. Just there to visit the brewery. There was already a 45 minute line just to fill growlers. I didn't even bother.

Where I live in Austin, whenever Jester King releases a fruited sour, people go crazy over it. It has become humorous with hoarders. People have been known to go dress up and change to get back in lines. They rub off markers, bring their grandmothers (yes, it happens), and go around asking everyone else who is not there for bottles to get their allotments. Jester King mainly just announces things on Thursdays for releases on Fridays, which is sorta nice. Still, if it is something like Atrial, there is already a line a hundred+ deep at opening. Their limits are much smaller (usually just 1). Luckily, they tend to make enough so it will last to usually Sunday. If you show up 2 hours after the release, most of the lines tend to die down. This is why I asked about if I showed up 2 hours later if any would be left or any wait - I don't care if I just get one bottle, that is all I really would want for myself anyways.

 

Truly,we are the rich complaining about our privilege.

Give the HM guys a break. They are following their vision, like so many others, and if you like it, you may not be alone. Find community it that. Be grateful. We are not in Kansas, folks. We are here because we are similar...which may mean lines at HM releases. At least you can CHOOSE to get great beer. Such was not always our fate.

In other words, don't blame HM if they make great beer you like. Make a friend in line, look around and don't waste the moment...this time is not guaranteed to last

 

millennials are likely the greatest market force driving craft beer. it's ironic that you take offense to Holy Mountain defending their customers (the humanity!) while blasting those with fragile self-esteems.

 

This is a lot of garbage.

As is your previous claim that anything limited is automatically "elitist." The price point was reasonable, it was openly available (no club required, no "i know the owner", no string pulling), and the limit was not 1 PP, and apparently there was quite a bit to go around.

Elitist: "favoring, advocating, or restricted to an elite"; "a person who believes that a system or society should be ruled or dominated by an elite."

Whenever everyone doesn't get what they want, that's elitist? Not polling people and finding out if they're agoraphobes with a packed schedule on Saturday constitutes denying "certain people the opportunity to try a beer"? Willingness and ability to wait in a line does not construct an elite group. Line waiting sounds downright plebeian to me. I believe you, but definitely others, have stated that "I'm not willing to wait" and "there's plenty of other good beer around." That's a choice not to participate. So you want to not participate in the event but still reap the benefits? Hmmm, what group of people gets benefit without cost? Oh, yeah; the "elite." It's convenient to be laissez-faire up front and slighted on the back end.

You seem to think Holy Mountain had the option to make a ton more of this and to let it rain down upon the city, therefore they are "not cool." They conspired to make it rare ... it isn't the constraint of, you know, building a business and crafting a product with care. Finances, labor, time be damned! They "KNOWINGLY AND DELIBERATELY FORCED people to wait in line"! Uhhhh .... are you kidding?! Their minions flooded the city, rousing people from their slumber, and marched them at spear point to the brewery under cover of darkness? Hyperbolic purple prose cuts both ways.

Tell us - what would have been a "cool" way for Holy Mountain to do this? Clearly, you have the answer.

 

This thread makes me sad.

Call it out all you want, but the lines are here and I doubt they're going anywhere anytime soon, regardless of how much you or anyone else bitches about it. While I tend to agree with most of your sentiments re: lines & the traditionally more laid back beer culture in the PNW, your posts just make you sound like a crotchety, bitter a-hole.

You have got to be shitting me. It's beer. You're not being waterboarded.

 

How was the beer? Don't see a lot of talk on that.