Other Half Brewing Thread (March 2016)

I have never waited in line for 5 hours, but I know some have. I get there around 7:30ish and am usually out with my cans between 10:30-10:45. This has been my experience since Street Green, which is why I think it is generally better to get there early and wait less overall (again, my preference). I get that you think the line moves slowly/inefficiently, but just because that is your experience doesn't mean OH needs to change anything.

Can we all just agree that having a fridge full of OH cans is worth the small inconveniences you may encounter at a release? And if it isn't, again...don't go.

 

This will be the last I say about the issue, at least until I bring it up at OH, but nobody is saying that they need to do anything. It would just be a nice gesture to their loyal customer base who waits hours in line every other weekend to try to improve the efficiency of the lines. That's it. I'm looking forward to seeing what their response is.

 

But shorter wait time will leave less time for epic bottle shares while u wait on line.

 

#jerseywhalescrew

 

Nah that's what you show up at 6:30am for - guaranteed 3.5 hour wait!

 

Easily 4 hours, if theres at least 3 people ahead of you in line.

 

A beer release that takes 2-3 hours more than it probably should is more than a small inconvenience.

 

You know what's funny? Last night my wife and I did a side by side with the recent batch of Citra cans and this batch of Galaxy. Galaxy won as an FYI, but we were talking about how cool everyone was at OH and how chill the vibe was, etc. I came in this morning to post just that, and then I saw this explosion of bullshit. Look- you're basically waiting for cans anywhere you go. Is OH a little longer than the others?- yes. Maybe they can find ways to move the line better when the demand is very high(like it probably will be for ACE). And I am sure they eventually will. But the people complaining about wait times sound like bitches. Because the fact is, you're gonna say anything and everything to complain about how inefficient the process is at OH, but you're still going. The old adage is if you want to make a point, stop giving them your business. Of course you won't do that, so the internet is actually just the place to bring those kinds of concerns(seriously, not being sarcastic). You bring the concerns here, which is valid. A lot of other brewers do monitor their threads on here to get an idea as to what people are saying. But it seems the OH guys do not do that. Which is fine, but then this thread loses all credibility when employees and such complain about drinking in line. Can't have it both ways. I am not saying the line drinkers are right or even that the line wait complainers are right, but some of these brewery specific threads are able to beget real change. Seems like this isn't one of them, which is also fine, but it's time we all realized it.

 

Many of us who have "complained" (said 4 hour waits for cans are too long) don't go anymore. It's on tap everywhere so what's the point? This is also coming from someone who went to Other Half before can releases. I would love to grab a 4 pack of cans but just cant waste half a Saturday. I think we are frustrated when we see other breweries do a better job/act like they care more about your experience. I was 40th in line at treehouse yesterday and we were out the door with cans AND growlers at 5:10. They deal with thousands of people on a regular basis and couldn't be any morw efficient/friendlier.

 

I'm one who has decided never to go to OH for these releases after reading the OH threads. And to say "a little longer" wait is not really accurate, from what I'm reading. Like others have said, I've literally been in and out the door at Carton in less than 5 minutes, no waiting in line, after buying at least four different styles of canned beer adding up to two cases. Sounds like the complaining is legit.

 

True story. I got to TH at 5:30 this Thursday and was out of there an hour and ten minutes later with cans and growlers. Plenty of people chatting with the staff selling cans.

 

The only way to make the line go faster is to have more POS terminals. Queue one big line into 4 terminals instead of 2. Serving 300+ customers with 2 terminals just doesn't cut it.

 

To be fair, this wasn't a particularly great week at Treehouse. See how fast you get out the next time Good Morning is on, or Very Hazy or Very Green or Juice Machine or any of the limited cans they do. The release dictates the line and the wait. Which is why it wasn't crazy this past weekend at OH and why it wasn't crazy at TH this week. Of course, treehouse has a lot more experience running through crazy lines for cans and growlers, but 2+ hour waits are not uncommon for highly sought after releases of theirs.

 

I have no complaints to voice to OH management and have never had to wait on a line there. Of course I have never been to the Brewery, but after reading the last couple pages of this thread, maybe that's a solution that would work for others also.
You shouldn't need to complain in person or online re: the long lines. They surely are aware of the situation and either can't, or choose not to do anything about it.

 

Get Wheated was tasting great last night. Really enjoying the two cans from this last release. Top notch stuff from Other Half!

 

Last time I waited for Good Morning it took three hours, which is still considerably faster than what has become most people's experience standing in line at OH.

 

I couldn't disagree more. After hitting OH Can releases 4 times in 4 months leading up to Street Green, I haven't been back since that Street Green release. I made a conscious choice to not go for a while and instead have hit releases at Carton, Kane, Magnify, and made 4 trips to Tree House since then. I Know at least 5 other people who share the exact sentiment. But you see in the grand scheme of things even if me and some people I know, @DrStiffington and others on this site, choose not to go, it really doesn't matter because OH will still sell out of their 500 cases of beer every two weeks. Demand far out weighs supply, so even though we did what you said, it hasn't made any difference at all. OH won't have to change anything unless THEY want to change (one positive change was the wristbands and I applaud them for that), to have a better experience for their customers, because demand will always outweigh supply where they are in one of the biggest cities in the world. I actually miss OH beers and am trying to make a can release in the near future, but by me and others not going for 6 months or so, it hasn't really "made a point," and never will in their case, so I think that actually raising valid concerns on this forum or emailing the owners (which I did after Street Green) is actually as effective or more effective than taking my business elsewhere. just my 2 cents.

 

Is bottle share okay while waiting in line? How does the NYPD feel about it? Just asking. I am thinking about flying out for this release. Maybe bring a bottle or two if sharing is allowed, or not.