2016 JK Atrial Rubicite

Big fan of the chair line. method is long overdue

 

Probably just shy of 100 now. When you take into account the wives, sisters, girlfriends and grandmules that will arrive and hop in line 2 hours from now.. We've probably got room for another 110 people. Should be accounted for by 10 I'd say

 

Just shy of 200

 

This is where I think a wristband of some sort might reduce the, "5 friends show up 5 min before sale starts" problem. Start handing them out when the line gets to a certain number, allowing those folks to go hang out in Stanley's barn while other people show up and get theirs. If your mules aren't willing to show up in time to get banded, then you don't get any extra. This might spread the love out a little more. Of course, those that are willing to have their grand mules show up in the 100 degree summer heat for beer, are probably willing to drag them to the brewery earlier to get wristbands.....

 

They're handing them out now.

 

Jackie O's used a low-tech and foolproof system - handing out pages from a page-a-day desk calendar. It simultaneously identified the people as they actually showed up, and established the order in which you got to buy the beer. No 2-3 hour wait in line required, no ditching in line.

 

Sounds like other breweries could take a page from their calendar

 

I personally enjoy showing up and hanging out in line. I showed up yesterday at 10 and had a blast hanging out in line with friends and drinking a few.

I think if someone is willing to wait for bottles then they will stay a little longer afterwards. I was able to drink a few, grab my bottles, take the tour , and eat some.

I enjoyed the experience overall. I understand some just want to grab bottles and leave, but I think the current format allows for folks to stay and make a small day of it. Experience the whole brewery and see some of the personality and characters behind the beer you enjoy.

 

My potential concern with handing out wristband is that it effectively just turns in to another earlier line to get wristbands then. Or on the flip side, one might also argue it could make it easier to bring an army of mules. Show up way early with your mules, get your wristbands, then leave and sit in the air conditioning until sometime in the afternoon when the crowds have died down. If your mules have to stand in line for a few hours, it makes it a lot harder to convince someone to be a mule. Line cutters are a whole other issue that needs to be addressed. I saw quite a bit of it even at MvB, where the line wasn't that significant. When I pointed it out to someone from Jester King, they just shrugged their shoulders.

 

They hand out wristbands in the line, so it's still just one line. They also require you to stand in line to get your bottles; a wristband does not guarantee you a bottle. If you sat in the AC until crowds die down, you'll strike out on bottles.

 

They do that the day before the release though (or the next morning if there are any pages left). This is a great system for locals but is hard for out of towners. Big fan of their system overall though.

 

You're probably right about the mules showing up early and hanging out. One would hope the inconvenience of coming early to get the wristband would at least deter the last minute line cutters. Ultimately it's up to the individual to have some common courtesy and realize that there are a number of people that won't be able to buy bottles because of their need to have 20.

 

Bottles sold out.

 

Previous discussions of wristbands have revolved around avoiding the need to stand in line for extended periods of time. If you have a wristband, it gets you a bottle. What I should have said is that if people knew wristbands were being handed out at 10:00 under that scenario, then maybe the line just forms 2 hours earlier to get a wristband instead of at noon to get a bottle.

If a wristband is simply to just "tag" that you are present and verifies your position in line at some point during the process, and that does not replace the act of standing in line, then yeah that might be a good idea to filter out the late line cutters.

One interesting thing from today, the front of the line at one point today apparently consisted of several empty folding chairs holding people's places in line.

 

Damn, sold out in less than 45 min?

 

Not sure I totally agree with unattended line placement holders. That seems like it will cause a lot of problems if it continues.

 

I think putting up chairs to hold your place in line is crap.

I dont follow beer as much these days, but I do follow some Tired Hands stuff because Im part of the paid club. They have the same issue with people just plopping down empty chairs. Brewery wont comment on it, but there are people pretty frustrated with it.

Show up and wait in line like everyone else. Use your chair if you bring it, and bring an umbrella and something to drink. No issues with grabbing a pour or going to the bathroom, but the empty chair is pretty much a finger in everyone elses face in my opinion.

 

Especially when one unattended chair suddenly turns into three people buying bottles

 

Any thoughts @jesterkingbeer on this subject?

 

Simple ....if a chair sits empty for 20 minutes. Fold it up, move it aside and step forward