2016 BCBS Chicago Release (Black Friday & Beyond)

It's so weird to be a "regular" at Binnys. I stop into Binnys Grand multiple times a month. I've never once spoken to an employee outside of checking out or in passing, but I do buy beer at the store quite often. I also dont know the head of the meat department at Mariano's, but I'm there 3 times a week.

Now, Puerto Rico Food and a liquors and Beer Temple? I know those guys well and am on a first name basis. It's just the atmosphere.


I honestly don't care how any shop handles a release, but like UnFrozen Caveman Lawyer, these concepts are strange and confusing.

 

So are all stores doing this secret release to special customers? Did all even get it? Was in LZ last night for some apex and saw / heard nothing. Though I did not ask for it.

 

Only had it on draft at GI Clybourn Black Friday. I liked it, but when I was drinking I was thinking: "Yep, 6 months from now, this will be pretty fucking sick."

I feel you should wait that 6 - 8 month time span to let things cool down. When I was drinking it on draft it was burning my lips. If you want a beer that does what 16 Prop is doing 100x better try The BA Malevolence. I'm not kidding you when it's the best BA beer I've had (I quite like BA beers so I feel this is saying a lot). Imagine a liquid chocolate brownie fresh out of the oven. I guess you might have had it, but I think describing it if not is just a safe bet. I don't know, I just like talking a lot.

Anywho, not saying it's a bad beer, but I think that I want the spice/smoke from the peppers to be more of an aftertaste rather than the gimmick that 'sells' that beer. I absolutely love '15 Prop, but people might think it's too sweet. 15 and 14 (or at least IMO) taste pretty similar and feel that if you want a cheeper version of the 14 stick with the 15. Hell, you can add the coconut water yourself and make a beer that has a more strong flavor of coconut if you want.

I don't know, I think they're all good beers but there's so many other things out in Chi-town that fucking rock. I am learning this past year that I'm kicking myself getting obsessed with BCS past Black Friday. Should kinda let it die down and buy fucking Jones Dog when it's released.

 

generally speaking you are probably going to have to speak to someone more than at checkout to become a regular. I know its a shocking concept. 3 times a month isn't exactly frequent either.

 

Yeah, it's hard making friends in those kinda stores. They also have a revolving door of people come in and out, so you make friends with a small group then they leave to the next job. The bigger the corporation the less likely you'll be a "regular".

 

FT: VR
ISO: Baby lamb to sacrifice to buy more VR

 

The Binny's I go to was supposed to get their variant shipment in yesterday, but it came today. I was able to snag a 2014 Prop, but they said all of their VR came and went within 20 minutes.

Not to mention Binny's was a nightmare today - either wait 10 minutes for a parking spot, or park across the street...then wait 20-30 minutes in line just to checkout. I was lucky to even get that Prop today

 

Nice offer that deserves to be quoted.

 

So what are the rules to becoming a regular? Is there a check-list of items that need to be checked off before I can obtain my merit badge?

Guess how i became friends with Junior at PRFL? By chatting at checkout. Only he's the owner, so I don't have to go seek out some guy in the back of the store.

 

This sounds like grand

 

It's almost once a week which I would say is probabaly how frequent you should be visiting a liquor store.

 

not if you want to become a regular at a bigger box store like a binnys.

 

Honestly, I stop into the Binny's up by where I work almost every day at lunch. I've gotten on a first name basis with multiple people there and I still couldn't get them to hold a VR for me. I'm sure it's against that location's policy to hold something, but when it's kept in the back and given out sparingly it really sucks that it goes that fast.

 

This is why I argue for a loyalty card/point system. If you're there every day and presumably buy something most of the time then the appearance would be that you got shut out in favor of the beer guy's friends or at least less "regular" of customers. If you're just in there looking but not buying then you wouldn't have the "points" to score something extra rare when it comes and it's easy for the Binnys guy to say "sorry we've got the vanilla Rye in but it's going to people with at least x number of points and you don't qualify. At least it's not a game that way...

 

That's a good idea. I don't want anybody to get it twisted though, I love and appreciate the guys I've made friends with at that Binny's. They've hooked it up PLENTY of times, and have given me releases out of the back, before the store was "supposed" to release them. It's just that time of the year, and when people hear VR and 14 Prop are getting released, it gets a bit chaotic - and I definitely don't have the time for waiting around for hours and chasing trucks. I got beaten to the punch for the VR, and I'm happy as a clam to have gotten that Prop!

 

Yeah either had to be very lucky or well informed by a driver or store employee to get either VR or Prop 14. And even with the info you had to hope you were considered a "regular" because if they held non BA caliente there is not doubt they would do it for these.

 

I'm a regular at my local Walgreen's

The shampoo guy is holding some new Pert Plus that is dropping this week...pays off to make friends with the employees for sure

 

Come on folks, this is still just beer. I suppose there will always be differences of opinions on how to make VR, Prop 14, etc. other special releases 'fair' game for everyone (whatever that means to whoever), but lets not tear others down who got one or look down upon those who didn't.

Congrats to those that got a desired vintage. Enjoy it and appreciate it.

 

Absolutely agree. I was just saying that I was disappointed that other people beat me to getting the VR, and I wish I had the time/commitment to be able to snag one of those.

 

Crazy that now VR is selling out before Prop 14. How times change!