The Half-Acre thread (2018)

I think you guys are vastly underestimating the production levels of HA since the new brewery went online.

 

I don't think I am...I think you are vastly underestimating the ability of haze-crazed beer drinkers and Half Acre fans to line up - even if there really is no need to.

Also, my assumption is that any new hazy IPA they would make would not have production the size of DDC and that it'd be a smaller batch. My impression was that these one-off can only, brewery only releases have been smaller batches...but I could be wrong.

 

A good test will be how supply and demand match up when GDDC is released in cans. So wait a month

 

The haze craze is vastly overestimated. Some small producers selling out of their packaged goods isn't anything to write home about. When they have lines just for drafts and those drafts kick within hours of being put on, then we can talk.

 

I disagree. If a small brewery can sell out of a beer in a couple days as opposed to selling a couple 4-packs in the same time period, that's a big deal, at least to them (and to those of us trying to get the beer before it sells out).

Haze put Hop Butcher, Mikerphone, Noon Whistle and Forbidden Root on the map, at least when it comes to beer nerds that follow social media. Not saying the "haze craze" is going to take over the world, but it's certainly helping to somewhat artificially boost interest in a lot of breweries and their beers.

 

Eh, I'll kind of disagree here. I think Mikerphone is the only one of those breweries technically "on the board". As you can see by other threads, people have already turned on HB. And there are only certain people going out of their way to actually get NW and FR haze releases. Yes that number increases with each release, but its still only a percentage of craft beer drinkers. I personally enjoy Forbidden Root, but not for their hazy IPAs. And I have never seen that place more than 75% capacity.

 

You can disagree what qualifies as "on the board" or "on the map", but think about how much HB, NW and FR were discussed before they each did NEIPA's, and look at how much they are discussed now. It's a huge increase, and it is due solely to them putting forth solid efforts in the category. Even if HB has not produced another hit like Galaxy Bowl, they keep selling out and getting talked about - that could certainly turn if they don't dial in their recipes, but they are still being talked about and having their beer purchased.

 

I think we're arguing different things, though. My initial statement was that basically any random brewery can brew a hazy beer and get their name out there, not that haze = success forever. People turning on HB means that they have an opinion on the brewery; most of us didn’t know HB/South Loop existed until Galaxy Bowl, and Forbidden Root never really made appearances on this forum before their NE stuff. And in fairness, while plenty of people have turned on HB, there are also still plenty of us who buy their stuff (and never would've until they started cranking out legit and not-so-legit NE beers). People are driving out to Noon Whistle specifically for these beers; people who never would’ve made it out to the burbs otherwise.

I’m not saying that making an NE IPA will guarantee you become the next Trillium, I’m just saying that it’s an incredibly simple (and pretty effective) way to at least break into the public (beer nerd) consciousness.

Also, what @croush said (and more concisely).

 

Yeah, I'm not arguing either of your points. My point is that the haze craze here isn't as big in the grand scheme of things as some on here think it is. Yes its the hot trend. If someone brews one, there a good chance there will be a line (especially HA). My point is that any of the breweries mentioned above aren't really well known outside of here. Besides people trying to up the hype for trade value. Of any of my friends that have been into craft beer for more than 5 years, not one has ever ran out to grab even the hot new Mikerphone release. I'm just saying that those breweries may be talked about on certain threads here, but overall are a blip on the radar. And I have enjoyed the Mikerphone I've had, just not enough to go out of my way for. So I'm knocking these breweries, just saying they are not as big as some people make them seem. They are still just the new kids on the block.

 

Oh yeah, no arguments here about the above, and I pass on plenty of this stuff myself. But I also passed on bottles of Parabola yesterday, so what do I know, really?

 

Hope they brew a ton of GDDC, but you also have to remember that the GDDC release usually coincides the start of Chicago craft beer week. That tends to boost demand as the are usually allot of out of town people who come in for the festivities. A month later when BHA (which in opinion is there best Ipa) is released there are probably 50 people lining up before open instead of 500.

And I am glad they are not jumping too heavily on the hype train of the haze. I like their beers just fine the way they are and the insane lines that don't exist because of the haze, Thank you.

 

Well, Juice Machine, Very Green, and Very Hazy (to name a few) sell out of cans AND growler fills in a few hours.

What other IPA (besides PTY) sells out of drafts within hours? I won't hold my breath on a response.

Juice Machine cans were razzling for $60 a CAN. I think it's absolutely ridiculous, but those are national boards. Every single Monkish release razzles for $20/can nationally.

 

Where do I find beer razzles? I've heard a little about them but my quick Google search came up empty.

 

Yes, and a TG BA stout resells for $1,500, but that doesn't mean there is a BA Stout craze- it's based off who does it and what beer it is. One example does not make a pattern. How long does Trillium stuff sit? My buddy brought back month old stuff from the brewery... Treehouse is a single example of excellence, that is a Treehouse craze, not a haze craze. People go nuts for it because no one makes it like they do.

 

WTF is a razzle? I thought he just mistyped raffle at first. I feel old.

 

Essentially secondary value establishes how much a certain beer is. Razzles usually have a valuation slightly higher than selling bottles to one person. There will be about 15 spots open that people claim in the comments of a Facebook post. Usually can claim up to three spots. Price for each is the valuation divided by 15. Cheaper for multiple spots, more for single. Once the razzle fills up the OP uses a number generator to establish who wins. It's a way to make money for OP, while allowing people to pay a lower price for the product. Obviously it's a gamble. No guarantee you'll win. Have to be invited to a private Facebook group to participate. That's is the best way I can describe razzles. Cheers!

 

I don't doubt you explained it well, but it didn't help me. Maybe because it's a FB thing and I'm not on it.

Excuse me while I go yell at some young punks to get off my lawn!

 

I just assumed razzle was a hip new word for reselling. Glad bear threw out a legit description.

 

Now I know why people want HA to make hazy beers. So they can razzle dazzle them.

Edit: Leave it to FB groups to f#&k up beer even more.

 

Absolutely brilliant!....I have no idea what he just said.