Bells to MA, CT, RI soon?

I'd certainly enjoy some Expedition Stout and Two Hearted but damn are the shelves getting crowded theses days.

 

Here's the link for job mentioned:

http://www.bellsbeer.com/careers/lead-brewery-rep-ma-ct-ri

 

Haven't they been distributing in NYC and NY State for a few years now? Such a move would seem to make sense given their distribution footprint in most of the Eastern states(http://www.seekabrew.com/distro/index.html), and I'm sure they have done their analysis on the pros and cons of moving into a pretty well-saturated New England market.

It's been about a year now since New Belgium moved into the Boston market and essentially did the same thing - I continue to see both Lips of Faith and six packs of their core line-up in stores (have yet to buy any) so that seems to be going well - does anyone have any perspective on how well that has gone? Seems like if NB is a barometer for Bells in the Boston area at least, there might be room for more "middle to large non-local craft brewer" expansion in the area, surprisingly. I say "surprisingly" only because outside of this forum, similar to NB, I think they will have to struggle to establish a marketing presence given their lack of name recognition...but their beer should speak for itself, and they are no stranger in doing this so good luck to them...!

 

Two Hearted is $8 for a 4 pack in DC. If we see similar pricing in MA, It'd be a semi-regular in my fridge. Maybe it'll be my go to when I go to a friend's BYOB party. I'd be very excited.

 

Agree. But always a few bucks gauge in a new market, especially in the hype prone, neck beard, affluent region known as New England.

 

Oh to have constant access to Two-Hearted would be a great thing. That is still to this day my desert island beer.

 

I would place Bell's above NB, but I can see how it is a fair comparison. I am pretty excited about this, they have a solid lineup of beers.

 

Even still, If $9.99 is the price point for 16oz 4 packs of Two Hearted, I'm good with that. And neck beard and affluent should not be in the same sentence.

 

See many neckbeards dropping hundreds of bucks on cases of beer. Trust fund babies? Spending every bit of their money on beer? Racking up thousands of dollars of credit card debt? All possibilities I suppose.

 

Re-selling so they can even afford to drink said beer?

 

I love Two Hearted, but I seriously question whether some craft beer drinkers would even recognize it as an IPA these days.

 

My grandpappy used to use that bitter hop water to peel paint

 

Used to love Two Hearted but the last few times I've had it fresh when in another city it hasn't held up to memories. Probably just lost the taste for that particular beer but although I also thought Hopslam was pretty mediocre this year too so maybe I am just ruined by New England IPAs. Some of their non IPA styles will be nice to have around though.

 

I like two hearted but it is one of those beers that isn't going to excite after a bit. After the initial onslaught of ticks it will just take up space. It will just have a permanent spot next to the dusty anti-hero, old centennial IPA, and long list of other now unbuyables.

 

Two Hearted should give SoS a run for its money here. Very similar beers IMO, and at 10 bucks for 4 that is a steal.

 

Beers not really close in taste. Don't get me wrong, I like them about equally but Two Hearted has that Midwestern malt flavor forwardness and SoS is straight East Coast style with a very low malt bill.

 

I guess I meant that neither of them are a hazy NEIPA juicebomb.

 

I feel like this is something I would have been really excited about 10 years ago.

That being said, it would nice to have a beer like Oberon around, and I've always wanted to try Expedition Stout.

I stil can't see myself regularly purchasing either of them...mainly because I don't regularly purchase anything...which is why the shelves are clogged...and around we go.

 

I'm super psyched for this. Love Oberon in the Spring, as well as Oarsman and Third Coast Ages pretty well.