Funk Factory (2019)

Thanks! Luckily my brother in law is close by!

 

Anyone know if they have/ are gonna have Astronaut Juice on tap? Also do they ever do crowlers/ growlers to go of it? Thanks in advance.

 

I don't believe FF does crowler/growlers of anything and it's never been bottled as far as I know. If you want to make your own with a bottle of regular meerts I believe it's something like 1/4 of the Tang you'd use if it was water.

 

Changes coming at FFG; T100 being eliminated/consolidated (depends on how you look at it) with the Magnum Club. Below is an excerpt from the e-mail explaining it:

We are making some changes to our membership this year based on the feedback we've received from Magnum Club members. With these changes, we are wrapping T100 into the Magnum Club structure and consolidating the two groups. This brings the total up to 200 members, and we don't anticipate expanding that number in the near future. With the addition of more members these beers become more financially feasible, so we've also dropped the price proportionally, and it will now be $300 per spot.


The 2019-2020 Magnum Club Benefits include:

• 5 guaranteed beers: one 1.5L or two 750mL bottles of each (formats are subject to availability)
  
  
• Ability to purchase Member-only beers
  
  
• Access to first come, first served online sales
  
  
• Exclusive glassware
  
  
• 20% Member’s taproom discount on draft pours, food, on-premise bottles, and merchandise
  
  
• First rights to next season's Magnum Club
  

Looks like some spots potentially opening up depending upon any current MC members who don't decide to renew and however many current T100 members don't decide to join the new MC.

 

Is the cost of these guaranteed beers included in the $300? Or do you pay the $300 so they hold the the beer then you still purchase each bottle?
TIA

 

Correct; the $300 covers the 5 beers in the bullet point that you quoted. All other beers are extra money outside of the membership fee.

 

While it's kinda annoying that the T100 is gone and we're losing the benefit of being supporters all along, it also seems like not that bad of a deal now that the price has dropped and we can get 2 750s instead of a magnum.

I'm leaning towards joining up and not being too upset about the T100 going away, which means FF probably handled this pretty well. I'd assume the most annoyed would be the old mag club members who paid quite a bit more the last two years (granted there were a few more extras, but not $200 worth in my opinion).

Also, it's a big positive to no longer have to feel like I need to constantly buy bottles to keep my T100 status. In the end I'll be joining my first paid beer membership but it'll probably actually reduce how much beer I'm buying and bringing home, which is kind of novel.

 

They have to do what they feel is right for their business. I think it's a little bit of a slap to the face of the T100 but it is what it is. The price tag is a lot more reasonable this time around but I just don't have the extra money to throw at it with other societies that I'm in. It will probably save me money in the long haul since I won't buy bottles I'm luke warm about to make sure I stay in the T100; now I can just buy stuff that really interests me or see what they have in the taproom whenever Im out that way. I'm sure I'll miss out on some cool bottles but you can't get every bottle that you want. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the next year.

 

For the last year plus buying bottles made no difference in your T100 status. I haven’t bought a bottle since the Mag club came out and I still get the T100 emails.

 

I picked up my T100 to MC option. Biggest factor was the decrease in price from previous years. I figured the 10 bottles that are included in the membership (of course, big assumption that I'll have the option for 2 750's each time), I would buy anyway and that's already pretty much the cost of the membership right there. I can certainly make use of the 20% taproom discount as well. So altogether it made sense to buy in this round.

 

Overall, how have people felt about the FFG membership? Beers have been worth it? Communication and logistics are good?

 

I think it’s worth it. Beers are good, they’re reasonable folks to deal with, and they have more cool members only bottles in store. Quick to answer questions via email, and there’s a FB members group for general questions/ chatter.

 

I joined MC for the first time this year as an out-of-towner. Where can I find said FB group? Will be relying on a local friend (and hopefully other willing members) for proxy pickups the majority of the time.

 

You’ll probably get an invite once they have the list set.

 

I couldn’t find you to tell you, but thanks Levi for putting on the best pre- GTMW event on! No entry fee for some of the best beers in the country. Thanks for the beer culture you bring to WI. You rock!

 

Anyone been here recently and seen a to go list?