Feedback for Samuel Adams (Fall Variety Pack)...

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by davedog_7, Aug 21, 2019.

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  1. davedog_7

    davedog_7 Devotee (391) Jun 26, 2017 Georgia

    The more I think about it, the more pissed I am at what they did to the Fall Variety Pack. Outside of the Octoberfest, there's nothing fall about it in the slightest.

    I can only assume that sales of that pack had been slipping, or costs of producing the other "special" beers in it have been rising, or both.

    Nonetheless, I fail to see how the year-round lager, '76 lagerale, and a fruity sour have anything to do with fall. They always included the lager, which was absolutely fine, but forcing the not-disgusting but mediocre '76 on everyone as part of it, and then throwing in a crap sour is really annoying.

    Other beers to grace the pack in years past: Harvest Pumpkin/20 Pounds of Pumpkin, Black Lager, Spruce Lager, Hoppy Red, Maple Red, Bonfire Blonde, Toasted Caramel Bock, Coffee Pale Ale, Dunkelweizen among others. Basically every single one of those is a better choice than what's in there now (outside of Octoberfest and Boston Lager).

    So, with the caveat that I do keep this in perspective (so, not literally angry, but angry in the context of beer on a message board), where I was typically good for 6-8 12-packs in previous years, I will not buy a single one. If their sales and/or profits go up from this change, good for them. I guess I'm the odd-ball for actually wanting beers that seemed to fit with the season for which their named.
     
    #1 davedog_7, Aug 21, 2019
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  2. Beer_Stan

    Beer_Stan Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2014 California
    Trader

    I agree with everything you said, but for discussions sake, I think this beer was horrendous. And yes I feel the latest seasonal packs have been uninspired, lazy, and I should note that Boston Beer Co. has a reputation for brewing good beers then pulling the tasty rug out from under you only to shove the less desirables down your throat.
     
    #2 Beer_Stan, Aug 21, 2019
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  3. Scrapss

    Scrapss Pooh-Bah (2,220) Nov 15, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Hoppy Red and Dunkle please. And bring back Noble Pils
     
    #3 Scrapss, Aug 21, 2019
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  4. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    @davedog_7 You can always send them your feedback, but I'll make sure to send a link to this thread to Jim and team.
     
    #4 Todd, Aug 21, 2019
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  5. davedog_7

    davedog_7 Devotee (391) Jun 26, 2017 Georgia

    I thought Bonfire Blonde was OK, but that's fine to disagree, because at least there were several other unique/seasonal types of beers in there.

    Seriously. It's like someone said, "let's figure out what our best beers are, and then only produce about 2,500 bottles, and mass produce some other garbage instead.

    Oh well, I guess the silver lining is that I will be forced to branch out even more than usual to try other seasonals this autumn.
     
    #5 davedog_7, Aug 21, 2019
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  6. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Overall they seem to be 'pushing' the new brand of '76 and they are utilizing this upcoming variety pack as one more opportunity to 'push'.

    I applaud your choice of "I will not buy a single one" since sales is the 'best' way to communicate with Boston Beer Company your displeasure in the change of this year's Fall Variety Pack.

    FWIW I too will not be purchasing this year's Fall Variety Pack.

    Cheers!
     
    #6 JackHorzempa, Aug 21, 2019
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  7. davedog_7

    davedog_7 Devotee (391) Jun 26, 2017 Georgia

    Thanks. I have given them feedback directly, and just get a canned response (not that I blame them for that). So, I thought maybe a thread with several others involved might be more effective. Or, at least, make me feel better.
     
    #7 davedog_7, Aug 21, 2019
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  8. EmperorBatman

    EmperorBatman Zealot (741) Mar 16, 2018 Tennessee

    I’m surprised that they haven’t done anything to bring the Black Lager back - it was very well-received by the people I know, and I understand that it was fairly popular.

    Regarding 76, they really seem to be desperate to pump it out. It seems they’ve abandoned this “revolutionary” ale-lager hybrid marketing angle, and are now are producing commercials that market it as a lager that “you can actually taste.” Is this a recipe change, or a cut into the BMC market? Overall, it seems like 76 has been a disappointment, if not an outright failure, but they’re trying to ride this horse to its full conclusion anyway.
     
    #8 EmperorBatman, Aug 21, 2019
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  9. davedog_7

    davedog_7 Devotee (391) Jun 26, 2017 Georgia

    Concur. It was in there last year (and/or the year before), and has been in other limited release packs they've done. I guess they're worried it would compete a little too directly with their flagship, because you're right. It always has been received well.
     
    #9 davedog_7, Aug 21, 2019
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  10. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    The Black Lager was part of last year's pack but that was the 'end' of it to my understanding.

    FWIW this beer is popular with me and I have several times posted in BA threads my hope they would bring this beer back as a standalone 6-pack (even was a rotating/seasonal product). So far this has not happened.

    BBC is busy 'pushing' the '76 beer?

    Cheers!
     
    #10 JackHorzempa, Aug 21, 2019
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  11. Beer_Stan

    Beer_Stan Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2014 California
    Trader

    Literally Sam Adams in a nutshell.
     
    #11 Beer_Stan, Aug 21, 2019
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  12. Crusader

    Crusader Pooh-Bah (1,725) Feb 4, 2011 Sweden
    Pooh-Bah

    It sounds like they are having some problems with it.
     
    #12 Crusader, Aug 21, 2019
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  13. JimKal

    JimKal Savant (1,213) Jul 31, 2011 North Carolina

    While I do enjoy SABL I, too, won't be buying this fall pack. Unlike another replier I did enjoy Bonfire Blonde but, then, we can all like/dislike a particular beer. Variety packs, in my opinion, often contain at least one beer I don't like but this upcoming pack seems to have three I don't care to try.
     
    #13 JimKal, Aug 21, 2019
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  14. AZBeerDude72

    AZBeerDude72 Initiate (0) Jun 10, 2016 Arizona

    Well said and I agree. I am always confused with how these guys decide on packs but I am with ya and not getting anything this go around. I hope they change down the road, I would enjoy getting a nice fall pack with fall beers again.
    Cheers
     
    #14 AZBeerDude72, Aug 21, 2019
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  15. BeastOfTheNortheast

    BeastOfTheNortheast Pooh-Bah (2,153) Dec 26, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Terrible Fall variety pack. Great thread.
     
    #15 BeastOfTheNortheast, Aug 21, 2019
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  16. RedEcho

    RedEcho Devotee (394) Oct 23, 2012 Massachusetts

    Yup to pretty much everything above. Extra points to everyone who pointed out Sam's response to "hey, this beer is pretty good..." has been akin to "Thanks! You'll never see it again."

    I understand the idea that BL is what brought them to the dance and they are going to stick it in every variety pack out of a sense of loyalty, consistency, or such.

    '76 feels (and tastes imo) like someone staying in a bad marriage for the sake of the dogs.

    BL & 76 have sucked up half the space in the spring ("gameday,") summer, and fall packs. I guess "variety" doesn't translate to innovation.
     
    #16 RedEcho, Aug 21, 2019
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  17. CheapHysterics

    CheapHysterics Initiate (0) Apr 1, 2009 Pennsylvania

    A lot of times the stuff that gets complained about here on BA is the kind of stuff that people who aren't serious beer geeks really aren't bothered by. But I think this is different. Any kind of beer drinker that is buying a fall variety pack is going to want more than 1 fall beer in it.

    Boston lager or Sam '76 would be fine for ONE of the selections, but they shouldn't include both unless they give you two bottles each of six different beers (the remaining 4 of which would be Autumn-themed). And the inclusion of the sour leaves me saying wtf, as does the intentional misspelling of cosmic.

    Definitely not a variety pack I'll be picking up this fall.
     
    #17 CheapHysterics, Aug 21, 2019
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  18. Alexmc2

    Alexmc2 Pundit (808) Jul 29, 2006 New Hampshire

    What a terrible selection. I used to buy at least a few 12 packs of their Fall and Winter variety packs for parties and such. The Boston Lager was a fine throw in, but '76? Only situation I'd buy one of those is if I'm at Fenway and they're walking around selling them and ran out of everything else.

    Now - Marketing guys will tell you, they're looking to "drive sampling" of the 76 by including it in these packs. But I disagree with the approach fundamentally. The beer isn't going to taste good compared to any of the other beers in that pack (and I haven't tried the Sour, but...come on). So you'll have a poor experience for a new consumer who will taste a comparatively light beer after having an Oktoberfest and Boston Lager.
     
    #18 Alexmc2, Aug 21, 2019
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  19. AZBeerDude72

    AZBeerDude72 Initiate (0) Jun 10, 2016 Arizona

    What confuses me is that would someone who loves 76 even buy the pack? I would think your pack people are more into styles that don't fit the casual 76 crowd, so it really makes no sense.
     
    #19 AZBeerDude72, Aug 21, 2019
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  20. LarryV

    LarryV Grand Pooh-Bah (5,408) Jun 13, 2001 Massachusetts
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    For those who don't know, the fall seasonal pack is:

    Octoberfest
    Sam 76 Lager
    Kosmic Sour
    Boston Lager

    Wow, pretty unexciting lineup there, doesn't interest me in the least so I won't be buying it.
     
    #20 LarryV, Aug 21, 2019
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