Industrial Arts Brewing (2021)

Yeah, it is nowhere near me (yet). Last year, I had no problem getting it.

 

Thanks. I'll just have to be patient and keep an eye out then.

 

So, apologies to IA for my error in not seeing the date code on the front of the label - it's a real nice placement, I've seen no misprints or distortion of the stamping as is typically found on dates printed on the base of the can.

"Why are canned beers typically sold in four or sixpacks?"
"Because it gives you four - six chances that one of the date codes will be legible! "

So, I'll instead change my complaint to one aimed at IA and their NJ distributor Sarene: Checking a number of stores since the above posts and all I've seen are canning dates of August and October, 2020. 5-8 month old "local" beers?

 

JK, I tried a few times to purchase a four-pack of Metric and every time I put them back on the shelf since they were over 6 months old.

Maybe some day I will find Metric fresh?

Cheers!

 

Metric doesn't sell well and I never see fresh shipments, just the same 4 packs still sitting, some possibly pre pandemic. Even wrench in some places I've seen up to 2 months old. Your best bet is speaking with your local liquor store and seeing if they can check if sarene has some Metric brewed within a reasonable time frame and try to have them order it. The only exception I can even think of is a few well curated craft beer spots in NYC that pre pandemic would get fresh Metric occasionally probably because they had the clientele to move it fairly quick, but obviously that's not a big help to you.

 

I didn't have to be all that patient after all- just got some at my local Total Wine today.

 

If you don't mind my asking which total wine? The one in West Orange was still showing winter landscape on their website

 

River Edge in Bergen County.

My local Gary's still has the Winter Landscape too, unfortunately.

 

Boy, it sure appears that craft lagers are not moving well. As much as I (and some other BAs) profess our appreciation for craft brewed lagers it would appear that we are the minority for craft beer consumers. With the majority mostly solely buying hoppy and pastry beers?

Well I am doing my part. Yesterday I purchased a four-pack of Schilling Alexander Czech-Style Pilsner (canned 2/10/21). This is the first time I have seen Schilling beer at my local Retail Beer Distributor. Chris (@zid): czech it out - I bought a four-pack!

I will be discussing Alexander in an upcoming NBW thread. Maybe as a side-by-side with my homebrewed Bohemian Pilsner?

Cheers!

 

Yes I had asked Threes brewing why we didn't see more of their lagers in NJ and they said Jersey was a big IPA market even beyond neighboring states. I mean these guys run a business , I don't blame them for making what sells. Really pleased to see Schilling in the state. I've enjoyed a couple of their offerings. Wish suarez and tired hands shipped here. It's not that far from me but I already spend half my existence on beer , getting harder to justify

 

I think it's more that there isn't much of a market for relatively expensive lagers. I still see a lot of the imports and cheaper regional ones move, especially at Bottle King where the displays are on the floor still.

Threes, IA, even Schilling tend to be in the $14-15 range for a 4-pack.

 

Last year (pre-Pandemic) I visited the Suarez taproom on a return trip from skiing in Lake Placid. I had the pleasure of drinking the Palatine Pils (the beer on the left side of the photo below) plus three other small pour draft beer.



I think that Palatine Pils was good; I enjoyed drinking that beer.

I bought a four-pack of the Qualify Pils to take home and I detailed that beer in a NBS post:



https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-783.634783/#post-6811792

If you are ever in the mid-Hudson Valley for some reason a visit to the brewery is worthwhile. The taproom is closed now because of the pandemic but hopefully they will reopen soon. Just be aware the taproom had (and will have?) limited hours of operation. Last year when I visited it was one day during the week and weekends (if my memory serves me correctly).

And if you are ever in the Philly area a purchase of Tired Hands is something to consider.

Just bring your piggy bank for both/either brewery visit.

Cheers!

 

@JackHorzempa nice glass!

 

Please tag me when you do that NBW post.

 

Roger that!

Cheers!

 

I mentioned in another thread that I found Metric today that was only a few weeks old so maybe be on the lookout.

 

Yeah, I read your post and I was about to reply to it with: I won't see those Metric beers that were packaged a few weeks ago until my local beer retailer(s) sell the 6+ month old cans they presently have on their shelves.

And by the time their Metric inventory is depleted the beers which are now a few weeks old will in all likelihood be several months old at that point.

But maybe I will luck out here anyway. I will indeed take a look-see (and pray).

Cheers!

 

Yeah, well, of course, that's not how beer distribution is supposed to work (but, yes, the catch there is "supposed to") - Sarene or any distributor should be pulling the old stock and either replacing it or just giving the retailer credit, because if the IA on their shelves was once fresh, it only says to the retailer that the beers just don't sell there.

I know some will claim that that - being out of code - is WHY they don't sell. Me? I don't accept that tale of informed customers. I see too many people just yank a six out of the cooler or off the shelves (yeah, "craft" beer, imports and macro alike) and go on their merry way to the cashier.

And ordering beer and requiring it or expecting it to be fresh on the retailer's part is just a headache for them, checking date upon delivery, holding OoC beer in the back, trying to get it returned - I wouldn't blame them, if asked, they give folks the old refrain of "Can't get that."

More likely this is the typical outcome, regardless of if it's an AB or MC house, or indie distributor:

 

Good interview with Chief on Steal This Beer podcast.

Confirmed the big new brewery should be up and running in May (100 bbl brewhouse, 200 bbl fermenters). They passed 20k barrels last year which was about 5 years ahead of their original growth plan. Not too shabby.

Plans for a new retail location in Kingston opening this summer, but then a hold on new spaces. On the lager front Metric is now their #2 selling beer behind Wrench.

Once the new brewhouse opens the plan is for a steady stream of one off State of the Art experiments out of the smaller place (although already seems like they are coming out a pretty steady clip).

Oh and they did him dirty by having him blind taste Flower Power. Fair to say the results were not great...

 

Chief doesn’t like to badmouth anyone, but I have no issue saying that even fresh at the brewery Flower Power is a shell of its former self. I know our palates change, yadda yadda, but it’s just not good.