Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye returns (CA / NC online only)

Check out what I found last weekend, less than a mile from home:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/meet-my-local-brewers.659153/#post-7280663

Fresh and locally-brewed.

 

But that's exactly why Sierra Nevada is doing what they are doing. They are adapting to the changes in the market that we have adapted to as well (and fostered). This is a 16oz 4 pack release for CA and NC locals. They probably don't think they can sell this at the national level these days thanks to consumer behavior and the number of breweries (which don't resemble the 90s ).

 

Sorry man, I was #3, you were #4
but I was really talking to others who are wailing and gnashing teeth.

Again, @zid has the best take on that.

 

I get all that. I know SN isn’t some kind of charity.

I guess the market of guys my age who have been giving them money for 25 years has dissipated to the point where we’re not worth the time anymore. I guess I can’t fault them for that. But, considering I’m down to only 3 or 4 of their beers at this point anyway, maybe they should be out of my, personal, market. HAHA, that’ll show them

 

I assume the limited distro is being they don’t expect it to be Abe seller. I also assume that why ruthless rye isn’t a seasonal anymore. I get people are bummed but from a business standpoint why brew and distribute a bunch of beer if it won’t sell? Brew and keep it local to maintain profits.

 

exactly! Read your comment after posting mine.

 

Hubba Hubba. I'm interested but I will not pay $25 on shipping for 8 cans of beer.

 

See, that's where I see it getting old fast -- and it's not just SN, but all the breweries selling beer online have high shipping costs.

 

It'll be interesting to see how breweries deal with this since online with shipping seems likely to be here.to stay. I can't really see ordering again unless I can find someone to split with. There are few.breweries that I really want to commit to a case at a time of

 

Perhaps SNBC has enough swagger to be an Amazon Marketplace seller. Then all of us lazy asses who have Prime Memberships can get free shipping and i can avoid the 20 minute trip from my house to Mills River LOL!

 

I guess I'm lucky. I liked that beer.

 

Arrg, wish they hadn't told me.

 

I liked it also, but not enough to drive 11 hours to buy some.

 

Love the beer. Too bad I can't have one. Good looking can.

 

They aren't going to nationally distribute beers that don't sell. Do you really think a bock is going to do well in todays market? If Ruthless had done well, they wouldn't have dropped it in place of other beers.

 

Take a ryecation and visit our beautiful mountains...

 

You'd think that cutting out the two middlemen (distributor and retailer) would allow a brewery like SN to offer "free" shipping... but apparently you'd be wrong (me, too).

I'm just surprised that a million barrel brewing company would sell beer this way. Gotta say, tho', that having followed the industry for half a century, I've been surprised before (also "shocked", "disappointed" and/or "annoyed").

It's a great hobby in that sense because I find myself often saying "After reading/hearing/seeing that, I really need a beer!" and, open the beer fridge, and there they are!

 

Only my theory, but in shipping items recently I've been shocked by the cost -- UPS and USPS.

The little printshop I worked at would get bulk rates (is that term still used?) from the various carriers, but I think it was still pretty pricey.

Maybe these breweries are jacking up shipping prices in order to pay severance to their truck drivers?

 

A new release by SN in a more lager friendly market than in past years? My answer would be yes. Plus there are so many other breweries that nationally distribute their new releases, I find it hard to believe that SN has less capability to absorb whatever loss comes with the distro than the other not as large breweries that do.