RIP Summerfest

Pretty much... but I'd say that the last Oktoberfest was almost a hoppy ale.

 

Also, I feel like I should reiterate my overall feeling toward SN on this issue. When they started, they were a small nimble business whose business model involved providing niche products to a niche consumer. Since then they have evolved into a large company providing popular products to a mainstream audience. There are new, small, nimble companies built around providing niche products, and they are now making pilsners and porters. Its just the cycle of life

 

The official beer of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Proudly The Atomic City. I need to get a 6 when it's released. And drink it in Oak Ridge for good measure.

 

First red flag.

Second red flag. The number of times I've been short-coded/dated by AB lately is too damn high.

That first response really makes my blood boil (the second one too even though it's not technically wrong; it won't taste good but it wouldn't kill/hurt you to drink expired beer). If it was just for the distributor, they'd just do like so many others do and make the can code so indecipherable as to be useless to everyone else. Absolutely annoying for customer and retail alike.

That's actually just life right there.

 

https://twitter.com/sierranevada/status/1407052912799502340?s=21

 

HaHa! I will order this online. It could be a swan song for a summer beer I have enjoyed for years.

 

Thanks, but just bought two 12-packs of Trumer Pils. At $10 per. I'm set.

 

Are you kidding me, SN? Is this the future of your company?

 

This isn't new (about Summerfest), it was mentioned by @SierraTerence previously that it was going to be available in the online shop.

 

Well, the first 2 mini offerings have sold out in a day or two so expect more of the same at least for now. It's possible that people are adding other bottles and merchandise to get to $75 for "free" shipping. You can only go to that well so many times though before interest peters away.

 

So, apparently whoever is running Sierra Nevada these days thinks all the complaints about the dropping of this beer from the SN seasonal portfolio of nationally distributed beer is a joke.

I mean, I kinda rolled my eyes at all the "I'll never buy Sierra Nevada beer again" sorts of replies in this thread but making this video ridiculing their customers sort of pushes me in the same direction of avoiding SN beers in the future. There's other stuff on the shelves...

Imagine the reaction if AB or MC made such a video?

 

I can't imagine a Company making fun of it's customers and expecting them to show any loyalty to that Company. RIP SN.

 

My thoughts exactly.

Summerfest was a great 'pick up a 6er at the store' beer. This time next year, how many are still going to be willing to order a 6-pack of lager (albeit a good one) as opposed to just going to their local store/bottle shop/brewery for a different to-go lager and saving a $20+ shipping charge?

 

I just think that, out of principle, no national brewery should have this as as a business model until all 50 states legalize the shipping of beer.

 

Meh, I don't really think there's anything to get worked up about there. It's poking fun at some dramatic overreactions about a beer not being available while also promoting the limited release of it.

Though I agree people would also be outraged by something like that from AB or MC given how mad people got about that pumpkin peach ale ad.

 

I guess I may be the only one not seeing the video as "ridiculing" customers. They're reading actual letters they've been sent and reacting incredulously -- and they're responding to the call... albeit to only 6 states.

But yeah, as noted above, I've found my replacement. If SN continues to pare down their portfolio, it would be a shame. But I've had some favorite breweries and beers disappear over the years and survived the losses. I'm sure I'll be sorry if SN fades away, but I'll probably survive that too.

 

Nevermind that "Good ol' macro-brew campaign."

 

I laughed at the video. I found it cheeky and fun.

 

I don't feel like SN is ridiculing their customers to the extent that it's bothersome to me (just a personal reaction... but the video does feel smug... and the execution of the video itself isn't very good). I'm more bothered by the dishonesty of the concept (for lack of a better word). I don't think it's a good look that they've leveraged those reactions to promote the return of the beer in such a limited capacity. It's not like they are going to make those people happy with this release. It's like they are rubbing salt in the wound instead. If they were going to read those reactions to promote the national release of the beer I'd be fine with it as a promo.

 

I definitely picked out a couple of the notes that sounded like they were California customers, so who knows if they cherry-picked letters?

That said, it would certainly feel less awkward if they were announcing a nationwide return.