18th St Barrel Massacre

http://www.18thstreetbrewery.com/barrelmassacre-tickets-sessions/

 

Just scored a ticket (2nd sesh as I can't get there until late afternoon, but I'll get to skim what's leftover from the rest of you vultures).

 

Ha. Website just added more tickets. Prepare for the whining to hit defcon 5 in...... 4, 3, 2,

 

Got one. Many thanks.

 

And gone again

 

No problem, man!

 

They went quickly....wish I'd been at the computer when they were released.

 

Got 1st session. Can't wait.

 

I don't think I could ever buy a ticket that only offers more beer to buy. This idea seems to be modeled after DLD however they are forgetting that the DLD ticket includes several bands (some fairly big acts) and access to the largest bottle share on earth. Obviously, the market can tolerate this kind of thing though. I'm not upset at all and don't feel I'm missing much anyway.

 

I think that the ticketing was the only way to control the day, and they may still lose that when it opens to the public at 7:00, although that late start time may help in keeping it under control.

They have NO PARKING to speak of, and the access in and out is tight on a good day. Add in that the place is small, and might only hold a hundred folks total, best case. And, they have no way to cordon off their block like FFFs can do for DLD, so they can't do a tent or expand their footprint. People line up around the block for a Hunter release...I can only imagine the line if they had released BA brews with no ticketing.

I don't know what the correct answer is, but if they did nothing, it would've been a shit show all day long - brewdogs from all over would've inundated the place. They decided to ticket the event, and in the process, pissed off a lot of people (rightly or wrongly, depending on your point of view) with the Barrel Massacre.

 

How many of the people bitching have actually been there...or had ANY of their beers?

 

You are correct that it is about crowd control (something they have to consider when they decided to create an event that will obviously be difficult to control). However, it is also about making as much money as possible (which is fine, it is a for profit business after all). You can still have tickets but not charge for them or have a much more reasonable charge (or donate the proceeds). To be clear, I'm not pissed and think a business should operate any way the market will allow (within reason). In the end it's probably more of an issue with perceived value. I don't value 18th street's (and probably almost anyone's beer) enough to justify the asking price and the hurdles to go through here. Sorry but everything I've had from them has been okay to good but nothing special.

 

I've never even heard of them honestly. Is this just a super local thing?

 

Bravo for the rerelease of tix today. Still didn't score one, but I am happy for those who will be in attendance. It's sure to be a crazy fun time. I will be up, myself, in the evening hoping that everything hasn't been completely depleted. If I do strike out on trying these, I hope there will be some of those attendees on the trading block this weekend. ISO: BA and snifter!!!

 

This is an exercise in a free market economy. I'm guessing that 18th could have charged more, and still sold out. In this case, and seemingly in the craft beer world in general these days, demand is inelastic to price.

You may elect to not purchase a ticket, but there's two guys behind you who will queue up to buy the ticket you didn't buy. At some point, this market inequilibrium will sort itself out, but for now, prices are going up simply because people are paying what is being asked, given the limited supply of coveted (especially BA) beers.

And that brings me to the larger point - in what business, in what world, would someone make a product, then intentionally lower the price on it so more people could enjoy the product, but at less than what the market would otherwise bear for that product? And not make money on said product in the process? Name me one industry, please. Name me one product, please.

 

On pace to be a top 20 Midwest brewery in a year or two. Former brewer from pipework that started his own brewery.

 

Mortgages before the subprime mortgage crisis. BOOM! That was a race to the bottom. There are a lot of examples where people lower prices to capture market share in a new industry (as long as they have a money maker elsewhere).

Here's the thing: reasonable or not, people expect some idea of "community" coming from business owners, thinking that craft beer is still a small scale mom & pop type world. And sometimes they get it. De Garde selling their beers for $4 - $10 for the most part?!? They couldn't double the price and still sell. Or Fremont in Seattle - are my PNW roots showing? - where the owner posts on BA about how they will not raise prices, about how "beer matters" and how craft should be affordable. They did drop prices on one beer - they announced First Nail at $15, priced it at $13 as a"sale" for Valentines day, then kept the price at $13. I've been to 18th a handful of times and one of the things that's cool about it is it's an eclectic mix - out of town beer geeks & local. Last time I chatted with a local machinist. So there is community going on which is awesome. I could imagine those folks for whom this is their watering hole thinking "jesus, I need to pay 25 bucks just for the right to buy beer?" If we only think about what beer geeks think, we consign ourselves to the fringes.

You're right though - most business fall into a relatively normal supply / demand world. Some will "hack" the system though, and find ways to price outside that norm. The "they could charge more" mindset doesn't acknowledge what's good for the consumer. Lower prices are obviously good for consumers. So you need a balance. Businesses can be really consumer friendly and earn some long term credibility and loyalty. 18th seems pretty bootstrapped, so they may not be at the point where they can do that. But I object to the idea that capitalism is destiny.

Cheers!

 

Of course capitalism is destiny. At some point, Drew and those that backed him at 18th will be looking for a return on, and a return of, their capital invested. As will any other brewery that is open in 'Merica. Strictly speaking from an economics point of view, if the venture isn't generating a return, capital will stop flowing to it, and it will wither and die. And craft beer is an industry, not a commune.

But I will say that 18th St has a great vibe, and I agree with you there - so, cheers!

 

I love 18th Street -- the place and the beers. But my suspicion that the Barrel Massacre is being made up as they go along is confirmed by the fact that they've just announced that they'll be closed all day today to plan it. Hopefully the planning will pay off with a well-run event!

 

What's everyone most excited to try. Since we only get 2 hours I imagine that will equate to about 4-5 pours if we're drinking fast. Im thinking Hunter Vanilla, Hunter Coconut, Hunter Orange Vanilla, Bitch Be Crazy, Hunter Chili Pepper, Devil's Spear, Hunter Coffee Vanilla, Hunter Coffee, Hunter Orange, Cockfight for my order. Grab what's at the top of my list and still available each time I go for a pour.

Even if half of the variants are sold out when I get there I still don't think I'll be disappointed. Too many tasty brews to choose from!