Abnormal Brewing - Spring 2017

Thinking of swinging by from LA en route to MT to pick up bottles/cans. I didn't go last year but heard it was plenty crowded... that tap list makes it sound like it won't be any less crazier

 

It will be. Pappy, vanilla, ba stout, preview keg....yup....

I will be skipping it this time and instead heading down to BurningBeard's anniversary and then meeting up with @reefer_bob later for a couple beers.

 

Can you honestly name one brewery event that you've attended that wasn't hectic?

 

Boxcar Speedway release at Alesmith was incredibly chill, and that was a public sale of an adjunct BA stout.

Your point is accurate in broad terms, but every once in a while, the stars align and it's possible to enjoy limited beer without a raging shitshow.

 

Alesmith isn't a hype brewery. They're a very well rounded brewery that makes a couple of beers that garner a little hype. Big difference.

Abnormal exists for the sole purpose of driving hype.

 

Alright, another example - the first time Abnormal released cans of hazy IPA, I walked in two hours after they opened and had full allocations of both releases within 90 seconds. No hassle, no wait.

Next question?

 

This doesn't disprove my point. Just because one release didn't have the desired affect, doesn't mean the intention wasn't there.

 

It calmed down quickly, but people did start lining up at 8 pm the night before..

Let's put it this way, I'll be arriving early on Saturday.. I don't mind waiting for a place to open, but I can't stand waiting in line when other people are inside drinking and I'm at the mercy of them leaving.

 

I'm not disputing that they're a hype brewery (I've actually argued that same point myself), I'm responding to the idea that it's impossible for events at hype breweries to not be a shit show.

Perhaps they were just fans of urban camping?

 

Do we not remember Alesmith selling out of BVSS and several other variants a couple years ago in like 25 seconds? Even BASS sold out quickly like 2 years ago. I was actually surprised that the last release was still available last week.

 

The difference I see is that the wall of barrels back at Cabot was tiny (although that was kinda for show since the barrels were elsewhere), but the massive amount of barrels they have in the back....hot damn...good time to be alive.

They also seem to be keeping bottle counts roughly the same for their specialty. BAVSS still sold out quickly, a good chunk of ppl got shut out and then it remains on draft for almost 3 months and could still keep hitting up events and seeing it stay on draft for about a week after the event. I am also certain that Eric still has kegs of BAVSS in the back for other events he is doing and I let him know each time I see him that it would be nice if one of those randomly popped up inside anvil and stave again....soon (tm)...please. So far, my begging has not worked.

 

Boxcar was meh, taproom had it available at their 10th anniversary for sale but had to be picked up at alesmith (if you weren't aware) I'm not surprised they had an abundance of said beer for Alesmith to have available.

As for BAVSS, I took it more along the lines that the majority of whom actually purchased it was the people who gave into the tony gwynn (foundation) for early access, much like how both ground & reaction state sold out, i have no doubt about it.

 

Come on david, you already have more than enough x_x but then again I know it's your fave.

 

You speak lies sir. Until my blood is pure speedway I have never had enough.

Edit: Unless it is that sour cherry or liquid smoke speedway, then I am pretty sure I have had more than enough.

 

but liquid smoke is awesome man

 

By no means am I complaining about Alesmith, I am just stating that they aren't beyond hype. I personally liked Boxcar and bought a couple cans, was it amazing, no, but worth $16 a can. Didn't get any BAVSS because I never made it down in time but I am sure at some point I will find it.

 

But if that same beer was in a 750ml bottle priced at $33, which is closed to every other barrel aged release, it would be ok?