Alpine Kiwi Herman

Ultimately someone is always going to complain, it's the nature of things. It doesn't matter what is "fair to us" what matters is the brewery itself releasing a bottle at it's convenience while being able to maximize it's reach. There really is no ideal way to release beer, or anything for that matter, because someone is ALWAYS going to be upset. Would you rather Alpine have a membership a la the Bruery? How about releases similar to Barrelworks? In the end I think we all need to take a step back and understand that this is just beer. It's supposed to something we can enjoy with others and not to take it so seriously. I'm sure some of you who got shut out are going to try this one way or another.

 

You've never done this? That's a shame. Let me tell you it's pretty awesome when a regular sends you something amazing when you don't expect it. The only thing better is returning the favor.

I am not sure who you are replying to, if you meant this for the people buying more than 2 and I took it out of context, well then I see your point.

 

@dranthony2012 I think you think I'm a different person lol. I agree that a random unannounced release through BPT was the fairest option. I bet there are people who are out of state bought bottles in hopes they can make the trek out, but will end up surrendering the bottles back. I am also not the one who made the Giants analogy. The thing is... I'm sure if you are a regular who is supporting Alpine by spending thousands of dollars each month, the owners probably know you and would probably hook you up anyways. Same way with the unannounced release... those with inside knowledge probably know somebody... and that's what happens. It happens everywhere and with everything and that's part of life. You are delusional if you don't think the owners set aside bottles for friends and and family... I see no difference with inside knowledge of an exact time of release. It happens now stop crying.

 

Yeah I think he just quoted the wrong person. I don't think he's going at you.

 

If this happens hit me up. I was planning on heading down next Tuesday to get a couple bottles.

 

For people who buy hoping to make the trek out there, I know that you surrender your bottles back to the brewery if you don't pick them up in time but since money has already been paid, do they get refunds or just eat that cost?

 

They eat it big time!

 

Almost certain it noted on the BPT page that you'd just eat the cost. So, in theory, that should've helped to eliminate out-of-area folks gobbling them up and hoping to somehow make it over to the brewery.

 

Okay, just making sure.

 

this is true. People can't have a bunch of their mules ready to click at an exact time online.

 

@clayfu You can't convince the people who missed out that there isnt some conspiracy going on. Apparently the mules knew ahead of time, brought down the entire west coast internet and were able to order about 95% of the supply.

 

Not exactly "mules" (they were members of a trading group), but this indeed happened. And this is not a conspiracy theory - Alpine caught them in the act.

 

So it's a fact people knew well ahead of time and line up mules? And when I say ahead of time I mean before Alpine announced it at all.

 

to be fair, they posted it, I saw it 18 minutes after they posted it and I was able to buy it. The initial batch sold out in about 25 minutes after they posted.

 

Lol where is the evidence that this stuff actually occurred?

 

i don't understand. Caught them in the act doing what?

You still need each person that buys it to go pick it up. If they can somehow get a car full of mules on a moments notice to be free to head over to Alpine in such a short time frame, I'd be impressed. Especially if it's to pick up 2 btls of beer each a person.

Every friend I texted/emailed about the release replied with "I don't have time to go to Alpine on a few days notice" (Granted I only talked to all 5 people about it)

 

I love brown paper tickets. I don't ever want to get beer on a limited release any other way again! I do not like it when Alpine can't even give us an announcement in an appropriate time.

 

Yeah I quoted the wrong person and that was meant for someone else not you haha

 

That's my thinking as well. With such a limited time frame to pick the beer up as well as the release being a few days after the announcement, you really put a constraint on out of town people.

I bet breweries definitely eat a nice chunk of the no shows from people who think they could get there but really can't on the short notice.

 

Not sure about the knowing ahead of time part; this person just had a highly organized group that was able to move quickly on those bottles. Few people in the group had any intent on keeping those bottles; they were going to use it as trade bait.

Capitalism at its best. Beer as currency!