August Schell Brewing (2022)

When did Schell distribute to Illinois? I've never seen it here.

I haven't had Schell's in a long time, but I try to get some every time I go through Minnesota. I was supposed to go in July, but my plans got cancelled. I love their Alt and Vienna Lager.

 

It was available back in the mid-80s (see my case of Deer Brand above), through regular distribution and also the label Merchant du Vin used to market.

 

Coast to coast* availability.

*Likely skipping numerous states and rural regions of others.

 

Forgot there was a Weiss. As I recall, I wasn't a fan, so didn't look for it as often as the Pilsner (and was it really a Pilsner? I remember a lot of malt and little hop character).

 

Supposedly brewed the same day as Anchor's first wheat beer, so neither could really claim they were the "first" wheat beer since right after Repeal*. Of course, that doesn't stop Anchor from doing just that.

* Well, they both claimed "since before Prohibition" but there were a few attempts after Repeal, but they didn't last very long.

 

I could be wrong but I think the Weiss morphed into their current Hefe-Weizen somewhere along the way..

 

In 2002, as best as memory recalls.

 

Some local (“fluff piece”) coverage.

https://kstp.com/special-coverage/minnesota-live/schells-brewery/

Ted Marti mentions in passing that they are or will be selling (pre-filled?) Crowlers from their taproom.

No mention of on-the-spot glass growler fills.

 

2001. I only know that because the little story is on the can that I'm drinking right now

 

anyone struggling to find Schells hefe? i found a 12 at MGM by knollwood but that didn't take long to finish. Everyplace I call say they changed distributors and can't get the hefe.

 

Haven't seen it and this would not surprise me. It's one of their best beers but not one they apparently focus on getting out in the market. I've had trouble getting this beer for years in northern MN.

 

Yes, August Schell in the greater area of the Twin Cities was largely represented by JJ Taylor (and that was the case for -very roughly- twenty years).

Breakthru Beverage purchased JJ Taylor at the beginning of the year, and there has definitely been an interruption in the availability and dispersal of Schell varieties (other than the Grain Belt family) from what I’ve seen.

 

Depending on your shopping preferences, you should check Total Wine and Hy-Vee. I snagged a six pack of it at the Burnsville Total Wine. Can't remember if I saw 12 packs or not, but will be on the look out for more as my first few have been quite good this year.

 

Schells Hefe is probably my favorite summer beer. Such a great, underappreciated beer.

 

Found some at Total Wine in Roseville through their Untappd. Wasn't even on the shelf, guy had to get the ladder and grab from it from the overflow above the damn shelf.

 

Eek. Was it date coded?

 

That location can be pretty “surprising.”

Mostly as in: I am surprised that they forgot about the 500 past code SKU on top of their oversized, overstock muscle racks.

 

I asked about the Schell situation at my local packie. Apparently (and this is not uncommon when one large wholesaler buys another large wholesaler), Schell and Summit -both formerly with JJ Taylor for many years- got shuffled and or “traded” if you will. In this instance it means that Summit landed at Capital Beverage (a one time smaller player that bought “Bud” Kuether, twenty years ago, to become the largest Anheuser-Busch house in MN).

Schell may have remained with Breakthru, but for the time being they’re missing from my local area dry shelves and cold box racks.

 

There's also this to keep in mind...

https://twitter.com/schellbrewer/status/1532541670289457165?s=20&t=-7VvMa7F7PAFAxfrs6ywpA

 

Hmm. Wonder why? Sales... availability effecting sales?