BBW '17

So, they brew a beer for a Bellingham deal, but release it in Tacoma two weeks before the deal starts? Why even bother? But, at least it left the brewery this year.

 

Oh, it's a fucking joke alright.

 

I never said they hated us. They are quite loved and accepted up here. But, the fact is they have a history of things like this. The oft-mentioned BBW beer that never left the brewery. The Ski-to Sea beer, likely brewed at the behest of their former distributor, that was intended to capitalize on an event that they don't actively support, which then sat on shelves until October. These are things that happen.

You are quite correct, it is their beer to do with as they please. Sell it to their friends in Denver for all I care. They are going to have no issue selling this beer, in fact, they could have easily called it Pink Heron, announced a Saturday brewery only release, and sold most of it then, with the rest going into distro after.

I do not see a positive in making an event specific beer, then releasing it 150 miles away, 2 weeks before the event. The event is focused to draw people to Bellingham. This blatantly discourages people from coming this way. I just hope they send some of their Tacoma Beer Week beer to us.

 

We'll never know if those folks might have been swayed by the fact that to get it, they would have had to come visit. If you want to capitalize on a thing, you should support that thing, not potentially harm it.

 

If you're into local/neighborhood fest things, yeah it's generally OK. The piano race is usually fun. Fairhaven is our sort of touristy neighborhood, and there are a multitude of shops to browse in. Stones Throw is worth checking out, even if their beer isn't the best in town. Archer Alehouse generally a nice tap list, and sometimes, some surprising bottles.

 

Maybe. BTW, I'm hating the way the calendar is set up this year. I'd rather just be able to scroll down the list. Shrug.

 

Not down on what you're doing, in general. IIRC, a bar I used to work at was the first place in Bham to pour your beers, even before you had distro up here. The owner would drive down and pick up Seattle brews that were not otherwise available here. I was among the very first people in this town to push your beers for you. Long before the "Specialty Beer Store" in town was a gleam in anyone's eye. You have consistently brewed quality and interesting beers for the duration of your brewery's life. Your contributions to our scene cannot be under, or over, stated. I should be smart enough to not choose to parse words with a lawyer, but, I'm not, so....

Great for that awesome pioneering bar, I whole-heartedly congratulate them on their success. I have no idea how much of this beer you produced, but I'm reasonably certain that 30 cans is but the merest drop. To paraphrase Winston Churchill; "now that we've determined what you are , Ma'am, we're just arguing about price". An event product shouldn't be available outside the event, before the event, amount be damned. Afterwards, if we, the Bellingham Beer Community, fail you, and don't buy all of it up, send it as far as Denver and Philly for all I care, we failed, not you. To release an event product, out of market and beforehand, no matter how minuscule the amount, undermines the event it purports to support. It's really just that simple and clean.

Add in the other facts the Ski-to-Sea beer that no one but the Inbev house wanted, and the BBW beer that wasn't good enough for Bham, but somehow was good enough for your in-house regulars to drink, and, as someone whose professional training is to be skeptical of the words of others, you can surely see how some skepticism is warranted here.

That said, I still respect your brewery, and you personally. Our on-line and in-person interactions over the years have always been enjoyable. My friends and I have no compunctions telling each other when we think the other is off base. Friendship is based on honesty and trust after all. I hope we can remain friendly.

Terry.