[BC] Upcoming / New Release Thread

I didn't take the whole case (just got 2 bottles for myself); the rest are going to my store's customers, got 2 left that are not spoken for.

And yes, that is a two case display of Lustrum. I have another case in the fridge. Still got some Belle Royale left (2 bottles) too. Let's just say the Nanaimo beer scene is a lot slower than Vancouver's or even Victoria's. At my store Cantillons are shelf turds (but I bring them in anyway, for my personal enjoyment and the handful of regulars I have who love the sours).

EDIT: I AM going halfsies with a friend on a whole mixed case of the FiftyFifty Eclipse when it comes in though. We'll probably be doing a bottle share if anyone on the Island is interested.

 

Oh it's your store! That makes a lot more sense. Two's a good number, I ended up with that many too. I'm also trying to land a mixed case of eclipse to split with a friend if/when it arrives here... though I'm not getting my hopes up too high, in case Alberta nabs them all or some such

And as slow as the island might seem sour wise, the last Cantillon shipment for us mainlanders arrived in June and the two stores that got the lions share (if not all) of it are still not sold out either, despite a few people buying a total amounting to multiple cases (ahem)... so don't feel left out. We're just as bad

 

If you mean Abyss, I found it extremely easy to get for $15 a bottle in Bellingham a month ago. In 2010, I remember paying over $30 a bottle in Vancouver, the first year I tried it it was amazing! I heard that since then, the distributor worked out some sort of 'deal' to bring it here for closer to what it retails for in the US. Although as of last year it was like $12 in Oregon, I think it's closer to $18 in Vancouver depending on store/CAMRA discount. Even the brewery direct price went up. Regardless, it's amazing and worth every penny. I bought 2 bottles this year as it seems to show up all the time at bottle shares, so I didn't see any point in buying more. Parabola and BCBS will be getting my $ when it comes to multiples

 

As I understand it (and I've been wrong about liquor pricing structure before, thank you bizarre and asinine BC liquor law), Abyss this year:
[Expect a few cents of variance per value]
Nominal cost/Wholesale cost (What the BC LDB warehouse charges): $16.39
Wholesale cost after LRS discount (private liquor stores get what used to be a 16% discount off the above cost, not sure what it is now, now that the PST is back): $12.67
Retail price (cost + 16% was the formula for so-called "Government Pricing," but stores can set their markup wherever they want, especially on 'Spec' items that the government stores don't carry, so depending on your location you might see anything from +16% up): estimated $16-32. My store has them going for $18.99, bought mine on employee discount for just under $15, which I understand is close to store prices in the US.

If anyone felt any amount of confusion at any point while reading the above data, please write to your local MP, the Liquor Board, and anyone else who will listen about reforming BC liquor law.

 

I did mean Abyss. Good to see B.C had great pricing this year. The exchange rate is worse too.

In 2012, I bought Abyss in Portland for $14 (actually $12.60 with discount). This year I asked the in-laws to grab me some and they were $20 a bottle. I think this was on the high end of what locals paid, but I think on average it was $18.

 

Noticed a bunch of DDC beers around town - Legacy's got Soltice d'Hiver & Derniere Volonte, and Darby's has Rigor Mortis, Chaman, Peche Mortel, Aphrodisiaque & Penombre.

Also CC's Imperial smoked porter is out and about in the usual spots now too.

 

I think the peche has been there for a few months at least... but I assure you, it's drinking wonderfully

 

I picked up a Central City Imperial Porter today for $12.50 - what are they going for in Vancouver?

It might just be that the term 'porter' suggests something less impressive and bombastic than 'stout' to my easily manipulated beer mind, but between the name, the packaging, the ABV, and the limited description, this looked more like a $8-10 kind of bomber (I mean, $12.50 makes me think something more in the Driftwood sour, barleywine, or RIS weight class).

Can someone wiser and more knowledgeable in the ways of Central City explain why this beer is special and does or doesn't justify the price tag? I am sure I will enjoy it regardless of the price when I get around to drinking it.

 

Wow, should have bought it from wherever you did - legacy are charging 16 bucks and change (pre Camra).

And no idea on the pricing... If I had to speculate maybe the Bourbon barrel aging is bumping it up.

 

$16 at Legacy for a local imperial porter? Ya ok, this just strengthens my decision to only buy direct for local beers. So, I buy my American beer in America cause it saves me %100+, and I buy my local beer direct cause it saves me %25+. Awesome being a beer lover in Vancouver!

 

Fair enough, "What's in a name? That which we call a porter by any other name would smell as sweet... er, malty"
I'll really only know if it was worth what I paid until I drink it.

That said, if we're going to compare it to Deschutes 'Porter' (I assume you're talking the Abyss, which I haven't opened yet either) - it's easier to 'justify' its price tag before you've bought/drank it because it has a great track record of being an awesome, cellarable beer and they also go out of their way to inform you on the label about the nuances of the mash bill, barrel aging, and extra ingredients. I'm also a sucker for wax dip.

CC Imperial Porter on the other hand has no pedigree other than the brewer's, and CC is a great brewery, but when they're trying to sell me a totally new and unproven beer that does little to explain before drinking why you should be dropping $10-20 on it, it really makes one think twice before buying.

 

One pallet of Deschutes Hop Henge in 650ml bottles has made it to BC and should be showing up on store shelves soon.

 

This was new to me:

 

Pretty new. Late last year.


(the can, I mean)

 

The BCL on Cambie & 39th has a ton of CC Imperial Porter for $12.90. I thought that was pretty steep myself but I bought two bottles anyway. Can't say I'm a huge fan of it, though. It's very "herbal" and the bourbon doesn't really come through. It's also kinda under-carbonated, in my opinion. I'll cellar the other bottle until the hops die off, maybe that'll improve it.

Singularity is dropping this month, no? Next week hopefully?

 

Driftwood hasn't sent out their sell sheet for it yet, and those usually go out 2-3 weeks before the product actually hits shelves. Talked to Gary at Driftwood about it near the end of November and the gist was Singularity is one of those 'it'll be done when it's done' brews.

 

Completely agree on the porter. Not sure how they came to the pricing on this one either, just underwhelming all around.