BCBS Distribution Question

They are owned by InBev. They will be everywhere soon.
Look up the laws of the 3 tier system of beer production and distribution...
Soldout to the Devil (IMHO)

 

If there's an ABV limit in your state, you might not see BCBS at all. Unless they alter the ABV to accomodate states with the ABV caps. Georgia is one of these states that carries quite a few Goose Island offerings, but they cannot carry BCBS.

 

Normal you don't get the big beers when a new market is just being rolled out they like to send the big beers as a reward. This could be completely off because they are now owned by InBev and who knows how they will handle new market for GI

 

When my city got Goose Island, they rolled out kegs back in October or November. We didn't receive package until a couple weeks ago. I know this is pretty standard practice to roll out draft initially, then package later; however, I didn't think we'd be waiting 4 or 5 months for it.

 

Have they ever been distributed to California?

 

They went full bore right off the bat here in VA about 6-9 months ago.

 

Sorry i thought you meant you were just getting kegs in the past month

 

Wait your turn North Carolina We've had limited distribution in AZ for a few years and I've never seen BCBS, at least where I am. We can generally get Sofie, Matilda, Pepe Nero, and Pere Jacques and they just started flooding the market here with the IPA and 312, so it might be a while, of course you are closer so who knows?

 

We definitely got 2008 and 2009. I think some 2010.

 

MA got a lot of BCBS when they started distribution in '09. This was also before they sold the company.

 

BCBS is brewed in Chicago and as far as I know, Chicago and some of the surrounding areas are the only ones to get BCBS and its variants. I wouldn't expect to see it in NC or anywhere else anytime soon, unless Goose Island changes its practice of only brewing it strictly in Chicago.

*Let me add that I have seen some people say that they have got it on the East coast etc, more than likely if that's the case they have been getting Goose Island for quite awhile (i.e. longer than a year or two).

 

How will the "laws of the 3 tier system" determine where AB decides to distribute the various Goose Island brands? They are free to ship and distribute to any state, just as any independent brewery would be. Also, Goose Island has been distributed through the AB wholesale network on a regional basis via the Craft Brew Alliance since 2006.

 

Not true. Nj started seeing goose I believe early 2012, same rollout as others mentioned, the when BCBS hit we got some, not a ton but a fair amount. We also got the variants both keg and bottles.

So I guess it's just up to the powers that be on who gets what.

 

we get bcbs and variants in MI.

 

BCBCS and Cherry Rye were available in 20 states according to Beerpulse. I'd imagine BCBS is available in even more states than that. I'm not sure how new all those accounts are, but BCBS is available in a lot of areas.

http://beerpulse.com/2012/11/what-s...d-bourbon-county-cherry-rye-and-coffee-stout/

 

Had a market manager for ABI "high end/craft" dept with me last week, said major markets would certainly get BCBS even if it won't be a lot. The idea of brand awareness seemed to be the motivating factor.

He was a douche.

 

From the talk I've heard BCBS will not be introduced anytime soon, it fits into the ABV limit, but from what I understand they're not increasing distribution before they're sure quality won't take a hit FWIW, but that's what I was told. Can't wait to get G Knight and Bigfoot on tap.