Beer Geek Christmas

On my way

 

Thanks for the heads up Ed, I think a chance at a Westy is worth the potential price of disappointment!

 

I got there at 540 am; 12th in line, & came away with one 09 Backwoods Bastard & a single bottle of Westy. Major disappointment. IMO it is decidedly not worth it to line up early, as the good stuff is placed randomly around the store & the store gets packed immediately. If you enjoy a treasure/scavenger hunt, great event. If you have hopes of landing any particular thing from the cellar, it is very long odds and pretty frustrating. I do not plan to attend this event again.

 

I am open to any and all ideas as to how to improve it or make it better for future events....

 

How is this a disappointment? This is an event that Ed puts on because he wants to, not because he has to. Also you should have known going into it, that it is in fact a scavenger hunt. You came away with something, others came away with nothing. If it was such a disappointment you should have just left the two bottles you did come away with, I'm sure someone would have happily snagged them. You have two bottles of beer that you couldn't have purchased anywhere else in the state today.

 

aren't you trying to trade the westy too? you got and don't even want it?

 

I got myself a Cantillon, was quite happy. Woke up early and drove an hour to get there, talked with many great people. I know what this event is all about and Ed does a great job wiith the event. I like scavenger hunts, heck out team won the Amazing Case this year! This is not an easy event to put on.

Thanks, Ed and I will see you later today! Need some Abrasive!

 

I just want to clarify. So I can come and line up at 4pm. It is a scavenger hunt type of deal where I could possibly find a cool beer.

Also, where does the sampling take place? In the store? If so, do I lose my place in line?

Thanks!

 

My wife attended on my behalf since I am OOT. We had Westy and BCBCS in our sights, but it was not to be. A bummer, but she still had a blast though, liked the scavenger hunt concept and the friendliness in lines. In her words, it was the best Black Friday-type shopping event she's ever been to. Thanks for putting the event on!

 

She was hoping for a Darkness 10 or olders, any BCS variety, she had big dreams. I told her to talk to you, but you know how chicks are they get pissed off and storm out. You definitely go above and beyond, it is much appreciated.

 

I would say if you line up at 4 you are sure to find a cool beer or three. As long as your definition of cool beer isnt BCBVS or bust. I lined up at 7:30 this morning and missed the Westy but left with 5 bombers I can't wait to drink.

 

Sampling will be going on in the store starting at 2:30. The line outside that starts at 4pm will be separate from the beers being poured inside.

And yeah there will definitely be some very cool beers to be had if you line up at 4pm.

 

The sampling has to take place in the store. The pouring of the samples will be easiest to try between 2:30-5 & 6:30-8. Due to the fact the sale starts at 5 (yes, it will be a scavenger hunt style for all the cellared products, everyone seems to forget we also have some great craft beers on sale as well that run all day)and it will be almost impossible to get a sample during that mad rush. Which is why we will also have Natedogs hot dogs in the parking lot with 3 different fresh beer mustards, people are welcome to line up outside no earlier than 4 please. About 4:45 everyone that is here for the sale will be asked to step out, we will load up the shelves with another 120-150 bombers and roughly the same amount in 12oz between singles and 4or6packs. If you step out of line after four you will lose your place, sorry. I hope this makes sense, I am trying to help customers and type in between...

 

This doesnt add up, 30+ six packs of Westy and you were 12th in line and didnt get a six pack? Ed did a great job of letting people know where the Westy was and if you wanted some, go straight there. I know someone who was roughly 30th in line and got a six pack.

Has the event gotten bigger and bigger over the last couple years? Yes but its not Heritages fault the craft beer community has grown so much, they actually have done a great job in trying to accomodate the larger crowds and demands. They have taken peoples ideas and suggestions and put them into play to make it better for everyone.

I say a big ol Thank You to Ed and the crew for putting on such a fantastic event! This is what the craft beer community is all about.

 

The best example I can think of on how to run a cellar sale is Zipps: set up one big table/area in the store, put everything out where it is clearly visible. If I'm there early, cool. If I'm not, T.S. This business of hiding single bottles here and there, nestled amongst wine bottles, etc. seems hokey; sophomoric. I felt a little embarrased by it. Feel free to blast me for it; I don't mind, just my opinion.

I was aware that there is a surprise element to this event; my assumption, though, was that it had to do with what else would be brought out; not that stuff would be scattered randomly. Should I have dug this information up in advance? Absolutely, & I fully admit that; I feel kind of annoyed that I didn't. If, though, there would have been a facebook post, a tweet, or a blurb on the website like: "hey guys, this is a scavenger hunt; beers will be placed randomly here and there in the store," that would have been nice.

I should have clarified, I now see, that I could have in fact bought a Westy 6 pack; just didn't want to plunk down over $100 for six 330 ml bottles. I was hoping to find a 750 of darkness; or a bcbs variant; maybe one of the bcbs vertical 4 packs, but I guess I wasn't crafty enough

 

I bought it for personal consumption, with a trade option. I'm generally not a huge fan of this style, but thought it would be fun to try this particular beer, given it's reputation. My thinking is that if someone is more excited to try this than I am, and has something to offer me that I am confident I will really enjoy, then I could work out a trade. If there is something wrong with this, I guess someone will have to explain it to me.

 

Thanks to Ed and others for hosting a fun event. Waiting in line and talking to fellow beer geeks was a treat in and of itself. By my count, I was 38th in line. I headed straight for the Westy, and grabbed a 6-pack with about 12 left. I saw some BCBS, but left it for others since I already have plenty. I grabbed an '08 Matilda and an '08 Expedition Stout. I also picked up the Ommegang Anniversary and a bottle of Friek. I was hoping to snag a KBS, but it was not meant to be.

The scavenger hunt nature certainly takes some benefit out of being near the front of the line, but it seemed to me like most everyone was able to find something. I kind of liked not knowing what I might run into. I will definitely be there again next year.

 

I had no idea what BGC was all about until a week ago, so I asked a few people who had been before. I have to imagine during your 2+ hours in line you had ample opportunity to ask one of the people around you what the event was all about. I see no reason to be butthurt.

 

The "scavenger hunt" was fun, but it definitely evened things out (for better or worse) - the 25th person in line (who waited an hour or two less) had just as much chance of grabbing something cool as the 1st person. It just changes the game a bit And Ed DID make it very clear, that the White Whale of the day - the Westy 6 packs - could be obtained by making a beeline to the back, which of course the people further up on the line had a much better chance of snagging. Overall it was fun, and I enjoyed the hunt!

 

I was 5th or 6th in line last year and got shut out. I was 3rd in line this year and an extremely happy camper! Keep in mind Ed does not have to do this. He is offering up beers that he has decided to cellar at marginal price increases (what $0.25 a year!) It's fun to get out, hang out with other crazies at 5-6 am on a work day and look for easter eggs. It's a bunch of holidays all wrapped into one.

I think this year was run extremely smoothly. The only advice i have to make the event better is to educate people on what to expect. This is an easter egg hunt, show up at your own risk. It is what it is. Ed is being generous cellaring said beers and offering them at extremely fair prices. This also somewhat levels the playing field. You don't have to camp out over night and be first in line, you don't have to be in with the beer buyer, you don't have to know someone who knows someone. My roommate showed up at 5 am with me and didn't get what he was looking for but still had a good time. You have to go into it knowing you may or may not win the lotto!

I've never been to the evening session so can't say much about that. As much as i would love to go i can't deal with sitting in traffic from Bloomington to Maplewood during rush hour. Once again i believe Ed hosts a tasting at his expense.

Cheers to you Ed and staff for hosting this event. I'll see you next year!