Bell's releasing a Coffee & Vanilla Black Note

I get it. This is a common flavor profile to add to a stout, and I'm sure it will work, because the base beer is so damn good. I'm also not going to be get off the lawn guy, because money talks, and brewers clearly wouldn't do things like this unless the variants sell. I'm just skeptical that it will materially alter my personal experience that superlative base beers are rarely improved upon this way. About the only ones that come to mind are Bourbon Barrel Aged Adoration, which seemed to be better than the original to many (including me) and Barrel Aged Bomb (which may be my favorite barrel-aged beer, and I'm not partial to them).

 

If this beer is important enough to you, Bell's online ordering process gives you a fair chance to get some. Be ready to order at the time they specify that it will be added to the available beers list, then choose a pick-up time, and you'll have plenty of time to plan your pick-up trip. The last time that I ordered a special release beer, I think I had a two week pick-up window.

That time Bell's had a small canopy in the front parking lot, and the beer was brought out of the building and given to you there. This past week when I ordered some beers online I had to go into the store to pick them up, but the order was ready for me about two hours after I placed my order. Maybe 'curbside' pick-up doesn't exist anymore.
http://www.bellsbeer.com/cafe/pickup-beer-go

One other thing: my order this week did not give me the option for a pick-up date and time, so maybe this option is used for special releases only. I think time slots get used up and closed quickly as a means to stagger the work load for the employees and the capacity of the parking lot.

Agree. At least Bell's online ordering let's you know whether your order was successful without having to go there and stand in a cold, rainy line.

 

Hard enough to get regular here. Last time there was a 1 bottle limit. I’m better getting my own Expedition and Double Cream stouts and mixing them myself.

 

Fair enough. Looking back I've not had this type hyper limited release on my radar. When it happens out of state I don't pay a lick of attention. I just get puzzled by distribution choices and what's release worthy and what's not. I'm also admittedly ignorant to the beer distro world. But I'm in product distribution and....yeah it's a little complicated at times.

It's always hard to get Bell's special releases, even in Metro Detroit, so I'm irrationally judgemental with them. For the kind of beer rep we've got in MI I sometimes feel (wrongly) entitled to easy access on in state releases.

TL;DR I'm selfish and not ashamed of it lol

 

There are a ton of Detroit-area beer drinkers who keep their ears open and respond accordingly to the point of taking a day off from work if they are that desperate. Like/follow Bell's on social media is the best advice I can give, and follow the Bell's threads here on BA. Although the online ordering and scheduled pick-up is a much better procedure than the previous 'unannounced releases until the day it shows up in the General Store' and word-of-mouth takes over.

 

All of here are to some degree. Many love to share great beer as well. While some of the great stuff can be hard to come by, if you are willing to share you will get stuff as good or better in return.

I don't understand the distribution system either but I will give one tip. Visit your favorite bottle shop on different days of the week and talk to the people working or follow them on social media (if they have one). You will start to learn when they normally get shipments from various breweries. You will be more likely to find the limited stuff.