Birthday Belgian Beer Quest

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by Gunslinger711, Feb 13, 2019.

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  1. Gunslinger711

    Gunslinger711 Zealot (663) Apr 16, 2010 Indiana

    Many years ago when I was first starting my beer journey I fell in love with a Dubbel called St Sebastiaan Dark ( https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/183/713/ ). Every year I would buy a case of it for myself drink it slowly to make it last until the next birthday.

    2-3 years ago that stopped, no beer store in my state (Indiana) carried it, nor could I find it in the surrounding states (Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky). The only place I could find it was online at a significantly higher price.

    My question(s): Has anyone else been looking for this beer? Does anyone know what happened to the US distribution of this beer? Any information is appreciated.

    Thanks.
     
  2. emerge077

    emerge077 Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,962) Apr 16, 2005 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

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  3. Gunslinger711

    Gunslinger711 Zealot (663) Apr 16, 2010 Indiana

    The saga continues. The brewery responded to me, pointing me to their main US distributor, great, good start. That distributor says they only handle distributing that beer to the western states and they use another distributor for the rest of the states, cool.

    The second distributor lets me know they just got bought by another distributor. I recognize the third distributor, Cavalier. They're the big dog here in Indiana. Check out Cavalier's page ( https://cavbeer.com/our-brands/ ) they carry Brewery Sterkens...but only in Florida. Cavalier's territory is Indiana, Ohio and Florida but they only carry this beer in Florida. So close yet so far.

    I contact Cavalier thinking there may be a happy ending to this beer hunt after all only to get this in response: "Unfortunately, no hard facts for you. However, the possibilities are endless."

    I'm not sure how I'm supposed to respond to that, does that mean A) You have rights to distribute the beer in Indiana as well but you choose not to for some reason? or B) You have the rights to distribute the beer in Florida, but not in Indiana. Which brings up the question, if you don't, who does?

    I emailed them back with a more polite version of those questions, we'll see what they respond with.
     
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  4. Quilentro

    Quilentro Maven (1,398) May 12, 2017 Illinois
    Trader

    I did some internet sleuthing for Chicagoland and came up dry.

    My read on this situation is that the world is telling you to pack your bags and fly to Europe for your birthday. Lots of cheap flights out there! Make it happen and bring me back a case of westy :kissing_heart:
     
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  5. Gunslinger711

    Gunslinger711 Zealot (663) Apr 16, 2010 Indiana

    I just reached out to them, thanks for the tip!
     
  6. RickBelgique

    RickBelgique Crusader (447) Jul 16, 2014 Illinois

    I looked online at Total Wine & More https://www.totalwine.com/. I've been to both of their Milwaukee locations, which carry a huge assortment of beers. No luck. Tho, they do show it at their Daytona Beach location. "In limited quantities".
     
  7. Jaycase

    Jaycase Grand Pooh-Bah (3,858) Jan 13, 2007 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    After pausing to click 'Send email', the Cavalier rep then proceeded to fully enter the monolith.
     
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  8. Gunslinger711

    Gunslinger711 Zealot (663) Apr 16, 2010 Indiana

    Thanks for the sleuthing! And I like where your head is at. Believe me, a bike trip around Belgium hitting all of the Trappist monasteries is damn near at the top of my bucket list.
     
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  9. Gunslinger711

    Gunslinger711 Zealot (663) Apr 16, 2010 Indiana

    We're on the same trail, I found some in Florida and some in California but nothing closer. Not that I won't road trip for beer but I was hoping for something a little closer.
     
  10. Gunslinger711

    Gunslinger711 Zealot (663) Apr 16, 2010 Indiana

    :grin: Lol. I was so mystified by that response. I wasn't asking if I could be an dinosaur/astronaut/president when I grow up, I wanted to know if you carried a product or not.
     
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  11. HouseofWortship

    HouseofWortship Pooh-Bah (2,735) May 3, 2016 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    They probably stopped stocking it because they were only moving a case a year in Indiana. :wink:
     
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  12. Gunslinger711

    Gunslinger711 Zealot (663) Apr 16, 2010 Indiana

    Lol, I mean I'm not saying there was dust on the bottles last time I got them...but I'm also not not saying that.
     
    Junior likes this.
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