Breweries that Don't Give Into Seasonal Creep

I think New Glarus does a great job of this! Check out their beer schedule: http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/index.cfm/beers/beerschedule

 

Many breweries give their standard beer 4-5-6 months shelf life. So, 3 months after their "Summer" beer is released, they'd release their Fall beers and then one month later their "pumpkin" beers? Few retailers want two or three of the same brand seasonal beers next to one another on the shelves (most don't have the room, and many brewers use the same UPC code for all 4 of their seasonals) and no distributor wants to pull perfectly good beer off the shelf, destroy it and have to eat the cost (most today do just the opposite - refuse to distribute a seasonal until the previous season's beer stock is reduced).

How well do you expect that "Summer" beer released on June 1st to sell in November? What demand is there for Oktoberfest beers in mid-January? What retail wants Christmas themed beers still on their shelves with a "Best by" date April 1st? Despite all the "innovation" craft brewing is still a business with financial considerations, and brewers have to accept and work with the demands of their most direct customers - the distributors and the retailers.

 

Yeah, except for Staghorn. I mean, I enjoy getting to drink it August through early November, but thought last yeat that early August may be way to soon to an Oktoberfest on the shelves. That said, I'm still going to be stocking my fridge with it as soon as it is released.

 

For the last three years, @BrosCraftBrew has done a community sourced pumpkin beer. Five Pound Fall Ale. Called that because everyone is encouraged to roast at least 5 pounds or more of pumpkin and bring it in on the event day. This year they will be collecting on Sept 5. Goes in 22oz bottles. I don't drink much pumpkin beer, but it's always been really good.

 

I guess the competing wholesaler in my market already has the Sam Adams and Leinie's Oktoberfests on shelves.

 

Last year I saw Sam's Oktoberfest and a pumpkin beer (can't remember which one) in the store on the last week of July

 

I want Oktoberfests any time of the year.... does that not make me a discerning buyer who wants a premium product?

 

Check the shelves, they are there now.

 

In general, I do like seasonal styles in season, and I (again, in general) do not buy them early. I'm still into summer beers, so I am not stocking up on fall beers now.

So, I don't care what the brewers do unless
a) The beer is a style that will be past its prime in the "real" season for the beer, and/or
b) The beer is sold out before the "real" season for the beer.

 

1 Aren't Oktoberfest beers traditionally Vienna lagers brewed in March to be consumed during the Oktoberfest which ends October 1? If they drop mid-August isn't 6 weeks a good and traditionally appropriate time frame?
2 You're in NJ both Kane and Carton release their Pumpkin Beers in October. Maybe smaller places don't have to sell as much as fast so they can beat the creep, but there's 2 right there.

 

I understand the seasonal creep, I feel like I would rather see an Oktoberfest in July than see it there in December.

If a distributor or brewery releases a beer too late, they run the risk of missing the sales window. Most people will not buy a pumpkin beer after Halloween... therefore, they need to capture that sale before.

as @Fezzik1970 said, smaller breweries can control it better. A brewery that distributes all over the country has a lot more factors to consider. Example: If a brewery distributes to Arizona, I feel like mid April is an appropriate time to release a "summer" beer.

 

Rogue's facebook page will start to update soon with mocking creep posts as they share pictures of their pumpkins that are still growing. through August and into September

 

Yea, but I'd rather deal with seasonal creep then just, creeps.

 

Your wish is beyond the ability of most breweries to fulfill because there aren't many who think the way you do. Problem is, once a few breweries start a seasonal creep, the others pretty much must follow or fear losing business since after all, what American doesn't want to be the first on the block to have something - especially since the idea of being first has been pounded into us since childhood. And don't fool yourself, the bottom line is still the most important thing. If it wasn't, there wouldn't be any sub-par breweries and beers out there. And convertibles are quite practical where you can use them close to 12 months a year.

 

Well i know Alley Kat brews there pumpkin beer from September till October, so its within a month fresh when you buy it.

 

This thread is creeping me out - and I am not giving in to it!

 

It's okay with me. You guys leave the Octoberfests on the shelves in August for me to buy. No problem.