I’m located in San Diego and looking for a membership for 2026, and leaning towards either: -Firestone Walker -Alesmith Over the years I’ve had memberships at: -Highland Park -Modern Times -The Bruery -Side Project -Phase Three -Revolution season ticket -Private Press I’m splitting a private press membership next year and that’s it. I originally planned on keeping it simple with just the one split, but it might be nice to try a new one out. I’ve found myself leaning more and more towards thinner, barrel forward, adjunct minimal BA beers, like most things from Revolution and Firestone walker. Alesmith seems to made a big step in the right direction this year, but I’m not sure if the membership actually matters or not. Also can’t drink sours anymore. Are Firestone Or Alesmith memberships worth it? Any feedback from current/previous members would be super helpful.
Last year was my first in the Firestone membership and I'll be renewing for next year. The beers are good to great, though there is one sour/wild per quarterly release. I think the biggest perks are easier tickets to FWIBF and the member tastings. Without those I'm not sure I'd join just for the beer to be shipped to me.
I may be up to split the membership with you at FW Im close and go at least once a month, but those sours are a kick in the nuts .
It's wild (pun intended) that 10 years ago people, including myself, were driving to Buellton just to pick up Barrelworks wild ales at a price point higher than what FW wild ales sell for today. I do think the beers back them were more nuanced and had more going on than the single note sour stuff they do now. Regardless, the FW wilds are the last ones I drink from the membership box.
Sour Jim! Looks like he left FW and got sober. Good for him, not so good for FW wild ales. I remember some pretty amazing batches of Feral One and others that were pushing the limits of beer.
I have been a member of a few clubs, though none currently. If I were to go back, it would hands down be with CASA.
I didn't know this - I just thought that sours fell out of fashion, so a lot of the breweries just weren't doing the barrel aged stuff anymore. I've still got a few bottles of Barrelworks stashed away so I'll just have to be picky about when I pop them!
