Bruery Membership

http://www.thebruerystore.com/t-membership.aspx

 

Depends. The bottles included with the membership don't double from Reserve to Hoarders (except CR and BT), but allocations do. So Hoarders has the option to buy twice as much as Reserve, but doesn't end up with twice as much of everything.

Preservation is a separate thing altogether, they just 3 bottles of some beers that aren't RS-exclusives (so Preservation gets 0 bottles of Grey Monday).

 

The whole notion seems kind of silly to me. There is plenty of great beer available from breweries that don't require folks to buy into some exclusive club.

 

You sound like the guy on the other side of the rope.

 

Not really exclusive, your basically just paying for the beer you get up front.

 

And fortunately, you have that choice not to buy a membership. Meanwhile, the expansion of their program speaks to the fact that there is a clear demand for it.

 

I'm not sure I agree with that, and I'll even argue that Hoarders is a better value (we're still talking about ridiculous amounts of money) The Reserve society is $295 for 10 bottles, or $29.50 per bottle plus other perks. The Hoarders is $695 for 22 bottles, or $31.59 per bottle plus even better perks. The value comes in when you look at which bottles are included. Hoarders includes 10 bottles (5 different beers) of Hoarders exclusive beers which not only are going to be more sought after (a negligible benefit if you plan on drinking them), but also more expensive and perceived to taste better as well. As an example, I would much rather forgo an extra bottle of White Chocolate, Otiose, and BA 5 Golden Rings in exchange for receiving bottles of French Oak Bois, Sour in the Rye with Peach, and the Syrah/Black Tuesday Blend. For an average of $2 per bottle more you get to be able to have access to these beers. This isn't even taking into account the additional perks of Hoarders vs. Reserve like an extra 5% off allocations (it adds up, do the math!)

Now I know this is almost a stupid argument because really most people did not have the option to choose Hoarders, but I'm just laying out a detailed argument, and really my justification on my I decided to upgrade to Hoarders when a friend was offered the opportunity and was looking to split a membership, on why the Hoarders option really is a better relative value.

 

I think it's a more of a stupid argument because nowhere in my post did I say that Hoarders wasn't a better value. I only said that it doesn't end up with double of everything, which is completely, 100%, inarguably and factually true. So I really have no idea why you replied to me.

For the record, I agree with you, Hoarders is a better value. But I'm absolutely baffled about why you replied to me to say that.

 

Wow. Instead of BeerAdvocate having a couple of trading forums, perhaps TradingAdvocate can create a couple of beer forums...

 

Yup, having delicious beers shipped to my door is really silly. I hate not having to line up/fight the internet masses to get BT and variants...

 

I wasn't badmouthing them per se, I just find the "membership" idea not my cup of tea. If it works for you guys, enjoy!

 

Maybe argument was the wrong word I guess. I wasn't arguing with you, but mostly clarifying your position where Hoarders don't get double everything. The way you written it it made it seemed like Hoarders only received double Black Tuesday and Chocolate Rain included bottles. You did not mention anything about the 10 exclusive bottles that are included. Those who are unfamiliar with the Bruery membership program, you know the the OP, would have had no idea about the additional bottles in the Hoarder society from your post. Like I said, I was detailing the included bottles for clarity. You're right, Hoarders don't get twice the included bottles, they get twice plus 2 bottles. So technically you are correct, which is the best kind of correct.

Stop being so baffled by someone who replies to your post to clarify the incomplete information you posted.

 

Best screen name ever...
Your occupation is icing on the cake.

 

Additionally Hoarders is invite only so the only choices you have are Preservation or Reserve. Select Reserve Society members are invited to join Hoarders.

 

You'll either have to trade for it or wait until late 2014.

 

Perfectly valid opinion. Personally, I don't mind paying roughly 30/month to ensure that I don't need to spend anywhere from 4-12 hours of my time driving/standing in line in order to get my hands on limited release beers I'd like to buy. And while BPT is an alternative, I also enjoy the fact that I have nearly a month to purchase said bottles instead of making sure that I'm able to sit in front of a computer waiting for the sale to start and crossing my fingers that I can complete the checkout process in time.

Being local to the Bruery, I'm even more appreciative of the fact that I can also easily try these beers before camping out in line/spend a couple hundred bucks buying them online before I even know whether or not I actually want to drink any.

Also being local, I enjoy having a 15% discount on my tab at the tasting room (lolwut not a hoarder) and being able to take advantage of expanded growler fills.

As a local, the RS is definitely my cup of tea, but I can understand why it wouldn't wok for you.

 

Even if you're not in RS, being local means that there's always something on tap. During the holidays and special occasions they do pours of special releases like that - and even if you're not RS, there's always someone at the tasting room that will gladly hook it up.

 

You actually make a strong argument for why the membership idea IS a good idea. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I definitely see your point!