Bruery RS/HS Allocations (2020)

I really appreciate this, but I'd beg to differ in a couple of areas.

I do understand how being harsh isn't always constructive and when it comes from a friend (there are many on staff who I've been honored to consider friends, not just a favorite bartender, but a true friend), it can be more painful. So I think that's why there is a bit of sting with it... I'm a friend, speaking as a customer in those times. Putting myself in their shoes (not hard to do because I'm a teacher who has many students, sometimes disgruntled), I get it. I do hope anyone who has ever felt slighted by my criticisms sees this as a sincere apology (not as a customer... but as a friend)... but I also understand if it's too little, too late.

The other thing, and I do stand by this, is that I feel like the beers have been getting better as of late. I'll never stop my quest to see a West Coast IPA in Offshoot's regular rotation, but overall, I've been really impressed with much of what they have made as of late. The last few hoarders boxes have been meh, but I think that's more because trying to pump out six small batch beers worthy of being that exclusive and sought after every three months, on top of what they are already doing, is a pretty huge ask, so it's not even a passing thought for me (my big feedback on that would be either decrease the frequency of them, split them into Clean and Sour, etc, if anything). If I ended my membership tomorrow, I'd definitely miss it.

All of that said, the main reason why I'm writing yet another post (my last one... I promise), is to give a small update. Tonight, I received an email from Barry Holmes (yep, THE Barry Holmes... as Daniel called him, "The Punisher" LOL) reaching out because he had heard about my post earlier and wanted to see if everything was okay, and encouraging me to stick around. When the CEO of the company catches wind, and personally reaches out to you, it's pretty friggen meaningful. I know there has been some infamy related to the Buck incident, but to have him reach out to do the exact opposite to me was really cool, and something I'm publicly giving him props for! Others on here who have had great things to say about Barry are being totally honest... Can't wait until the next time I bump into him so I can raise a glass with him.

My plan isn't to cancel my membership (it never was, at least not this year), I've just been intentionally trying to pull back and be more careful with my words, not because they can't take it, but because many of them are truly my friends (I've grabbed dinner with many of them, gone brewery hopping with several of them, and even brought one of them Cane's while they were moving into a new place... when a friend died unexpectedly died a few years ago, many of us got together to honor him, many have supported his widow... and Patrick himself showed up to the funeral and posthumanisouly made him a Hoarder, so I'm not being naive when I call them my friends, because many of them were... and still are!)... and so harsh criticism can be less constructive and more hurtful in that case. My hope is to slowly, but surely rebuild some of those friendships.

I also want to say thank you to those of you who have reached out to me during my time of silence to see if I was okay, or just to say hi! While Barry's note to me earlier really meant a lot, it also meant a lot to get messages and replies from others. I didn't mean for it to blow up like this... I just wanted to own up to some stuff and admit that there has been some damage done.

Okay, back to the beer! My wife and I love Chocolate Covered Strawberries, so I'm really excited to try some Love Bites! I've been keeping my purse strings a little bit tighter this month because I saw that March looks to be painfully expensive for both of my beer memberships (here and MT), but a four pack of LB is definitely in my sight! Also excited to try some of the stuff I haven't had a chance to yet (once I get my bottle of Brycescotti, I'm excited for it).

I've got some papers to grade, and a White Oak (I heard a rumor they might be bringing that back under a new name... that would be AMAZING! Please Can it!!!!) chilling in the fridge.

Cheers everyone! You all rock!

 

Okay, I get it... I’ll shut up. But I want to mention three things first...

1. Today’s Archive event was a sleeper by a mile... if you didn’t make it, you missed out on some INSANE awesomeness!

2. The other sleeper is “It’s Gonna Be Fine.” OMG OMG OMG IF OFFSHOOT MADE THIS A REGULAR THEY WOULD SUDDENLY RIVAL BEACHWOOD IN MY MIND FOR WEST COAST IPA DOMINANCE!!! I heard from an Anonymous source that this may be the pilot for a permanent Offshoot WCIPA can... if true, you can take back any negative thing I’ve ever said about Offshoot before.

3. Ryan Dick is the man... At least some of the success The Bruery has had in the past 5 years should be credited to him!

Alright... Terrence out!

 

Mostly rare... OG BTGR!!!