cave sale

It is not (in my experience) all it is made out to be from their posts. Last year during brewfest weekend they released some (like 5) bottles of Cantillon Classic and some 3F OG. I don't remember what other "rare" beers they released, but when I saw what was posted I was glad I had not bothered to spend time waiting around.

 

Expect to stand in line, pay high prices, and get old IPAs.

 

from what I've seen over the years it's aged KBS, Bcbcs, cantillion Classic, limited amounts of sos/heady/tribute. Every year I never feel like I've missed out.

 

BCBS, not coffee.

I would def not drive through the night.

 

Considering it's Brewfest weekend there will already be a ton of extra people in the area who are willing to line up at dawn as well. You are of course welcome to make the trip, but scoring any sought after beers is going to be a challenge this weekend. Unless you were already coming for Brewfest I would not bother.

 

IMO- Lots of Hype, yes some "Whales" but VERY limited quantity. + The over hyped post for stuff that is easy to get( foley bros, Simple roots, Lunch with 1 limit... For many years the Bevie was my first/usually only shop... I haven't stopped in a few months and I live 15min away. They have very few beers that others in the area don't.

 

Like I stated before, I don't shop there as much because they hoard these for brewfest weekend. In my estimation these beers were sent for Vermont for a reason, Vermont customers. Since the Bevy appears to be more interested in their out of state customers by holding this stuff until Brewers Fest weekend I can by my beer & liquor elsewhere.

I take care of those that take care of me and I'm sad to say Bevy has really neglected the locals that support them all year long.

 

I really disagree with this. The Bevie takes care to listen to locals who for example were having a hard time getting Heady back when all cases would drop when the truck showed up. So in response the created a very nice schedule where it can meet more people's schedules. They have a knowledgeable staff In Jason, James and of course Jen. I'm not sure I get where having a nice release around the brewfest suddenly means they are taking care of out of state buyers and ignoring locals. I was in line last year for the release and thought it was great and I live 15 minutes away.

 

The more I think about it, the more this view that the Bevie is out to benefit tourists at the expense of locals really bothers me. I'm thinking of the recent Make the Cut competition which was the brain child of Jen at the Bevie and Steve at 14th Star. This competition was all about local homebrewers and giving them the chance to take their efforts to the next level. It involved partnerships with local restaurants and bars, distributors etc... I don't see any other bottle shop doing this much work and effort to give homebrewers a chance to potentially join the industry or at least be recognized for their skills.

Having said all this, the bottles released at the cave sale are amazing year in year out.

 

Can't argue with any of that.

I guess my particular beef with them is pretty specific - the fact that they get Cantillon and 3F but only release it once a year on the busiest weekend (so as a local I have zero-ish chance of getting a bottle unless I camp out) really turns me off. I would love to buy a bottle of Cantillon/3F lambic from them, even with whatever mark up they put on it, it would still be way more convenient than ordering from Belgium.

 

Yeah I hear you but I think the timing is just partly in celebration of brew fest. The release is on a Saturday AM just like the Lawsons releases or the old Alchemist truck sales because regardless of where you live, that's when most people are able to line up for beer. It's kind of like a lose/lose prop for them as some people will find a reason to bitch about anything they do based on what is convenient for their own schedule.

It's still the best bottle shop in the region IMO.

 

What really turned me off has been the over hyping of stuff that sits on the shelves in other stores. Like the"special delivery" release times and limits on stuff like Simple roots or Citratennial. Making these beers seem rare. The prices have also crept up( compared to other shops in the area) over the last couple of years.

 

You are certainly entitled to your opnion and I have no desire to change it. I don't deny that they support some local causes. I just don't agree with all of their business decisions and excercise my right to express that and choose not to buy there.

I know for a fact that they have held limited bottles for favored customers in the past, perhaps you consider that taking care of locals. How is it a lose/lose if they just put the botlles on the shelf when they come in? Call it bitching if you want.

 

It's just a difference of opinion. I would say putting whale type bottles on a shelf as soon as they come in especially during a weekday makes it very difficult for anyone who works normal business hours to get access to these beers. Announcing when a big release will take place and making it on a weekend levels the field for most people. I think it's fair.

 

Make the Cut was a publicity stunt, the bevie recieved the majority of the canned beer as a result of their relationship with Farrell and 14th star. Did you actually enjoy the beers on draft? I thought the Wit was decent, but didn't like the the Schwarz at all, and I love that style. I'm fairly sure the only reason it won the "competition" is because Brett Seymor has more friends in Central VT that were able to go to every participating bar and stuff the box with ballots. I wonder how long Brett's homebrew batch conditioned, because I'm perplexed as to how 14th star thinks they are doing his beer justice by making a "lager" in a month.

 

I did. I think they are both unique beers and not exactly the easiest beers to brew at home on a high level. Maybe I'm just an optimist, but I looked at the Make the Cut competition as something of a give back to the hundreds of home brewers in the state and a really fun competition. I have a buddy who participated and he was really psyched to make it into the top 50 beers. To say that it was a publicity stunt, I dunno...it's too bad you view it that cynically.

 

I view it that way because I know more than one homebrewer that entered, tasted multiple great beers that were entered, and saw their feedback which made little to no sense. The people I talked to who entered were not psyched about their feedback or how their beers did in the competition, and they know how to make beer that tastes better than either of the draft samples 14th Star produced for the public to choose from.

Thats a nice way to say they were boring.