Crazy beer culture

I also think it really helps that a number of Wisconsin breweries have made the decision to focus their distro on WI and not stretch too thin. Obviously New Glarus is the classic example, but I was told this year that Central Waters staggered their distro of the Bourbon Barrel Stout, and it was available in WI almost 2 months before it made it to Chicago. Apparently the decision was to release to WI, and when orders and sales slow down, then release to other states.

It means I have to do a beer run to WI every now and then to pick up a few favorites, but I like the way the WI breweries focus on making their beers readily available in their home state.

 

Agree! And also the craft beer demographics change. More urban = younger/more hipster centric....more rural craft scene = older / mixed bag

I go to various craft focused bars in central/western MD and sometimes everyone in there seems to be over 40 with maybe a few scatterd 20 somethings. When I go to DC or Baltimore metro area craft centric bars, if you're over 40 your the odd older person there.

 

I think it's only going to get worse. The Chicago scene is totally nuts....people hunting beers all over the city and yes, the festivals are just a mess. I hit up a few regular bottle shops and if I find what I'm looking for, great! If not, oh well, catch it next time. I've been to beer festivals, releases (Darkness day), etc in other states and by far, Chicago's is the most insane. It's becoming more annoying than anything since so many folks see certain bottles as a commodity.

Right there with ya.

 

I have noticed the age trend applies even more so in bars, but it is there in stores as well - not a lot of older beer geeks bothering with the special releases around Chicago.

 

Don't forget Denver. But your point is completely intact. I used to live in Philly and I was drinking Pliny the Elder at Monk's Cafe even before I knew that it was a big deal (I wasn't into craft beer back then). This was back in 2008 before craft beer became what it is now.

Absolutely Lawson's Double Sunshine. Wait for it to come back in a few months.

 

In Texas, some of the releases in Houston can involve long, early-morning lines. The release of bourbon-barrel aged Temptress in DFW was a big deal, but it seemed like most people who wanted it found it. Finding Jester King beers anywhere but at the actual brewery is a headache, but that is due as much to their limited output as probably anything else.

Living close to but not actually in a big city at times has helped me with Karbach. I live in Bryan-College Station, about 90 miles from Houston, but I have no trouble finding Karbach's special releases on tap here in town. As for finding bottles, I often can buy as many as I want at my local HEB (whereas I might have to drive all over town in Houston looking for just one bottle) -- the only trick is I *do* have to stay abreast of what is coming out when.


I'm not a big fan of the haul pic, but for illustration purposes: That's from the latest Karbach release of barrel-aged Hellfighter, bought all in one trip to the grocery store (which generally isn't possible in Houston, where stories sometimes impose purchase limits).

It sounds like Chicago might be the epicenter of the crazy beer culture. Texas gets only slightly crazy over a few beers a year. We're still learning.

 

You guys on the east coast have heard of Colorado right? I know it is technically flyover country but they have this thing called GABF you may have heard of

 

Pig Destroyer and Municipal Waste are playing at Hardywood in April, I'm seriously considering attending. I haven't been to a hardcore or metal show in years. I guess it will coincide with a beer release. So you could kill two birds with one stone!

 

It's crazy in New England and it's frustrating and oftentimes annoying. If you want a one-off or specialty release, wake up before dawn and wait or enter a lottery. As someone with limited time, money, and a small child, it's really put me out of the game. My solution? Just brew beer and send em to the store (like the good old days) and set limits. You happen upon a four pack of something amazing? Awesome. If not, no worries. Better than having to head into rural Vermont at dawn in the snow for a case of beer and, should you be unable to do that, reading about how many cool BA's people met in line for the triple dry hopped bourbon barrel aged unicorn tusk IPA.

 

Truth. I actually made some incredible New Glarus finds while filling my gas tank somewhere in rural Wisconsin.

 

St. Louis has a very vibrant beer/beer festival scene where "survival of the fittest" definitely applies with limited quantities and long lines for special beers. I don't fight the crowds anymore. Must be the years creeping up on me.

 

I don't know how to relate to any of this.

 

I'll second @Monkeyknife that St. Louis is definitely getting that way on the whole. If it is Perennial or Side Project, you better be prepared to stand in line by at least 4 on any random weekday. Most of the time, you need to be earlier.

 

The big difference between Philly and Denver is that Denver has a ton of local breweries that are putting out good beer. And, oh yeah, GABF.

 

arguably GABF is ruined. Well, at least compared to how it used to be for many of us.

 

Are you referring to the chorus of "Oooohhsss!" that are heard whenever someone drops their sample cup, the onslaught of
"noobs" there because "it's GABF, man," the line the snakes its way all the way around the convention center, the pungent smell of weed in the porta-potty area, or the general frat party antics that seem to be all over the festival?

 

Chicago is certainly a little crazy. I was in St. Louis over the holidays and checked out a Friar Tuck - picked up several unexpected gems that were just sitting there. The manager had actually compiled some limited stuff on the front counter and was happy to talk to me about them.

In Chicago, you'll never see that kind of stuff on the shelves of a Binny's - the employees would snap it up or offer it to friends. If a smaller shop gets something rare, the price gets jacked up and it still sells out within hours.

 

The issue in the St. Cloud, MN area where I live isn't the lines (at least that I have ever seen), its the limited amount the retailers can get. I have never seen Bourbon County or Founders KBS here locally, and I know my go to shop only got 6 bottles of the Dissident this year. Darkness from Surly and The Abyss from Deschutes are a little more common but every store I know of limits to 1 or 2 per customer to give people a chance.

 

SoCal can get a little crazy sometimes...