fantasia release

No , I meant 1,000+. 85 cases x 12 bottles = 1,020.

 

I thought it was 80 cases....


Ready....Set.....Argue!

 

There were 85 cases total. They held 10 back for family/friends/the future.

75 x 12 = 900 bottles

Source: head brewer.

 

I missed that part. Only read the spec sheet and was thrown a curve apparently.

 

While I sympathize for those who couldn't make it (I couldn't either), I think they made a reasonable decision.
They're a small brewery.
Anything that they don't sell sees distribution. Anything that sees distro costs them money in the end.
If they lowered the bottle limit and somehow didn't end up selling out, they are effectively giving up money. Not a good move for a 'smaller' scale operation. Really any operation that could sell the product in house.
Why risk not selling it all in house by lowering the limit?

You could argue that they could lower the limit and sell for consecutive days if necessary. However, this would ultimately remove the incentive for showing up the day of future releases, taking away from the event atmosphere and potentially costing them money as well. Over time, more product ends up getting distributed as people don't show up. More money wasted.

You could argue that distribution is good marketing for other products they make. Sure. True. But how much of this product was going to see distro anyhow, and how broad was the distribution going to be? Not much sense in sending any out if not necessary.
Some breweries, say Founders or Goose Island have such an enormous volume of their limited releases that it makes sense to send a lot into distro. Marketing, inability to sell the full volume in house, faster return on investment, etc. Obviously they still have a hard time dealing with demand, even with far greater resources.

In the end, it's a business. We may not like it, but it has to be run as such. I firmly believe that there is no way that these releases can be structured to avoid pissing off some of your customers. You have to balance the customer service with the business decisions. And with notice given ahead of time, to not be here early enough to get some product belies an individuals priorities more than the businesses shortcomings for the most part. We can't all line up hours ahead of time, understood, but most can arrange their life to be there when necessary if truly desired. Right? Wrong? Fair? Who knows.

I think a good question would be; what would an appropriate limit have been? Would that number have avoided them having leftover stock? Can you predict how many people are going to show up? How many more are coming after you open? Its an impossible scenario, and I think they handled it to the best of their ability. By selling everything they had, they let down accounts and customers expecting to see it at their local. but they took care of as many people that made the effort to get there as they could while maintaining their margins and ability to sell through the entire quantity. Standup.

 

Sorry for the rant. I like the guys/business though and hate the criticism.

 

Very good rant and I completely agree.

 

At least we can all agree that it was nice to be able to stand in line INSIDE rather than outside where it was freezing

 

I recall freezing rain inside the brewery over the heads of everyone that got shut out.

 

Still doesn't explain the reasoning behind selling the cases meant for distribution.

 

Listen, let's end the speculation: I showed up late and they sold the distro cases so 1) I could get a case, cause I am a selfish bastard and 2) to piss a lot of people off and make them create and comment on an exceedingly redundant post on Ba.
So thank you Upright, mission accomplished!

Also the beautifully selfish bastards that they are were selling pitchers of 2012 and 2013 Fantasia for $12, the horror, the horror!

 

They could have done a 6 bottle limit instead of a case limit and made a few more people happy. But what do i know. I do love me some Upright, Logsdon, Ale Apothecary, and Block 15. Drank a Blend Love on the coast last night. It def. lost some fruity deliciousness that I remembered from my first try a year or so ago. Don't forget to drink your fruity goodness NW beers in a timely manner. If you save the fruity stuff from these wonderful NW breweries, some of them may go a bit south on you. Framboise White went crazy Bretty on me recently. Drink them now if you have them. Don't believe they are getting better. Strawberry Fields went crazy Bretty also. Block 15 beers take on some Brett rather rapidly in you bottles in your cellar. I suggest drinking Block 15 fruit beers as immediately as they put them out.

 

You may not like it, but oregone hypothesized a perfectly good explanation already.

On the other hand, proof exists in this thread of Upright's obvious profit gouging.

Tyrants!

 

I am still awaiting the, "You were right Andy."

 

It's too contentious to simply let you win. On one hand, over 1,000 bottles exist. On the other hand, only 900 have been sold so far. This being the Internet, I'm going to continue yelling "I'm right" from the rooftops. I want a recount in Florida come March. I'm sure we can drive that number even lower!

 

No prob. It was a pleasure hanging with you and Lauren.
'94 Adam was a highlight, not to mention the down to earth pdx BAs that made the trip all that more enjoyable.

Cheers
Christopher

 

No need.
I'm sure we'll meet up again in near future. :-)
Going to CFH or Hunahpu or PtY or Beatification releases? (I am unsure if I can make it to CFH since gf isn't coming and 2 bottles is not enough of a reason for the gas and time off to drive).

 

I can help with that since I'll be there around march 2nd