Hopslam Sightings 2017

Drinking the first one now.

2017>2016 from first impressions.

The honey is super balanced to the hops upfront, and then the finish is just straight dank, pine, bitterness. Love this beer!

 

Looks like we've got a new winner, this guy only spent $1800 a couple of years ago.

And here's the full history of that pic, I always enjoy stories like this:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/columbus-shop-selling-illegal-hopslam.148242/

 

All I know is that no one has enough friends and family to drink 125 six packs in a reasonable timeframe.

What a loser.

 

Its too bad there are many many more of these people than ever get caught, even when its just for candid camera.

 

Not surprised. An independent store around here mentioned to me last year that they bought a couple dozen cases of Hopslam at the Meijer in Flint to resell at their shop. Totally gouging prices, too. My strategy last few years is to wait two weeks for the hype to die and get a six pack at normal, regular price. Kroger near here (Livonia) had a dozen six packs still left about a month after launch.

 

I wonder how much they made this year? The Comstock brewery added 16 more 400 barrel fermenters that they use to dry hop beers like Two Hearted and Hopslam. That was in addition to the 14 they had previously.

 

Yup - I walked into Costco in Sterling Heights last year and walk up to an empty pallet of Hopslam ($14/6 pack), dude looks up at me and says "sorry, you just missed it, some guy just bought 74 cases"...........WTF? No doubt a douche party store owner who will turn around and sell it for like $20+/6 pack.

 

Since this seems to happen at multiple places every year, can I just ask what the hell is up with MI distribution?

 

Also, 74 cases? If there was any place in Chicago that had 74 cases, except maybe a couple Binnys, they would have enough hopam to last them 3 years.

 

All this is second hand so take with a grain or two of salt, but from what I heard last year from a couple smaller places is that Bell's sent shipments to the big retailer accounts in Michigan first (Meijer, Costco, Kroger), with smaller stores to get theirs on a second shipment sometime later. I assume (grain of salt) Bell's was looking to satisfy as many beer drinkers as possible at the best price. What ended up happening is what has been mentioned several times already: small stores snapping up large amounts from these places, then reselling it for 1.5 to 2.0 times the amount it was on sale for.

All of us in this thread know that paying north of $20 for a six pack is a sucker's bet. But Hopslam, for whatever reason, has huge crossover appeal to people who only dabble in microbrews,certainly here in Southeast Michigan. People who you would never suspect of touching anything other than BMC or wine suddenly turn to children on Christmas Eve when Hopslam - insert Hypeslam joke - is on the way. Those are the folks who are willing to pay up to $30 for a six pack. Yes, seriously. I've personally tried to warn friends and coworkers who mentioned they were picking some up to just wait, and skip those stores that charged way too much and stop encouraging these stores behavior.

But it's a losing battle. Last year, had a coworker and a friend who both were excited they scored Hopslam on the second day, for $28 a six pack. Great, you got the beer you wanted, but you got ripped. Like I said, I wait a couple weeks for the hype to die down and get mine on the cheap from Kroger or Meijer. So there's no loss on my end.

 

Yeah but 5 years ago it wouldn't...

 

Please keep in mind that our customer is the wholesaler. They are the ones who ultimately decide distribution to the retail accounts.

 

Oh boy, it's that time of year again! Hopefully a case or 2 will come in my Trader Joe's I work like it did last year.

Also, why would you buy in bulk at retail? Like, there has to be a better way of doing that. That just seems stupid.

 

Absolutely, I don't fault you guys at all.

 

Dude, everything stayed on shelves 6 years ago.

 

Does anyone know when the Meijer in Auburn Hills gets it (or when is their "normal" beer delivery week day)? They often have a great selection.

Did anyone spot Hopslam in the Royal Oak or Rochester area?

 

Does anyone know what a case price is for Hopslam at the General Store?

 

Jackson area is getting theirs Thursday

 

Nope but last year they had it hidden in the back stock room. You had to specifically ask for it. The year before it was set out with no limits.

 

Thanks. I believe the normal delivery date is a Tuesday or Wednesday if I remember correctly.