Hudson Valley Brewery (2018)

I wanted to bring up the ticketing system again as it relates to Equilibrium's system, but that thread has become so toxic that I'll try again here.

My buddy was up at one of the recent HVB releases and I was going to ask him for some cans, but they cut limits right in front of him to 1 4pack. He was pretty bummed to say the least, and i t

With the way the cut allotments, cans have lasted through the line for the past couple releases. And considering this is the second canning of these two, I'm sure it wont sell out as long as youre in line.

 

The last Friday release they did there were about 25 people in line around noon. However, the cans lasted the entire line and you could have gone later in the evening and got cans with no wait.

For another reference point. I was at their last Saturday release and those cans also lasted past the initial line. So there was no need to wait. I was actually surprised how “short” the line was when they opened. I’ve heard horror stories, but it wasn’t that bad.

Their wrist band system, which is definitely a step in line be right direction, is what causes people to get there at ungodly hours. But compared to other brewery lines, it wasn’t all that bad.

 

I read wristbands given out at 3:00

Wednesday(s) at 3:00 would be perfect.

 

I’m curious as to what makes you say that the wristband system is both a step in the right direction but at the same time, causes something like lining up early? I agree that the early wristbands cause people to line up unnecessarily early, so why are wristbands a good thing...

 

I’m my opinion by far the most frustrating aspect of non-ticketed, non-wristbanded releases is the inevitability of the line growing wider/longer in front of others in line just before open or during the onsale (there are always bs excuses for these cutters e.g. claims of boyfriend girlfriend, he she was here earlier, etc.). It’s grossly unfair that people who didn’t wait in line as long could get an allotment before someone who did. Showing up earlier to get a lower number is similar to lining up earlier (an inconvenience) such that those who can and do should be rewarded with a guaranteed earlier pickup time (making their entire time spent getting beer as low as possible). I think 2 hours is a fair representation of when any line would start anyway, and it’s my understanding they will continue to give out wristbands after 3pm which is also fair. What is the downside?

 

I think anything that reduces the time a person needs to physically stand in line is a step in the right direction. You can grab your wristband leave and come back. If you are ok with reduced allotment you wouldn’t have to wait in line much at all. Unfortunately, we can’t have nice things in this community and everyone has to take things to the extreme and make an event out of it.

 

One more issue - the longer between when the line actually begins to form to the time wristbands start getting handed out, the more chance there is for latecomers to cut in front of thise there earlier which is unfair as described above, so handing the wristbands out earlier helps with this.

 

They give wristbands out until they open. If you are ok with reduced allotments, possibly just one 4-pack of each, then you wouldn’t have to wait much at all. But this is the exact thing that drives the line, rewarding people who get there hours early. Is it fair, I guess. But would people line up 8 hours early if everyone could just get 1 or 2 4-packs of each...I don’t know.

 

I think anyone who thinks that giving out numbered wristbands/tickets at a set time, and giving folks a chance to leave and return when sales start, is a bad idea has yet to give a valid reason why it's a bad idea. Personally, I think folks who believe tickets are a bad idea don't have any better ideas for breweries of this size for announced releases.

I know Sixpoint has a new system of purchasing the tiny amount of craft beer they make in Bklyn. on line first, and picking it up later without queueing up. But I wonder if they would do it that way if they didn't do 99+% of their business from distro of beer canned and brewed in Memphis, and made all their profit from small batch brewery releases?

 

There’s elements to Sixpoint that rub me up the wrong way, but I think their app approach is the best one out there that’s been implemented to date. You’re implying that if they were a “real” local brewery that it may not make sense to do it that way. Other than eradicating the lines and therefore the hype, how would a brewery like OH, HVB, or EQ be at a disadvantage? Or that’s your point. That these breweries need that visual indicator of scarcity to stay at the top of their game, whereas Sixpoint has the luxury of other sales channels.

 

Yes, I believe that the releases are done the specific way they are done because that is the way that works best for them. Sixpoint does not need to sell all, or any, of their beer from Bklyn. to still be a top, very profitable, beer company.

My main point was that there isn't a more fair way I can think of for customers to be accommodated at an announced release than giving out numbered tickets beforehand that both guarantee no cutting in line and allow customers not to have to stand for hours queued up waiting for sales to start.

 

And how does an app put a truly local brewery like the ones I posted at a disadvantage? Or the people looking to buy their beers? What’s the downside for the consumer vs the ticket system?

 

I don't know, but I bet if I was a brewery that chose one way in preference to another I would be able to explain the decision that led to me to my choice.

 

Yeah fair enough - hard to argue when you put it like that. Maybe ticketing is the way forward

 

Chiming in here to say that a lot of folks have been complaining about the Eventbrite online ticketing system other breweries have used (ie: Hoof Hearted). I think a lot of the online releases sell out in mere seconds, rewarding whoever has the quickest internet speed, and there have been a lot of glitches (or so I've heard). Seems like the Sixpoint app is fairly functional but I think there are some fairly large differences in demand btw a brewery like Sixpoint and the highly-ranked breweries most folks line up for.

 

I just don’t get why there needs to be an advanced ticketing system at all especially considering the breweries that use it normally don’t sell out of beer. Anyone who says it prevents people from having to wait on line clearly hasn’t seen the early line of chairs that pop up. Why encourage the people that do this my giving them more beer?The issue Hudson Valley has is that they usually have to cut limits due to crowd size. Rewarding the people that put a chair out at 5am and go back to bed with more than the guy that shows up at 10 and actually waits in line is the opposite of fair.

It seems like this system was only put in place for the line share crowd.

 

I am trying to understand your point and I am having a hard time. Your point is it is more fair just to stand in line without a ticket system? You leave the line and that's it, the line moves up and your spot is gone? Folks who cut can't be proven to be cheaters? No matter how long the line is you have to stand in it the entire time, saving your place? Like at Tree House, a brewery I will NEVER visit again, but there's is the system you say is best? Help me, am I understanding you correctly?

 

Yes... that is how a line works.

Call me old fashioned but if you make the choice to show up at a brewery 5 hours before they open you better expect to be there for 5 hours. Why coddle the people that make stupid choices? Wristbands deal with the line cutting, no need for tickets.

 

Wristbands and tickets are the same thing when it comes to the line

 

No they are not. Other Half here in Brooklyn gives out wristbands to prevent line cutting but it doesnt hold your place in line. If you line up there is no leaving.

Maybe asking it this way will help: Someone put a chair out at Hudson Valley at 10am today. By noon there were more than 30 chairs out. Why should these people be rewarded with a larger allotments because they threw a chair out and left, over they guy that shows at 3 and waits on line for the beer?