MA Bourbon County Release (2018)

I think a little of the hype wears off each year. I'm fairly certain in 3-5 years there won't be a dedicated thread. For 1) AB sucks & 2) the beer isn't that much better than the rest (CBC you enjoy my stout for example)

 

Same. I think their tactics are shitty, and I prefer to give them minimal business, but I just don't care enough to boycott them entirely. It's just beer.

 

What's your source for this?

 

This is the first year they're pastuerizing it right? Maybe that is putting people off, I know it is for me. Or just good motivation to drink the vertical Ive been waiting on.

 

Personally speaking with multiple shop owners over the last two years.

Smaller accounts were given the option to either purchase dozens of cases of standard Goose Island cans/bottles (IPA, etc...) for the "honor" of purchasing a case or two of BCBS (regular) at the normal price, or otherwise they were charged over 2x cost. For the most part, that's why there have been increasing reports of shops selling individual BCBS bottles for $20-30... they didn't give in to the distributor and instead purchased $280+ cases of BCBS and are just trying to turn a profit.

 

If they’re buying wildly overpriced cases just to get it in their shops, then it sounds like they did give in to the distributor. And if they’re still trying to turn a profit on each case after doing that, then they view their customers as suckers. I’d want no part of that.

 

They pasteurized last year too

 

That makes no sense. Why would a shop shun their regular line-up all year just to buy a few cases of overpriced regular BCBS and risk pissing off customers?

Moreover, it's not particularly difficult to find it at a reasonable price, so then not only do you look bad for price gouging, but your product may sit on the shelves.

You'll probably lose more money alienating customers than you'd make from a few cases of BCBS.

 

Well those store owners mislead you a little, distributors are legally required to offer the same price to everyone. Price gouging is done at the store level.

They were correct in saying that the more GI you buy, the more Bourbon County (and variants) you will receive. This is a standard practice at breweries of all sizes. They offer their limited beer to stores that support their whole portfolio instead of just cherry picking their limited releases

EDIT: I don't work for ABI

 

Obviously the bigger accounts get more of the limited stuff. And you’re right, legally distributors must offer the same price, not arguing that.

I just feel like I wouldn’t have been told the exact same thing from multiple unconnected shops from Billerica, Cambridge, and Arlington. The Billerica and Arlington shops passed on BCBS altogether, while the Cambridge shop had theirs on the shelf for $22ea iirc.

Feel free not to believe me, just stating the facts from my personal experience.

 

When you get calls for weeks leading up to Black Friday every year asking about availability, I’m sure you’re going to reach out to your distributor and try to purchase that item which has such a high demand. Get customers in your store, and hope they buy more than the single bottle.

 

2016 bottles are still all over the place, I don’t get why this is something people still get hyped for outside of areas that are getting Rare or BCBCS.

Also BCBCS can be achieved with reg and a french press, so lol @ the artificial scarcity of it (arguably better since the coffee never falls off and you can age the reg).

 

This is true and not true. They CAN and do offer quantity discounts. Small Craft Store A can buy BCS for one price, but Large Store B can choose to buy more and get a discount.

 

100% true EB!

There is no volume discount on BCS, its an allocated item. If you have proof of volume discount for BCS, I'd absolutely love to see. Please DM me!

Every account in MA is offered the same volume discount on every item that has a volume discount; it's the accounts choice to purchase the larger volume post off or not. If you're a smaller store, of course you aren't going to purchase every volume post off discount, but pick and choose which items the account thinks will attract customers to their location. Massachusetts Beverage Journal lists pricing on every alcoholic item that is available in the state. It's common knowledge to anyone who has a liquor license.

 

I live in Canton and called a few spots that typically get it. Two of them said their distributor won't give them any despite them selling the same amount of Goose Island as last year. And last year they received even less Bourbon County than the year before. Wegman's said they're hoping they get some but don't know when. And another small store in Canton said they usually get some but haven't heard anything.

I'm surprised how shitty the communication is between the distributor and the stores, and for them to prevent some stores from getting any at all... but at the same time it is ABinbev... so I guess I shouldn't be surprised at all.

 

Anyone know spots in the Worcester area that might get some BCBS or variants?

 

I asked today from my craft rep and he said he has no idea what is allocated to what store he’s kept in the dark. Maybe something will show up Friday, nothing on my order today.

 

Craft Beer Cellar is the worst place to look for BCBS, they get tiny allocations and they sell out immediately, I dont think they get variants either. They used to not sell it because of the macro ownership and now they dont get any because they dont sell any regular GI. Big liquor store chains that sell a lot of regular GI are your best bet for variants, I've been able to get regular for up to a week after release at Wegmans the past few years too.

 

Redstone just tweeted they're only receiving the original this year.

They said very little variants allocated to the state, and they don't think their distributor received any at all.

Makes my life easier Friday. My plan was to just grab a few drafts if I see variants anyways.

 

The Hugh O'Neills menu above doesn't even say if they'll have 2017 BCBS on draft. Other than the Stoddard's party on Wednesday, haven't seen too many bars confident about getting anything this year.