Maine Dinner Release

It wasn't very hazy unless you took a picture with your flash then it looked a little more OJ like. It was pretty clear.

 

The original recipe was clear with the typical IPA hue, designed by the original Head brewer of MBC.

Unfortunately, that head brewer has moved to Hidden Cove Brewery (Wells, ME), as of 2015, and the Dinner recipe hasn't been the same since.

 

My first bottle I opened was actually pretty hazy, both my wife and I commented on that. Nothing like the Newmans Italian Dressing(shaken, seriously look at a bottle next time) look of Bissell. But hazy for sure.

 

I've had the 1st, 2nd, and this last batch. All have been hazy. Nothing like Trillium or Bissell but just as hazy as Hill Farmstead.

 

Just had Dinner for the first time and it was awesome. I'd put it on par with King Sue in terms of quality and appearance in that it's opaque

 

Anyone know when the next release is expected? Cheers!

 

I may be wrong but I believe they release Dinner about four times a year so probably late Spring/Early summer

 

There is usually a release near my birthday in mid-April

 

seems like it just came out...

 

So Dinner is a full on hazy NEIPA now? If they keep some of the old classics, add in some more hazy beers and start canning I think they could be even more of a hit than they already are.

 

And drop the price like a nudist dropped their pants at Woodstock.

 

I did a quick cost per ounce and it looks like there current prices are about .30-32 cents per ounce which would put them right in line with Trillium, but I agree I'd like them both to be cheaper

 

Thought Dinner was $8/bottle which is basically 50 cents/oz. Trill DIPAs are $5.50/can for .9 less ounces.

 

I completely forgot those aren't bomber bottles. You're right. Those prices are way more egregious than I thought

 

They are basically pints of beer, plus a half sip. Trillium and Tree House have proved that you can command $17 for a good IPA, and $20 for a good DIPA. How would Lunch sell at $17 four packs instead of $24 (brewery pricing) or $30 (most retail in Boston)? I would think quite well.

 

MBC needs to change their pricing BIG TIME

 

Of course it would be nice if it was cheaper, but they keep selling out day of at those prices. If anything they could probably charge more and still sell out pretty fast. Personally I'd buy one or two just to try it (haven't been lucky enough to get tickets), but just like with singlecut bottles (and less popular Maine Beer) that hang on the shelves here...there's far too many excellent beers to paying $8 for essentially a pint at the store regularly.

 

They sell out Dinner at their current prices, which is fine, but their other bottles seem to just sit on shelves, no? I've seen a lot of old Mo and Peeper all over Boston, and at least a few bottle shops near me have had Another One and a tiny beautiful something just sitting there for months.

I think one major issue is that there's now beer that is on par with MBC's quality at much lower prices. I love Another One, but I have to choose between 16 ounces for $8 vs. 64 ounces of, say, Santilli for $13.

 

This was always my experience as well but I have to say that over the last few months, at least in my area (just north of boston), things seem to have changed. I don't know if they're selling more or just distributing less, but the bottles have been pretty fresh of late at my typical haunts.

I completely agree with people who find the apparent success of their pricing model baffling though (at least as far as most of their regular releases go). I guess you've got to hand it to them for not only surviving the rise of the 16 oz four pack, but somehow doing so with a product that's an even worse deal than bombers.