Newburyport Stout

What's the point of making a "limited release" session beer?

 

To increase brewery hype. Unfortunately they are doing it very wrong if they think people are going to line up for an Irish Stout...

 

I get the impression they aren't going for the beer geek crowd which would rather line up for an Imperial Stout. With the growth of craft beer, you really don't have to, you can just appeal to your faithful locals who don't need to be enticed by geek approved beer styles.

 

If not the beer geek crowd, then what other crowd would go to a beer release party? I have nothing against the more basic styles, I just don't see many people going out of their way for an irish stout.

 

I just take it to mean that it's not a regular release or a seasonal. Ie, one batch brewed with no date scheduled to brew again. *shrug*

 

I had an experience recently that made me wonder if the smaller beer world really is getting to that point you illustrate. I went to Jack's Abby the afternoon they released the 2nd anniversary lager, which they made a very minor celebration for by providing some basic finger food platters in the tasting room. As I opened the door, I felt like I walked into a mosh pit of soccer moms, families, and local workers stopping by on the way home from work. Not to do the profiling thing, but most of those people didn't seem like the geek crowd (which was refreshing to see). Rather, they seemed like locals who maybe got an invite from JA and were happy to stop by and support their local business neighbor...even if just for a few carrot sticks dipped in ranch dressing. Perhaps they were all relatives, who knows. But I wonder if the "support our local businesses" mindset is now enough to bring a general crowd to any small beer-release event.

Oh, and I've stopped into one of these release parties that Pintley puts on. Same venue, too. It was only for Portico's first beer... a simple kolsch. The place was packed more than sardines. I actually left earlier than I envisioned because it was just too intense for my liking. I'm getting old.

 

Yeah, this seems less aimed at beer geeks and more aimed at drumming up interest in the locals that would likely belly up to an Irish pub on any given night anyway. The beer style seems particularly suited for that: comfortable, familiar, not off-putting to anyone. And encourages knocking back a lot of them.

Their IPA seems the same way to me: mild, middle of the road, easy to drain several cans. The witbier needs some refinement; good sweetness, but was like a potpourri bomb going off on the nose. I can't imagine really wanting to session it.

Anyway, kind of bummed it's in Cambridge. I'd be more likely to go to Newburyport (more likely to get my wife there too).

 

Didn't see that the event was in cambridge. I suspect they are going after the ppl who just happen to be in Tommy Doyles that night that might be inclined to order a Guinness? Putting beer in front of random faces I guess...

 

I was at the Newburyport Brewery yesterday and they had the stout available for samples. It was very good. I would recommend going to the release or picking up a growler at the brewery next week if you can.

 

A lot of people (not saying you) rip into new breweries for coming out with barrel aged sour barely wine style double IPAs before they are fully established/proven.

I thought it was pretty refreshing to see a brewery come out with three solid year-round brews (IPA, Pale, Wit), and experiment with other styles the brewer/owners like, but may not warrant a year round demand.

 

I think this was for The Mule @ Clover.

 

Oh I have no problem with the more basic styles - as long as it is well done, I can enjoy a Pale Ale as much as a BA RIS. I just think the same people who chase down beer events like release parties are the ones who do it for BA stouts and other extreme rarities. Thus my commentary was more on the oddity of holding a release party for a "limited release" irish stout.

In fact, there's a good question to be asked if an irish stout could really ever be limited? If it proves wildly popular, it's a very cheap and quick style to make more of.

 

"Limited Release" can just be another name for seasonal. Perhaps they just want some feedback before committing to larger scale production.

 

Then call it a pilot, experimental, or any other word like that. I understand limited release can mean what they are using it for, but it has other connotations that can warp the expectations of their customers... something the brewery should be looking to avoid.

 

When someone says limited release, my mouth starts frothing like Pavlov's dogs.