Reality check

It wasn't the first one. I think that was the second bottle release where I remember waiting in line (the Friday release of Clarette was the other and not nearly as bad). The line at the front entrance moved really fast, while the line out back was slooooowwwww. I think one problem was that they were also taking drink orders from people who already got through the line for bottles.

 

I wonder if we didn't have our own excellent scene here in WA if Oregon wouldn't be to us what Vermont is to much of the North East? I can imagine if many people from WA were making routine trips to buy Oregon standouts that lines might have been a more regular occurrence in the NW.

As it stands, the idea of leaving my own area to make a 3 hour trudge to buy beer to bring back home baffles me. Thank god the culture is fantastic in both states!

 

The solutions are pretty simple IMO.

1. One line, put sign up at other entrance indicating this
2. Two cashiers for said line filling nothing but bottle orders. No tastes or glasses in this line
3. Optional: cash only for bottles

 

another solution: dont make every new bottle you release into an event.

 

I managed to get a bottle when it hit Spokane, and I think that was back in about 2010? Had to ask and there were bottle limits.

I love the NW. It really has an abundance of great beers, and a lot of guys seem to enjoy the local stuff more. I've been a pretty avid trader, and I've really liked some of the stuff I got from the North East. But at times I've had to reign it in because there are equally good things to be had locally, over in Idaho. OR on trips to Seattle and Portland.

 

I concur, reward your regular local customers by surprising them day of. People drive super far for some of these releases, keeping it out of your local communities hands. Not to say that's all bad, but you gotta take care of your local folks too.

 

I love trades where you get local stuff that simple would never see the light of day in your own town, chasing "whalez" is way too much effort and too costly in my opinion. Besides ever "whale" beer started out as a local release!

 

If I can't taste the rare, I want no part of it

 

They started out doing that this last Spring and it was really nice. Quiet Sunday releases that often went totally unmentioned or they'd tell you about at the bar it you'd ask. Although it's random what draws a long line. The day before Phosphene and Gin Table were released to lines and reduced limits, they put out bottles of Witchfinder. I stopped by after work and had no problem getting one.

 

And, don't post it on your social media. Let folks who happen to stop in on a random Tuesday get a shot at 'em. If there's some left after a couple days (people will post on their own social media's, so word will get out), then do a blast letting people know they're out there.

 

The habitual alcoholics have enough already. Can't those of us with careers finally catch a break?

 

I want to be very clear on this, so bear with me. We have never had any intention of making anyone wait in line. The line for the last release was insane. We got our asses handed to us, and anybody who works here will be the first ones to admit it. We were not expecting a huge crowd anywhere resembling that, flattering as it was.

We are working now, and have been for quite some time, to make sure anyone trying to come in and buy a bottle or just have a beer, gets taken care of and has a good experience. We have a small, tight crew here, and will continue to for a while. There are lots of ideas out there about what we should do (trust me, I've been hearing about them all for the last two weeks) but it's not as simple as it sounds, and it's not an easy task moving a lot of people in and out of HM. We're going to keep doing our best to make sure everyone feels like they had a good experience here. I'm not going to promise things will go perfectly the next time, or the time after that, but keep in mind we're always working and thinking of ways to make coming into our brewery a better experience. We will continue silently and quietly releasing beers at the tap room in bottles, and especially on draft. It's something we enjoy doing, and it's something the people who frequent our tap toom enjoy as well. It's important to us to keep things in house as much as possible, and the majority of the things we make are made in very small batches.

We know we can't make everyone happy, and we're totally ok with that. This brewery wouldn't be this brewery if we tried to do that. There are so many projects in the works right now that we are insanely excited for, and even more excited for all of the people who have supported us to enjoy them. Thanks to everyone who stood in line the other week and toughed it out. Thanks especially to the lot of you that frequent the tap room and continue to support us. Cheers, everyone.

 

Lines suck...and are hard to predict. The only release with no line is one with no demand. However, it takes time to figure out how to manage the whole vibe...give the HM guys a break and know they will dial it in. This is, as they say, a good problem. Remember, you could live in Alabama. No disrespect to our fellow brewers who make great beer in Alabama, but we have, collectively, made/earned this culture.

Early days, folks. Early days.

 

I'd like to add some Midwest perspective...living here but having travelled to every major city in the PNW....

The craft beer bug bit me for the first time at the deschutes pub in Portland while drinking a pint of black butte porter (still one of my favorites). Many of the rare beers that I sought out from that point forward were basically to see what the hype was about. It took the chase to realize that many of the beers chased just aren't worth it. Darkness, abraxas, and some harder to find IPAs sell out extremely quickly here....many of which aren't all that great. For me, it took trying these beers to realize that many are not worth the hassle.....especially when there's great beers stacked up on the floor (any half acre ipa).

For some in this area, I think they like having the beer trophies to cellar away or trade, whatever. The other piece of it is that they just don't know that readily available, great beer is at their disposal. People in the PNW are already ahead of the curve....

Lastly, I'll always maintain that deschutes is one of the best breweries and usually one of the cheapest here in chicago