Rusty Nail Release

So my post mortem:

The beer is really tasty but not sure I would wait in line for it for 2 hours again.

People who brought mules suck, especially when this was clearly a super limited release.

Also really sucks that people toward the end of the line were informed they would not get any, but then Fremont pulled a few more cases out or whatever. I would be pretty pissed if I was one of those people.

Maybe a one-bottle limit is in order next time?

Free donuts and pins was a nice touch.

Sorry I still didn't get to meet any of you in person. This took a lot longer than I expected so by the time I got my bottles and a 3oz pour I just wanted to get the hell on with my day. My daughter finished her HP book while we were in line and was understandably getting pretty bored.

Bottom line: Fremont clearly tried and I still love 'em, but this release (just like all releases that involve standing in a line) was flawed. Welcome to the new normal.

 

Fucking Zima...
Is that still made?

 

Sorry I missed you. I looked around for a fat white guy with a plaid shirt and didn't see anyone.
I didn't mind standing in line at all. I've been through worse - barely
My wife though different story. I owe her.

 

Only 3 ounce pours? Was thinking of heading down after work

 

That was the smaller of the two options. Just wanted a quick taste while my kid had pretzels/apple.

 

3 and 6 oz. pours. They were actually pouring Rusty and First on both sides, so once we were inside the beer garden area in line, I ran over and got some Rusty Nail for me and my friend to drink while we waited for bottles. But yes, bottle line should've been just for bottle sales.

In Japan, yes. I had a can of Zima at a park in Tokyo back in 2014.

There's also a pink Sakura variant.

 

Cool thanks for the info!

 

I looked for you too on our way out, figured you would be one of the only non-Millennials there. I'm no really fat (unless you ask my wife), just a little heavier than I should be. Thanks beer.

 

Man, am I glad the beer scene on this side of the state is so chill. Nobody paying homeless people for extras of something,
nobody camping out for releases (well, except Dry Fly's first bourbon). Long may it stay that way.

 

As others have mentioned, the line ran really slowly. I was in line a little before 11 (on 35th), and spent a solid two hours waiting. The main slowdown seemed to be running both bottles and draft pours off the same two registers on the west side. With the setup there, it sure seems like it would run much faster if they just did bottles on one side. The Holy Mountain bottle releases move much better once they went this route.

The management of the line was a bit of a cluster. Fremont staff were out there checking and counting, but didn't say anything until well past noon (at which point they erroneously said there were only five cases left - at least 100 people bailed off the end the line after hearing this). Then, magically, about 12 more cases appeared from the back. I'm guessing these were pulled from the planned distribution to local bottle shops (had to be, right?). One woman who appeared to be in charge did circulate and try to find people who jumped out of line, that she'd get them bottles, but there was no way she could have made it to everyone.

I'm not sure how they're going to improve this. Given the limited supply, loads of hype/demand, and mules in tow it doesn't seem like there is an ideal solution. I suspect the days of low key, midweek releases are long gone. The upside though was that Fremont staff were friendly, excited about the beer, and seemed genuinely interested in trying to get bottles to as many people as possible.

FWIW, the Rusty Nail was delicious. Pretty hard to justify the wait and hassle given the relative ease of grabbing BBomb or KDS, but I suspect most of us will end up back in line next time.

 

Ha Ha, yes it is. I drove by around 11am today and kept on drivin'. Arrived home later around 2pm and cracked open one of the two remaining 2015 Goose Island BCBS I had remaining. All is good in the world

BTW: Kinda surprised at how many strollers and young kids I saw in tow compared to Holy Mountains recent release. Without question, these youngsters must have been miserable!

 

I almost brought my daughter, but then my wife offered to wait to run her errands until I got back.

 

Yeah my two little boys are definitely voting against going next time! I reminded them that this was part of their Father's Day gift to me (my wife bought me a gift certificate) and I'm pretty sure I'm not getting a gift next year. They did end up enjoying the Pina Colada soda.

Thanks to Tex and Fremont for making such good beer. I'm sure there will be bottles in shops for those interested over the next few weeks.

That said, I too would be in favor of "day of" announcements or mid week releases to limit the hype / line part of this process. Fremont's limited beers are good enough they hype themselves and there is no doubt that all bottles will sell out eventually, wether pre announced or not so they are going to get paid for their great work.

 

"I'm pretty sure I'm not getting a gift next year. They did end up enjoying the Pina Colada soda."

Lol, very funny response Brandon. Look forward to hearing your's and others continued evaluation/review of the 2016 Rusty Nails.

 

I showed up at about 1:30pm, grabbed a beer and a bottle with zero wait. First time at the brewery and really enjoyed it (happened to be in the area for other reasons). Can't wait to crack the bottle.

 

We knew our time would
not last forever. We had
it good. We still do.

 

I've actually been wondering if it will be that worth chasing it down when it lands around here (which I'm guessing will be any time now), when those other two will almost certainly be making another appearance.

Those weren't children. Those were mules.

 

im trying to figure out how to get a bottle...i hurts that im going to struggle to get this, i didnt even sniff midnight still now im scrapping for this one. kills me that its gotten to this point...

 

That's probably because Fremont is kid-friendly and always has been, while HM is not. To bring a kid to a HM release like this would mean leaving said kid at some point to play alone near busy railroad tracks.

Obviously for some of us it wasn't an ideal choice, but the only one available that also included getting this beer. And in my kid's case at least, she was generously rewarded later for her patience.

 

Thanks to those that shared beers today, I'm glad I could share as well. I know a few people complain about these releases and Fremont being so close to the street makes bottle sharing hard but we made the most of it. Fremont was really nice about the sharing as well. I'm glad they made more available for folks that were in line and it really sucks that some left. I knew this would happen which is why I think they should have not distributed, but I realize they may have to due to contracts. I like these things, great to Crack bottles and chat and meet folks.