Secret Tap Takeovers & Special Release Events

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by AxesandAnchors, Dec 18, 2012.

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  1. AxesandAnchors

    AxesandAnchors Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Oregon

    Has anyone seen this happen before? Would be kind of like a secret concert, but for beer. I used to get records at Music Millennium up on Nob Hill in Portland when they were still there. Every now and then a band (that you knew) would walk out and start playing a set. It was pretty fuck'n awesome because it was totally unsuspected.

    Would be cool if craft brewers started doing this at tap rooms. Would be kind of a warm welcome to the over crowded, sometimes over hyped, advertised releases.

     
    #1 AxesandAnchors, Dec 18, 2012
  2. MontereyBay831

    MontereyBay831 Zealot (622) Dec 15, 2012 California
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    yes, actually last month i went to a Sierra Nevada event. They set the guinness book of world records for the most beers on tap from a single brewery at once.

    76 on tap i believe. Give me a little bit and i will post pictures!
     
    #2 MontereyBay831, Dec 18, 2012
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  3. AxesandAnchors

    AxesandAnchors Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Oregon

    So it wasn't advertised, you just happened to be there as they surprised everyone?
     
    #3 AxesandAnchors, Dec 18, 2012
  4. MontereyBay831

    MontereyBay831 Zealot (622) Dec 15, 2012 California
    Trader

    Scratch that, it was advertised. But it was a tap takeover regardless..
     
    #4 MontereyBay831, Dec 18, 2012
  5. AxesandAnchors

    AxesandAnchors Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Oregon

    Yeah, these happen pretty frequently in Portland. But because they advertise them you basically get the same effect as the normal limited releases.

    Still would like to see those picture though!
     
    #5 AxesandAnchors, Dec 18, 2012
  6. MontereyBay831

    MontereyBay831 Zealot (622) Dec 15, 2012 California
    Trader

    If it makes any difference, i was at my local spot on saturday and that kind of happened. It wasnt announced they were going to tap this or that they even had it, but it happened and i just happened to be there to 'enjoy it'..




    [​IMG]
     
    #6 MontereyBay831, Dec 18, 2012
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  7. MontereyBay831

    MontereyBay831 Zealot (622) Dec 15, 2012 California
    Trader






    The video explains it first but then Here are a few pictures of my own from the Sierra Nevada world record night.





    Bigfoot Barleywine from 2010.


    [​IMG]






    Narwhal.




    [​IMG]





    Life and limb.





    [​IMG]






    [​IMG]





    Hoptimum



    [​IMG]











    Last but not least, i forget what the name was but i had never heard of it. aged since 2008 or 2009 in bourbon oak barrels. my favorite of the night by far



    [​IMG]
     
    #7 MontereyBay831, Dec 18, 2012
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  8. darknova306

    darknova306 Initiate (0) Jan 13, 2005 New York

    Wow, that looks like a hell of an event!

    Sadly, I've never stumbled on a surprise tap takeover. That would be an awesome day, no doubt.
     
    #8 darknova306, Dec 18, 2012
  9. SammyJaxxxx

    SammyJaxxxx Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2012 New Jersey

    I will occasionally get a text from a local bar that something special is being tapped that aftenoon.
    I don't think they advertise it elsewhere
     
    #9 SammyJaxxxx, Dec 18, 2012
  10. WassailWilly

    WassailWilly Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2007 New York

    Only been to one total tap over and it was Sierra Nevada... Barrel aged Life and Limb all 4 of the 30th Anniv. series.
    Flights of Bigfoot plus at least 20 more it was EPIC.. All in Roch. NY !!!
     
    #10 WassailWilly, Dec 18, 2012
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  11. tjensen3618

    tjensen3618 Maven (1,391) Mar 23, 2008 California

    I like the idea, as I'm not one for crowded special releases or events.

    Unfortunately I dont think craft beer is popular enough yet in order for a secret event to work. Imagine Goose Island bringing a few rare kegs to your local craft beer bar, I would guess maybe 1 of 10 people would even recognize that there were some special GI beers silently put on the menu without hyping it up.

    Some bars will hold back special kegs to quitely tap later, but I think you were asking about more of an event type thing.
     
    #11 tjensen3618, Dec 18, 2012
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  12. BearsOnAcid

    BearsOnAcid Pooh-Bah (2,239) Mar 17, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Wouldnt make sense to not advertise tap takeovers but bars around here will sometimes tap vintage or special beers with no announcement.
     
    #12 BearsOnAcid, Dec 18, 2012
  13. AxesandAnchors

    AxesandAnchors Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Oregon

    I guess it just depends on the market. Here in Portland(OR) a non-advertised special tap takeover or just a special release would still do very well. We have a pretty dense population of beer geeks and just all around craft beer appreciators that the people in the taproom would certainly understand what was happening. Plus even if they didn't empty the kegs on the night of you could almost guarantee that word would spread and it would be gone the next day.

    It would just be nice to enjoy without all the negative that you sometimes have to put up with. Those little concerts were way better than any large festival or show I have ever been to. It shouldn't always be about making the most amount of profit in the least amount of time, actually in the long run stunts like this would probably widen their popularity. So it's really a win win.

    Again I understand it wouldn't work in all markets...then again neither do secret concerts.
     
    #13 AxesandAnchors, Dec 18, 2012
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  14. DonDirkA

    DonDirkA Initiate (0) Dec 14, 2011 Arizona

    I don't like the idea. Once in a while breweries or craft bars here will tap something awesome with no warning and I'm too poor to drink it :slight_frown: If I know its coming I can prepare...
     
    #14 DonDirkA, Dec 18, 2012
  15. AxesandAnchors

    AxesandAnchors Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Oregon

    Again it would only work in select markets, but I think the idea wouldn't be to keep quiet about it. Rather just not publicize it before hand. Make a big deal about it once they're on, "Hey everyone Goose Island just took over all our tap lines, they sent us some extra tasty hard to find brew, once it's gone it's gone so enjoy". Que the phone calls to all your beer friends who were lame and didn't join you in the first place...and by the end of the night the place is probably pretty packed regardless of the tap room not promoting before hand. At least those unassuming few got a nice little surprise and got a real chance at enjoying some great craft beer. I don't know, one can only hope...sounds like a happy ending to me.
     
    #15 AxesandAnchors, Dec 18, 2012
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  16. AxesandAnchors

    AxesandAnchors Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2012 Oregon

    *Of course I only use Goose Island in my example because I wanted to connect it back to what you (tjensen3618) said. Personally I don't think they fit in this discussion being that they are part of the inBev conglomerate now so they already participate in secret tap takeovers.
     
    #16 AxesandAnchors, Dec 18, 2012
  17. avenuepub

    avenuepub Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2009 Louisiana

    We have done a few " stealth" tappings. Its a good plan for a single keg or case of bottles that has the potiential to be a shitshow. I say " stealth" becasue we will usually announce it but quietly and at the very last minute. A Just tapped: Cantillon xyz for example. It's fun...it rewards the people who follow you and enhances the experience for the people that do show up. also means that the beer lasts a bit longer. So instead of having a very special keg last 4 hours it might stay on for a couple of days.

    I don't think I'd ever do a stealth tap takeover though. They are challenging enough without worrying about not having enough people in the buildimg to empty some large number of kegs.
     
    #17 avenuepub, Dec 18, 2012
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  18. youbrewidrink

    youbrewidrink Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2009 Vermont

    Three Penny Taproom does it all of the time. They normally keep everyone well informed as to what's being tapped, but occasionally the sneak a great one in just to see if people are paying attention.
     
    #18 youbrewidrink, Dec 18, 2012
  19. radio2525

    radio2525 Zealot (586) Feb 14, 2012 Ohio
    Trader

    Went to an Ithaca tap takeover expecting the regular line up. They brought brute and lebleu
     
    #19 radio2525, Dec 18, 2012
  20. Scotty

    Scotty Initiate (0) Jun 29, 2012 Maryland

    Portsmouth Brewery used to put Kate the Great on tap on a random day of the year

    Seems like they always held back a tiny bit to do this.
     
    #20 Scotty, Dec 18, 2012
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