SOLE Artisan Ales

I didn't see it till I went through their Instagram page.

 

Why have the lines gotten so bad here? It seems insane to me that people are driving like 4 hours just to wait for at least another 3 hours at the brewery. Even waiting the at least 3 hours thing if you live right there is insane to me. To each his own I guess, but no beer will ever be this good for me. Imagine it'll only get worse when they move to Easton

 

I think the new mantra for craft breweries is "If you hype it, they will come".

Someone previously shared this blog post with me. It's a good case study about how the hype can be self-fulfilling:
http://www.ctmq.org/part-2-pioneer-trailblazer-neipa/

"Say there’s gonna be a line and maybe, just maybe, there would be a line."

 

the PT Barnum approach

 

Seriously, this place is hands down the most overhyped brewery in the entire area, and possibly state. Granted, I haven't had all of their beers, but I've been able to try most of them, and really.....what's the big deal? They all taste like decent imitations of products made by better, actual breweries. Gypsy brewer brews a juicy NE IPA, better get there 5 hours early! Pass.

 

if a professional brewer can't brew a NE style IPA worth a damn they shouldn't be brewing professionally.. that is my opinion of course.. this shit isn't rocket science

you could read through the home-brew section here on BA and figure out how to do it, yet everybody keeps lining up at various spots all across the country.. i guess thinking their local NE IPA is the best ever!!!!

sure i like the style, but fuck, its nothing that can't be replicated with a little research and practice.. sure some do it way better then others but it shocks the shit out of me that every mom n pop shop.. and that is what it's becoming with 5k craft breweries.. can't whip out a NE style ipa worth a damn

 

Line + Hype + Tallboy Cans + Brewery Only Release = Trade Bait

 

You forgot the circular sticker on the can.

 

While I would never drive all the way up there and wait in line for cans, I can say that I enjoy their beers. Have been fortunate to try most of them on tap in the city, and Turbo Nerd and Citra Nerd are great beers. Also enjoyed Juice Box and Pineapple Smoosh. Beers get hyped for a reason, because they are good. You don't see people standing in line for 16oz cans from places like Conshohocken or Neshaminy. No need to hate just because they make good beer.

 

Maybe not as much recently, but Neshaminy was the first true "beer line" I ever waited on. Also the first time I ever got shut out after waiting in line for a long time.

 

Neshaminy Creek:


I'm sure there are lines at Conshy for cans too.

 

It's not fair to compare Sole to Neshaminy. Neshaminy is widely distributed. Why would anyone wait on line at the brewery when they walk into a local store.
The fact that a beer has the longest line doesn't make it the best.

 

Correct, lines can also be a function of scarcity, or maybe "artificial" scarcity used to create demand.

Breweries can choose to use their brewing capacity to supply the need for there most popular beers, or they can constantly release "new" beers in small batches and create lines on release day. Even if those beers are only slightly different.

Sole may be slightly different in that they are a gypsy brewery. But take someone like Tired Hands. If they just picked their best pale ale, best IPA, and best DIPA and brewed to their capacity, they could probably keep a steady supply to sell and eliminate the weekly lines.

Sole used to just sell 3 flagship beers, and they were distributed. No hype, so change the formula?

 

Sole's posts on Facebook about their beer release this weekend is certainly trying really hard to drive up the hype. For a Noon release, they are telling people to get there at 8 am.

I don't see why customers fall for this shit, it's really transparent.

 

If you are so sure everything is going to sell out why don't you
A. Release it with no announcement
And/or
B. Lower the limits so it isn't worth the long drive and hours of waiting.

 

Welcome to the Extreme Exuberance of the contemporary craft beer scene.

Cheers!

 

If I waited in line for 4 hours to buy a case of beer - I'd be embarrassed. Yet it seems there are plenty of people willing to treat it as a badge of honor. Bizarre.

 

Aw man, you are so 2014!

Can't you get with the times!?!

Cheers!

 

Sole beers are good but nothing Im willing to stand in line for.. just like Tired Hands..

 

Is there any brewery's beer that you would be willing to stand in line for? Maybe Tree House?

Cheers!