The Alchemist (July 2016)

Discussion in 'New England' started by F2brewers, Jul 1, 2016.

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  1. Jbrews

    Jbrews Pooh-Bah (2,214) Aug 6, 2013 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah

    I realized and edited, but still with so many days + distribution I just don't see it being as bad.
     
  2. RuckIt

    RuckIt Pundit (940) Apr 29, 2008 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Based on a comment from Friday (320 sales in first 2 hours open), Alchemist appears to be allotting enough Heady & Crusher for maybe 400-500 allotments a day (8pp each), although I'd love to get a better number from the brewers. It seems like showing up before 1pm, even on a busy day should get you a full allotment, but you may be waiting 20-40 minutes.
     
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  3. woodfinish

    woodfinish Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2005 Massachusetts

    If they can keep up that level, I think in the long term they'll be fine, crowd-wise. It's when you have to line up before open or risk missing out that things start to get self-reinforcingly nuts.

    Fixed allocations per day and the same limits every day are both smart moves. I know Tree House will sell every drop they brew for the foreseeable future, but I wish they'd adopt a similar strategy to spread out demand.
     
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  4. TJRoar

    TJRoar Initiate (0) Nov 6, 2012 Connecticut

    So at this point does anyone have a rough idea on when people need to show up by in order to get a full allotment of beer? I am just trying to plan my route for a run to Alchemist and Hill Farmstead Friday and keep going back and forth on which place to go to first.
     
  5. bla211

    bla211 Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2015 Colorado

    Definitely go to Alchemist first, you can be out by 11 if you plan it right, then be to HF when they open at 12.
     
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  6. mobius387

    mobius387 Initiate (0) Dec 5, 2010 Wisconsin

    I think demand/excitement is so high now because they just opened and it's a holiday weekend so lots of people in the NE area are able to drive up for this. I was in line today and there were lots of families and children, more so than any other beer release I've been to. So that tells me lots of people came during their vacation week. That's not gonna happen as much later in summer or certainly in fall.

    That being said, it was a great experience going today. Staff were great and experience was seamless. Got in and out within 10 minutes but I was in the first few people in line. They got a nice set up where they let a few people in at a time in groups. You first grab your free tasting of one of the 3 beers, then sip on that while you wait in line for the retail cans. It's a beautiful facility. I hope one day they allow tours.
     
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  7. timnyc

    timnyc Crusader (425) Dec 28, 2013 New York
    Trader

    Darn, I'm going to be arriving on a Saturday mid-afternoon, leaving Monday. No brewery cans for me. Oh well. It'll be cool to see the brewery anyway. I'll plan it better next time.
     
  8. bla211

    bla211 Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2015 Colorado

    Leave earlier?
     
  9. timnyc

    timnyc Crusader (425) Dec 28, 2013 New York
    Trader

    Just called the car rental place and it looks they're flexible about the pickup, so this might work! Then again, it's Beer Fest Saturday, so it might not.
     
  10. king75

    king75 Initiate (0) Jul 27, 2010 Michigan

    Plan on going Thursday and Hirt Hill Farmatead too. Trying to figure out times/line times for both. Any info would be greatly appreciated
     
  11. makisupapolice14

    makisupapolice14 Pundit (799) Jun 5, 2005 New York

    We went on Thursday for the soft opening and had a great time. Also had family go today who got there at 11am and were out in 45 mins, which is less than we waited for a less crowded soft opening. Not too bad.

    We were at phish in Saratoga this last weekend and there was a bunch of heady being sold in the lot as well as these sweet heady topper grateful dead shirts. Grabbed a few for
    https://www.etsy.com/listing/199544395/heady-topper-grateful-dead-steal-your
     
  12. Htg

    Htg Initiate (0) Sep 12, 2014 Massachusetts

    Got in line today a few minutes before 11 and was out just after 12. My wife stopped by around 3 and they told her that they sold out of Crusher and HT around 12:30, moved to 4 4 packs of FB until about 2 and then stopped completely. I'm up here for the week so will stop by again and report back, but I would recommend getting there by 11:30 this week if you want the mixed case option.
     
  13. ajthegreat

    ajthegreat Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2010 Vermont

    That's an ok shirt... but have you seen the Heady Tweezer shirts lol? I got one last year and my fiance is rip-shit every time I wear it in public.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=hea...=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=kVioDGeRqYr2TM:
     
  14. dbphoto04

    dbphoto04 Aspirant (290) Nov 22, 2015 Massachusetts

    we did this on saturday. We got to Alchemist at 1030 and were maybe 40-50th in line, they opened 10 minutes early and we were out by 11:15. We did lunch at Pro Pig and then headed to Hill Farmstead - got there at like 1:30 and were out by 2:30.

    I would recommend doing Alchemist first since they open at 11 and Hill opens at 12.
     
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  15. ransom22

    ransom22 Initiate (0) Feb 5, 2016 Uzbekistan

    It says the beer fest is July 15th-16th. Where are you guys seeing that it starts the 9th?
     
  16. timnyc

    timnyc Crusader (425) Dec 28, 2013 New York
    Trader

    15th & 16th is correct.
     
  17. Brad007

    Brad007 Pooh-Bah (2,821) Mar 28, 2007 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    Wow, I'm reading some of these comments and I'm surprised by the snarkiness displayed by some folks.

    I waited in line last Friday and it really wasn't that bad. I got what I came for and I can't complain.

    That being said, the attitudes of some of these folks really bothers me. THEY JUST OPENED!!! Don't be so judgmental from the get-go!
     
  18. HeyLady

    HeyLady Initiate (0) Sep 17, 2015 New York

    They might have just opened but this isn't their first rodeo.
     
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  19. blisscent

    blisscent Savant (1,110) Aug 16, 2015 Rhode Island

    If someone shows up later and there are no cans are there still samples available?
     
  20. Tine802

    Tine802 Zealot (592) Jun 21, 2014 Vermont
    Trader

    Yes. I went there last night after the beer was sold out. It was a pleasant experience with generous samples. All three beers are available for samples.
     
    blisscent likes this.
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