The Alchemist launches Heady Topper Authorized Retailer Program

I can tell you I'm not happy with GF WC IPA after it's been sitting Ina warehouse for 1-2 months either…

Green Flash's hoppy bottles all suck.

 

I liked the last line: "... to protect their brand and beer. Especially when ONE can of Heady Topper can sell for anywhere from 3 to 4 dollars." That's a rip off, indeed! Damn you, black market!

 

That totally cracked me up. Our news teams don't know the half of it when it comes to what's going on outside the VT borders re: brewing - well, Upper Valley occasionally...

 

Local market?

 

Maybe, if the local market is fat guys from Jersey wearing Yankees caps.

 

Absolutely. If fat guys from Jersey make the trip up more power to them. But I thought the Vermonters in these posts were happy they dropped the case limit from 6 to 2 so there would be fewer of them Jersey Yankee fans. The Alchemist cannot control who shows up at the brewery. They can only control where they sell assuming it is not in distribution.

To all those guys from Jersey, maybe you should start wearing Red Sox hats to go in disguise

 

we will be, if it's year round

 

You can always come to the cannery on a weekday to buy our fresh beer. If you're not employed full time. If you are, we don't have any on Saturdays and we are closed in Sunday. Bt we will have more on Monday when you're back at work.....

Lol...

I get it, I've had it, it's good. It's not amazing. I think they take themselves a bit too seriously.... Seems there's plenty of demand for more production, but instead of that they are pursuing more restricted distribution. Maybe they don't value the customer much... Don't really understand the strategy.... They make one beer and they can't make enough to supply more than a 50mile radius. Lol. So funny.

 

Congrats! You don't get it, at all.

 

I'll never understand people's anger over the Alchemist's distribution. They've increased production and still sell out at the cannery. What the hell are they supposed to do?? Build a giant brewery and go in debt?? Just so people don't have to get off their ass to get Heady?? ........Take a trip and enjoy Vermont. If you live in New England, it's a great day trip. You don't need constant access to Heady. If the Alchemist grows, they'll grow on their own terms, and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

I get it. I just think its a bit of manufactured drama. I'm not broken up about it, If I want it ill go to pro pig or reservoir and have a can or two like I usually do. I'm just not taking time off work to run up their to hope to get some some at retail or the cannery.... It's just not worth that much to me. It's not just them, any retail operation that is only open when people are working is kinda lame. By I get it, they don't want to work too hard, and they want to have their Sundays off too, and they don't want to brew more or more often and they don't want to be married to their business and they're happy just doing what they're doing and they're quirky and zany and kooky like that and it's Vermont and its farm to table and its all about the locals and so on. I get it. It's very Vermont, I'm not a stranger to the Vermont thing.

It's kinda funny is all. And I'm a hypocrite too because HF isn't in that different a position other than they go out of their way to appreciate their fans, they make a variety of beers which for me surpass the one trick pony, and I don't hold the limited distro and limited production against them near as much as I do alchemist. I guess because it seems alchemist is laughing at all the people who can't get it, while HF seems to be to be at least sympathetic with the people who miss out and he seems to try real hard to make it fair and just spread the love rather than this "we're out, too bad for you" vibe I seem to get from alchemist.

I'll admit I'm being dramatic here and maybe my feelings are way off base, but it's how I feel. And it's not a factor of me not "getting it" lol.

 

I go to Vermont to get heady, but I've not been able to actually get it at the cannery to take home, Maybe they shouldn't be so concerned about retail partners until the can accommodate their storefront demand for more than 3 days a week. Lol.

And nobody is suggesting they build a giant brewery and go into debt. Lol. Tanks generally go taller more than they go wider. So it's not like it would take a colossal expansion to accommodate storefront demand. Breweries do this every day it seems... Jacks abbey is expanding, are they going into massive debt? Are they doing it without a business plan?

I don't get the fanboys cutting so much slack.... I don't hate any craft brewery... I just think HF works the high demand, limited supply model with more finesse and care for the customer than alchemist does. Have enough on hand to supply the people who come to your door before getting all into your authorized retailer marketing program. That's all I'm sayin. They are basically putting their accounts ahead of their consumers. I don't see other non mass market breweries don't that, in most cases it's the opposite and they put the consumers first and commercial accounts second. ESP if your business plan is to "not grow"

 

Why you so mad bro? they're making the money they want putting in the amount of work they want; god forbid they don't do what you think they should.

 

Alchemist has historically looked after local consumers that supported them through thick & thin - that includes both individuals who show up at the counter at the cannery, and their felllow small business-owners who run our local retail outlets - stores where folks like you can usually buy their beer several days of the week. Consumers do come first - just not necessarily the out-of-town ones. I'm not harshing on you - that is the reality of the philosophy of limited distro around here, and it's not intended to be punitive. Looking after your local demographic is good insurance; the rest will come by when, and if they are able. They'll let you know when they're running out real-time with a tweet or take your call so you don't waste a trip. That's pretty humane, IMO. Everyone I know who works there enjoys the work, the hours, the vibe/camaraderie, and putting out a product everyone loves. Let's hope it doesn't get loved to death!

 

So people are pissed the Alchemist cares more about getting their product to the local accounts/retailers/consumers first and foremost? Vermonters typically can't make it on the weekdays.. So the Alchemist wants to make shipping beer to where the customer is a priority. Should they be sorry they can't ship to MA, NY or anywhere? Not really. What they're doing works and it satisfies the owner. Just because a lot of people like his beer doesn't mean he needs to make a 50k bbls..

 

Since when does a heads up that supplies are running thin, or completely sold out so people don't waste a trip, come off as laughing at customers?

Honest question, not being a jerk - do you think the fact that you've never been able to get it at the cannery, despite saying you go to VT specifically for it, unfairly colors your opinion of how they treat their customers?

 

People that get pissed about the Alchemist's business decisions crack me up. It's really something. It's as if the Alchemist isn't allowed to make their own decisions. Maybe the Alchemist is just trying to find that balance between being successful and really stressed? Could they expand, sure. Would that mean more headaches for the folks in charge, no doubt. I know this sounds amazing, but some people would rather have less money if having more meant added responsibilities that they're not interested in having. I don't blame them one bit for doing what they're doing. People getting twisted about it need to remember that not every business exists to meet their own personal demands.

 

Everyone in the world works a 9-5 job in an office .Lol

This is entirely in your head, it's literally nothing like this at all. Lol

 

You sure?

 

Lol... Of course they can run their business whatever way they want. And of course they treat locals better than out of towers if they choose. I am not telling them how to run their business, I'm just observing that I think another Vermont business does a better job of it. And I'm not pissed, or angry... I'm just making an observation. I'm not looking for ma distro or looking for them to expand their distro at all. I think it's fine they sell at local retail. I specifically think its lame they can't have their one beer on hand on a Saturday for people who come to the door.

You can make all the apologies for them you want, you can sing their highest praises if you want, I'm not saying my opinion is the only opinion. I just think its lame to ship your product to retail and run out in your own store. Maybe I don't get the benefit of that. Is there anything more local that serving it from your door? Lol. Local to the xtreme! Always available at our cannery....in case the limited distro authorized retail runs out. Seems easy.