The One That Got Away...

Hence, why I didn't buy one. But, honestly, how far off is it from 120 minute ipa, world wide stout, ba vanilla shake or older viscosity per 12 ounces?

 

Wanderer

 

From 2012, right after I moved to Georgia. I was preparing for my first beer trade and took this photo because Lost Abbey was unique to GA compared to most states around me. There it is in the top righthand corner - The Angel's Share. This was the first and most haunting beer that got away.

 

Toronado. 2011. Cable Car Kriek for $55 a bottle



Never again will I pass up a bottle because of price

 

Before I realized the value of Rochefort 10, I let many pass as they were expensive. Stock is over in India. Damn !

 

When I was in school a local shop just got a few cases of KBS with no limit. I was there when they were delivered, the cashier asked if I was interested. I went to the back of the store picked up a case of pabst and grabbed 1 KBS (no clue what it was). If I could go back and do it over again I would buy a whole damn case.

 

In the mid/late 90s I passed on numerous bottles of Alexander (Rodenbach) because I thought it would be around all the time and I still kick myself.

 

Before I really got into the Farmhouse Ales, I had 4 packs of Goose Island Sofie in my hand 4 or 5 times but would always put them back, leery of spending $9.99 on a 4 pack of the unknown. Now that I took the Farmhouse plunge with Tank 7, Opal, Hennepin, Coup D'etat, and others and found out I liked them, I can't find Sofie anywhere around. Matilda and Pepe Nero, but no Sofie. Some day I will get the chance.

 

Yeah, I remember '08 BCBS collecting dust on the shelves here in Minnesota. Back before buying expensive beer was cool. If I had only known.

 

OK I´ll bite. A consignment of Bourbon County Vanilla showed up in Ireland while I was there. I bought 4 bottles. Could have/Should have bought 4 cases....They were selling them to people as an xmas party drink. I need to go lie down now.

 

DDG, fuck!

 

A local store stocked up their rare beer cabinet and sent out a pretty vague tweet/FB post about coming down to check it out. My buddy called and told me to get down there immediately because of all the great stuff that they had. I missed out on an Abyss and a Bourbon County Coffee, but I console myself in the knowledge that being so excited to grab those beers is probably what caused the guy(s) who did to completely overlook the last bottle of Proprietor's sitting on the top shelf. Would have loved to grab the other two, but not at the expense of a Proprietor's, which I got for $19.99

 

I have almost an identical narrative regarding KH - I had just gotten into craft beer and went to a craft-friend grocery store in Westchester County. I chatted with the beer guy for a bit, and he told me that he had a bottle of KBS that I could buy from him that he had set aside. I grabbed it. He also suggested I buy a bottle of King Henry (which they had sitting on the floor, with at least 6-12 bottles just sitting there), but the idea of spending top dollar for a bomber, regardless how good, just sounded absurd at the time. I mean, $20 for a 22oz bottle (or whatever it was)? That's crazy!!

Now, looking back, I don't regret not buying it, but it is a good indicator of where I was at as a beer buyer and drinker and where I'm at now.

Since then, I can't actually think of a beer I deliberately passed on... I think my problem tends towards the opposite end of the spectrum these days!

 

A long while ago while in Maine, I had a chance to divulge in cheap bottles of Dogfish Head World Wide Stout and Old Skool, but only bought 2 bottles of each because I feared about how to get them back home via plane (oh days before I knew how to travel with beer).

Another time, just a month ago in fact, I stopped at a random bottle shop 100 miles away from my house with a friend. This was just after the release of Black Note Stout in SE Michigan, and I had already scavenged my county for a measly 6 bottles. I ask the guy who owns the shop if he has any, and he replies "yes," followed by something I thought I misheard. "4 bottle limit at $6/bottle" he says, and in my stupidity, I get overexcited and make a big deal about how hard it is to find. My friend comes out, who I ask if can also get a 4 pack, and he politely says "I don't have that much." Oh, how stupid I was to show my desperation.....

On a more positive about beers that DIDN'T get away, I one time spotted 4 single bottles of Thirsty Dog Wulver priced at $3.39 a bottle. Safe to say, I snatched up that $13.56 4 pack of a beer that normally retails $22-25. My stories are lame.

 

Epilogue: I picked up a Positive Contact while on a business trip today. I also want to thank a few fellow BA's for offering to send me one without asking for anything. I'm might have to see about some trades once I get my supply down a bit!

 

Too many to mention. Many of the beers that are sought after like mad today used to sit on shelves (you know who you are BCBS and Cantillon) and I regret not drinking them more often before they became endangered species.

 

When I first turned 21, NJ used to have these beers that would sit on shelves for months, but I always passed them by to try Dogfish Head's new bla bla bla. Those beers I passed by are now referred to as "loons", and they don't distribute to NJ anymore.

 

By all accounts Alexander tasted like bad grenadine fresh if that is any comfort.

 

Don't sweat it. Drinking PtY for breakfast isn't that great and is pretty much a diservice to the beer.