Toppling Goliath (2024)

I think the interest in general for these expensive hard to get bottles is waning, you’re seeing the demand drop and secondary values tanking. Every year it’s easier and easier to get bottles if you want to. To those that bought the membership, they must value that guarantee. It feels a bit like a cash grab to me, especially with the trends seeming to head towards easier obtainability. But I also live 10 hours away and have no interest in figuring out the logistics to get bottles from the brewery. I’ve been once for a release in 2018. It was fun, but it doesn’t feel worth the effort anymore. Nevertheless, an interesting topic to start the thread for the new year.

 

Exactly this. Me 7 or 8 years ago would've been all over this. Me in 2024 shrugs about still having never tried KBBS or Assassin and then goes back to my day. At this point I don't think I'd pay $100 for a KBBS even if I walked past it sitting on a store shelf.

 

Whoops I forgot all about it

 

A little of each for me I'd say. In the past I would have bit the pricing bullet for that elusive tick but I cannot be spending on beer like that anymore without feeling like a rube. No offense to anyone who does find that value in TG beers but I think a lot of us have simply moved on at this point. It's been years since these big name beers hit the hype ceiling and life has gone on in that time. Lots of my Millenial cohorts have had kids or have attempted with varying degrees of success to buy homes in that time. Most of us just aren't in the same place in our lives anymore and to be blunt the $100 a bottle beer lifestyle isn't compatible with moving onwards and upwards.

Another thing I've noticed people just do not want anything that comes in a bomber any more. A buddy mentioned putting his bombers up for sale on the grey market at a loss just to be rid of them. I recently tried to unload a bunch of quality CW stouts like Black Gold and Pappy 25 in exchange for Russian River shelfies and totally hit a wall. I bring this up as an example of how beer has shifted in the last few years. While I don't think places that serve that certain spendy clientele like TG or Side Project will ever have a problem selling their product, the high water mark for hype and pricing has clearly come and gone across the board.

 

I don't think interest has waned (or demand dropped) but rather there are so many high-quality beers almost anywhere now, and breweries like TG (& Side Project) have increased supply.... but they still sell out. In my mind, my local brewery puts out amazing BA stouts I'd say are 9/10 of what TG is so why go through all the hassle. All that to say, I still signed up.

I think it's safe to say that when 8 out 10 of the top 10 beers are no longer Barrel-aged Imperial Stouts and Side Project La Coterie membership takes weeks to sell out - THEN you can say interest is waning.

 

IMO … Combination of things - TG and Side Project are not comparable to most breweries. However, as you can find on regional threads brewery counts are on the decline so I’d argue that there is reduced demand. There is an argument being made about the shift being due to demographics - older generation drinking less and younger generation not in to drinking. I subscribe to that news… however TG will have pricing insulation based on hype/popularity (luxury item).

I refuse to pay $100 for 12 oz of any beer and I’m certain I’m not alone. I think that is price gouging and quite frankly it annoys me. Distance definitely factors into me not entering anything TG but I’m even seeing some of their distributed BA beers locally not selling. I’m looking at you Toppling Timbers.

I am in LC and it is expensive. However, the top of the pricing is $60 - $65 per bottle. The smallest bottle is a 375 ml. Also, distance for me is easier. TG is going to be fine and people that live closer are probably more willing to pay. But I feel like the availability of quality BA beers makes it harder to justify long travel times for beer.

 

Who'd have ever thought that would happen.

I've seen trades like this but always too much of a hassle. Shipping 12+ RR stuff costs too much.

 

Lol I had even thought ahead on the shipping. Was planning to send a huge Tavour shipper box that could easily be reused. Packing would have been relatively minimal on both ends. Other side would've made out pretty good on the whole deal after I filled it up with extras. No dice. Still sitting pretty in stout city.

 

PM me

 

I’ve got plenty of Russian river, and I’m always on the look out for CW stouts

Hit me up anytime

 

Assassin Muerte Dulce and Single Barrel Rye happening on Saturday, March 16th, and it's non-ticketed. $125 for the set.

https://www.tgbrews.com/events-calendar#calendar-ac00c718-e839-4b36-8a5b-6eb863bc8f7f-event-lsutga8i

 

The TG membership merch is so amazingly half assed it isn’t even funny

 

We regular people need to see some pictures of this.

 

I might have been interested but then there still would be the logistics/ proxy help of it all.

 

If only I could figure out how to post pictures here lol

 

A buddy actually sent a pic of his (we don't bother with pics on this site either lol) and I got to see the super plain jane glass that simply says "Barrel Society" in with text and doesn't even have the brewery name on it. I immediately thought of all the cool gold-rimmed snifters and branded stemware they've done in the past. Hell I still keep a lookout for the ever elusive King Sue teku when I hit thrift stores.

 

It is the most bland, generic merch ever. Not a single TG logo to be seen on either the glass or shirt