Visiting Tillamook, Summer 2017 Update

I will preface with I did, indeed, get into Keepers and am thankful that I got in. I was very lucky it sounds like as many people I know did not get in.

As far as selection, it looks like must have been random in some way since some people stated on Facebook they sent it very shortly after it got announced and were shut out.

In regards to the locals vs. out-of-staters, I agree that it is better to reward the locals but in the end, it is a business and they will do what they think is best for their brewery. It sucks but it's all just beer in the end. Half of the beers on the membership will be open to the public so not missing out on everything.

I will also say that I do prefer what De Garde does in terms of their limited releases vs. what a certain brewery from my home state does..

 

I will preface with the fact that I did not enter into this contest. However, I'm curious how catering to those across the country as opposed to locals is good for thier business? I would imagine there are more than a few local dG fans that visit the brewery regularly but did not get in for Keepers and aren't too thrilled about it. Especially when they see folks from across the country asking for proxies. Just guesswork on my part.

Again, I have no dog in this fight, but that sentiment perplexes me.

 

I also didn't sign up and don't have a horse in this race but seeing all the out of region proxy requests is entertaining and probably infuriating for others.

 

Would be hilarious if the locals told cross country folks to pound sand and fly out.

 

Yeah, I don't know if it's best or not for their business; My implication wasn't that it was better although I can see how that was inferred. It could be that they have some memberships set aside for opportunity to locals who were shut out (highly doubt this)???

dG has not stated (to my knowledge) how many memberships they have, though I assume it's a couple thousand or so? Maybe less? I'm just wondering if there would be enough local demand to fill all the spots?? I don't know as I live over halfway across the country and have never been up there. I will say though that if they gave preference to locals there is also the chance of locals getting mules for themselves and by choosing randomly and allowing proxies, it prevents a good amount of that from happening.

Anyway, my guess is that they wanted to do it all in one fell swoop and decided that it would be best to open it up to everyone and let them sign up for a chance. Unless they answer on this, which I kind of doubt they will, it all will just be speculation.

 

Man, these situations have really turned me off of beer. A great brewery put in a lose lose situation for trying to make people/customers/fans happy. Online sales was enough to sell me. Wouldnt doubt this weighs heavily on if keepers will return, once again.

Oh well, lots of miserable folks out there, cant make everyone happy. Glad deGarde distributes to California now. Cant wait to pop the blossom with some good friends next weekend.

Cheers to good beers!

 

I have no idea the selection, but they inferred some sort of first in selection. I agree that it stinks to see many locals shut out while people that have never been to the brewery are now ISO a proxy. The shitlord game just changed methods is all. Now it's actually easier - just arrange a quarterly pickup, no need to have a truly local mule that can go last minute.

 

I personally find it interesting that no one has brought up the possibility that getting in to the Keepers club was neither first-come first-served -or- random (based on the names of individuals I know have been accepted, as well as when some people that were shutout claim to have entered, I find it hard to believe it was so straightforward). There may well have been a certain degree of curation on dG's part, and given that it's their business, then that's their prerogative. (I suspect it was about as "random" as Hill Farmstead's Collected Works selection, which I had mentioned earlier...)

 

That works for normal releases I guess but in this case, out of staters will only have mules if said mules also got into the Keepers as well. That was just my point. I would assume most out of state peeps will get a proxy unless they live close.

In any case, I'm glad to be a part of it and know that I'm lucky to get in.

Cheers!

 

Agreed ... based on what I've heard all of the 'friends of the brewery' made it in. My bet is that everyone they knew and liked got in. The rest were random/lottery. Of course it's thier prerogative ... that's a given. Just rubs me the wrong way a bit ... especially since they're being so secretive about the selection process.

I guess it pays to be outspoken. For the locals that entered and didn't get in .... maybe you need to ask to personally speak with the brewers/owners each time you visit so they know your name for next year? I've been to the brewery many many times and I can guarantee that nobody out there knows who I am ... simply because that's my personality.

 

know of a few regulars who didn't get in, but it does seem like it was neither random nor first come...

 

Given the proxy requests from out of state (lol, I even got a few PMs), not so sure about the curated thing.

 

Didn't intend to suggest the whole list of members was curated start-to-finish, just that selection was more nuanced than a binary of either fastest trigger finger vs. random lotto. Coulda been a combo of all of these things, along w/ other parameters I haven't fully considered.

 

It's nice to not care about things like this.

 

Amen.

 

T'is...But it's sometimes nice, for some people, to care about them, too. In moderation, and to the extent which is proportionate to whatever's really at stake. (Sidebar: this is a beer site, so make of the stakes in the present context what you will.)

De Garde cared enough about this program to not only revive it but further invest in it. They are surely very proud of it, and see it, among other things, as a way to reward, and maybe even establish a deeper connection with, the people who love their beer and love them, regardless of wherever these people may happen to live.

Personally, I didn't ever care to sign up, or much less worry about the minutiae of the whole process, but I do care about that. It positively means something, and something significant, to one of our best and most estimable breweries; and even if this self-imposed undertaking brought them many self-inflicted headaches as they took pains to get it right (however they ultimately defined that), the overwhelming demand they received is some pretty cool, and fully deserved, kind of validation for all they've accomplished...

To which I'll say, in other words, they earned their feverish attention and affection, and it's always nice to care about things like that, even if we don't benefit ourselves. Or never even wanted to...

 

Agreed. Couldn't give a rats ass about any of this kind of stuff. Mostly because living in Portland it makes ZERO sense to fanboy out over beer anymore. Probably the most effort I will give is driving across town for a special taplist once in a while. Not shitting on anybody who does keeper/clubs/etc. but they just aren't for me.

 

Yup. We all choose our own paths. Yet, some fools insist on trampling upon the toes of others, just cuz they can. Fuck 'em.