Why does NJ distribution suck so bad?

Blatantly not true, I can assure you. Any store that does that is just lazy. Distributors in NJ HAVE to pick up old out of date beer.

Grass is always greener. All you have to do is go through some of the southern/plains states compared to NJ and you'll realize how good our distribution really is.

 

While I think distro in nj is quite good it could be better and certainly some of that has to do with the sales staff for the larger distributors who make most of their money on large macro case deals (purchased far more consistently than craft) rather than on the craft offerings they might have. There simply isn't much cash motivation for them to push a lot of craft beer. A lot of times they won't even tell the store what they have new in the warehouse; iit's actually up to the store to ask them about new items sometimes.

And even then I find crap like double jack from Feb dropped on a store. Now that has more to do w warehouse staff than the salesman but I mean to deliver that to someone nowadays is just embarrassing.

You do have to be proactive in snagging some of the new/limited release beers in nj but that's life. All in all I think we are quite well off here in the garden state.

 

I moved to Brooklyn about a year ago after living in Northern NJ my whole life and I have to agree with what most people are saying in here. I have never had a problem with NJ distro. My family still lives in NJ and I visit pretty often and almost every time I go there I find something that either doesn't get distro in NYC (Terrapin, Boulevard, Clown Shoes and Slumbrew just to name a few) or is more expensive in NYC (pretty much everything). Don't get me wrong, I love the selection I have living in a big city but sometimes I cringe thinking about how much more I'm paying for beer compared to other parts of the country.

 

You used the word "blatantly" as if I have information on the topic and have purposely lied to prove a point. I can assure you this is not the case..Perhaps, I should have said "In my experience...."

I have talked with two store beer managers and, to their knowledge and their combined 15 years experience, a distributor may have their own policy to take back out-of-code products. However, it is not a legal obligation. I would have to guess that the stores with old craft beer stocks are lazy or uninformed.

- Joe

 

Yeah- we do have it pretty good, all things considered. I was just describing where things need to improve, and how to make the most of it nowadays.

 

the demand for limited release is INSANE in NJ, even compared to NYC.

breweries/distributors really underestimate NJ demand for quality limited release beers. for Bourbon County, I had to trek to NYC - where it was in abundance - because every NJ store sold out within 20 minutes. it's unreal.

 

You always have Kane and Carton. Support local!!!

 

Love kane and carton but people in central and northern nj can't drive an hour each way every time they want something good. Hopefully both up their distro.

 

Maybe the wrong wording, but all my experience with distributors and beer managers suggests otherwise. Whenever I alert them of old beer they seem to grab it right off the floor never to be seen again. I don't expect every beer for sale to be super fresh, it just isn't realistically possible especially with certain beers coming from less than caring distributors. I do think they appreciate the stores appreciate the heads up though.

Cheers!

 

Again, it really depends on where you are. In Cape May County, our beer managers aren't allowed to order stuff that flows freely in Camden County/Gloucester/Burlington Counties. When I go to NYC to drop my wife off at JFK, the stuff I see a Jersey City Super Buy Rite is nut compared to what we get down here. Limited stuff, have a better chance of winning the lottery. Even for us in NJ, driving 1 hour plus to bottle shops closer to Philly isn't always something that can do on a release day compared to driving to stores around your house. The only advantage Cape May County has, is there are like 10 craft beer guys in my area according to the one store's beer manager, so between us his cases of FBS last a good 4-5 months longer than other spots. But once the tourist come done all of our spots are picked clean, and it back to hope you stocked up cause it'll be months before our beer managers are allowed to order anything again.

It really depends on which part of NJ your talking about. Heck, I found its easier and almost faster to drive up the bay to the Delaware Memorial Bridge and hit State Line in MD, faster than most of the places in state from Cape May, but still a good hour plus in good traffic one way.

 

New Jersey gets a perfectly fine distribution as far as which breweries are available here but what is worth talking about is the distribution of allocated things. Because of inter-personal drama between certain suppliers and certain distributors things get allocated in unusual and frustrating ways. That's why you can find things in certain counties at vastly different times and in vastly different quantities than you can in other counties. And that's why NJ hasn't seen and won't see a single bottle of Cantillion for a very long time.

 

And while we're on that topic, this week is a huge one for Hunterdon. Founders Harvest, BS, and Dark Penance, some DFH 120... among others.

 

Didn't realize they getting DFH 120 this week. This one always alludes me and I'm a day late...

 

Also Allagash Nancy, Lil' Sumpin Wild and Tasmanian IPA.

 

How is that Tasmanian IPA?

 

Was terrific last year.

 

If they are getting Sumpin Wild this week I plan on grabbing some. Neglected to last year and regretted it.

 

My bar received the Founders Harvest, Dark Pennance, Sumpin Wild, Tasmanian IPA this week along with Maine Lunch & MO all on draft. There is plenty of great craft beer to be had in NJ. I've never had an issue with Maine either. We usually get at least 1 keg a month.

 

when do stores usually get Hunterdon shipments? do they all vary?

 

Yes each region has a different day