Why release a beer if it needs more age to be optimal?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by BrownNut, Sep 19, 2012.

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  1. BrownNut

    BrownNut Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2011 Florida

    I was reading about CCB's Marshall Zhukov stout on their site and it made me think of a question for any brewery in general since I've seen this sort of thing before:

    If it doesn't get to its full potential for a few months, why don't they just hold onto it for those few months and then release it? Why release a beer that isn't yet where they want it? Seems like for the same reason breweries don't want you to drink their beer past a certain date, because you won't get the experience they want you to have, they wouldn't want you to drink it before a certain date/readiness.

    I don't think it's to time it right for winter. They could just just brew at different times if that were the case, releasing it when it made the most sense to hit the window they want. Since this beer is age-able, it doesn't seem like they're limited by a date on the back end like if it were an IPA. So that wouldn't seem to factor into their calculations.

    So why?

    Not looking for guesses. I'm hoping someone knows the actual answer.
     
    #1 BrownNut, Sep 19, 2012
  2. aasher

    aasher Grand Pooh-Bah (4,557) Jan 27, 2010 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    See The Abyss.
     
    #2 aasher, Sep 19, 2012
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  3. paulys55

    paulys55 Initiate (0) Aug 2, 2010 Pennsylvania

    One reason could be that it costs money for them to store it? Wouldn't they rather get their money back asap by selling it and not have to worry about storage?
     
    #3 paulys55, Sep 19, 2012
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  4. BrownNut

    BrownNut Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2011 Florida

    See what about it?
     
    #4 BrownNut, Sep 19, 2012
  5. tngolfer

    tngolfer Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2012 Tennessee

    Some people enjoy aging their own beers similar to people having a wine cellar.
     
    #5 tngolfer, Sep 19, 2012
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  6. aasher

    aasher Grand Pooh-Bah (4,557) Jan 27, 2010 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    It says "The Abyss is best enjoyed after November" or something of that nature on the label.
     
    #6 aasher, Sep 19, 2012
  7. BrownNut

    BrownNut Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2011 Florida

    Right but the question would be the same there. Why? Why not release a beer when it's ready?
     
    #7 BrownNut, Sep 19, 2012
  8. BrownNut

    BrownNut Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2011 Florida

    I get that and I cellar beers too, but in most cases there is no indication that the beer wasn't intended for immediate consumption. It's just a hope and a prediction that it will get even better if aged. In this case, it sounds like it's not quite ready for prime time and they want you to hold off, which leaves me with my question.
     
    #8 BrownNut, Sep 19, 2012
  9. bishopdc0

    bishopdc0 Savant (1,161) Jan 23, 2010 Maine

    storing beer cost money with beers like these the brewers margin to make a profit is low anyway they cm get the beer out is better for their bottom line and in turn means it cost us less
     
    #9 bishopdc0, Sep 19, 2012
  10. StrangeBrewer76

    StrangeBrewer76 Zealot (615) Aug 5, 2008 Massachusetts

    Beers of this nature take time to age but you need space to store them.
    By shifting the cost of storage to the buyer, the brewery gets paid up front, has more capacity to brew more beer and everyone but the impatient or ill-informed benefits.
     
    #10 StrangeBrewer76, Sep 19, 2012
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  11. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    I'd love to have the willpower to save one....I just can't do it Scotty!
     
    #11 jivex5k, Sep 19, 2012
  12. Danny1217

    Danny1217 Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2011 Florida

    I had Marshal Zhukov fresh and it was delicious. I actually don't see how age could make it better.
     
    #12 Danny1217, Sep 19, 2012
  13. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Because people will buy it anyway.
     
    #13 Orca, Sep 19, 2012
  14. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    See all of the Deschutes special release beers.
     
    #14 UCLABrewN84, Sep 19, 2012
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  15. duketheredeemer

    duketheredeemer Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2007 Washington

    People's tastes vary as well. Some people may find they like a beer better fresh, while others prefer it with some age. Releasing it early may well be to some people's preference.
     
    #15 duketheredeemer, Sep 19, 2012
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  16. Hands22

    Hands22 Initiate (0) Oct 14, 2011 Florida

    1-year old Zhukov is incredible. Well worth the wait.
     
    #16 Hands22, Sep 19, 2012
  17. genuinedisciple

    genuinedisciple Initiate (0) Jan 10, 2010 Michigan

    1. You bought it.
    2. You store it.
    3. This gives them the finances & space to make more things you'll consume
    4. There'd be no point to our Cellaring/Aging thread...duh.
     
    #17 genuinedisciple, Sep 19, 2012
  18. gtermi

    gtermi Initiate (0) Apr 21, 2010 Texas

    Why not give people and amazing beer and give them the option to age... I think fresh or aged, Abyss is a beast of a beer
     
    #18 gtermi, Sep 19, 2012
  19. BrownNut

    BrownNut Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2011 Florida

    Your first three points together make sense and echo what some others have speculated.

    But as to the fourth, I think there's a difference between something that's ostensibly ready to drink upon release, but which might improve with cellaring for some amount of time, and something that they specifically say should really be aged a bit before drinking. That was the crux of the question, which your points 1-3 may well address.
     
    #19 BrownNut, Sep 19, 2012
  20. jzeilinger

    jzeilinger Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,847) Dec 4, 2004 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I refer this back to paulys55 response, I don't work in the beer industry, but this makes sense to me. I'd try to acquire some (could be a few or several bottles), try it, then stash the rest away for aging because that what us beer geeks do.
     
    #20 jzeilinger, Sep 19, 2012
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