Black Friday Goose Island Release Events (multi-state)

[johnnyramirez]

Is California seeing any variants at all? I think I read that we might get Backyard Bramble.

 

[stupac2]

Is California seeing any variants at all? I think I read that we might get Backyard Bramble.

I think we'll get them on draft, but not bottle. I think the bottles are only going to be BCBS and BCBBW.

 

[user 306237]

The South Loop Binnys has announced that they'll see BCBS and all the variants starting at Noon. Anyone remember when folks got in line down there last year? 5am?

I know the Lincoln Park store will get more but that event is going to be the cluster****iest of cluster****s. I suspect many people are heading there expecting to walk out with 1 of each (bottle or 4-pack) -- more likely, it will be 4-packs of the standard version for 90% of those who show up.

 

[Arbitrator]

Arbitrator I knew that was you that liked to bring up bottle variation in the Eclipse beers. I couldn't remember and then you mentioned something about the eclipse party and I was confused.

Yeah, I first brought it up in 2009 and brought my tasting group around to the idea. They confirmed it in 2010 when they opened 2 bottles of Evan Williams side by side and found they tasted different. At that point we took it as a fact.

I don't bring it up to disparage the beers -- but I [used to] work in an engineering function assessing variability of semiconductor memory devices, and so I approached it like an engineering problem. I brought up the variation primarily as a suggestion for improving the packaging, since I knew they were using a mobile bottling operation. Todd didn't admit to any variation, but he indicated that in 2011 they were improving the packaging, so I bought a few cases again in support.

I still encountered variation, though it was less severe than the 2010 bottles. I wrote reviews accordingly. At that point, my relationship with Todd soured, primarily because he told my tasting group that I was off my rocker and/or trying to troll him. He adamantly denied bottle variation and attributed it to storage (never mind that sequential-numbered bottles from the SAME CASE in the SAME CLOSET opened on the SAME DAY tasted different).

At the same time, for 2012, he started brewing multiple batches of Totality and blending them, then blending barrels of different ages, so he knew something was going on and was working to alleviate the problem. He just didn't want to admit it and was kind of throwing me under the bus to do it. He confronted me in person at Eclipse and sent me some rude BMs -- we cleared it up later, but I was annoyed enough that I didn't buy the 2012 Eclipses at all, out of principle.

If it makes you feel better, I talked to Todd once and he admitted to the bottle variation. Obviously, he didn't say some bottles were crap, but basically they didn't, and possibly still don't, have tanks large enough to blend an entire batch at once. That lead to different blends for each bottle. To combat this, they just decided to put batch numbers on the bottles so you at least knew which batch you liked. Haven't bought a bottle to know if this is true, though, since they are stupid expensive here in Philly.

Yeah, he's danced around the idea of admitting crap bottles (which I understand -- financially, it's probably suicide), but the way he took my criticism so personally and argued with me over it has soured me on supporting him the way I used to. I still attend the party because it's a ton of fun, and I bought bottles thinking it would help me get tickets. But I understand I have no cache there anymore, and I've fallen a long way from "We need to get this guy in our blending sessions" to "**** this guy, he's a hater."

I tried to straddle the line between being a genuine, earnest supporter and offering constructive criticism where I could. Unfortunately, that line is either impossible to walk, or I don't have the finesse to do it.

That was the last post on this, I swear. Let's talk about BCBS.

 

[lb304854]

Don't worry Arbitrator, Ashman is our problem now (again).

 

[Arbitrator]

Don't worry Arbitrator, Ashman is our problem now (again).

I didn't realize this was public knowledge already.

 

[user 305778]

Wait what? Is he leaving FiftyFifty for Goose Island?

 

[stupac2]

Wait what? Is he leaving FiftyFifty for Goose Island?

Second. What's going on here?

 

[user 305778]

Second. What's going on here?

I said Goose Island since I thought LurchingBeast worked there. I'm apparently not correct.

 

[stxSS07]

Shhhh shhhhhhhhh shut your mouth all of you.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

Shhhh shhhhhhhhh shut your mouth all of you.

...what, are you trying to corner the Eclipse market?

























Idiot.

 

[stxSS07]

...what, are you trying to corner the Eclipse market?

























Idiot.

Nahhh it ain't even like that mannn.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

Wait what? Is he leaving FiftyFifty for Goose Island?

Second. What's going on here?

Wooden you like to know. Hell will freeze over before any of us FIBs divulge this wide open secret.

 

[user 305778]

Oh I guess that makes what LurchingBeast make more sense.

 

[lb304854]

Second. What's going on here?

Taking over Flossmoor Station's production facility in some kind of supervisor role.

 

[lb304854]

I said Goose Island since I thought LurchingBeast worked there. I'm apparently not correct.

I do not work at GI. I am close with someone who does.

 

[user 305778]

I do not work at GI. I am close with someone who does.

I figured it was something like that after being told you don't work there. I was confused by some of your posts as they seemed pretty knowledgeable plus being able to the variants and such early.

 

[stupac2]

Taking over Flossmoor Station's production facility in some kind of supervisor role.

Hmm, I wonder who's going to take over Eclipse. I guess I'll just be able to ask Alicia and Andy soon enough.

Also, this has to be in the running for least-on-topic thread on BT.

 

[user 305778]

Blame Arbitrator everyone else seems to.

 

[sidetracked]

This thread is almost as good as the Banner Hammer BIF thread.

 

[tehzachatak]

That was the last post on this, I swear.

Does it have to be?

 

[BusinessSloth]

Anyone else picking up on peanut butter notes in the finish of 2013 BCBS? Maybe I just love PB so much that I'm imagining it.

 

[MordorMongo]

Anyone else picking up on peanut butter notes in the finish of 2013 BCBS? Maybe I just love PB so much that I'm imagining it.

My guess?? :

LYMI, been waiting to use that one.

 

[lb304854]

Hmm, I wonder who's going to take over Eclipse. I guess I'll just be able to ask Alicia and Andy soon enough.

Also, this has to be in the running for least-on-topic thread on BT.

Did you end up asking them?

 

[stupac2]

Did you end up asking them?

Oh, right. Apparently Todd's not actually leaving. At some point during the party he stood up to give a "thank you for coming" speech and said something like "I'm sure a lot of you have heard rumors that I'm leaving, but I'm staying here!" Though they do have a new brewer, Alyssa something or other. (Woods? It's hard to tell from her signature.)

 

[Arbitrator]

Oh, right. Apparently Todd's not actually leaving. At some point during the party he stood up to give a "thank you for coming" speech and said something like "I'm sure a lot of you have heard rumors that I'm leaving, but I'm staying here!"

The odd thing is that he was the one who started those rumors.

 

[HenrikO]

I called them out on their ******** in the forums.

I was particularly vocal about the FfaC nonsense, since RR donates all proceeds to charity. They distributed it to Beer Rev, Toronado, Trappist, and City Beer Store and asked them to sell it with no markup. Guess which one of those added $5 to the price?

I posted about it on BA and e-mailed Vinnie, who was apparently pretty pissed. Craig later messaged me on BA and asked me not to step foot in his store. He doesn't know who I am, so I don't care, but I still don't shop there.

Among other places where I seem to be unwelcome:

- Perry's Liquors in Livermore. Harpreet (the owner/buyer) claimed RR was brewing his store a special beer. I e-mailed Vinnie, who denied it. I posted a review and mocked Harpreet for lying. I also called them out on their back room of illegal beer and high prices. Harpreet told me (through a mutual friend) that he'd throw me out if I ever went back. I'd love to see the little **** try, but I don't go there anyway.

- Grape & Grain in San Mateo. The beer manager remarked that he held back bricks of Westvleteren 12 to break them up and sell them at a profit later. I posted that this was ******** (post was deleted). I commented on said ******** locally, and word got out to Adam. I think I'm unofficially banned.

- Whole Foods Los Altos. The old beer manager, Ramon, used to sell old IPAs. He once had a 4-month old end display of Pliny (this was years ago, when you could actually get Pliny in quantity) and he attempted to sell it with the claim that "Vinnie likes it with a little bit of age." Since the label explicitly says, "DO NOT AGE," I wrote a review expressing my derision, and Ramon contacted me to argue. He said that Vinnie was changing the Pliny label to reflect its ageability. Once again, I e-mailed Vinnie to check -- ********, of course -- and I posted a link to my BM exchange with Ramon. Apparently Whole Foods found it, and since Ramon was already on probation, he got fired. He ran into me earlier this year and shattered two Cantillon bottles in my face (empty). Sadly, the new buyer is even worse, so I haven't gone back.

- Monument in Concord. This was my go-to store for a period of about a year; it was over an hour away, but it had an amazing selection and very fair prices. Unfortunately, the beer buyer left, the selection stagnated, prices went up, and the overall experience wasn't worth it. There were cases and cases of year+ old IPAs gathering dust on the floor. On one trip, I saw FW XII in the display for $60 a bottle (this was when XIII came out I think) and I expressed surprise to my wife. The clerk (who always recognized me) overheard me and said angrily, "Someone will pay it. If you don't like it, don't buy it." I also later discovered they were breaking up and reselling Westy XII packs. I'm not banned exactly... Self-banned maybe?

- Cask & Flask in San Jose. I used to go there when I worked nearby. I realized that they had a Bruery RS membership and were selling RS-exclusive beers at a markup, and I wrote a review mentioning that. They messaged me and asked me not to return if I have a problem with their practices. I haven't gone back.

- FiftyFifty. I was a big champion of Eclipse in 2009 when people first started paying attention to it. I realized later that there was substantial bottle variation -- it wasn't debilitating in the 2009s, but it was pretty bad in the 2010 batch, and I wrote a series of reviews chronicling my journey through the ups and downs of various bottles. The brewer took offense and called me out through a series of private messages and even in person at the Eclipse anniversary party. I stopped reviewing his beers after that and have mostly ceased buying Eclipse (I didn't buy any in 2012 and just bought a couple for this year).


I'm seriously unimpressed with the caliber of people in the bottle shop business -- way too many unethical folks. I used to champion mom 'n' pop as a rule, but now I'd much rather support a large corporation like Whole Foods or BevMo.

You've been banned from 7 bottle shops?
How many bars?

I want to drink with you. Sounds like a blast.

 

[Arbitrator]

You've been banned from 7 bottle shops?
How many bars?

There's a followup list a few posts after the ones you quoted. At this point I'm not welcome in City Beer Store (half taproom), Grape 'n' Grain (half taproom), Livermore Saloon (owned by Perry's) and a few more.

I want to drink with you. Sounds like a blast.

Not sure if you're sincere, but good luck finding a bar that will have me.

 

[Arbitrator]

You've been banned from 7 bottle shops?
How many bars?

I want to drink with you. Sounds like a blast.

Incidentally, I did myself no favors with Fieldwork, a new brewery in the Bay Area. After their soft opening, someone posted this in a Facebook group devoted to Bay Area beer.

Turns out the brewer, Barry Braden, pays close attention and even commented on that post (I didn't know he was the brewer). Heard through the grapevine that he's inquiring "who the **** that Theodore Swimmer is." When Fieldwork had their grand opening a month ago, the guys didn't even invite me because they probably knew I'd get them thrown out.

So, you could argue I've been banned from a place before it even opened. No ragrets. Their beer is just ok so far, and **** their restrictive growler fill policies.