2018 Membership drop/renewal

[tosh1]

Their beer has no trade value anymore

I hate beer.

 

[chemman141]

I hate beer.

I honestly have never traded their beer, but I do like having that as an option if they were to release something I wasn't a fan of and others wanted (has happened with other memberships in the past). The trade value thing is the smallest of the gripes I have with them for sure, and wouldn't be near enough for me to drop my membership on it's own.

 

[disapowzment]

Their beer has no trade value anymore

This shouldn’t be in the equation at all.

If live oak made a membership that would send me a case of cans a month I’d sign up. Cc the Panda club.

 

[sdreaper]

This shouldn’t be in the equation at all.

If live oak made a membership that would send me a case of cans a month I’d sign up. Cc the Panda club.

A case of Live oak Pils might not make it half a month in my fridge....better send 2.

 

[jwacky]

Short of it:

Lock & Key: DROP, I'd do it now for a partial refund if I could.
If you lived next door to a Bottlecraft, it might be worth it, but the online sales were nothing like I had anticipated (MAYBE once a month, and mostly Alvarado IPAs - I'm not an IPA guy). I constantly see them advertise stuff on the regular BC FB page and think "hey, that would be great to be able to buy online," but no such luck. The one item I really wanted to get for an online sale was a BL bottle, which I logged in literally 5 seconds after it was posted on IG, and it was already sold out. I've picked up only one quarter of "locker beers" so far, and they've essentially been BC "shelf turds," or rather, they were all sitting on the shelves when I came in to pick up, and weren't really all that special or unique generally speaking. The "heads up" on "special bottles" going up for sale in store would be nice if I lived near the specific location they identified, but again, I also don't get why they don't put at least some of them up online. I understand some breweries don't like you to do online sales, but don't say a member benefit is the ability to buy "select rare bottles, via members-only webshop," and then having infrequent sales with nothing particularly "rare" about the beers. Also, there haven't been any members-only tastings or events that I'm aware of, nor have there been any BC events that I am able to buy advance tickets to. In other words you paid $225 for beers you can grab off their shelves and a 10% discount in the taproom... so not worth it.

I'm not quite at that point yet, but probably because I am an IPA fan, and Alvarado Street is my favorite brewery. I like being able to purchase online on a Friday and pick up at my convenience the next week. That said, online sales have dropped off recently. And yes, I do wish they'd offer more stuff in those sales based on their regular IG posts. Not sure if opening other locations has distracted them or what.

Also agree that living close by would be an added benefit, but I was told that going in. So, I don't know. I'll see how the next 6 months play out. The locker drops have been pretty meh. I'd be better served by keeping only League and spending all my money there. Truthfully, having all these bottles/memberships keeps me from really enjoying everything else San Diego has to offer. Feel like I gotta choke down my "member" beers while passing on interesting looking options elsewhere because I have "too much" in the fridge.

 

[chemman141]

This shouldn’t be in the equation at all.

If live oak made a membership that would send me a case of cans a month I’d sign up. Cc the Panda club.

Live Oak has trade value though. People don't even want BP for $4$ trades. My comment was more to the overall demand of the beer. IMO the quality has dropped way off while the price has increased 50% and bottle sizes have gone down.

 

[KevSal]

Feel like I gotta choke down my "member" beers while passing on interesting looking options elsewhere because I have "too much" in the fridge.

this is one of my fears about beer clubs. the moment i get this feeling with any club, its time to drop imo

 

[disapowzment]

A case of Live oak Pils might not make it half a month in my fridge....better send 2.

It took everything I had to not make my poor mother not bring 2 cases of gold, helles, and pilz home. Then box everything up and send it to me on Sunday.

 

[disapowzment]

Live Oak has trade value though. People don't even want BP for $4$ trades. My comment was more to the overall demand of the beer. IMO the quality has dropped way off while the price has increased 50% and bottle sizes have gone down.

I wouldn’t know. My live oak guy usually expects a few bottles of pips in return for cans.

 

[jwacky]

this is one of my fears about beer clubs. the moment i get this feeling with any club, its time to drop imo

Good way of looking at it. Some clubs feel like a needy boyfriend/girlfriend, always trying to keep your money/attention with promises and then failing to deliver cough*mikkeller*cough

 

[chemman141]

I wouldn’t know. My live oak guy usually expects a few bottles of pips in return for cans.

I just meant that people want it, not that it has secondary "value". It seems anyone that wants black project just has a bunch of people enter the lottery for them.

 

[coldstorage]

 

[jmgrub]

This is the first year that I haven't been in any clubs. Over the years, I have been part of Keepers, Bruery RS and the Hangar 24 one (splitting the latter two with friends).

Bruery RS was a real problem because (a) the beers were reasonably expensive, (b) I rarely, if ever, got the opportunity to try them before buying, and (c) 80% of them were not worth the money. I still have cases of Bruery crap that I don't want to drink and will probably end up dumping unless somebody else wants to take if off my hands.

All in all, I love not being in any clubs.

 

[jtmartino1]

This is the first year that I haven't been in any clubs. Over the years, I have been part of Keepers, Bruery RS and the Hangar 24 one (splitting the latter two with friends).

Bruery RS was a real problem because (a) the beers were reasonably expensive, (b) I rarely, if ever, got the opportunity to try them before buying, and (c) 80% of them were not worth the money. I still have cases of Bruery crap that I don't want to drink and will probably end up dumping unless somebody else wants to take if off my hands.

All in all, I love not being in any clubs.

I still have about 13 bottles of Black Tuesday from ~5-7 years ago, and about 6 Chocolate Rains. I heard they're drinking well, but people groan when I bust them out at a bottle share.

 

[jmgrub]

I still have about 13 bottles of Black Tuesday from ~5-7 years ago, and about 6 Chocolate Rains. I heard they're drinking well, but people groan when I bust them out at a bottle share.

AndresR and I split the membership. I think he is still plagued by cases of unopened Bruery bottles as well (everything from the "good stuff" (BT, CR etc.) to the not-so-good stuff).

I think I still have a bottle of Chocosaurus Rye and 2 bottles of Horchata 2014.

On the bright side, the RS was how AndresR and I became friends, so it was all worth it!

 

[chemman141]

I still have about 13 bottles of Black Tuesday from ~5-7 years ago, and about 6 Chocolate Rains. I heard they're drinking well, but people groan when I bust them out at a bottle share.

Said beers are very welcome at my monthly bottle shares!

 

[Padraig]

When I first started reading this thread I had no brewery memberships. Now I'm in Casey, Mikkeller SD and Alesmith (shared).

I hope you're all proud of yourselves.

 

[wolf13]

So, I haven’t been following the Bruery... well at all, but I thought someone said they were moving into the 375ml format this year. Did I hear that wrong? If not, what happened with that?

 

[coldstorage]

... people groan when I bust them out at a bottle share...

It's basically an insult around here to show up with Bruery bottles at our shares since 4 of the 5 regulars were all members at one point (3 RS, 1 HS) with a tower of stuff to get through still. It's basically a half step up from asking your friend to help you move. Funny, since it wasn't really that long ago that opening a black tuesday was an event.

Its going to get really dark when everyone has chipped away at the good stuff and all we have left are cases of the "misses"

Actual thing that happened back in April:
*Friend opens bottle of Yount and sets it out on table*
Everyone: "groooooan", "**** You", "What's you're problem?" etc

 

[AndresR]

AndresR and I split the membership. I think he is still plagued by cases of unopened Bruery bottles as well (everything from the "good stuff" (BT, CR etc.) to the not-so-good stuff).

I think I still have a bottle of Chocosaurus Rye and 2 bottles of Horchata 2014.

On the bright side, the RS was how AndresR and I became friends, so it was all worth it!

Awww......

 

[jmgrub]

It's basically an insult around here to show up with Bruery bottles at our shares since 4 of the 5 regulars were all members at one point (3 RS, 1 HS) with a tower of stuff to get through still. It's basically a half step up from asking your friend to help you move. Funny, since it wasn't really that long ago that opening a black tuesday was an event.

Its going to get really dark when everyone has chipped away at the good stuff and all we have left are cases of the "misses"

Actual thing that happened back in April:
*Friend opens bottle of Yount and sets it out on table*
Everyone: "groooooan", "**** You", "What's you're problem?" etc

Exactly my situation. Nobody is happy when a Bruery bottle is opened.

 

[jmgrub]

Awww......

 

[AndresR]

And yeah, so MUCH Bruery!

I have so damn much, ill pack a few bottles of Black Tues with me when I'm flying so the TSA has something to steal from my luggage, so my undies are safe.

 

[JulianB1]

Schramms: renewing, assuming Mazer Eight will continue along the same lines as it has.

Garagiste: renewed.

Barrel Culture: not sure. I like the guys there a lot and enjoy many of the beers, but I haven't been going to as many member nights as I thought I might due to cutting back random weekend traveling. I still do long-haul trips or fests, but less 1-2 day trips in the 2-4 hour range than I used to, mostly as a result of finally having a good local spot to hang out at. Really acidic sours are also a style of beer I'm not trying to hoard as much any more.

 

[sdreaper]

So, I haven’t been following the Bruery... well at all, but I thought someone said they were moving into the 375ml format this year. Did I hear that wrong? If not, what happened with that?

Yes, there are some 375mL offerings. Not everything has been in the small format, but some of the bigger beers (ex. cherry chocolate rain) were produced in both 375 and 750. The small batch hoarders boxes are 6 different beers, 2 of each, so 12 in total, in 375mL format. I no longer feel terrible opening a BT variant by myself.

 

[ASUBeer]

Crooked Stave: they are running a very organized and well executed club this year. I know what beers of theirs I like, so it’s been pretty successful so far. I order less than 50% of the available allocations/types of beer. I still won’t renew it because honestly, who needs that much CS in their life?

Lost Abbey: I pretty much am just doing this for the Cable Car. Maybe renew?

I think next year, I’m drinking shelf pilsners and IPAs and making lambic orders from Belgium.

 

[KevSal]

Schramms: renewing, assuming Mazer Eight will continue along the same lines as it has.

Garagiste: renewed.

Barrel Culture: not sure. I like the guys there a lot and enjoy many of the beers, but I haven't been going to as many member nights as I thought I might due to cutting back random weekend traveling. I still do long-haul trips or fests, but less 1-2 day trips in the 2-4 hour range than I used to, mostly as a result of finally having a good local spot to hang out at. Really acidic sours are also a style of beer I'm not trying to hoard as much any more.

wait you're not in collective works

 

[JulianB1]

wait you're not in collective works

Nope. I actually haven't been to HF in almost a year, definitely wouldn't be able to make it often enough to do pickups for that even if I had the chance to get in.

 

[KevSal]

Yes, there are some 375mL offerings. Not everything has been in the small format, but some of the bigger beers (ex. cherry chocolate rain) were produced in both 375 and 750. The small batch hoarders boxes are 6 different beers, 2 of each, so 12 in total, in 375mL format. I no longer feel terrible opening a BT variant by myself.

to late for a lot of us. i did the stupid survey every year asking for 375, even 500ml...

 

[KevSal]

Nope. I actually haven't been to HF in almost a year, definitely wouldn't be able to make it often enough to do pickups for that even if I had the chance to get in.

are all pickups done in person, they don't allow proxies?

any one here in La Coterie?

 

[JulianB1]

are all pickups done in person, they don't allow proxies?

any one here in La Coterie?

It used to be in person only, dunno if that changed.