2018 Membership drop/renewal

[paperdoll2207]

Got invited to join Modern Times' Theory of Leisure Committee last night so now almost certainly dropping Lost Abbey, Bottlecraft Lock & Key, and Mikkeller.

Kinda sorta debating Alesmith because of the included bottles, but prices of extra bottles and fills there have me hesitating.

My mind changes every day on these, haha.

Congrats! I have a few friends who made it in this year too

 

[disapowzment]

dropping Lost Abbey,

This club made me pop a tent this year

 

[jwacky]

This club made me pop a tent this year

I have no issues with the club itself. Great bottles and great service. Love the access for extra bottles, too. But I can't justify locking in as much 'beer money' in to memberships as I'd need to to keep this along with Theory.

 

[rrryanc]

I have no issues with the club itself. Great bottles and great service. Love the access for extra bottles, too. But I can't justify locking in as much 'beer money' in to memberships as I'd need to to keep this along with Theory.

The Hoarders approach of putting all your eggs in one basket, eh? Been there, done that, have so much beer left over that's hard to open.

 

[jwacky]

The Hoarders approach of putting all your eggs in one basket, eh? Been there, done that, have so much beer left over that's hard to open.

Not necessarily, more that I feel like I've passed up tons of stuff from other local breweries that seemed interesting because I felt like I needed to spend through a membership to make it "worth" it. For example, buying cans from Mikkeller each week when I also want to try what Fall released, or Council, or whoever.

Edit with further thoughts: It's really more just sticking with the one membership I truly enjoy and taking advantage of it to the fullest, and spending the remaining budget at the LBS, or other breweries.

 

[rrryanc]

Not necessarily, more that I feel like I've passed up tons of stuff from other local breweries that seemed interesting because I felt like I needed to spend through a membership to make it "worth" it. For example, buying cans from Mikkeller each week when I also want to try what Fall released, or Council, or whoever.

Edit with further thoughts: It's really more just sticking with the one membership I truly enjoy and taking advantage of it to the fullest, and spending the remaining budget at the LBS, or other breweries.

I guess I don't see how this changes by just switching to a single higher tier at one brewery, especially one that incentivizes a high level of continued spending in order to maintain that membership. Seems like you'd just be transferring the money from Mikkeller to MT and there'd be the same amount left to spread among local breweries.

 

[disapowzment]

I guess I don't see how this changes by just switching to a single higher tier at one brewery, especially one that incentivizes a high level of continued spending in order to maintain that membership. Seems like you'd just be transferring the money from Mikkeller to MT and there'd be the same amount left to spread among local breweries.

I think what he's saying is its too much money to run both clubs and still be able to buy local beer. Which I get

 

[rrryanc]

I think what he's saying is its too much money to run both clubs and still be able to buy local beer. Which I get

Right, but he's moving up a tier in MT. So it's not just dropping one and keeping another, which I totally would understand.

 

[jwacky]

I think what he's saying is its too much money to run both clubs and still be able to buy local beer. Which I get

This. Try not to overthink this, haha. Also dropping a couple other memberships. So, sure, replacing the higher tier with Mikkeller's money, but also freeing up beer money from the couple other clubs I'm in by not renewing them.

The math checks out in my head.

 

[rrryanc]

This. Try not to overthink this, haha. Also dropping a couple other memberships. So, sure, replacing the higher tier with Mikkeller's money, but also freeing up beer money from the couple other clubs I'm in by not renewing them.

The math checks out in my head.

Hey, whatever works for you. Just have been down that route with The Bruery already and won't repeat it.

 

[jwacky]

Hey, whatever works for you. Just have been down that route with The Bruery already and won't repeat it.

But I'm not necessarily spending MORE than I already am at MT. Maybe some. But I'm taking my existing 2018 spending and reallocating some of the membership costs (and money spent on extras because of those memberships) and planning to put it elsewhere, like random local releases, etc. There are at least $650 in membership fees alone (not counting "shifting" Mikkeller to MT Theory) that will free up.

I get what you're saying though, and how this is step toward that direction.

 

[jwacky]

It is funny that you mention Bruery like this. Seems you were not alone - I'm tired of seeing Bruery bottles at shares, lol.

 

[rrryanc]

It is funny that you mention Bruery like this. Seems you were not alone - I'm tired of seeing Bruery bottles at shares, lol.

I think you'll start to see the MT bottle share thing as well. The memberships are super-concentrated around their physical locations and you have a lot of people in this hobby with FOMO. So bottles start to pile up in the cellar and after a while people try to clear the backlog. But if everyone's in the club (i.e. Bruery) then it's even harder to get rid of those bottles.

 

[jwacky]

I think you'll start to see the MT bottle share thing as well. The memberships are super-concentrated around their physical locations and you have a lot of people in this hobby with FOMO. So bottles start to pile up in the cellar and after a while people try to clear the backlog. But if everyone's in the club (i.e. Bruery) then it's even harder to get rid of those bottles.

Fair points. I can see where you're going with it now. Time will tell. Though on that same note, we do try and coordinate a little when it comes to shares, even with being in the same memberships. This time I'll bring Member bottle X, you bring bottle Y, another bottle Z. And then we'll rotate the next time.

I could just eliminate friends from my life and drink my bottles alone, too. Options.

 

[rrryanc]

Fair points. I can see where you're going with it now. Time will tell. Though on that same note, we do try and coordinate a little when it comes to shares, even with being in the same memberships. This time I'll bring Member bottle X, you bring bottle Y, another bottle Z. And then we'll rotate the next time.

I could just eliminate friends from my life and drink my bottles alone, too. Options.

Do you coordinate buying? I don't think it works without that side. Otherwise what happens when you open a 22oz that everyone has 4 of, but isn't all that good?

I also analyzed how much I actually drink in a year, and it's not nearly as much as I was buying, which didn't help. I just don't kill that many 22oz+ bottles of stout on my own in a year, and even if you include bottle shares it's probably at >2 cases per year? That's like 2 months of a top tier membership...

 

[jwacky]

Do you coordinate buying?

Sometimes, yes, actually. Or we've tasted all the beers and confirmed all are good, so we know we'll like them.

I also analyzed how much I actually drink in a year, and it's not nearly as much as I was buying, which didn't help.

Don't bring logic in to this, haha. It does help curb spending when you don't have the need to buy EVERYTHING but I'm sure most of us have far more than we need in a given year. The same is definitely true for me with my cigar collection. I probably have at least a 10 year supply. When I got to that bursting point I stopped buying cigars. Haven't made a purchase in at least a year. Guess I'm just not quite there yet with beer.

 

[Padraig]

I think you'll start to see the MT bottle share thing as well. The memberships are super-concentrated around their physical locations and you have a lot of people in this hobby with FOMO. So bottles start to pile up in the cellar and after a while people try to clear the backlog. But if everyone's in the club (i.e. Bruery) then it's even harder to get rid of those bottles.

Casey is starting to head this way. Despite being 2,000 miles away there's always loads of it at tastings/bottle shares in New York.

 

[chemman141]

Casey is starting to head this way. Despite being 2,000 miles away there's always loads of it at tastings/bottle shares in New York.

Difference is that Casey beers are actually good.

 

[MKtheGeneral]

Dropping

• Tired Hands Believers Club balance ran out with no option to re-up.. so I guess that's that
• Rare Barrel
• Garagiste

Adding

• Holding out hope for a few places

 

[Padraig]

Keeping: Casey, Alesmith (split)

Likely Dropping: Mikkeller San Diego. Beers so far have been pretty good to excellent tbf but slow to come out and some logistical issues with the extras.

Adding: Modern Times (hopefully)

 

[Padraig]

So what's up with Rare Barrel and Garagiste? I've been plenty of posts from folks across the platforms saying they're ditching these two. I thought the latter was a big deal in the mead world?

(I know nothing about mead beyond what nathanmiller and jammery tell me).

 

[IndianaJones]

So what's up with Rare Barrel and Garagiste? I've been plenty of posts from folks across the platforms saying they're ditching these two. I thought the latter was a big deal in the mead world?

(I know nothing about mead beyond what nathanmiller and jammery tell me).

I wonder if anyone is dropping because Chad is completely tone deaf when interacting with the community/consumers, or if it's because there are now some bottles with stated minimum limits (Reboog Vitis comes to mind), or if it's because he was bagging on people for not spending a minimum spend in the club? Lots of regulars have started to ditch Chad because, well, he's Chad

 

[RyanG1]

ISO: Casey Membership halfsies or something

 

[Padraig]

ISO: Casey Membership halfsies or something

Renewals for current members closed on Friday so they should be opening it up to new joiners this week I'd guess. It's $90 so worth grabbing it if you can and seeing how you like it month to month.

 

[RyanG1]

Renewals for current members closed on Friday so they should be opening it up to new joiners this week I'd guess. It's $90 so worth grabbing it if you can and seeing how you like it month to month.

Appreciate the heads up. Touch based with the brewery to get on email list.

 

[MKtheGeneral]

So what's up with Rare Barrel and Garagiste? I've been plenty of posts from folks across the platforms saying they're ditching these two. I thought the latter was a big deal in the mead world?

(I know nothing about mead beyond what nathanmiller and jammery tell me).

Re: The Rare Barrel - at least for me, it's a combination of price point, requirement to have a trustee (to ship to NJ) and lack of pleasure (or high likelihood of discomfort) in doming a bottle solo at home plus there's a lot more of it these days when you go to a share
Re: Garagiste - it's price point, overall douchiness of the owner and most of his followers, and while it's good it's nowhere near Schramms. Honestly I get chills thinking about how much that facebook owners group irritated me.

 

[Padraig]

Kinda sorta debating Alesmith because of the included bottles, but prices of extra bottles and fills there have me hesitating.

I see you did the sensible thing.

 

[ASUBeer]

I’m in the last quarter of Crooked Stave. I don’t plan on renewing but they’ve put out good beer all year (although I’ve been selective in ordering), the club has been run well and my trustee is awesome. I just don’t feel like the leg work and cost of doing it another year.

I’ll most likely keep Lost Abbey for 2019 as long as my buddy I’m splitting it wants to keep it too. Expensive but the beer has been fantastic and the volume of beers isn’t too high.

 

[KevSal]

Appreciate the heads up. Touch based with the brewery to get on email list.

i’ll split that with you if you get in but don’t want to commit the full membership, that’s one of like to try more of

 

[nathanmiller]

So what's up with Rare Barrel and Garagiste? I've been plenty of posts from folks across the platforms saying they're ditching these two. I thought the latter was a big deal in the mead world?

(I know nothing about mead beyond what nathanmiller and jammery tell me).

Meh. People wanted Garagiste when it was the new hotness and now they just want the newer hotness, IMO. Sure, some folks were personally pissed off by Chad, but I honestly think a lot of people just realized they don't want to spend that much money on stuff they can't flip as easily as they anticipated.

I'm sticking with them. I like their stuff and the price point doesn't bother me if I stick to fewer bottles. I am dropping Rare Barrel though (just tired after all these years really) and Superstition (honestly probably the most poorly-run-for-non-locals club I've ever been in.) Keeping Bruery and haven't made decisions on other annual ones yet.