Bay Area Thread

[MrDave]

If it is, it shouldn't be. California (or Oakland or Alameda county) law does not allow smoking in enclosed patios like that.

Oh right, I forgot that law wasn't just in SF. I was a smoker when it went into effect in the City. Just asking because I think my buddy still smokes.

 

[johnnyramirez]

 

[drgarage1]

about freaking time! It's already been, what, 6 months in bottle?

 

[matedog]

****, I'm pretty sure it's going to happen during the 1-month I'm on my honeymoon.

(wait, why don't I just load up on real lambic while I'm in Europe?)

 

[HeavySpeedway]

I'm almost tempted to shoot out of work and head up to Santa Rosa when that hits. Not a good idea, though - still in that "impress the new employer" stage.

 

[matedog]

I'm almost tempted to shoot out of work and head up to Santa Rosa when that hits. Not a good idea, though - still in that "impress the new employer" stage.

Last few releases have been on Saturdays. Last release (December 2013?) lasted into Sunday too. I don't know about this time though, things have changed.

 

[johnnyramirez]

Last few releases have been on Saturdays. Last release (December 2013?) lasted into Sunday too. I don't know about this time though, things have changed.

I think some lasted into Monday then too

 

[Arbitrator]

Last few releases have been on Saturdays. Last release (December 2013?) lasted into Sunday too. I don't know about this time though, things have changed.

They will just put it on the board, which will result in a SoCal influx line the following weekend, though the first couple of mornings and all evenings that week will have lines wrapped around the block from locals, underemployed, #newmoney, and the patient-est of the beer geeks who have been doing this for too long.

Price will be $20, limit 6, and the beer will become unbearably acidic after 1 year.

Midwest will flood BA's ISO/FT with goandpickitupformebro, citing high bottle counts.

- Arbidamus

 

[johnnyramirez]

They will just put it on the board, which will result in a SoCal influx line the following weekend, though the first couple of mornings and all evenings that week will have lines wrapped around the block from locals, underemployed, #newmoney, and the patient-est of the beer geeks who have been doing this for too long.

Price will be $20, limit 6, and the beer will become unbearably acidic after 1 year.

Midwest will flood BA's ISO/FT with goandpickitupformebro, citing high bottle counts.

- Arbidamus

A silent release is way too reasonable and would rob Vinny and Natalie of being able to post on Facebook how shocked they are that people would travel and make a line for one of their releases even though its been happening for every limited release in recent memory.

 

[rrryanc]

A silent release is way too reasonable and would rob Vinny and Natalie of being able to post on Facebook how shocked they are that people would travel and make a line for one of their releases even though its been happening for every limited release in recent memory.

Don't worry, they'll definitely also have their very worst cashier on duty (and only one) and they'll also be happy to sell you cases of whatever other beers you're interested in at the same time to make absolutely certain the release turns into a prolonged shitshow.

 

[drgarage1]

Don't worry, they'll definitely also have their very worst cashier on duty (and only one) and they'll also be happy to sell you cases of whatever other beers you're interested in at the same time to make absolutely certain the release turns into a prolonged shitshow.

How about growlers? You need growlers? Lots of growlers available.

 

[johnnyramirez]

How about growlers? You need growlers? Lots of growlers available.

1 person filling growlers too for maximum trolling

 

[drgarage1]

We could not possibly have anticipated that announcing the release three months in advance would lead to us needing more than one cashier. Apparently, craft beer continues to grow!

 

[jtmartino1]

I'm surprised nobody here knows the Cilzuros, or anyone who works at RR. I'd really like to know whether their fake-ignorance marketing techniques are intentional, or if it's just an actual tremendous display of utter incompetence.

I'm leaning toward the latter, given their absolute lack of business accumen. The "hype machine" gave them a huge opportunity to grow their business and improve it, and they've certainly done neither to any reasonable level.

 

[litheum94]

I'm surprised nobody here knows the Cilzuros, or anyone who works at RR. I'd really like to know whether their fake-ignorance marketing techniques are intentional, or if it's just an actual tremendous display of utter incompetence.

I'm leaning toward the latter, given their absolute lack of business accumen. The "hype machine" gave them a huge opportunity to grow their business and improve it, and they've certainly done neither to any reasonable level.

I do know a couple of people who work there, and up to the last Beatification release, they were still genuinely surprised about the amount of people who show up for releases. I think they are finally starting to be less surprised now, though.

It is kind of surprising that their popularity continues to grow exponentially. I keep thinking they have hit the top, and every time I go back, it's even crazier than the last time. I certainly think that there has been a huge naivety on their part, but I don't think that they could have predicted people lining up outside on a Tuesday morning when there isn't even a release going on.

 

[stupac2]

I'm surprised nobody here knows the Cilzuros, or anyone who works at RR. I'd really like to know whether their fake-ignorance marketing techniques are intentional, or if it's just an actual tremendous display of utter incompetence.

I'm leaning toward the latter, given their absolute lack of business accumen. The "hype machine" gave them a huge opportunity to grow their business and improve it, and they've certainly done neither to any reasonable level.

Hanlon's Razor: never assume malice when ignorance suffices.

God, can you imagine how big RR could be if they had any business sense at all? I mean, even if they didn't want to grow like Lagunitas, they could still serve so many more people. I'd love to drink Pliny regularly, it's just too much of a pain. They don't owe me anything, obviously, but they could be doing so much better...

 

[litheum94]

Hanlon's Razor: never assume malice when ignorance suffices.

God, can you imagine how big RR could be if they had any business sense at all? I mean, even if they didn't want to grow like Lagunitas, they could still serve so many more people. I'd love to drink Pliny regularly, it's just too much of a pain. They don't owe me anything, obviously, but they could be doing so much better...

At the very least, they could have bought the store front next door that was empty when Sawyer's closed so they could have made more room for customers. Instead there's a stupid ******* tea room there. Dumb.

 

[matedog]

At the very least, they could have bought the store front next door that was empty when Sawyer's closed so they could have made more room for customers. Instead there's a stupid ******* tea room there. Dumb.

I've bitched about this numerous times, but it has gotten to the point that their business decisions have made enjoying their product very difficult and time consuming for their customers, particularly for the industry. As Stu mentioned, it is an ignorance vs. malice thing, but god, they must realize how ****** it is to just get lunch and beer at their brew pub.

 

[litheum94]

I've bitched about this numerous times, but it has gotten to the point that their business decisions have made enjoying their product very difficult and time consuming for their customers, particularly for the industry. As Stu mentioned, it is an ignorance vs. malice thing, but god, they must realize how ****** it is to just get lunch and beer at their brew pub.

I'm sure they notice (at least servers and bartenders), because a lot of the faces that I used to see in there every day are completely MIA. ****, I went twice when I was in town for a week and I could have been fed free beer all day long. It's just not an enjoyable place to visit anymore.

 

[Arbitrator]

I do know a couple of people who work there, and up to the last Beatification release, they were still genuinely surprised about the amount of people who show up for releases.

I'd believe this if they didn't announce it ahead of time, take photos of the lines, and call up press vans to report on their lines on release days.

Beatification batch 5 release was a six-bottle limit with short(ish) notice, a stamp system, and two dedicated cashiers going through the back brewhouse. Lines wrapped around the block, but 2-3 hr wait IIRC.

Beatification batch 6 release was a case limit with much more notice and a single cashier (I'm told -- I didn't go), resulting in lines all day.

It's not that they're incompetent, it's that they actually dial back resources for each release while advertising, promoting, and recording them while feigning innocence. They're some pretty dumb-ass fuckers.

 

[jtmartino1]

It's not that they're incompetent, it's that they actually dial back resources for each release while advertising, promoting, and recording them while feigning innocence. They're some pretty dumb-ass fuckers.

This.

I don't even attempt to go to Russian River anymore. Better beer at Sante and Cellarmaker, and no dipshits leading the circus. For the record, I was there last release. #neveragain

I don't think that they could have predicted people lining up outside on a Tuesday morning when there isn't even a release going on.

Why not? People started lining up on weekends a couple years ago. It's been progressively getting worse, and it's apparent to anyone who's been there multiple times in the past 4 or 5 years. How is a line during a weekday, especially during the peak of summer holidays, a surprise? I can go find threads on BA where you and I both chatted about this type of stuff years ago - it's the same type of crap we've been dealing with for a long time.

God, can you imagine how big RR could be if they had any business sense at all? I mean, even if they didn't want to grow like Lagunitas, they could still serve so many more people. I'd love to drink Pliny regularly, it's just too much of a pain. They don't owe me anything, obviously, but they could be doing so much better...

I think about this all the time. At first, I think maybe they're just ignorant. Then I think about their practices outlined by Arbi above - just a bunch of ********. I've been bitching about them for years, and at this point I just don't even buy their beer anymore. It's hard to support people who clearly don't give a **** about even attempting to meet demand. They claim they want to keep their business small, but that's a big giant middle finger to their regulars and those people who used to be able to get their beer.

 

[litheum94]

Why not?

Because at some point, there has to be an apex. I thought they had hit it. I was wrong.

I think there are a lot of things they could do to try and alleviate some stress even without expanding. One would be to actually get kegs out to local bars. I'm sure there are plenty of people who just want to drink Pliny, and don't really care about actually going to the brewery. It's really stupid that beyond Whole Foods Coddingtown, Barley and Hops and Hop Monk, that you can't drink RR anywhere else in Sonoma County. I think they should also just open a tap room at another location. No food, growlers and pints only. Get people away from the restaurant.

I don't think they're really going to do any of these things though, cause why should they? They're making money hand over fist, so they're not going to fix what's not broken.

 

[drgarage1]

Because at some point, there has to be an apex. I thought they had hit it. I was wrong.

I think there are a lot of things they could do to try and alleviate some stress even without expanding. One would be to actually get kegs out to local bars. I'm sure there are plenty of people who just want to drink Pliny, and don't really care about actually going to the brewery. It's really stupid that beyond Whole Foods Coddingtown, Barley and Hops and Hop Monk, that you can't drink RR anywhere else in Sonoma County. I think they should also just open a tap room at another location. No food, growlers and pints only. Get people away from the restaurant.

I don't think they're really going to do any of these things though, cause why should they? They're making money hand over fist, so they're not going to fix what's not broken.

Although they have had to hire a bunch more security because of that brawl that broke out a few years ago. I would guess there's a way to make the numbers work well if they could calm down the main location.

 

[litheum94]

One more clarification on why I didn't think it would get like this at Russian River. The beer world has proven to be fleeting, so I was just assuming that people would get over them, and move on to the next big brewery. I knew it would never be like it used to be, but I thought for sure it would calm down a bit.

 

[grrrah]

This.

I don't even attempt to go to Russian River anymore. Better beer at Sante and Cellarmaker, and no dipshits leading the circus. For the record, I was there last release. #neveragain

What kind of bagel do you want me to bring you at the next one?

 

[Arbitrator]

One more clarification on why I didn't think it would get like this at Russian River. The beer world has proven to be fleeting, so I was just assuming that people would get over them, and move on to the next big brewery. I knew it would never be like it used to be, but I thought for sure it would calm down a bit.

Has any previously-it brewery actually gone down in popularity, aside from those that couldn't get their QC together and had their fanbase/clubs fall apart (White Birch, Jackie O's STAPH, HotD, etc)?

 

[drgarage1]

Has any previously-it brewery actually gone down in popularity, aside from those that couldn't get their QC together and had their fanbase/clubs fall apart (White Birch, Jackie O's STAPH, HotD, etc)?

I forget, was Marin ever an "It" brewery? I know they one a ton of awards at one point, but it was mostly before I moved out here.

 

[jtmartino1]

I forget, was Marin ever an "It" brewery? I know they one a ton of awards at one point, but it was mostly before I moved out here.

Yeah, it was part of the group of 90s-era "microbreweries" that were popular back then. Like Deschutes, except they didn't play the business game as well.

 

[jtmartino1]

What kind of bagel do you want me to bring you at the next one?

The magic of that bagel wore off around hour 4.

 

[RyanG1]

The magic of that bagel wore off around hour 4.

I think those were day old too