Bruery Reserve Society 2014 Allocations/Discussion Thread

[Xul1]

And no Oaked Old Richland. I had forgotten about that one until someone on BA mentioned it, so obviously I don't care all too much, but unless they pull a rabbit out of their hat, they really managed to end the year on a bad note.

 

[tinypyramids1]

also, if **** is infected, considering it's an included bottle, i wonder what they're going to do about it...

 

[domtronzero]

I was actually really looking forward to Rum Autumn Maple

 

[FBIinformant]

No mention of **** really is strange beyond all common sense.

 

[stupac2]

No mention of **** really is strange beyond all common sense.

Yeah, they need to at least tell us what the **** is going on. How they manage to be so horrible at this after all these years is amazing.

 

[sacrelicio]

What I don't get about the Bruery and Cigar City is why they release so damn many different beers, many of which are fairly similar. I get doing that for taproom options but why bottle all that, especially when much of it is barrel aged, strong, wild, etc? You could say it's for the money but I think having a smaller array of those styles that you make a lot of with a few limited options sprinkled in (like Firestone) would be easier and more cost effective.

 

[Xul1]

Yeah, they need to at least tell us what the **** is going on. How they manage to be so horrible at this after all these years is amazing.

Even if they don't believe in open communication with their members - which it's safe to say, they don't - it's a pragmatic issue for people who have beer shipped. If there's the potential for more bottles, be open about it so people can minimize their shipping costs. If it's 100% not being released, say that as well so people can plan accordingly.

Either way, it's amateur to play this game where they just say nothing. They know damn well the boards are going to erupt. Why they choose to let that happen rather than say something - anything - is absolutely beyond me.

 

[stupac2]

What I don't get about the Bruery and Cigar City is why they release so damn many different beers, many of which are fairly similar. I get doing that for taproom options but why bottle all that, especially when much of it is barrel aged, strong, wild, etc? You could say it's for the money but I think having a smaller array of those styles that you make a lot of with a few limited options sprinkled in (like Firestone) would be easier and more cost effective.

Yeah I don't know. That's how SARA did it and it's how 50-50's club is going to work. Seems like the way to go.

 

[DougOLis]

What I don't get about the Bruery and Cigar City is why they release so damn many different beers, many of which are fairly similar. I get doing that for taproom options but why bottle all that, especially when much of it is barrel aged, strong, wild, etc? You could say it's for the money but I think having a smaller array of those styles that you make a lot of with a few limited options sprinkled in (like Firestone) would be easier and more cost effective.

Throwing **** at the wall and seeing what sticks I guess?

On the flip side of that though is if it was just a bunch of the same beer with lots of variants we would probably complain about that too (I personally wouldn't complain about more SitR/BT variants but I'm sure plenty of people would). No win situation.

 

[sacrelicio]

Throwing **** at the wall and seeing what sticks I guess?

On the flip side of that though is if it was just a bunch of the same beer with lots of variants we would probably complain about that too (I personally wouldn't complain about more SitR/BT variants but I'm sure plenty of people would). No win situation.

I dunno when a brewery tries lots of different things, collaborates all the time, and ***** up like a third of the time, it's time to make a change.

I mean, you have Ebony and Oak, a lower ABV BA stout. Ya **** it up. Then you try to release **** but somehow that gets ****** up before it even comes out. Why did you try to release the same concept twice without getting it right either time? I understand that people make mistakes but come on.

Then Cacaonut, which is somewhat along the lines of your other beers (BA strong ale with adjuncts) but then that was ****** up.

Then Smoking Wood, Bois Fume, Smokey and the Bois, Mrs. Stoutfire...all smoked BA stouts/hybrids (Bois Fume AND Smokey ATB? Why?) with varying levels of quality.

Add to that a bunch of BT variants, the anniversary series, the Xmas series (plus a bunch of variants on those yearly releases), shelf beers that no one ever buys, other infected stuff, all the sour variants, half baked food beer ideas...just seems like a mess.

Considering they have many beers that are both tasty AND popular, I just don't get why they keep trying new ****.

 

[stupac2]

Considering they have many beers that are both tasty AND popular, I just don't get why they keep trying new ****.

Because in 2009 that was the thing to do. So many of the breweries that came around in the 2009-2012 timeframe are like, because they think that constantly cranking out random new **** with no rhyme or reason is "innovation". It works great with newbies who are excited about that sort of ****. "Oh my god, beer made with lemon and paprika and horseradish???? SO DELICIOUS." But the problem is that once your customers mature past that phase it gets old. And it seems to me (at least around here) that the new wave of breweries post-2012 are more focused on doing one or two things really well. Cellarmaker with IPAs, SARA with Saisons, Rare Barrel with sours. They experiment, but it's around a focused core that they do well. And it works, and their stuff is good. Why the Bruery feels like they have to stay tied to that original vision instead of pushing it off to the side is beyond me, because it's clearly not working well for them.

Or maybe it is because there are 3 newbies for every old timer. Only their accountant knows for sure.

 

[sacrelicio]

"Oh my god, beer made with lemon and paprika and horseradish???? SO DELICIOUS."

LOLed because I have a beer buddy who is like this.

 

[ridglens]

The thing that really worries me is their lack of candid communication. The one thing you could always go back to defend them with is that they fessed up, took the blame, and made it right (financially anyway). The only way in hell people continue the level of trust it takes to shell out 300-700 6+ months in advance is if that continues... This silence is not helping them at all. As bad as it's been, they've handled it right before, I'm not sure why they aren't now.

 

[FBIinformant]

I just want them to ******* rebrew Run BMC and make a lot more humulus lager. Can't **** up that too bad, can you?

 

[Heatwaves1]

Yeah, I don't see any positive way to interpret the complete absence of **** from the email. The staff was supposedly telling people as recently as last week that it was coming, but something is clearly going on with it.

I was one of those people and I'm baffled. Unprompted, the staff member told me two weeks ago that December might be an expensive month with **** and all the other beers. After they called it out by name, I basically said, "So the infection rumors aren't true?" They just laughed and said, "Don't believe everything you read on those boards." So if it is infected then The Bruery either *********** many of their own employees or that person was being less than truthful. I don't think it's the latter as I've never had that impression and they were the person who brought **** up in the first place.

What is just utterly stupid from a PR perspective, is how do you mention that Geriatric Hipster Club and the mango berlinerweisse are coming out later in the month, but give no update on **** (or Oaked Old Richland)? Do they seriously think people wouldn't start asking or offer negative speculation?

 

[CommanderofAwesome]

I emailed the bruery about the dec allocations, got this response:

Mash and Coconut was released through draft only. we were not able to find a stable form of coconut we feel would age well in bottles so we decided it would be best to bring back Mash and Grind! I can’t honestly remember if we said we were going to brew BA Autumn Maple, the general consensus through the grapevine is too much Autumn Maple so we backed off on that one. Unfortunately I am as in the dark about **** hopefully we will get some news quickly! I know a lot of members are anticipating that beers so some info will be out on that soon! Thanks for being patience.
Cheers
Jamie

The Bruery® | Society & TheBrueryStore.com Team

Sounds like stay tuned on ****?

 

[Spoonsock]

The thing that really worries me is their lack of candid communication. The one thing you could always go back to defend them with is that they fessed up, took the blame, and made it right (financially anyway). The only way in hell people continue the level of trust it takes to shell out 300-700 6+ months in advance is if that continues... This silence is not helping them at all. As bad as it's been, they've handled it right before, I'm not sure why they aren't now.

Really curious as to how they are going to handle the beers that were allocated and not listed...money back, other beers?
The S.H.I.T. seems like it not gonna happen and the Oaked Old Richland we never even saw. I was looking forward to that one.

 

[falc0n26001]

Thanks for being patience.

I am patience.

 

[sacrelicio]

I am patience.

 

[domtronzero]

Was that the concept label for Stone's Enjoy After beers?

 

[franch]

Because in 2009 that was the thing to do. So many of the breweries that came around in the 2009-2012 timeframe are like, because they think that constantly cranking out random new **** with no rhyme or reason is "innovation". It works great with newbies who are excited about that sort of ****. "Oh my god, beer made with lemon and paprika and horseradish???? SO DELICIOUS." But the problem is that once your customers mature past that phase it gets old. And it seems to me (at least around here) that the new wave of breweries post-2012 are more focused on doing one or two things really well. Cellarmaker with IPAs, SARA with Saisons, Rare Barrel with sours. They experiment, but it's around a focused core that they do well. And it works, and their stuff is good. Why the Bruery feels like they have to stay tied to that original vision instead of pushing it off to the side is beyond me, because it's clearly not working well for them.

Or maybe it is because there are 3 newbies for every old timer. Only their accountant knows for sure.

looking at 2k15 hoarders list, maybe that's what they're doing - meaning the focused core is giant barrel-aged imperial stouts. BT variants for miles.

 

[stupac2]

looking at 2k15 hoarders list, maybe that's what they're doing - meaning the focused core is giant barrel-aged imperial stouts. BT variants for miles.

Yeah, maybe, but after these past couple years I'm just done with them. I'll try the beers when people bring them to large tastings and that'll be that.

 

[wyatt1]

i am a huge bruery apologist, but damn they ****** up these past few months.

 

[user 304985]

God they sucked this year. I really want my money for next year back especially with the garbage they're dumping on us for the initiation beers.

 

[andrewsmith]

Really curious as to how they are going to handle the beers that were allocated and not listed...money back, other beers?

Definitely with bottles of Smoking Wood

 

[sacrelicio]

Definitely with bottles of Smoking Wood

I just had to explain this entire thread to my girlfriend because I laughed so hard

 

[Heatwaves1]

I emailed the bruery about the dec allocations, got this response:
Unfortunately I am as in the dark about **** hopefully we will get some news quickly! I know a lot of members are anticipating that beers so some info will be out on that soon!

I don't really believe this answer. I would think that at least couple dozen people asked about **** while picking up allocations the last couple months. Assuming that's accurate, wouldn't the natural response be to ask your bosses, "Hey, what's up with ****? A lot of people are asking about it. What do you want me to tell them?"

 

[jtmartino1]

i am a huge bruery apologist, but damn they ****** up these past few months.

Just these past few months? How bout the whole ******* year?

The Bruery took a hard nosedive straight into Shitsville.

So glad I got out.

 

[Heatwaves1]

I think that this may be The Bruery's "Cyber Monday" sale. But instead of 67%-off beers, we're just getting 67% fewer beers.

 

[henrythehippo]

Really curious as to how they are going to handle the beers that were allocated and not listed...money back, other beers?
The S.H.I.T. seems like it not gonna happen and the Oaked Old Richland we never even saw. I was looking forward to that one.

I'm betting on a sweater