Cigar City El Catador Club Thread

[Doc1]

I ended up caving and renewing.

 

[jvanaus]

Reading through this thread has me all but ready to decline my membership lottery win. Is there anyone out there who is, like, still really stoked on El Cat?

I'm not as excited as I used to be, but I still really enjoy when the release emails come out. I'm not sure what they have planned, but last session was one of the best they've ever had, which is 100% the reason I renewed.

I had an edit typed out last night, but got side-tracked when my kid would not go to sleep for the fourth time, so here's the other part of it:

I think it is overpriced if you're taking bottles only into consideration. I would not pay $30 for BA Rasp Halo at Leuken's if I saw it there. However, I absolutely would pay $30 for BA Huna and I think most would even go as far to say they'd pay $50 or $60 - maybe more. So the stinky bottles you're theoretically over-paying $30 for are offset by the wonderful bottles you're theoretically under-paying $30 for, which is perfectly fine by me.

As a non-local however, the club gets me access to beer I enjoy and most important of all, I don't have to wait in line for it. Of the last five bottles they released, how many would have been "release days" and required a line? Probably three, maybe four? IMO, there are at least one or two "release worthy" bottles in each session which saves each member a few hours in line. Personally, that's worth paying the premium.

That said, if the stinky bottles, or the bottles I don't personally enjoy start stacking up - I'll have to rethink ponying up $250 or $500 per session and just scrap the whole thing. For now, I'm staying in but can't guarantee anything beyond this session.

 

[CaptainFleeker]

As a non-local the inclusion of a 4pack of a canned Zhukov variant (versus another glass, terrible towel, etc.) is a really nice bonus and really cemented my decision to renew.

 

[Carolinabeerguy1]

As a non-local the inclusion of a 4pack of a canned Zhukov variant (versus another glass, terrible towel, etc.) is a really nice bonus and really cemented my decision to renew.

Agreed. I know it’s a bonus, but they’re going to need to keep doing those each round in order for me to justify renewing. 7 bottles and a glass for $250 is above my limit.

 

[ClCardinal84]

Signed up to give it a shot after finally being selected. Did Boulder pickup because I have a friend who lives there which makes it easier. Hopefully, 8th edition stacks up to the 7th!

 

[howopeeps]

Finally got in after years of waiting. Looking for a trustee. If anyone is interested let me know. We can discuss details.

 

[SammyJaxxx]

Got my invite. I was going to join the Bruery Reserve but I'm going El Catador instead.

 

[BigGene]

I saw on FB last night that CCB laid off about 10 people this week. The guy was looking for work pressure washing. Anyone now the story? Someone said they think they moved all Jai Alai production to Brevard so they did not need the 3rd shift brewers anymore.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

I find it kind of fascinating that the Hunahpu Day 2018 marketing materials feature dvelcich trickytunadicky fear025 Forgetfu wiltznucs and myself.

 

[trickytunadicky]

I find it kind of fascinating that the Hunahpu Day 2018 marketing materials feature dvelcich trickytunadicky fear025 Forgetfu wiltznucs and myself.

Hey, despite no longer being Catador Members (well, Jay and I aren’t), I sell the **** out of TBBW. It’s my favorite party of the spring.

 

[jvanaus]

Thoughts on the first bottle? Bourbon Caffe Americano with bourbon coffee beans.

Happy with this bottle and so far, glad I renewed. Coming out with a bang as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Gonzoillini1]

Thoughts on the first bottle? Bourbon Caffe Americano with bourbon coffee beans.

Happy with this bottle and so far, glad I renewed. Coming out with a bang as far as I'm concerned.

Pleased here as well, the regular non barrel aged (and non barrel aged coffee) version was really good so I'm excited to try this one as well.

 

[Jb123]

I got Email but didn’t renew ?

 

[trickytunadicky]

I got Email but didn’t renew ?

Their system has been known to have glitches. You may or may not have a bottle reserved.

 

[jvanaus]

Their system has been known to have glitches. You may or may not have a bottle reserved.

A guy I know ended up getting an extra Grandmule despite telling them he already picked up his bottle. They insisted he take it because it was in the system as an open item. So yeah...I bet there's a lot of loss they have no idea about because of the ****** infrastructure they choose to use.

 

[MattyATC]

Thoughts on the first bottle? Bourbon Caffe Americano with bourbon coffee beans.

Happy with this bottle and so far, glad I renewed. Coming out with a bang as far as I'm concerned.

Excited for this one as well. Has been a great club to be a part of. Almost everything they have done as been really good.

 

[Spoonsock]

First year in and really looking forward to trying this one. Seems like they are gonna set the bar really high, if this one turns out good.

 

[ClCardinal84]

First time in and I’m super excited for this one.

 

[SammyJaxxx]

My first time in as well. So far I got an opportunity to purchase 2 bottles of Bourbon Barrel Huna and this one to kick off 2018. So far I'm a happy member.

 

[chemman141]

Does anyone know if the membership card has the members name on it? I would love for my proxy to be able to use it to get 20% off in the tasting room since I can't utilize that part of the membership.

 

[chongcheesol]

Pretty confident proxies don't get any of the membership benefits

 

[jivex5k1]

You can just change the name on the catador account iirc. It's under personal info or something.

 

[DenverBeerDrinker]

Cards in the past had my name on it.

 

[chemman141]

Cards in the past had my name on it.

Assumed as much but just wanted to double check before I sent my proxy over there before all the stuff was ready. Thanks for the quick responses guys.

 

[Slander420]

Cards have the name printed on permanently from the factory.(not written on with a marker when picked up as was done in the past.)

 

[johnyb]

Does anyone know if the membership card has the members name on it? I would love for my proxy to be able to use it to get 20% off in the tasting room since I can't utilize that part of the membership.

It does have your name as member on the card. I think I remember reading somewhere that unauthorized use of the discount subjected the member to forfeiture of their membership, and only the member is eligible(not trustee) for the discount. How close a bartender is going to go to verify somebody if they pay cash and produce a card is probably hit or miss. In my experience some are tougher than others on such things. YMMV.

 

[chemman141]

It does have your name as member on the card. I think I remember reading somewhere that unauthorized use of the discount subjected the member to forfeiture of their membership, and only the member is eligible(not trustee) for the discount. How close a bartender is going to go to verify somebody if they pay cash and produce a card is probably hit or miss. In my experience some are tougher than others on such things. YMMV.

Yeah not even worth the hassle TBH just figured if it was blank it would be a nice thing for my trustee. Thanks for the thorough responses guys!

 

[ClCardinal84]

So uh yeah, Königsberg sounds amazing.

 

[chemman141]

So uh yeah, Königsberg sounds amazing.

ha was just searching for this thread to say the same thing and you bumped it. Gotta say for my first round in this club the first two beers sound amazing.

 

[MKtheGeneral]

So uh yeah, Königsberg sounds amazing.

ha was just searching for this thread to say the same thing and you bumped it. Gotta say for my first round in this club the first two beers sound amazing.

Details?