FIB War Room

[ClCardinal84]

If you're not excited, then you're either not their target consumer. Which could go either way for them. I'm really excited to drink some fresh Jai Alai, but i'm going to be watching date codes like a hawk. If, however, they're coming to the market with tempered expectations for how many CEs they'll actually sell, they'll do fine here.



Skittlebrau.

Fresh Jai Alai is my favorite part of beach vacations in the Florida Panhandle. (And that time I found a case of St. Lam on the shelf 4 years ago). Excited to have it here if it’s less than a month old.

 

[trickytunadicky]

Fresh Jai Alai is my favorite part of beach vacations in the Florida Panhandle. (And that time I found a case of St. Lam on the shelf 4 years ago). Excited to have it here if it’s less than a month old.

I usually am down for Tampa Bay Beer Week, so I have some random other favorite things...

Can we get distro of someone who makes Gatorade beer for St. Patricks day? None of this ******** green dye into a light american lager. Green gatorade powder into a berlinner is where it's at. Florida knows what is up.

 

[rmalinowski4]

It would be nice if they send Zuhkov like Surly sends Darkness.

 

[Mugatu]

It would be nice if they send Zuhkov like Surly sends Darkness.

I think they will definitely send Zhukov. Just got back from Charlotte and that bomber is turding up shelves at a few places there for somewhere around $15-20

 

[Unbreakabolt]

I usually am down for Tampa Bay Beer Week, so I have some random other favorite things...

Can we get distro of someone who makes Gatorade beer for St. Patricks day? None of this ******** green dye into a light american lager. Green gatorade powder into a berlinner is where it's at. Florida knows what is up.

How do you feel about tang?

 

[Treebs]

I know it’s early, but I’ve been into three separate Binny’s over the last three days and the CCB stuff isn’t moving at all. I spoke with the Beer managers at all three and frankly they were shocked. They assumed a quick honeymoon period as vav alluded to and all the beer would be gone within a few days. So far all of them sold through less than 10% of what the got. Now that could be just bad timing while I was in there and they’ve since sold through more of it, but I honestly see zero reason to buy CCB when Rev produces a better beer in every style CCB sent.

 

[kodt]

People were burned on non-Iowa brewed Pseudo Sue, and aren't excited for non-Florida brewed Jai-Alai

 

[BobCobb1]

I know it’s early, but I’ve been into three separate Binny’s over the last three days and the CCB stuff isn’t moving at all. I spoke with the Beer managers at all three and frankly they were shocked. They assumed a quick honeymoon period as vav alluded to and all the beer would be gone within a few days. So far all of them sold through less than 10% of what the got. Now that could be just bad timing while I was in there and they’ve since sold through more of it, but I honestly see zero reason to buy CCB when Rev produces a better beer in every style CCB sent.

It's going to be even worse once the 10% drink it. Had a Jai Alai can last night and was disappointed. Has been awhile since we were down in FL, changing palate, better alternatives bla bla bla. Even Mrs BobCobb, whose nostalgia for certain beers I think can cloud an honest assessment at times (e.g. still crushing those very mediocre ZD bottles), noted that Jai Alai was bland and not how she remembered it.

Not buying again.

 

[BobCobb1]

Speaking of TG, DDH Pseudo Sue is now here and thought it was quite good. Won't be buying again though until they shift it to cans (read something separately about King Sue cans this year?).

There's an interesting theory on other site that the first "Decorah Sue" drop late last year was actually DDH Sue. Lines up with my own assessments -- first 4 pack was killer, even better than I remembered Decorah stuff being. Thought it would be new go-to, and then the next few were...not like that at all.

 

[adhdjon]

People were burned on non-Iowa brewed Pseudo Sue, and aren't excited for non-Florida brewed Jai-Alai

It's pretty much this for me. I realize the feeling is somewhat irrational though. Fake Pseudo Sue was still pretty tasty, and I'm sure contract brewed Jai-Alai will be AITE.

I might grab a 6-pack or whatever if it is cheap and fresh.

 

[trickytunadicky]

How do you feel about tang?

Funk Factory put on a Tang beer for Great taste. I drank about 4 glasses of it.

 

[trickytunadicky]

It's going to be even worse once the 10% drink it. Had a Jai Alai can last night and was disappointed. Has been awhile since we were down in FL, changing palate, better alternatives bla bla bla. Even Mrs BobCobb, whose nostalgia for certain beers I think can cloud an honest assessment at times (e.g. still crushing those very mediocre ZD bottles), noted that Jai Alai was bland and not how she remembered it.

Not buying again.

Doesn’t CCB contract out the Jai-Alai for out of market to Oskar Blues NC? If you want CCB made Jai-Alai you need to go to Tampa.

 

[Scalzo]

Doesn’t CCB contract out the Jai-Alai for out of market to Oskar Blues NC? If you want CCB made Jai-Alai you need to go to Tampa.

Just drank one yesterday, didnt notice any glaring differences

 

[trickytunadicky]

Just drank one yesterday, didnt notice any glaring differences

That's good. I forget where I was reading people bitching about it. Could have been one of my Florida friends, people down for Wakefest.... One of my Detroit groups (unlikely, no offense to the Motor City, but due to a number of reasons primarily relating to a long term lag in distribution behind Chicago, they just don't know what they don't now)

 

[vav1]

People were burned on non-Iowa brewed Pseudo Sue, and aren't excited for non-Florida brewed Jai-Alai

This is a really good point that I didn’t consider, but yeah, TG’s standards for what they’ll label as their flagship product did make a lot of people wary. Contract beer as a whole had a stigma attached to it already, so I’m sure there are folks in that target market that are immediately skeptical.

Good call.

 

[jvanaus]

Always, i love talking about the industry and will always answer questions. The more informed the consumer, the better choices they make. In theory anyway.

First, let's talk about the perception of "Big" here. All the data i can find suggest CCB is producing northwards of 60,000-70k barrels (bbls) per year (as of 2015...interestingly the BA data i have from 2014 says 44k, so the Brewhub expansion probably accounts for that massive jump)....that's on par with Allagash (70k bbls in 2014) Breckenridge (pre buyout, 64k bbls in 2014), Elysian, etc. Also for reference, Rev did just under 55k bbls in 2014, and by comparison Middle Brow did 180 bbls in 2014, those loveable lil scamps

CCB is still regional in size, so i'm guessing their goal is probably 100kbbls by 2020 if they're "reasonable," which adds 20k bbls per year....a fuckload of beer, but attainable when put in the right places and sold through the sales channels appropriately. Again using Rev as a comparable, they have the capacity to push out 150k bbls/yr, which if i had to guess, would put that at 97k this year. Which brings us to the Chicago market.

Right now, most business that would be in the market to carry CCB's products are having a tough enough time caring about more than half of what's available now, and speaking as a buyer, i'm finding it harder and harder to sift through everything to find something i like that works with the programs i run. I've been racking my brain to figure out what in this market makes CCB relevant to consumers here, and here's what ive got:

1: Everyone here knows Jai Alai like everyone there knows Anti Hero. You traded for it at one point, you sought out the brewerie's other releases, etc. I think they're banking on that name recognition. And i mean it'll work for awhile, i plan to put Jai Alai on tap at some point for sure.

To directly answer your questions: Handles that will go to CCB are the same anyone else, 'cuz it's the world of Rotation. There isn't a ton of consistency right now. Local guys both bigger and smaller, out of towners will all equally gain and lose...Assuming their quality and freshness stay up, they can easily fill the void that Green Flash is leaving...which still isn't a ton of beer, but satisfies the "oh good you want an ipa, here's a new one" scenario. So that's a plus in their column, honestly. The only ones that truly stand to lose, and this is applicable in most situations not just CCB, are the breweries that have any or all of the following issues:

A: Subpar quality
B: Poor packaging (e.g. still on the $9.99 Bomber train)
C: Little to no marketing presence (no reps in the market, no community engagement)
D: "**** it, let's try there" mentality (Sub-35k bbl breweries that send a little beer and don't care what happens)
E: Inattentive or Smaller/Unknown/Poor/Oddball wholesaler choice

Shelfwise, **** man, i don't know. It's a shitshow. There's too many options. I don't know what i'd be doing at Binny's if i were still there at this po...well actually i do, and it wouldn't be pretty.

As for their target consumer, i think they're banking on people like me, honestly. Someone that's been around for 10 years and done the rare **** and done the sour **** and done the barrel aged **** and just wants to relax with a can of beer without thinking too hard about it, and knowing about Jai Alai that whole time but not able to drink it *finally* being able to on the regular.

TLDR Soundbite if you were the press: CCB coming to Chicago isn't any more or less disruptive to the market than any other brewery of equal size, at the end of the day. Simply put, the impact their distribution has here is, i think, slightly more interesting than the average regional, but overall our market has grown exceptionally weary of new brands in the consumer's mind, and so i don't think they're going to get the velocity they're probably looking for, no matter how good their brands are.

I read this while drinking an Invasion. I'm happy they're here, most specifically because I used to live in Florida when they started getting really popular, and to be able to drink it regularly is great.

However, I remember their beer being better four years ago, but that's mostly my change in tastes, etc. I'm sure the beer is similar, if not better than it was, but I'll still buy a sixer every so often. I'm probably what they would consider their target market, but I just don't buy as much beer as I used to which affects my support for them.

 

[trickytunadicky]

This is a really good point that I didn’t consider, but yeah, TG’s standards for what they’ll label as their flagship product did make a lot of people wary. Contract beer as a whole had a stigma attached to it already, so I’m sure there are folks in that target market that are immediately skeptical.

Good call.

There are well done contract beers, don’t get us wrong. But then there are breweries that gain a reputation on their own quality, recipe and process... and they farm that out to someone who has their own quality standards and process that isn’t as high.... this isn’t a perception thing. You have actually taken away a piece of the equation. It’s part of the project management triangle. You can do things fast, cheap or high quality.

 

[BobCobb1]

I came down to wtfia Hailstorm for release of BA Vlad with coffee. Having it on draft now, and it's pretty good.

Anyone want a bottle? Just need to be able to quickpay me and come to me to pick up near Jeff park area sometime in next week. Think they are $20 (+ tax?).

Will be here another 30 mins maybe.

 

[ClCardinal84]

I know it’s early, but I’ve been into three separate Binny’s over the last three days and the CCB stuff isn’t moving at all. I spoke with the Beer managers at all three and frankly they were shocked. They assumed a quick honeymoon period as vav alluded to and all the beer would be gone within a few days. So far all of them sold through less than 10% of what the got. Now that could be just bad timing while I was in there and they’ve since sold through more of it, but I honestly see zero reason to buy CCB when Rev produces a better beer in every style CCB sent.

On this topic, I was in Castle Binny’s just a little while ago and overhead 3 people ask for CCB. So maybe there will be some demand?

 

[vav1]

There are well done contract beers, don’t get us wrong. But then there are breweries that gain a reputation on their own quality, recipe and process... and they farm that out to someone who has their own quality standards and process that isn’t as high.... this isn’t a perception thing. You have actually taken away a piece of the equation. It’s part of the project management triangle. You can do things fast, cheap or high quality.

did you just womansplain contract brewing to me

 

[trickytunadicky]

did you just womansplain contract brewing to me

Yes? Though in fairness you did oversimplify consumer perception of contract brewing.
Got to put that business degree to use somewhere.

 

[furley]

vav how much does reading TB influence your beer buying?

and how representative would you say this is of the larger beer buying community?

what brewery's presence would you guestimate would excite the locals? what breweries should go to clear space for a brewery/breweries that would do well in the greater Chicagoland area (limited to but not excluding Kansas, Tennessee and North Dakota)?

 

[middlebrow]

New money was BA stouts in 2016...in 2018 it’s no malt/no yeast pale ales (side question...whatever happened to that project and dude?)

 

[Tooch4321]

New money was BA stouts in 2016...in 2018 it’s no malt/no yeast pale ales (side question...whatever happened to that project and dude?)

Tell Pete he still owes me a flower from Saturday night, all promises and only lies!

 

[middlebrow]

Tell Pete he still owes me a flower from Saturday night, all promises and only lies!

WTF was goin on at Marz with flowers, saw on instagram vid? I was watching kids sleep and tryin to come down from 10 espressos and 10 coffee beers at U&D. Marz place looks cool as f*ck.

 

[Tooch4321]

WTF was goin on at Marz with flowers, saw on instagram vid? I was watching kids sleep and tryin to come down from 10 espressos and 10 coffee beers at U&D. Marz place looks cool as f*ck.

We spent 8 hours in the burbs playing with our friend's kids, popped in to see Tony B getting his first live action in the kitchen and walked into a **** show. It was super packed, we wound up eating in the kitchen dodging runners and bounced shortly after (don't sleep on the food including my jerky chip and dip invention). It appeared some Lumpen Magazine event was taking place in a side room and Pete was walking around handing flowers to people, I honestly have no idea what the hell was going on. I will say the free Marz t-shirts that said let's party naked was worth the trip and chaos...

 

[trickytunadicky]

New money was BA stouts in 2016...in 2018 it’s no malt/no yeast pale ales (side question...whatever happened to that project and dude?)

Look out Myths and Legends....


Project happened. Beer was mediocre AF and nowhere near worth what it cost for bottles. Had some at Cycle BA day last year.

Working on Old Money variant now.

 

[vav1]

vav how much does reading TB influence your beer buying?

and how representative would you say this is of the larger beer buying community?

what brewery's presence would you guestimate would excite the locals? what breweries should go to clear space for a brewery/breweries that would do well in the greater Chicagoland area (limited to but not excluding Kansas, Tennessee and North Dakota)?

* TB specifically? Not a ton but there's certainly a little influence here and there. I like to see what you guys are excited about, but i don't change my strategy or habits based upon that. There are certain things i do look for though...since i know a good bit of you (or if i don't know you personally i at least know you've been around for awhile) i keep an eye on what you're saying about certain things i might not have had time to deal with yet to gauge reaction: Pseudo Sue being a prime example, i wasn't going to buy it blind 'cuz the stuff i had in WI wasn't great. So i waited to see what you guys were thinking of it.

I do look at the other regional forums to see what's hot in other markets too. And i do keep an eye on BA and RB for the same reason, but i don't participate in either of those forums like i do here.

And i think i'm probably pretty representative as an average for buyers too...the more info we have the better, and it's good to pay attention, but it only plays a minor factor in most of my decisions. I think if i were off premise it would have a little more effect on what i'd stack up front....1000s of cases are different than 14 draft lines ya know?

* I think Holy Mountain would do well here.

* Eh....i don't really want to rake anyone over the coals, but suffice it to say there's a lot of dead weight, but locally and being sent from other markets. The reality is, even if that space cleared out, there isn't really a need to fill it right now.

 

[Tooch4321]

* TB specifically? Not a ton but there's certainly a little influence here and there. I like to see what you guys are excited about, but i don't change my strategy or habits based upon that. There are certain things i do look for though...since i know a good bit of you (or if i don't know you personally i at least know you've been around for awhile) i keep an eye on what you're saying about certain things i might not have had time to deal with yet to gauge reaction: Pseudo Sue being a prime example, i wasn't going to buy it blind 'cuz the stuff i had in WI wasn't great. So i waited to see what you guys were thinking of it.

I do look at the other regional forums to see what's hot in other markets too. And i do keep an eye on BA and RB for the same reason, but i don't participate in either of those forums like i do here.

And i think i'm probably pretty representative as an average for buyers too...the more info we have the better, and it's good to pay attention, but it only plays a minor factor in most of my decisions. I think if i were off premise it would have a little more effect on what i'd stack up front....1000s of cases are different than 14 draft lines ya know?

* I think Holy Mountain would do well here.

* Eh....i don't really want to rake anyone over the coals, but suffice it to say there's a lot of dead weight, but locally and being sent from other markets. The reality is, even if that space cleared out, there isn't really a need to fill it right now.

Holy Mountain would kill here (yes, I am a major fanboy), but I actually like the fact they don't have enough to distribute to a large market like Chicago. It keeps me excited when I get a chance to visit the taproom or come across it on draft at a bar when I am out in the PNW...

 

[lb304854]

It's pretty much this for me. I realize the feeling is somewhat irrational though. Fake Pseudo Sue was still pretty tasty, and I'm sure contract brewed Jai-Alai will be AITE.

I might grab a 6-pack or whatever if it is cheap and fresh.

I had a Jai Alai draft pour that was pretty solid. Considering I'd not had Jai Alai in 4-5 years and never cared for it, I was surprised. Maybe the contracted stuff is actually better and because it's not the same as the Florida stuff people who drink that regularly don't like it?