FIB War Room

[sherm10161]

Brewery consultants do exist. Not sure if they have their pulse on all aspects of the business, or if each one is specialized (e.g. start-up vs. ongoing brewing operations vs sales/marketing). I presume they are using some empirical data, but maybe they are just pulling stuff out of their ass.

In case anyone was wondering:

http://www.firstkey.com/

http://breweryconsultantgroup.com/

http://turnkeybrewconsult.vpweb.com/

https://www.siebelinstitute.com/consultancy

See that's what I'm saying. Are people brewing these stouts because one of those crusty old agent guys told them to? Or do they have some sort of Jonah Hill guy walking around saying "your SAR (sales above replacement) on a BA stout will be way higher relative to that Kolsch you were planning. Could be your MVP if you add coconut and sell less than 100 cases of it."

While I like the #Newmoneyball analogy, I have to believe that the empirical data is not that easy to obtain. I would guess the business decisions are based more on anecdotal evidence.

John Laffler needs money, and he know's DinoS'mores will sell well, because adjunct/flavored Imperial Stouts seem to sell well. Also, no barrel aging = mo profit.

 

[RedCoffee]

In case anyone was wondering:

http://www.firstkey.com/

http://breweryconsultantgroup.com/

http://turnkeybrewconsult.vpweb.com/

https://www.siebelinstitute.com/consultancy



While I like the #Newmoneyball analogy, I have to believe that the empirical data is not that easy to obtain. I would guess the business decisions are based more on anecdotal evidence.

John Laffler needs money, and he know's DinoS'mores will sell well, because adjunct/flavored Imperial Stouts seem to sell well. Also, no barrel aging = mo profit.

That's what I figure, too. You'd have internal sales data SOMEWHERE, I'm sure. It would be easy enough to identify underperformers/overperformers there. If you need a consultant to do that, you just ain't paying attention.

The other data you could use would be very messy and difficult to obtain. What does releasing X beer do to your overall reputation? Your social media activity? How does your social media activity relate to sales? Etc. **** would be useful but functionally expensive to obtain (either via consulting or a dedicated employee).

What I'm ultimately saying here is that I would welcome the #NewMoneyBall era if it meant that the Jonah Hills of the beer world convinced brewers to be a little more creative with their offerings. And I'm not talking about a S'more flavored IPA.

 

[Leafhouse]

It doesn't take an MBA to see people going apeshit over barrel aged stouts and come to the conclusion that perhaps your band should play rock and/or roll instead of sticking to your guns and remaining Polka purists.

 

[middlebrow]

also it should be noted its 10 f*ckin degrees outside. its stout season. stout fest is coming up. stouts and ipa's are literally the only two popular styles to the masses.

 

[jeblikesbeer]

god damnit... why why why does everything i wanna be quiet about get blasted on CCBE....

 

[YellowBird1]

god damnit... why why why does everything i wanna be quiet about get blasted on CCBE....

If you're referring to Jester King, a WLV employee posted that.

 

[Treebs]

If you're referring to Jester King, a WLV employee posted that.

If I had to guess I think he's talking about the Half Acre event at Hop Leaf.

 

[capnmike]

Next Saturday the annual shipment of Jester King hits West Lakeview.

Deetz, in case any are interested, especially in glassware:

The release will include bottles for sale (limited quantities) of Encendía, Le Petit Prince, Noble King, Das Wunderkind, Mad Meg, Wytchmaker, El Cedro, Gotlandsdricka, Ambrée, and Snorkel. Jester King glassware for Colour Five, World’s Worst Twin, Provenance, Kollaborationsbier, Detritivore, and Natural Union will also be for sale. Jeff and Michael will be pouring samples of Jester King beer during the release.

 

[danbanana]

Deetz, in case any are interested, especially in glassware:

The release will include bottles for sale (limited quantities) of Encendía, Le Petit Prince, Noble King, Das Wunderkind, Mad Meg, Wytchmaker, El Cedro, Gotlandsdricka, Ambrée, and Snorkel. Jester King glassware for Colour Five, World’s Worst Twin, Provenance, Kollaborationsbier, Detritivore, and Natural Union will also be for sale. Jeff and Michael will be pouring samples of Jester King beer during the release.

This is actually a good experiment for #newmoney: for a lot of them, JK has only been hype (even though WLV was consistently getting pallets for a couple years there), so there will most assuredly be a line/crowd.

But I wanna see their reaction when they pick up a bottle of LPP and go "2.9%? WTF?" My hope is they get the hell out of dodge and leave all the Snorkel for me.

LEAVE ALL THE SNORKEL FOR ME.

 

[jeblikesbeer]

NOOOOOO i want the Ambree and the Snork.

 

[JulianB1]

This is actually a good experiment for #newmoney: for a lot of them, JK has only been hype (even though WLV was consistently getting pallets for a couple years there), so there will most assuredly be a line/crowd.

But I wanna see their reaction when they pick up a bottle of LPP and go "2.9%? WTF?" My hope is they get the hell out of dodge and leave all the Snorkel for me.

LEAVE ALL THE SNORKEL FOR ME.

Maybe #newmoney will be too preoccupied with Chili Hunter to care about JK farmhouse ales. Either that or they will show up and be all "I thought this was a Jester King release, where's the Atrial Rubicite?!"

 

[SSTroller]

Need some advice from guys who ship out of Chicago often. I proxied for someone in OR for the CW 17 release and was hoping to get his box out today by the last pickup at 6pm. Should I go through with it since its headin west or should I wait till this cold releases it death grip? How fast does FedEx get stuff out of here?

 

[ClCardinal84]

I would honestly just wait. The entire Midwest & Great Plains is frozen right now and it's better to be safe than sorry. Just my two cents. I had to delay a trade a month last winter because of how cold it was.

 

[SSTroller]

I would honestly just wait. The entire Midwest & Great Plains is frozen right now and it's better to be safe than sorry. Just my two cents. I had to delay a trade a month last winter because of how cold it was.

Yeah I think I will wait it out. Was leaning this way but is nice to get the reassurance. Thanks for that. Looks like I should be fine by next week. Hopefully...

 

[tinypyramids1]

yeah, just wait. by the time it gets here from OR we'll have lows well below 0. even if i were shipping anymore, there's no way i'd be comfortable shipping anything but hard liquor in that kind of cold.

 

[capnmike]

yeah, just wait. by the time it gets here from OR we'll have lows well below 0. even if i were shipping anymore, there's no way i'd be comfortable shipping anything but hard liquor in that kind of cold.

Great, I just okayed my personal best box ever to ship from the east coast Wed to arrive here Friday! Fingers crossed

I need to look at a national weather map somewhere, because nyc and some random cities in between (e.g., Cleveland) aren't showing the low teens/single digits like us.

 

[Unbreakabolt]

Was out east over the weekend and half acre's site shows they are completely out of DDC? Not even pouring at the tap room? The ****?

 

[jordy777]

The collective hatred of #newmoney reminds me of goth kids complaining about the increasing popularity of Hot Topic 15 years ago. How will the hordes of newly certified ciccerones and new breweries opening daily earn a living without increased demand (i.e., #newmoney).

Maybe #newmoney will be too preoccupied with Chili Hunter to care about JK farmhouse ales. Either that or they will show up and be all "I thought this was a Jester King release, where's the Atrial Rubicite?!"

Maybe #newmoney will be too preoccupied with Chili Hunter to care about JK farmhouse ales. Either that or they will show up and be all "I thought this was a Jester King release, where's the Atrial Rubicite?!"

 

[ChaQuiseman]

Half Acre has become my favorite Illinois operation as of late. They've always been a solid, local, go-to, but these past few releases have been absolutely killing it.

I always complained that Big Hugs didn't have enough body, this time around it was perfectly viscous for the style and was one of the best non-BA coffee stouts I've had in a long while.

This most recent batch of DDC, whoa mama. It's been a really solid double IPA in past years, but something about this batch makes me want to go to their tap room and empty pony keg after pony keg into my mouth until I have to be wheeled out on a stretcher.

 

[ChicagoGuy]

If any Chicagoans are looking to pick up a bunch of Cocoa Mole with no drama, both the Lincoln Park (Clybourn) and Lakeview (Diversey) Trader Joe's had plenty for $8.99 per bottle. LP had 14 bottles on the shelf today (and I left it that way, I've got a few already), and LV had 5 bottles on the shelf yesterday.

 

[user 306237]

... This most recent batch of DDC, whoa mama. It's been a really solid double IPA in past years, but something about this batch makes me want to go to their tap room and empty pony keg after pony keg into my mouth until I have to be wheeled out on a stretcher.

http://halfacrebeer.com/the-tap-room (updated 3pm on Saturday) -- looks like they already blew through their pony kegs.

 

[danbanana]

If any Chicagoans are looking to pick up a bunch of Cocoa Mole with no drama, both the Lincoln Park (Clybourn) and Lakeview (Diversey) Trader Joe's had plenty for $8.99 per bottle. LP had 14 bottles on the shelf today (and I left it that way, I've got a few already), and LV had 5 bottles on the shelf yesterday.

Wait. Are we posting where LoF beers are available? Why?

But just in case, I know where you can find some La Folie. And there's a shop in Elmhurst that probably has that one collab with CCB they did. A ton of others, too, because nothing moves there. PM me and we can set up a trade in exchange for my suddenly valuable information.

 

[user 306237]

Wait. Are we posting where LoF beers are available? Why?

But just in case, I know where you can find some La Folie. And there's a shop in Elmhurst that probably has that one collab with CCB they did. A ton of others, too, because nothing moves there. PM me and we can set up a trade in exchange for my suddenly valuable information.

Cocoa Mole is a New Belgium beer? When I heard there's drama about picking it up, I assumed it was from Hailstorm or something.

 

[danbanana]

Cocoa Mole is a New Belgium beer? When I heard there's drama about picking it up, I assumed it was from Hailstorm or something.

What the **** is Hailstorm?

 

[jakeox]

What the **** is Hailstorm?

I really appreciate your commitment.

 

[tinypyramids1]

the only thing that is good about cocoa mole is the bottle art. honestly i may buy one and drainpour it just so i can look at that bottle again.

 

[ChicagoGuy]

Wait. Are we posting where LoF beers are available? Why?

But just in case, I know where you can find some La Folie. And there's a shop in Elmhurst that probably has that one collab with CCB they did. A ton of others, too, because nothing moves there. PM me and we can set up a trade in exchange for my suddenly valuable information.

Cocoa Mole is a New Belgium beer? When I heard there's drama about picking it up, I assumed it was from Hailstorm or something.

the only thing that is good about cocoa mole is the bottle art. honestly i may buy one and drainpour it just so i can look at that bottle again.

Tough crowd.

A few folks over in Random Beer Threads expressed some excitement about this stuff, and I've heard people elsewhere talking about how much they liked it & how they planned on buying a bunch.

I picked up a couple from TJ's, I figured for $8.99 I could see how it stacks up to Spiteful's Malevolence, which I dug.

 

[Tooch4321]

Cocoa Mole? That **** is gross. Hell, I see La Folie shitting up the shelves all over town and people are going bonkers for that moldy, poo water. What is wrong with this world?

 

[ChicagoGuy]

Well now I'm curious: are you guys not fans of the chocolate/chile combo (like Abraxas, Malevolence, etc), or do you feel that New Belgium Cocoa Mole is just a particularly nasty example of the category?

If it's the latter, then I'm bummed, because I bought three of the ******' things based on the fact that I like Abraxas & Malevolence.

 

[jeblikesbeer]

i only had it once and its safe to say its not one of NB's finer offerings