For most people across the USA, Black Friday means insane lines and shoppers violently jumping over each other to get that flat-screen TV, gaming system or the new cool toy on the cheap. However for the craft beer community the day after Thanksgiving means its time for the annual release of Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout. The hardcore beer geeks camp out in 30 degree weather for a chance to pick up Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout and the variants. This year, BCBS came in regular, coffee, barleywine, proprietor's, and vanilla which hasn't been released in four years. I am what one would classify as one of the hardcore beer geeks so I drove a few hours and camped out in hopes of obtaining BCBS.
I arrived a few hours early and felt a sense of out doormeness (yea I know it's not a word but it works) as I waited in the windy cold. Yes, my feet did kinda go numb a few times but nothing a car heater or propane heater can't fix right? Eventually other craft beer lovers showed up and with awesome beer and space heaters. Everyone was cool, laid back, super nice and before you knew it a bottle share broke out. At this point everyone started to bring out bottles of beers I've only dreamed about. Armed with my trusty snifter I drank my way through enough whales to make any geek beer jealous with envy. Getting a chance to chat it up with geek beers truly passionate about craft beer was awesome and definitely made for a special BCBS Black Friday release.
I won't sugar coat the event as yes there were mules (people in line simply to obtain more beer for other beer geeks trying to get around the beer limit) and a Nordstrom shopping joke was told by someone (this was later worked out and everyone is cool now).The bottle limit that started at a case each was cut down to 3, 4 packs due to the huge number of people that showed up (in the neighborhood of 300+ people). These things like any other Black Friday event are bound to happen but didn't affect things much and a great time was had overall. I have to admit the bottle share was just as fun as getting to pick up a few packs BCBS at the end of the day.
The event overall was a success and after all was said and done I came to the thought about the magnitude of the event. It was a great sight to see as I stood number 1 in line looking out into the sea of craft beer geeks there for the same reason as me. The thought of one beer bringing so many walks of life together is a beautiful thing. Just like sporting events craft beer can have a very diverse fan base that brings the 21+ to senior citizens out to enjoy a fine crafted brew with stories of their adventures hunting and drinking beers from all over the world.
The next time you're at a major whale (really rare hard to find beer) release take a few minutes and chat it up with your fellow craft beer drinker you never know what you may have in common, what beer they might have to share ,tell you about or trade. I've been all over enjoying craft beer and have run into some great beer geeks and experienced some great moments such as receiving a bottle of Cigar City's Hunahpu (Thank you again Gus you rock!!!) What I'm getting at is certainly enjoy the great beer but also enjoy the moment as well because beer was created for enjoyment right, so remember to have fun. As always you can catch me on Beer Advocate and Ratebeer under name Ohiobeer29 or on twitter at @ohiobeer29, or here on HomebrewTalk as Ohiobeer29, to trade beer stories, reviews and thoughts on the next great beer to look out for.
I arrived a few hours early and felt a sense of out doormeness (yea I know it's not a word but it works) as I waited in the windy cold. Yes, my feet did kinda go numb a few times but nothing a car heater or propane heater can't fix right? Eventually other craft beer lovers showed up and with awesome beer and space heaters. Everyone was cool, laid back, super nice and before you knew it a bottle share broke out. At this point everyone started to bring out bottles of beers I've only dreamed about. Armed with my trusty snifter I drank my way through enough whales to make any geek beer jealous with envy. Getting a chance to chat it up with geek beers truly passionate about craft beer was awesome and definitely made for a special BCBS Black Friday release.
I won't sugar coat the event as yes there were mules (people in line simply to obtain more beer for other beer geeks trying to get around the beer limit) and a Nordstrom shopping joke was told by someone (this was later worked out and everyone is cool now).The bottle limit that started at a case each was cut down to 3, 4 packs due to the huge number of people that showed up (in the neighborhood of 300+ people). These things like any other Black Friday event are bound to happen but didn't affect things much and a great time was had overall. I have to admit the bottle share was just as fun as getting to pick up a few packs BCBS at the end of the day.
The event overall was a success and after all was said and done I came to the thought about the magnitude of the event. It was a great sight to see as I stood number 1 in line looking out into the sea of craft beer geeks there for the same reason as me. The thought of one beer bringing so many walks of life together is a beautiful thing. Just like sporting events craft beer can have a very diverse fan base that brings the 21+ to senior citizens out to enjoy a fine crafted brew with stories of their adventures hunting and drinking beers from all over the world.
The next time you're at a major whale (really rare hard to find beer) release take a few minutes and chat it up with your fellow craft beer drinker you never know what you may have in common, what beer they might have to share ,tell you about or trade. I've been all over enjoying craft beer and have run into some great beer geeks and experienced some great moments such as receiving a bottle of Cigar City's Hunahpu (Thank you again Gus you rock!!!) What I'm getting at is certainly enjoy the great beer but also enjoy the moment as well because beer was created for enjoyment right, so remember to have fun. As always you can catch me on Beer Advocate and Ratebeer under name Ohiobeer29 or on twitter at @ohiobeer29, or here on HomebrewTalk as Ohiobeer29, to trade beer stories, reviews and thoughts on the next great beer to look out for.
