Pittsburgh

[AnotherPint4Ole]

Having had another Arthur the other day, I'd have to agree. If there is a better non-barreled saison out there, I've yet to have it. I struggle to think of how to improve that beer. And I really do like Side Project. Their Foudre Beer is outstanding as is Saison du Ble. But just plain old Arthur is basically perfect in my eyes.

I thought the foudre beer was very one-note, and a bit too tart. I would guess that's why it makes a good foundation for adding fruit/flavors to it. I think I heard Fuzzy and some of the other fruited beers use foudre as the base beer. In terms of their regularly available drafts, I consistently liked the grisette more than foudre or saison du ble.

The only time I was there that they had bottles to go, it was Biere du Pays, which I think is my favorite I've had so far. I usually prefer unfruited beers though.

 

[tommyguz]

Quite an entrance!

Seeing as how it seems that you signed up because of some weird Western PA sort of beef (sandwiches out there are pretty weird), I suggest you refrain from any further attacks or we will have to bring the real trolls into this thread, which I doubt anybody wants.

Seriously though, play nice.

They have french fries on them.

I think this thread needs real trolls instead of all the fake ass ones.

 

[tommyguz]

For those who have the capacity to Reddit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/beertrade/comments/4xqpfa/ft_the_brew_gentlemen_beer_co/

That's painful to read. "Trade Value Sucks" "Don't want line out the doors" Don't they know those go hand in hand? If you don't wait in a line, you can't trade it for a lot.

 

[shuggy1]

They might be small, but they are on the level of most of Hill Farmsteads pale ales, I would say maybe slightly better on some of their beers, and getting close to being on the level with Treehouse and Trillium.

I love Reddit. They must eat a lot of Paste.

 

[beerman6686]

I love Reddit. They must eat a lot of Paste.

Agreed, that guy is an idiot for thinking BG isn't better than Trade House.

 

[greg4579]

After finishing my growler of it I will reiterate my love for the Voodoo IPL. The Bell's Q'Falls lager I had recently kind of let me down, but Voodoo's was everything I could ask for in that style.

 

[PSUMike]

The one time I had Saison du Ble it was overpoweringly tart. I just thought it was too much. That's my sum total experience with SP to this point though. I do have a bottle of Balaton that I've not opened yet.

I had it reasonably fresh so it wasn't too tart for me.

I thought the foudre beer was very one-note, and a bit too tart. I would guess that's why it makes a good foundation for adding fruit/flavors to it. I think I heard Fuzzy and some of the other fruited beers use foudre as the base beer. In terms of their regularly available drafts, I consistently liked the grisette more than foudre or saison du ble.

The only time I was there that they had bottles to go, it was Biere du Pays, which I think is my favorite I've had so far. I usually prefer unfruited beers though.

Foudre Beer is the base for Fuzzy for sure but not sure about their other fruited ones. When I was there, they had Foudre Beer, Lattice, and Biere du Pays on draft. BdP was my least favorite of the 3 but I still liked it. The rest of their tap list was guest taps. I've only had a small sampling from them but I've never found anything to be too tart/sour for my liking and I'm not a fan of overly sour or acidic beers. YMMV

 

[shuggy1]

Agreed, that guy is an idiot for thinking BG isn't better than Trade House.

Can't wait for that canning line when Insurrection becomes Trade-Erection amirite?

 

[OneDropSoup]

Can't wait for that canning line when Insurrection becomes Trade-Erection amirite?

More like ISOrrection!

 

[kbuzz1]

More like ISOrrection!

I thought maybe this was gonna be shuggy 's first "like"...

 

[psnydez861]

After finishing my growler of it I will reiterate my love for the Voodoo IPL. The Bell's Q'Falls lager I had recently kind of let me down, but Voodoo's was everything I could ask for in that style.

Not sure if you like Octoberfests but this years SN Octoberfest is amazing.

 

[OneDropSoup]

Not sure if you like Octoberfests but this years SN Octoberfest is amazing.

I loved last year's. This even better?

 

[chekyo4]

TalkBourbon Time:

Limited-Release Lotteries are open only to Pennsylvania residents and licensees.
The opt-in period for the four Limited-Release Lotteries detailed below is open until 11 p.m. Saturday, August 20!

• Lottery One features 150 bottles (113 for individual consumers, 37 for licensees) of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Seasoned Wood Bourbon. Each 750 milliliter bottle of this special edition bourbon Using a unique wheat recipe mash bill costs $89.99.

• Lottery Two features 72 bottles (54 for individual consumers, 18 for licensees) of Four Roses Elliot’s Select Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon. This barrel-strength bourbon, released in June, is Brent Elliot’s first limited-edition release as master distiller, a post he assumed in September 2015. Each 750 milliliter bottle costs $124.99.

• Lottery Three features 48 750 milliliter bottles (36 for individual consumers, 12 for licensees) of Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Three-Year-Old Rye. Each 750 milliliter bottle costs $52.99.

• Lottery Four features 48 two-bottle sets (36 for individual consumers, 12 for licensees) of Buffalo Trace offerings that experimented with applying infrared light to barrels to learn how new and different flavors could be drawn from the oak. Each two-bottle set costs $129.99 and includes one 375 milliliter bottle of each of the following products.

• Group 1 Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Infrared Light Wave Barrels Bourbon came from barrels exposed to 15 minutes of short- and medium-wave frequency at 70 percent power prior to char.
• Group 2 Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Infrared Light Wave Barrels Bourbon came from barrels exposed to 30 minutes of short- and medium-wave frequency at 60 percent power prior to char.

Drawings will be conducted the week of August 22, and we hope to notify all winners and non-winning entries of the Lottery’s conclusion by the end of August.

 

[beerman6686]

Can't wait for that canning line when Insurrection becomes Trade-Erection amirite?

Naw just easier for the consumer to drink 4 or 6 separate cans than a whole growler.

 

[london1o11]

• Group 1 Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Infrared Light Wave Barrels Bourbon came from barrels exposed to 15 minutes of short- and medium-wave frequency at 70 percent power prior to char.
• Group 2 Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Infrared Light Wave Barrels Bourbon came from barrels exposed to 30 minutes of short- and medium-wave frequency at 60 percent power prior to char.

Wut?

 

[kbuzz1]

Wut?

Science Bourbon

 

[AnotherPint4Ole]

Science Bourbon

 

[psnydez861]

I loved last year's. This even better?

I liked it as much if not more. The color seems lighter than I remember last years being...but its still a malt bomb with a beautifully balanced bitterness.

 

[dadavat]

TalkBourbon Time:

Limited-Release Lotteries are open only to Pennsylvania residents and licensees.
The opt-in period for the four Limited-Release Lotteries detailed below is open until 11 p.m. Saturday, August 20!

• Lottery One features 150 bottles (113 for individual consumers, 37 for licensees) of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Seasoned Wood Bourbon. Each 750 milliliter bottle of this special edition bourbon Using a unique wheat recipe mash bill costs $89.99.

• Lottery Two features 72 bottles (54 for individual consumers, 18 for licensees) of Four Roses Elliot’s Select Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon. This barrel-strength bourbon, released in June, is Brent Elliot’s first limited-edition release as master distiller, a post he assumed in September 2015. Each 750 milliliter bottle costs $124.99.

• Lottery Three features 48 750 milliliter bottles (36 for individual consumers, 12 for licensees) of Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Three-Year-Old Rye. Each 750 milliliter bottle costs $52.99.

• Lottery Four features 48 two-bottle sets (36 for individual consumers, 12 for licensees) of Buffalo Trace offerings that experimented with applying infrared light to barrels to learn how new and different flavors could be drawn from the oak. Each two-bottle set costs $129.99 and includes one 375 milliliter bottle of each of the following products.

• Group 1 Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Infrared Light Wave Barrels Bourbon came from barrels exposed to 15 minutes of short- and medium-wave frequency at 70 percent power prior to char.
• Group 2 Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Infrared Light Wave Barrels Bourbon came from barrels exposed to 30 minutes of short- and medium-wave frequency at 60 percent power prior to char.

Drawings will be conducted the week of August 22, and we hope to notify all winners and non-winning entries of the Lottery’s conclusion by the end of August.

i just had my first willett rye the other day. it was an 8 year and i thought it was exceptional (although i'm pretty new to bourbon). i'm not sure how the 3 year would stack up though. probably pretty hot.

 

[tommyguz]

Science Bourbon

Gimmick Bourbon?

 

[tommyguz]

I loved last year's. This even better?

It was hoppier last year, or maybe thinner this year, I forget, it's been a year since I drank it to remember

 

[AnotherPint4Ole]

There's talk on one of the facebook groups that Wicked Weed got approved for distro within the state. Anyone who understands distribution better than me know anything about it? I'm assuming Philly gets it, we might see some as gray market at jacked up costs?

 

[Tedwarhc]

There's talk on one of the facebook groups that Wicked Weed got approved for distro within the state. Anyone who understands distribution better than me know anything about it? I'm assuming Philly gets it, we might see some as gray market at jacked up costs?

It is in philly, as are many breweries that aren't in western pa. I don't know the law specifically about the grey market sales, but I believe if the person picks it up, they can resell here? If that's not the law, that's what seems to happen over the years. We have been in talks with many of these brands and would love to get them here. Since there are two definitive markets and wholesale channels in the state, many go to Philly first and test the waters. It is easier to get breweries that are already approved for sale in the state, they just have to be willing to go into new markets.

 

[OneDropSoup]

There's talk on one of the facebook groups that Wicked Weed got approved for distro within the state. Anyone who understands distribution better than me know anything about it? I'm assuming Philly gets it, we might see some as gray market at jacked up costs?

In a nutshell, yeah.

I don't know the law specifically about the grey market sales, but I believe if the person picks it up, they can resell here?

As far as I understand*, retailers can purchase from other retailers elsewhere in the state if they have the correct license, so what places like Ho1KB & Caliente do is get the license ($), drive to eastern PA ($), buy from another retailer - usually a case shop, though I imagine they could also buy from other bottle shops & I think breweries - ($), who themselves already purchased from a wholesaler ($), bring it back & sell it here. The three tier system essentially becomes four tier this way: Brewer -->wholesaler-->eastern PA retailer-->western PA retailer + travel + license = one pricy bottle of gray market beer.

*this spiel may be familiar to many of you

 

[preluderl]

In a nutshell, yeah.

As far as I understand*, retailers can purchase from other retailers elsewhere in the state if they have the correct license, so what places like Ho1KB & Caliente do is get the license ($), drive to eastern PA ($), buy from another retailer - usually a case shop, though I imagine they could also buy from other bottle shops & I think breweries - ($), who themselves already purchased from a wholesaler ($), bring it back & sell it here. The three tier system essentially becomes four tier this way: Brewer -->wholesaler-->eastern PA retailer-->western PA retailer + travel + license = one pricy bottle of gray market beer.

*this spiel may be familiar to many of you

Annnnnnddddd tada! $50!

 

[jeevo]

Quantity wise, how much do the Pittsburgh bottle shops pick up? It seems like an awful lot of hassle to take that trip and buy beers that you would sell for maybe $10-$15 more than what you purchased it for.

 

[Grodd87]

Quantity wise, how much do the Pittsburgh bottle shops pick up? It seems like an awful lot of hassle to take that trip and buy beers that you would sell for maybe $10-$15 more than what you purchased it for.

I don't think they do it for the profit on the beer. They do it to get the people in to eat and maybe buy a couple drafts.

 

[OneDropSoup]

Quantity wise, how much do the Pittsburgh bottle shops pick up? It seems like an awful lot of hassle to take that trip and buy beers that you would sell for maybe $10-$15 more than what you purchased it for.

House has a large van dedicated to these trips. I'm guessing Caliente does too.

I don't think they do it for the profit on the beer. They do it to get the people in to eat and maybe buy a couple drafts.

They certainly price the beer to profit, but I think it's at least as much to boast selection & compete with GE.

 

[chefduff2]

This is the same way it works in NY for beer that just comes into NYC. I'm not sure if it works like this in every state, but it seems on the east coast they target the big cities, NYC, Boston, Philly, DC, etc. it's just a trickle down effect to the other cities.

 

[kbuzz1]

I thought you could also "trade" goods within the state with other stores? Or something similar? So that way you're not paying outright for the product...might just be making that up...