Schramm's Mead

[cosmicevan]

We've really learned the true cost of producing this particular mead; in order to keep Ken and our business healthy and alive we have to factor in all the time spent grafting, spraying, pruning, hand harvesting the apples, transporting them to the cider mill, making the mead, fermenting/aging the mead, etc. We used to get Ken's time in the orchard for free; moving forward to the future, I realize that our business can only grow if we pay full-time employees (and pay them well). We are building a plan to take our business from half an acre to 100 acres, and this will require that we treat our current and future employees like more than unpaid interns.

There are also a number of other factors that make this particular mead risky to our business (e.g. it is spontaneously fermented with native yeast) and so we take a number of steps to insure that this mead is delicious but won't compromise our other products. Honestly, we made a mistake pricing the estate cyser at $26. We treated the cider's cost of production as negligible or free (especially compared to quality honey). This isn't the case - and moving forward and growing our business we have to factor in the real costs of these kinds of things. We will make a version of 'Apple' with sourced cider at the $26 price point, because buying cider consisting of 4-5 different commercial cider varieties is relatively cheap, compared to 20+ years of grafting hard-to-find varieties and cultivating them intensively and professionally.

Please feel free to contact me directly if you ever have any other questions or concerns. We value your support greatly.

simple economics of supply and demand also say that you guys should be charging more. I hate to say it as an avid fan, but I know plenty of people who dabble in the grey secondary markets and a lot of your amazing mead is swapped like commodities for prices that make me question if I really want to open a bottle vs sell it (I always fall on the side of open...I'm always amazed that anyone is willing to trade anything that you make let alone sell). I appreciate you doing what you can to keep prices down, but if it means production growth with the same quality, I'm all in favor of getting there sooner than later.

 

[Jb123]

simple economics of supply and demand also say that you guys should be charging more. I hate to say it as an avid fan, but I know plenty of people who dabble in the grey secondary markets and a lot of your amazing mead is swapped like commodities for prices that make me question if I really want to open a bottle vs sell it (I always fall on the side of open...I'm always amazed that anyone is willing to trade anything that you make let alone sell). I appreciate you doing what you can to keep prices down, but if it means production growth with the same quality, I'm all in favor of getting there sooner than later.

That's kind of a double edge sword. I love hod but will I pay $200,$300 , or a $1,000??? No. But some freak living in his parents basment will and will flip it for world of Warcraft hand jobs. Supply and demand only go so far until you push away the people who created the demand, thus the supply. I love schramms more than the next guy but at some point there has to be an end. Will all mazer club members also own European cars at some point ?

 

[Kasher]

I love hod but will I pay $200,$300 , or a $1,000???

You could always ask for them to be sent to you for a tasting.

world of Warcraft hand jobs.

ISO!

 

[Jb123]

You could always ask for them to be sent to you for a tasting.



ISO!

No.

I suck at hand jibbers , you don't want me near you. Rough hands.

 

[abawol01]

No.

I suck at hand jibbers , you don't want me near you. Rough hands.

You must have been using lotion at the gang bang then. I recall silky palms and a strong grip.

 

[Jb123]

You must have been using lotion at the gang bang then. I recall silky palms and a strong grip.

Trying to keep a low hang jibbin profile, Andy. Thanks.

 

[Jb123]

Trying to keep a low hang jibbin profile, Andy. Thanks.

Hand* :*

 

[buzzword]

You could always ask for them to be sent to you for a tasting.

who would do such a thing?!

 

[Naegerbomb]

That's kind of a double edge sword. I love hod but will I pay $200,$300 , or a $1,000??? No. But some freak living in his parents basment will and will flip it for world of Warcraft hand jobs. Supply and demand only go so far until you push away the people who created the demand, thus the supply. I love schramms more than the next guy but at some point there has to be an end. Will all mazer club members also own European cars at some point ?

I think you're being a bit critical. Firstly, not a single American-made car has made the IIHS "death proof" list (out of nine, three are european - one of which I purchased when I realized that every driver on the road is an idiot and I want my two kids to outlast me). One could argue that the Tesla Model S is actually the safest and most well-built car in existence, but as we've seen recently it's "level 3.5 autopilot" isn't quite ready for the mass market. I anxiously await the day when we are all riding around drinking tHoD in death-proof American-made cars with a level 4 autopilot; I think we have some painful economic and political decisions to make before my dream of fully-automated luxury communism can be realized, but that's an aside.

Secondly, I googled "World of Warcraft hand jobs", and boy, was that a rabbit hole. However, these people seem genuine and down-to-middle-earth. A little strange, but if they're also enjoying tHoD, then more power to them, I say!

 

[trickytunadicky]

I think you're being a bit critical. Firstly, not a single American-made car has made the IIHS "death proof" list (out of nine, three are european - one of which I purchased when I realized that every driver on the road is an idiot and I want my two kids to outlast me). One could argue that the Tesla Model S is actually the safest and most well-built car in existence, but as we've seen recently it's "level 3.5 autopilot" isn't quite ready for the mass market. I anxiously await the day when we are all riding around drinking tHoD in death-proof American-made cars with a level 4 autopilot; I think we have some painful economic and political decisions to make before my dream of fully-automated luxury communism can be realized, but that's an aside.

Secondly, I googled "World of Warcraft hand jobs", and boy, was that a rabbit hole. However, these people seem genuine and down-to-middle-earth. A little strange, but if they're also enjoying tHoD, then more power to them, I say!

I drive a Prius. I am a different kind of stuck up.

 

[Naegerbomb]

simple economics of supply and demand also say that you guys should be charging more. I hate to say it as an avid fan, but I know plenty of people who dabble in the grey secondary markets and a lot of your amazing mead is swapped like commodities for prices that make me question if I really want to open a bottle vs sell it (I always fall on the side of open...I'm always amazed that anyone is willing to trade anything that you make let alone sell). I appreciate you doing what you can to keep prices down, but if it means production growth with the same quality, I'm all in favor of getting there sooner than later.

That's kind of a double edge sword. I love hod but will I pay $200,$300 , or a $1,000??? No. But some freak living in his parents basment will and will flip it for world of Warcraft hand jobs. Supply and demand only go so far until you push away the people who created the demand, thus the supply. I love schramms more than the next guy but at some point there has to be an end. Will all mazer club members also own European cars at some point ?

My goal is to increase production to meet demand. This will probably never happen - because our stuff is intrinsically delicious to human beings (and Blood Elves, apparently) and there is manual labor involved in making it. However, we will always try to sell our product at a price reasonably linked to the cost of production ('tHoD' is always going to cost more than 'The Statement', 'Black Heart' is always going to cost more than 'Raspberry'). Whether we have 1 acre of Schaerbeeks or 100, we'll always be picking the fruit one cherry at a time and caring for our trees like the world's best viticulturists do for their vines. I still want 100, though...

 

[Naegerbomb]

I drive a Prius. I am a different kind of stuck up.

They're cool cars, but a Prius doesn't have an Insane Mode, though...

 

[Josh2]

They're cool cars, but a Prius doesn't have an Insane Mode, though...

Insane mode, no. Insane drivers, yes.

 

[trickytunadicky]

Insane mode, no. Insane drivers, yes.

I did learn to drive in Michigan. We base defensive driving on hockey.

 

[cosmicevan]

That's kind of a double edge sword. I love hod but will I pay $200,$300 , or a $1,000??? No. But some freak living in his parents basment will and will flip it for world of Warcraft hand jobs. Supply and demand only go so far until you push away the people who created the demand, thus the supply. I love schramms more than the next guy but at some point there has to be an end. Will all mazer club members also own European cars at some point ?

I agree. It pains me that these secondary markets exist in hobbies I love...and many times they have priced me out. I blame the people who pay the crazy prices for incentivizing someone to go out and make a quick buck, but it is hard to really fault anyone since at the end of the day that's what people do if they want something and have the means. some producers are very aware and have upped their prices, even retail does their share of gouging when they know that the odds are that the person "following the truck" is probably a flipper or that the gouged prices are at or below grey markets.

as an out of stater who trades for schramm's I don't have the luxury of getting to wake up early, get in line, and pay retail. on occassion, regular trade partners look out but it gets tough w all the demand and "value" to be made in trade/sale/auction/raffle/whatever that even those relationships fizzle (dontdrinkbeer has that amazing meme about your trade partner saying they got shut out and then you recognize their counter top in an auction picture). but you are right, higher prices will just mean less access for most of us. It just sucks that some middle man is making money that schrams could/should make.

 

[cneville1]

I agree. It pains me that these secondary markets exist in hobbies I love...and many times they have priced me out. I blame the people who pay the crazy prices for incentivizing someone to go out and make a quick buck, but it is hard to really fault anyone since at the end of the day that's what people do if they want something and have the means. some producers are very aware and have upped their prices, even retail does their share of gouging when they know that the odds are that the person "following the truck" is probably a flipper or that the gouged prices are at or below grey markets.

as an out of stater who trades for schramm's I don't have the luxury of getting to wake up early, get in line, and pay retail. on occassion, regular trade partners look out but it gets tough w all the demand and "value" to be made in trade/sale/auction/raffle/whatever that even those relationships fizzle (dontdrinkbeer has that amazing meme about your trade partner saying they got shut out and then you recognize their counter top in an auction picture). but you are right, higher prices will just mean less access for most of us. It just sucks that some middle man is making money that schrams could/should make.

there is no gouging in beer or mead

 

[steimie]

there is no gouging in beer or mead

Just whiskey.

 

[thebandit1]

Just whiskey.

Speaking of which, a local shop quoted me $1200 yesterday for bottle of Lot B on the shelf. Only regret was not asking about the prices on the 15, 20, and 23 so I could have a good laugh.

 

[trickytunadicky]

Speaking of which, a local shop quoted me $1200 yesterday for bottle of Lot B on the shelf. Only regret was not asking about the prices on the 15, 20, and 23 so I could have a good laugh.

Never considered selling a bottle so hard before.

 

[Jb123]

Speaking of which, a local shop quoted me $1200 yesterday for bottle of Lot B on the shelf. Only regret was not asking about the prices on the 15, 20, and 23 so I could have a good laugh.

Hilton road ???

 

[Jb123]

Never considered selling a bottle so hard before.

Doubt anyone would actually pay 1200$ for lot b. But ppl r ******* dumb!

 

[thebandit1]

Hilton road ???

Brass Mug.

 

[Jb123]

Brass Mug.

I wish places like this wouldn't get this ****....so so aggravating.

 

[surlytheduff1]

Amelia: what is it, 'sides a cute baby?

Edit: Loganberryz

 

[trickytunadicky]

He was my favorite member of the Babysitter's Club.

 

[Naegerbomb]

I wish places like this wouldn't get this ****....so so aggravating.

Agreed - very aggravating. I got mine from Holiday for like $63, I think.

 

[Tlo4sho]

I drive a Prius. I am a different kind of stuck up.

 

[Jb123]

How is the bottling line working James? I saw your face on Instagram. Naegerbomb

 

[Naegerbomb]

How is the bottling line working James? I saw your face on Instagram. Naegerbomb

Working great - just got it leveled, cleaned, and steam sanitized for the first time - then adjusted the heights and the corker for the skinny 375 "Bellissima" bottle (e.g. Black Agnes, Red Agnes, Amelia, Madeline, etc). We're working next on loading the labels and capsules now, hopefully we'll bottle some Red Agnes after we eat here.

 

[trickytunadicky]

Working great - just got it leveled, cleaned, and steam sanitized for the first time - then adjusted the heights and the corker for the skinny 375 "Bellissima" bottle (e.g. Black Agnes, Red Agnes, Amelia, Madeline, etc). We're working next on loading the labels and capsules now, hopefully we'll bottle some Red Agnes after we eat here.