The San Diego area thread

[Xul1]

AleSmith is sooo out of touch with that format and their Print Shop 7 artwork.

And yet, it's still less ****** than the Order of the Anvil logo...

And back to Abnormal, how does a porter turn into a stout? Easy, just put it in a barrel.

On one hand, the line between porter and stout is flexible at best, especially when you're making up styles like "Imperial Milk Porter." On the other hand, clever marketing is essentially the only way Abnormal can justify some of their decisions, so you'd think they'd put the effort into some logical consistency when releasing barrel aged versions of their beers. Or at least drop a line into the marketing copy about how they turned it into a stout because "only the most turgid stout could possibly survive eighteen months of barrel aging, an onslaught of decadent adjuncts, and still stand ready to absorb All of the Lights."

Or something like that. I don't know, that sounds a bit too Modern Timesish but I don't hate myself enough to expend the mental effort to try to get into Abnormal's pseudo-classy copywriting voice.

 

[smithj21541]

Can anyone please translate what beer/ brewery that is?

Sorry, BA All of the Lights from Abnormal, their nutella porter

No apology needed. The ION, was throwing me off. I really thought that was some brewery abbreviation

 

[smithj21541]

Our bottle shares have better lineups than nearly every beer festival.

And are a lot cheaper.

 

[Sebowski1]

Easily the best event in SD for the past decade. But even I have been skipping that the couple years. Their list used to be full of straight up whales. Now it's still good, but a shadow of what it was.

I liked Real Ale better. Bigger more sessionable pours. Good times.

 

[rcubed1]

I liked Real Ale better. Bigger more sessionable pours. Good times.

Never forget the cask dry hopped version of Zombie Dust!

 

[rrryanc]

And are a lot cheaper.

Eh, don't kid yourself on that front.

I mean, maybe I'd be buying, spending money on trading, and traveling with/for beer anyway, but I think bottle shares definitely increase my overall spend.

 

[arren]

The only events that I make sure not to skip in town are Woodshop and Zwanze. Otherwise, meh.

Our bottle shares have better lineups than nearly every beer festival. That being said there are some really fun festivals to go to that go beyond the beer itself.

I wish someone would do a pilsner fest around here, just like what FSW did with Pils and Love a week or so up at Venice. That would be a must-do for sure.

 

[Tyrsis]

I wish someone would do a pilsner fest around here, just like what FSW did with Pils and Love a week or so up at Venice. That would be a must-do for sure.

lol $60 for a pilsner fest

get the **** outta here

 

[rcubed1]

Scott Blair wants to bring back Real Ale Fest but with a different, smaller format but who knows if that will ever happen.

I just want a place here to open up where I can get glasses of Kolsch until I tell them I'm done.

 

[chemman141]

The only events that I make sure not to skip in town are Woodshop and Zwanze. Otherwise, meh.


I wish someone would do a pilsner fest around here, just like what FSW did with Pils and Love a week or so up at Venice. That would be a must-do for sure.

Just make sure to wish it's not $60 for the ticket. I was extremely excited for the event then saw the cost, laughed, and noped the **** out.

 

[Abigigail]

lol $60 for a pilsner fest

get the **** outta here

Ehhh, I'd rather pay $60 for unlimited well made pilsners than $60 for a bunch of ****** pastry stouts. On top of which, FW knows how to throw a festival, and I'd expect this one to be as exceptional as their others.

Edited to add: I'd sure as **** rather do this than spend $45 on 12oz of beer, which is primarily just variations of a beer they already saturate the market with!

 

[Tyrsis]

Ehhh, I'd rather pay $60 for unlimited well made pilsners than $60 for a bunch of ****** pastry stouts. On top of which, FW knows how to throw a festival, and I'd expect this one to be as exceptional as their others.

Edited to add: I'd sure as **** rather do this than spend $45 on 12oz of beer, which is primarily just variations of a beer they already saturate the market with!

I was going to be surprised at the lack of uproar over the Alesmith event on SD Beer Friends, then I remembered it was SD Beer Friends. They'd pay brewers $45 all day to take a pastry flavored dump in their mouth.

When I complained about beer dinners that didn't provide menus before selling tickets, I was told to "stop being poor."

 

[chemman141]

I was going to be surprised at the lack of uproar over the Alesmith event on SD Beer Friends, then I remembered it was SD Beer Friends. They'd pay brewers $45 all day to take a pastry flavored dump in their mouth.

When I complained about beer dinners that didn't provide menus before selling tickets, I was told to "stop being poor."

Yeah, **** you if you don't like duck liver!

 

[jwacky]

I was going to be surprised at the lack of uproar over the Alesmith event on SD Beer Friends, then I remembered it was SD Beer Friends. They'd pay brewers $45 all day to take a pastry flavored dump in their mouth.

When I complained about beer dinners that didn't provide menus before selling tickets, I was told to "stop being poor."

IMO - Alesmith has lost any sort of grasp on the market, it's weird. I'm sure they're doing just fine, but the membership was rushed, the art work for their stuff these days is laughable, and this "fest" doesn't make sense from a dollars standpoint.

It's not even about being "poor", we all have $45 to spend on beer. But when you get almost nothing for the money, what's the point? Go get a few pours in the Anvil & Stave room, a burrito, and go spend the $25 you saved at Societe on, like, 8 tasters of Butcher.

 

[chemman141]

IMO - Alesmith has lost any sort of grasp on the market, it's weird. I'm sure they're doing just fine, but the membership was rushed, the art work for their stuff these days is laughable, and this "fest" doesn't make sense from a dollars standpoint.

It's not even about being "poor", we all have $45 to spend on beer. But when you get almost nothing for the money, what's the point? Go get a few pours in the Anvil & Stave room, a burrito, and go spend the $25 you saved at Societe on, like, 8 tasters of Butcher.

This, so much this.

 

[Tyrsis]

IMO - Alesmith has lost any sort of grasp on the market, it's weird. I'm sure they're doing just fine, but the membership was rushed, the art work for their stuff these days is laughable, and this "fest" doesn't make sense from a dollars standpoint.

It's not even about being "poor", we all have $45 to spend on beer. But when you get almost nothing for the money, what's the point? Go get a few pours in the Anvil & Stave room, a burrito, and go spend the $25 you saved at Societe on, like, 8 tasters of Butcher.

From what I hear, you'll be able to walk up to the bar and order those Alesmith beers once the "VIP" session is over. What's the ******* point? lmao

 

[chemman141]

From what I hear, you'll be able to walk up to the bar and order those Alesmith beers once the "VIP" session is over. What's the ******* point? lmao

This is making less and less sense with every post. I am just glad for once I am not the only one griping about a brewery clearly price gouging.

 

[chemman141]

It could be that they wanted to keep this truly "VIP" and priced it accordingly like bottle logic did with their $1/oz IPA to try and keep it around longer (yes they actually did this, and yes they openly admitted to doing so on "that" site)

 

[sdreaper]

From what I hear, you'll be able to walk up to the bar and order those Alesmith beers once the "VIP" session is over. What's the ******* point? lmao

Ummmm, the VIP session is just putting you upstairs and the ability to purchase vintage bottles for onsite consumption. The beer is available to the public the entire time on saturday. Friday is the early bird session.

 

[Tyrsis]

Ummmm, the VIP session is just putting you upstairs and the ability to purchase vintage bottles for onsite consumption. The beer is available to the public the entire time on saturday. Friday is the early bird session.

So ALL of the beer will be on EVERYWHERE, available to EVERYONE the entire time? And you're simply paying money for the privilege of PAYING MORE MONEY?

******* lmao

 

[smithj21541]

IMO - Alesmith has lost any sort of grasp on the market, it's weird. I'm sure they're doing just fine, but the membership was rushed, the art work for their stuff these days is laughable, and this "fest" doesn't make sense from a dollars standpoint.

Very well said.

Not sure about other people but I love paying companies for the "privilege" of buying more expensive stuff from said company.

 

[smithj21541]

So ALL of the beer will be on EVERYWHERE, available to EVERYONE the entire time? And you're simply paying money for the privilege of PAYING MORE MONEY?

******* lmao

Jinx

 

[chemman141]

Ummmm, the VIP session is just putting you upstairs and the ability to purchase vintage bottles for onsite consumption. The beer is available to the public the entire time on saturday. Friday is the early bird session.

I know you're an alesmith homer but

So ALL of the beer will be on EVERYWHERE, available to EVERYONE the entire time? And you're simply paying money for the privilege of PAYING MORE MONEY?

******* lmao

put perfectly.

 

[sdreaper]

I never said it was a good deal, just supplying the information. I equate it to basically paying $200 for the VIP for FWIBF. I am justifying it to myself since I won't have to open a tab, don't have to deal with the general public, and don't have to carry cash for food trucks.

But I do have to eat at least $20 of "small bites", whatever those end up being just to make me feel I got my money's worth.

 

[Xul1]

I am justifying it to myself since I won't have to open a tab,

You're only going to drink 12oz of beer each day?

don't have to deal with the general public

Now you fully lost me. If the beer is available to the general public the entire time, don't you have to wade into the maelstrom to order beer? I know they have the upstairs bar, but there aren't enough taps to have every single beer pouring both upstairs and downstairs.

If nothing else, Alesmith could do a far better job of conveying what will be available where, when, and to whom. I know they want to sell VIP tickets but relying on obfuscation to sell them is not a winning long term strategy.

 

[wolf13]

...don't have to deal with the general public...

This reason alone makes it worth spending a few extra bucks on just about anything that gives you the option.

 

[Tyrsis]

You're only going to drink 12oz of beer each day?


Now you fully lost me. If the beer is available to the general public the entire time, don't you have to wade into the maelstrom to order beer? I know they have the upstairs bar, but there aren't enough taps to have every single beer pouring both upstairs and downstairs.

If nothing else, Alesmith could do a far better job of conveying what will be available where, when, and to whom. I know they want to sell VIP tickets but relying on obfuscation to sell them is not a winning long term strategy.

I adore Alesmith beer, but event planning has never been their strong point. Like, ever. Given their size, I'm surprised they don't have a FTE who does this type of ****. Or maybe they do, and they are bad at it.

 

[sdreaper]

Now you fully lost me. If the beer is available to the general public the entire time, don't you have to wade into the maelstrom to order beer? I know they have the upstairs bar, but there aren't enough taps to have every single beer pouring both upstairs and downstairs.

I am guessing on this one, but I wouldn't be surprised to see jockey boxes in use, like they did last year in having one of the grand prix laps upstairs. But who really knows, I just don't like people...so anything to put me away from them (until I have consumed some liquid confidence) is fantastic in my eyes.

Also no, I will likely drink more than 12oz of beer each day. My hope is that a '09 BASS appears on that vintage bottle list for a reasonable price, then likely will split it with some friends. See who wants CC points and then just venmo that individual.

Edit: But I also think they have 16 taps upstairs, which would cover all of their special offerings.

 

[riko1]

This reason alone makes it worth spending a few extra bucks on just about anything that gives you the option.

More and more I find that at beer events, the general crowd is more fun to be around than the wannabe elites who pay extra to feel special.

 

[kingg]

Not sure about other people but I love paying companies for the "privilege" of buying more expensive stuff from said company.

Um, isn't this the case with every brewery membership as well?