Results: Denver Beer Hunting Poll – Should the report become private?

Welp, I closed the poll after about 24 hours.  First off, I am humbled by the number of responses.  Either some of y’all voted multiple times, or I have a larger readership than I expected.

Now, the results; inconclusive.  It was basically 50/50.  Really.  Almost the exact same number of votes for and against password protecting the site.  The only difference was one single vote for the “leave out some of the rares” option, which counts as a no vote and brings it to exactly 50/50.

But of more importance; the comments.  Those that commented were heavily in favor of keeping it open and public, and they made some good arguments.  Not to mention, they were from some of the local heavy hitters in the beer blogosphere (Chipper Dave, Colorado Beer Man).  (Also, shout out to David, one of my ROY G. BIV line buddies)

So for now, I’ve decided to keep the blog open to the public.  This doesn’t mean I will keep it open indefinitely though, because there will be a day when I find it too hard to get the beers I want and I’ll lose the drive to do this anymore.  Maybe that will take weeks, months, years…who knows.  And I am also going to reserve the right to hold back on certain beers as I have been doing, like Cantillon and some of the Firestone Walker releases.  I’m also still considering the option of a newsletter that comes out before the public report.  For example, the newsletter might come out early in the week (by Wed) and the blog won’t become available until, say, Friday.  I need to think that through still…

I’d still like to keep the discussion open, so feel free to comment with suggestions, bribes, threats of violence, free beers, whatever.

Oh, and one final thing, this week’s report will be delayed until tomorrow (Wed), in case anyone dissuades me convincingly.

Denver Beer Hunting Poll – Should the report become private?

Avery’s Volunt Plus Erat sold out at the brewery and many people were turned away empty-handed.

Crooked Stave’s WWBV release and ROY G BIV day can be described as…well, a shit show.  After waiting on line for hours, many were turned away.

Cantillon hits and sells in minutes. Parabola was extremely difficult to come by this year.  And the list goes on.

What’s happening?  Craft beer is becoming more and more popular.  What this means for us is, less beer for more people.

The Denver Beer Hunter’s Report started mostly as a way for me to track what’s coming.  I decided to share this with the world for beer advocacy-sake, but am now becoming increasingly concerned that beers are becoming too rare and customers are crowding the market.  The WWBV release is the perfect example; no one expected it was going to be that huge.  I blame this on media.  It was mentioned in Denver Off The Wagon, the Denver Post and in many of the local beer blogs.  And I mentioned it here too.  Maybe I didn’t impact it much, but if even one person missed out because of this blog, well then I feel horrible about it.

I don’t want anyone to miss out on a special release due to this blog.  So what to do?  I have 2 options:

1. purposefully leave out certain special releases (like I do now for Cantillon and I did for Parabola this year).  (My only concern with this option is I don’t want anyone to feel the blog is “uninformed”.)
2. Make this site password protected and “members-only”, thereby decreasing the public influx.

So here’s a poll.  Let me know your thoughts, and please feel free to leave a comment.

Also, here’s a photo from ROY G. BIV day.

Denver Beer Hunter’s Report – 05/17/2013

Here’s this week’s report:

It’s American Craft Beer Week!  Check your local breweries and beer bars for events all week.  Special releases, beer events, etc.  Also, there’s these guys working towards opening a new brewery in Denver, would you be so kind as to fill out their survey?  surveymonkey.com/s/96BQK7B

• I’m thinking we’ll see Crooked Stave’s Hop Savant hit shelves this week.  I could be wrong, but I doubt it.  (P.S. – I was not wrong.)
• New Belgium Paardebloem and Pluot are both on shelves now (or hitting your store soon).  Although, I haven’t seen it yet…anyone confirm?  Fuck this shit.  If the distrib is going to sit on NB stuff for silly reasons, then I’m not including NB in the reports anymore.  
• Avery is releasing their next anniversary beer; Twenty XX India Pale Ale. The release party is May 16th, and like their other anni beers, we should see this hit shelves.  (LATE FRIDAY UPDATE: It’s hitting Denver-area shelves)
• Strange Brewing will release their 2012 GABF Bronze winning barleywine, dr. strangelove, on Friday, May 17th at noon.  This will be a brewery-only release, $20 a pop, yo.
• River North is releasing their next Barrel Series beer on May 18; Whiskey Barrel-Aged Hello, Darkness.  Only 30 cases bottled, so this will be a taproom-only release.  A black IPA aged in whiskey barrels sounds like heaven to me!
• Odell is releasing Celastrina saison on May 18th.  Assuming this will hit shelves.
• Crooked Stave is having a Roy G. Biv party on May 19th! This is to celebrate the release of Wild Wild Brett Violet and the end of the series. This won’t see store shelves. It’s a rainbow party, with unicorns and shit!
• Upslope will be releasing their new IIPA in May.  This thing will be HUGE; a 10 percent ABV double IPA in 19.2-ounce imperial pint cans. Whaaaaattt! This will be a new year round, so not necessarily rare, but fun as hell.

Look for more updates throughout the week (if there are any more to report).  Please share any Denver area beer release news you might have either in the comments or on Twitter @ssteigerwald.

Denver Beer Hunter’s Report – 05/10/2013

Here’s this week’s report:

Last week saw the release of Firestone Walker Parabola.  It became a beer hunters nightmare (or dream? “Thrill of the hunt”…) since the Colorado allocation was cut in half this year.  Between a smaller allocation and a growing beer geek population, it was difficult to track down Parabola.  Many stores sold out before it even hit shelves, and stores that usually post on social media or newsletters about a beer’s arrival did not post about Parabola.  Cantillon, specifically Fou’ Foune, was also spotted in an extremely limited amount.

• Really, not much to report this week.  Avery Samael’s is out, Grimm Bros Maiden Kiss, various mixed 12-packs.  Nice to have a slow week….but just wait until next week.  Because, beer.
• Avery is releasing their next anniversary beer; Twenty XX India Pale Ale. The release party is May 16th, and like their other anni beers, we should see this hit shelves.
• River North is releasing their next Barrel Series beer on May 18; Whiskey Barrel-Aged Hello, Darkness.  Only 30 cases bottled, so this will be a taproom-only release.  A black IPA aged in whiskey barrels sounds like heaven to me!
• Odell is releasing Celastrina saison on May 18th.  Assuming this will hit shelves.
• Crooked Stave is having a Roy G. Biv party on May 19th! This is to celebrate the release of Wild Wild Brett Violet and the end of the series. This won’t see store shelves. It’s a rainbow party, with unicorns and shit!
• Upslope will be releasing their new IIPA in May.  This thing will be HUGE; a 10 percent ABV double IPA in 19.2-ounce imperial pint cans. Whaaaaattt! This will be a new year round, so not necessarily rare, but fun as hell.

Look for more updates throughout the week (if there are any more to report).  Please share any Denver area beer release news you might have either in the comments or on Twitter @ssteigerwald.

Denver Beer Hunter’s Report – 05/03/2013

Here’s this week’s report:

The trend: Brewery only releases.

• It’s here.  You know what it is. And it’s going fast…some beer hunters are posting locations in the comments section…
• Goose Island.  Big John.  WHAT!?!?!  WHAT!!?!!!!?!!!!!?!
• Avery is releasing Volunt Plus Erat this Saturday (05/04) at 5PM, brewery-only release…it is doubtful this will see store shelves.  Only 55 cases being released.  $8 per bottle, 6 bottle limit.  Wish there was more
• Avery is releasing their next anniversary beer; Twenty XX India Pale Ale. The release party is May 16th, and like their other anni beers, we should see this hit shelves.
• River North is releasing their next Barrel Series beer on May 18; Whiskey Barrel-Aged Hello, Darkness.  Only 30 cases bottled, so this will be a taproom-only release.  A black IPA aged in whiskey barrels sounds like heaven to me!
• Odell is releasing Celastrina saison on May 18th.  Assuming this will hit shelves.
• Crooked Stave is having a Roy G. Biv party on May 19th! This is to celebrate the release of Wild Wild Brett Violet and the end of the series. It’s widely expected Violet will sell out that day (or will only be available from onsite otherwise), so this won’t see shelves. It’s a rainbow party, with unicorns and shit!
• Upslope will be releasing their new IIPA in May.  This thing will be HUGE; a 10 percent ABV double IPA in 19.2-ounce imperial pint cans. Whaaaaattt! This will be a new year round, so not necessarily rare, but fun as hell.

Look for more updates throughout the week (if there are any more to report).  Please share any Denver area beer release news you might have either in the comments or on Twitter @ssteigerwald.

Denver Beer Hunter’s Report – 04/26/2013

Here’s this week’s report:

I decided to remove some of the legacy stuff that keeps carrying over until I have firmer dates on things.  Word on the street is, this will be a kick-ass week.  Look for semi-frequent updates in this space.  Don’t hoard, unless you want to be an a-hole.

• Great Divide 19th Anniversary is here. Birchy.
• Avery Maharaja. yay.
• Upright Brewing Five and Six.  Whaaaaat?
• Russian River’s usual suspects yo.
• Boulevard’s Love Child No. 3.  Boom.
• Crooked Stave St. Bretta. Bam.
• Dogfish Head 61 Minute. Ok.
• Prairie Artisan Ales from Oklahoma has entered the CO market. Holla!

• Imports galore!! Kapow!:

  • De Struise Brouwers Pannepot 2011
  • Mikkeller It’s Alive, Monk’s Brew, “Wheat is the new hops” and 10000000000000 IBU (or something like that)

  • Brouwerij de Molen Hel & Verdoemenis Imperial Stout

  • Brasserie Trois Dames L’Amoureuse Rouge and L’Amoureuse Blanche
  • Sarasola Sagardoa
  • Brouwerij De Ranke “XX Bitter”

Look for more updates throughout the week (if there are any more to report).  Please share any Denver area beer release news you might have with me either in the comments or on Twitter @ssteigerwald.

Denver Beer Hunter’s Report – 04/19/2013

Here’s this week’s report:

• Stone IRS & Espresso IRS are here.  Holy fuckballs!
• Clown Shoes brought in a bunch more stuff…better stuff. Including Chocolate Sombrero, Blaecorn Unidragon and Hoppy Feet 1.5.
• Brash just delivered a whole bunch of beer goodness to us.  They are new to Colorado, but have close ties to Clown Shoes.  Check ‘em out!  Item Nine, Smoglifter, Texas Exile and The Bollocks.
• Parabola.  Here’s the deal folks; I’ve been threatening to take this off the report for various reasons, mainly the hoarders.  Well, I just got word that since Firestone Walker has entered the Texas market, Colorado is SOL and only getting 1/2 the usual allotment.  This means, lots less for us.  With that in mind, this is the last time you will see Parabola in this report.  Haters gonna hate.
• Elevation is releasing  False Summit (a Bourbon barrel-aged Quadrupel) soon.  (UPDATE: False Summit is a few weeks out due to TTB labeling issues.)
• Dogfish Head Sixty-One should be around sometime soon.  meh.
• On the horizon (File under “Maybe it ain’t happening”):
  • La Cumbre is supposed to be bringing their highly acclaimed Elevated IPA to CO very soon.  GABF Gold? 97 on Beer Advocate? 100 on RateBeer!?!?  Yes please! (UPDATE: What I heard through the grapevine is they were ready to bring it here, but then inked a deal locally (in NM) to distribute with some grocery stores which depleted their supply. This means, CO will be waiting a bit longer…)

Look for more updates throughout the week (if there are any more to report).  Please share any Denver area beer release news you might have with me either in the comments or on Twitter @ssteigerwald.

Denver Beer Hunter’s Report – 04/12/2013

Here’s this week’s report:

• Class of ’88 Barleywine collaboration between North Coast, Rogue & Deschutes. Yep.
• Odell Brewing Tree Shaker Imperial Peach IPA is coming.  The release at the brewery was this past Saturday.  It’s on shelves now.
• Stone / Aleman / Two Brothers Dayman Coffee IPA released 3/18 at the brewery. Expect it in Denver this week.  Fighter of the Nightman.
• Boulevard Coffee Ale released 3/19 in Kansas City. It should hit Denver soon.  Word is, it’s hitting Denver now.
• Also from Stone, expect the IRS to hit around 4/15.  But even more important, Espresso IRS is coming. Holy fuckballs!
• Parabola.  Maybe it’s coming sometime soon. I dunno.
• Elevation is releasing Third Base (a Belgian tripel) and False Summit (a Bourbon barrel-aged Quadrupel) mid to late March.  That means very soon.  (UPDATE: False Summit is a few weeks out due to TTB labeling issues.)
• Dogfish Head Sixty-One should be around sometime soon.
• On the horizon (File under “Maybe it ain’t happening”):
  • La Cumbre is supposed to be bringing their highly acclaimed Elevated IPA to CO very soon.  GABF Gold? 97 on Beer Advocate? 100 on RateBeer!?!?  Yes please! (UPDATE: The brewer is still scouting for quality distributors. They want to ensure that their beer is stored cold, as it should be. This could be days, weeks or months out…stay tuned.)

Look for more updates throughout the week (if there are any more to report).  Please share any Denver area beer release news you might have with me either in the comments or on Twitter @ssteigerwald.

Denver Beer Hunter’s Report – 04/05/2013

Here’s this week’s report:

• Pliny bitches!!!  Go buy a case to trade and fuck everyone else!  Anyone notice it seems to be coming more frequently?
• Word is out that Clown Shoes will start distributing to CO. (Super Shiny New Update: It looks like Clown Shoes is here! As early as this week at some places, everywhere-ish by next week.)
• Odell Brewing Tree Shaker Imperial Peach IPA is coming very soon.  The release at the brewery is this Saturday.  We’ll see most likely see it Either this week or next week.
• Stone / Aleman / Two Brothers Dayman Coffee IPA released 3/18 at the brewery. Expect it in Denver soon, most likely next week (that’s the word, y’all).
• Boulevard Coffee Ale released 3/19 in Kansas City. It should hit Denver soon.
• Also from Stone, expect the IRS to hit around 4/15.  But even more important, Espresso IRS is coming. Holy fuckballs!
• Parabola.  Maybe it’s coming sometime soon. I dunno.
• Elevation is releasing Third Base (a Belgian tripel) and False Summit (a Bourbon barrel-aged Quadrupel) mid to late March.  That means very soon.  (UPDATE: False Summit is a few weeks out due to TTB labeling issues.)
• Dogfish Head Sixty-One should be around sometime soon.
• On the horizon (File under “Maybe it ain’t happening”):
  • La Cumbre is supposed to be bringing their highly acclaimed Elevated IPA to CO very soon.  GABF Gold? 97 on Beer Advocate? 100 on RateBeer!?!?  Yes please! (UPDATE: The brewer is still scouting for quality distributors. They want to ensure that their beer is stored cold, as it should be. This could be days, weeks or months out…stay tuned.)

Look for more updates throughout the week (if there are any more to report).  Please share any Denver area beer release news you might have with me either in the comments or on Twitter @ssteigerwald.

Denver Beer Hunter’s Report – 03/29/2013

Here’s this week’s report:

• River North Barrel Reserve 2013 is on store shelves.  Support local!
• Ommegang Iron Throne has hit this week.
• Dogfish Head/Sierra Nevada collaboration Rhizing Bines is on some shelves.
• Stone / Aleman / Two Brothers Dayman Coffee IPA released 3/18 at the brewery. Expect it in Denver soon.
• Boulevard Coffee Ale (3/19) released last Tuesday in Kansas City. It should hit Denver soon.
• Odell Brewing Tree Shaker Imperial Peach IPA is coming in April.  Really love your peaches, want to shake your tree-eee-ee.
• Also from Stone, expect the IRS to hit around 4/15.  But even more important, Espresso IRS is coming. Holy fuckballs!
• Parabola.  Dropping 4/13 at the brewery, expect it in Denver shortly after that.  Keep this in mind…I’m considering dropping it from the report.  Selfish? Yes.
• Elevation is releasing Third Base (a Belgian tripel) and False Summit (a Bourbon barrel-aged Quadrupel) mid to late March.  That means very soon.  (UPDATE: False Summit is a few weeks out due to TTB labeling issues.)
• Dogfish Head Sixty-One should be around in the next few weeks.

• Ska Brewing / DC Brau collaboration Taster’s Choice *might* hit soon.  I’m putting a placeholder here for this one, because it looks to me like this is being released in Washington DC only…more info as I find out more.

• On the horizon (File under “Maybe it ain’t happening”):
  • Word is out that Clown Shoes will start distributing to CO. (NEW: It looks like Clown Shoes license has been approved and they could start shipping as early as April. W00t!)
  • La Cumbre is supposed to be bringing their highly acclaimed Elevated IPA to CO very soon.  GABF Gold? 97 on Beer Advocate? 100 on RateBeer!?!?  Yes please! (UPDATE: The brewer is still scouting for quality distributors. They want to ensure that their beer is stored cold, as it should be. This could be days, weeks or months out…stay tuned.)

Look for more updates throughout the week (if there are any more to report).  Please share any Denver area beer release news you might have with me either in the comments or on Twitter @ssteigerwald.