Any sightings in Houston since the weekend? So far today, struck out at Smith St. Spec's, D&Q, Whole Foods & Central Matket... ugh.
I got some good mint and strong chocolate flavors. Overall, I just didn't enjoy it as much as I was hoping to. Oh well. I have an extra bottle if anyone can't find it on the shelf.
Saw this at Live Oak Market in Austin this weekend... they had plenty. Probably because they're charging $7.99 for it! Probably the last place in town to get it though.
Live Oak Market = The Hyde Park Market of south Austin. Cool store, cool employees and good selection but always an inflated mark up. Had to swallow my pride last year and bought a few WBDPP there for $20/pop.
My Ben E Keith rep has been telling me "not yet" since I saw it in Austin however many weeks ago. Wouldn't be surprised if Spec's got all the allocated cases and Ben E Keith is going to play dumb about the beer ever existing in the Houston Market (like they do with virtually every Avery Barrel-Aged release).
I watched this exact thing happen today. Not going to out a lication but the sales guys have to make the places that get skipped feel like they didn't, or at very least that everyone got skipped in their area. Problem was this beer was sitting on the shelf at a Specs less than 5 miles away...I walked away from the discussion because I rely on my BEK guys to give me love elsewhere. Spec's is a gigantic Horders Society gone corporate.
There is definitely more to come for Houston and it should be spread around. Not sure how soon, but he said it would be about 60 more cases. If he lets me know when they start rolling it out, I'll update in here.
Honestly does anyone believe anyone is at the controls at BEK and any info that is given to accounts level people reliable? I've heard a hundred different stories from the half dozen stores I frequent about such and such beer not coming in or oh my accounts got skipped sorry. It's not their fault either...they have a job to do with at times limited resources.
So many false statements in your response I don't know where to begin. I could go on forever in detail about this nightmare and nearly every other limited release but I really don't want to start a shit-talking rant about basically every beer distributor's antics. As a consumer the retail beer world seems like a constant clusterf of nepotism and confusion, and as a consumer you're only getting the tip of the iceberg. If you want more insight, send me a BM.
Fair enough. But I'm pretty cool with everyone in my town (rep's, store/bar owners, beer guys, etc.) and I try to avoid conflict...they are good people all in all and I've pushed product with a lot of them in past jobs or served their products at tasting. Is it fair to say that on both the retail and distribution ends there is plenty of reason to not give the consumer the real scoop? And I totally understand skipping the rant (although sometimes it comes out anyway)...I count on my rep's for beer too!
At this point should I just accept that this won't be on the shelves in Houston again and try to get on with my now meaningless life?
Had a bottle at FW Saucer tonight. Pretty good, better as it warmed obviously. With a few sips to go I got a sample of a margarita from bartender. Went back to the chocolate mint and it tasted like syrup. Mmmnn good.
