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Steven Coulson
Steven has been drinking beers, wines and spirits for decades and has a propensity to go about them at length after a few drinks.
Latest Posts
- Does anyone else feel guilty drinking beer alone because it’s supposed to be a social experience?
- I’m new to drinking beer and I need some suggestions.
- Cleaning house and found a 10-15 year old bottle of barley wine from High Water Brewing, which I think no longer exists. What are the chances it’s drinkable, as in not holding my nose drinkable?
- I’m new to drinking beer and I need some suggestions.
- Tried Dragon’s Milk and loved it, any other dark/milk stout recommendations?
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Title: The Illusion of Scarcity: Rethinking Limited Release Beers
In recent months, I’ve found myself reflecting on the concept of “limited release” beers, particularly as I stroll through my local bottle shop. It seems that these supposedly rare brews have a way of lingering on the shelves far longer than expected. Just yesterday, for instance, I noticed an “extremely limited” barrel-aged stout that has been available since October. The shelf signage still boasts that only 500 cases were produced, yet it appears that few are willing to shell out $25 for a beer that tastes remarkably similar to countless other bourbon barrel-aged stouts.
Not too long ago, certain iconic beers like KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) and BCBS (Black Friday, Bourbon County Stout) would fly off the shelves, often leaving passionate fans camping outside retailers like Binny’s to secure their coveted cases. Fast forward to today, and I can casually stroll into nearly any reputable shop to find vintage bottles of 2020 BCBS as if they were as commonplace as a six-pack of High Life.
What has changed? It seems that breweries are producing an overwhelming quantity of these “limited” releases, leading to a disturbing trend where half of these offerings remain on the warm shelves of stores, well past their “drink by” dates. The once thrilling chase for specialty brews has transformed into a disheartening display of marketing tricks aimed at creating artificial scarcity.
As a consumer who appreciates quality craft beer, I’m growing weary of being asked to pay premium prices for these “exclusive” brews that often lack genuine rarity. If breweries are serious about creating something special, they should either commit to truly limited productions or abandon the facade of obscurity for their barrel-aged offerings. Ultimately, for the craft beer experience to be rewarding, it must be authentic—something more than just a clever marketing strategy. Let’s encourage brewing companies to either elevate the rarity of their releases or simply let us enjoy beer without the pretense of scarcity.