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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
- Dissecting The Beer Menu – An Irish Pub & Layered Brews
- Has anyone else noticed that every “limited release” somehow stays on shelves for months?
- Dissecting The Beer Menu – An Irish Pub & Layered Brews
- Headed to Asheville – looking for top breweries to get German style in cans / bottles
- Does anyone else feel guilty drinking beer alone because it’s supposed to be a social experience?
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The Illusion of Scarcity in the Craft Beer Market
In the vibrant world of craft beer, the allure of “limited release” brews has been a selling point for many breweries. However, I can’t help but wonder—has anyone else experienced the irony of these so-called exclusive offerings lingering on store shelves for months on end?
Just yesterday, I wandered into my local bottle shop and was greeted by a barrel-aged stout proudly labeled as “extremely limited,” yet it has been occupying the same shelf space since last October. The accompanying shelf talker touted claims of “only 500 cases produced,” as if that alone qualifies it for rarity. But at a price tag of $25, it seems many consumers are hesitant to invest in yet another bourbon barrel-aged stout, particularly when they all start to taste strikingly similar.
Gone are the days when beers like KBS or BCBS would fly off the shelves, with enthusiasts camping overnight at retailers like Binny’s just to secure a coveted case. Nowadays, it’s nothing short of astonishing to find vintage 2020 BCBS available at any respectable shop—almost as easily as picking up a six-pack of a mainstream lager.
This oversaturation of “limited” brews raises some serious questions about marketing strategies in the craft beer industry. It feels as though breweries are churning out an overwhelming number of these supposed rarities, resulting in many bottles languishing on warm shelves long past their recommended consumption dates.
The practice of creating artificial scarcity appears increasingly disingenuous. As a consumer, I’m weary of being asked to pay premium prices for “limited edition” selections that are less scarce than a well-known mainstream brew. If breweries wish to maintain their allure, they must either commit to truly limited releases or stop pretending that every contact-brewed barrel-aged concoction is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
In summary, while the notion of exclusivity can drive interest in craft beer, the reality that many of these limited releases are merely marketing strategies can leave a bad taste in patrons’ mouths. Let’s hope for a shift toward honesty and authenticity that celebrates quality over quantity in the craft beer community.