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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: A Look at ‘Limited Edition’ Beers
In the world of craft beer enthusiasts, the term “limited release” has begun to feel more like an empty marketing ploy than an actual promise of exclusivity. I recently took a trip to my local bottle shop, only to be met with the familiar sight of an “extremely limited” barrel-aged stout that has been lingering on the shelf since October. Intriguingly, the shelf talker still boasts about producing just “500 cases,” yet no one seems eager to pay $25 for a beer that tastes remarkably like countless other bourbon barrel-aged options.
Years ago, iconic brews like KBS and Bourbon County Brand Stout (BCBS) would create lines of eager fans camping outside their favorite shops for a chance to snag these highly sought-after beers. Fast forward to today, and it’s a different story. I can stroll into various retailers and grab a vintage 2020 BCBS as casually as if I’m picking up a six-pack of High Life. The abundance of “limited” releases has become so prevalent that many products sit on warm shelves, often past their intended “drink by” dates, before anyone shows interest.
The phenomenon of crafting beers marketed on the premise of artificial scarcity is becoming increasingly disheartening. It raises a fundamental question: is it still worth it to pay premium prices for a “limited edition” brew that has become less unique than many standard offerings?
As consumers, we deserve more than just clever labeling and inflated price tags; we seek genuine craft and craftsmanship in our beer. Either make these supposedly rare brews truly hard to find, or stop perpetuating the illusion that the barrel-aged concoction you produced in your midst is an exclusive treasure. It’s time for breweries to reflect on the value of authenticity and transparency in their marketing strategies rather than relying on trends that ultimately undermine consumer trust.
In the end, what we all want is a delightful beer experience—one that feels special for the right reasons, not just because it comes with a flashy label.