The Bar Towel

Belgian wrote:

SteelbackGuy wrote:

Belgian wrote: Dude are you on some moral crusade against the laws of supply and demand?

No, I am certainly not.
When I said "good but not good" I clearly meant that the process can benefit both he beer lover, who intends to drink the beer and share with friends, but it can also benefit the douchebags (and there are a lot around) who will stockpile this to sell it for $400.00 at a later date.....
.

Entertaining post.

But people 'stockpiling' anything is not 'douchebag' - it IS 'supply and demand.' For example, I know you don't like people buying up cases of desirable stuff from the Ontario system, least I think you said as much the other day. Sounds like misplaced moral concern where all that should matter is supply and demand.

In most cases - Utopias being an exception - Ontario could order more. Problem is that they just want the original shipment of the desirable beer all sold and gone, perhaps never to be seen again. The system almost justifies case-hoarding, at very least it encourages it.

Just to add some shades to the discussion! Peace man.

Stockpiling isn't an evil thing, and I understand it seems necessary given where we live. Hoarding a few beers isn't the douchebag move, it is hoarding with intent to rape the wallets of others at a later date, which is the douchebag route.

I'm not one to stockpile anything, and I guess I feel that way because if I want something, I can easily get it sent to my store, so I have an advantage there. I'm happy getting a few bottles of something and moving on. I don't need 35 bottles of anything sitting around. I used to do that, but it just isn't me anymore.

And some of my customers do not need to stockpile either because I make sure they get what they want, as I hold stuff for them.

So go hoarding if you like, or do not hoard. To each their own!

Is aging beer considered "hoarding?" 'Cause if it is, spank my ass and call me whor-der. Beer changes, dudes. For example, the St. Bernie's ain't ripe yet. I bought a bunch of 'em in order to cellar 'em. I think most beer lovers do this, don't they?

SteelbackGuy wrote:Seems the ones who did not gamble, but know the right people, are the ones whom benefit the most.

I'd say the people who gambled and lost but who also happen know someone who won and was willing to share with them are, at the very least, on an equal footing (minus a five minute phone call) with someone like you.

SteelbackGuy wrote: I put little effort into it and I am better for it.

It's strikes me as a fallacy to conclude that your lack of effort led to you trying this beer. Because a lot of people lacked effort and won't get to try it. You know?

A) I did not worry about getting chosen.
B) I did not obsessively check my e-mail in box or pghone messages for messages from the LCBO.
C) I did not think about, or lose sleep over the matter.
D) I did not go the douchebag route to win this bottle for profit.In order to do that, you need a popped collar, jagerbombs and an arm band tattoo of barbed wire that tells people you are really "fierce", all the while fist pumping to a jersey shore soundtrack.

I doubt that fits the profile of the average Ontarian who entered this draw.

I suspect most are like me. I hadn't planned to enter. Called on a whim. Spent five minutes on the phone with a very nice LCBO employee. I figured I had no chance in hell of winning, never worried or got my hopes up and didn't check my email with the express purpose of hoping to hear form the LCBO. And I especially didn't do D), mkay?

I did have a few people offer to enter themselves for me to increase my odds, but I felt that's cheating a bit, and smacked of desperation.

I don't consider myself a hoarder in the least, but I'd say it's kind of a first-come, first-served/you snooze you lose system here in Ontario thanks to the LCBO. So don't hate the player, hate the game.

TJ wrote:

A) I did not worry about getting chosen.
B) I did not obsessively check my e-mail in box or pghone messages for messages from the LCBO.
C) I did not think about, or lose sleep over the matter.
D) I did not go the douchebag route to win this bottle for profit.In order to do that, you need a popped collar, jagerbombs and an arm band tattoo of barbed wire that tells people you are really "fierce", all the while fist pumping to a jersey shore soundtrack.

I doubt that fits the profile of the average Ontarian who entered this draw.

Agreed. I can't imagine anyone obsessively checking emails, worrying, or losing sleep over this. Admittedly, I did recruit people to enter on my behalf (and it paid off for me) but I had actually forgotten that the "draw" date had come and gone. Frankly, I'm a bit baffled that anyone interested in Utopias wouldn't have taken a couple minutes to enter the draw (unless, of course, they didn't think the price was worth it). All in all, it was a pretty effortless process.

I'm glad my post has gotten response.
I actually don't think that my comments were of average people that were entering the lottery. But, I figured I'd post some silly comments to evoke reactions and I was successful in that. But I really did not care about the lottery.

Did everyone get a "0 bottles" reply?

Neither my wife or I did. Strengthens my thought that the saturday lcbo employee never actually put us in. The call was short and prompt and ended before we could even ask any questions.

too bad.

The_Jester wrote:Is aging beer considered "hoarding?" 'Cause if it is, spank my ass and call me whor-der. Beer changes, dudes. For example, the St. Bernie's ain't ripe yet. I bought a bunch of 'em in order to cellar 'em. I think most beer lovers do this, don't they?

Good one.

The new St. Bernie does not taste right yet I had some 2005 SB12 the other day which blew it away.

Even the 2006 Chimay Bleue the other day blew it away! I bought three cases of Bleue in '06, and so far drank just 70% of that over four-plus years - that will make for 72 bottles over thousands of days by the time it's gone. That is really not a lot of beer to consume, about one bottle every four weeks.

The extended TIME element makes it not really 'hoarding' but exactly the kind of 'cellaring' people do with favorite wines. Similar "window of buying opportunity" as well.

Now, all the Orval I've got - THAT is definitely pre-emptive hoarding because A) I'm addicted to it whenever I get into drinking it and B) the LC is too lame to make it general list where it would clearly belong. Orval does not really improve after a year, but it's stable.

Some remarkably passionate indifference in this thread.

SteelbackGuy wrote:

Belgian wrote:

SteelbackGuy wrote:
No, I am certainly not.
When I said "good but not good" I clearly meant that the process can benefit both he beer lover, who intends to drink the beer and share with friends, but it can also benefit the douchebags (and there are a lot around) who will stockpile this to sell it for $400.00 at a later date.....
.

Entertaining post.

But people 'stockpiling' anything is not 'douchebag' - it IS 'supply and demand.' For example, I know you don't like people buying up cases of desirable stuff from the Ontario system, least I think you said as much the other day. Sounds like misplaced moral concern where all that should matter is supply and demand.

In most cases - Utopias being an exception - Ontario could order more. Problem is that they just want the original shipment of the desirable beer all sold and gone, perhaps never to be seen again. The system almost justifies case-hoarding, at very least it encourages it.

Just to add some shades to the discussion! Peace man.

Stockpiling isn't an evil thing, and I understand it seems necessary given where we live. Hoarding a few beers isn't the douchebag move, it is hoarding with intent to rape the wallets of others at a later date, which is the douchebag route.

I'm not one to stockpile anything, and I guess I feel that way because if I want something, I can easily get it sent to my store, so I have an advantage there. I'm happy getting a few bottles of something and moving on. I don't need 35 bottles of anything sitting around. I used to do that, but it just isn't me anymore.

And some of my customers do not need to stockpile either because I make sure they get what they want, as I hold stuff for them.

So go hoarding if you like, or do not hoard. To each their own!

I am just curious, how exactly is a person hoarding a bunch of limited release beer, either for themeselves or to sell/trade down the road, any different from an LCBO employee setting aside beer in the store so only select people can buy it? Don't both options restrict the amount of beer a customer walking into the LCBO has the opportunity to buy?

So we were loading a delivery off a truck this morning at work and lo and behold I see a box labeled 'Samuel Adams Utopias'! There was six #s on the box and it was headed to the Hamilton depot so it looks like there were 6 winners in the area. I offered the driver $200 for it.. didn't work.

Belgian wrote:

The_Jester wrote: Orval does not really improve after a year, but it's stable.

Really?? I know a bunch of people who feel the same way as you, but I opened an 18 month old Orval last night and it was outstanding. I would even say better than fresh.

That wasn't me!? I've got half a dozen put away still, and it's different every time I try one.

yeah I know, it was Belgian. I'm awful with the whole quoting thing on here. I did not mean to misquote you sir.

peensteen wrote:

Belgian wrote: Orval does not really improve after a year, but it's stable.

Really?? I know a bunch of people who feel the same way as you, but I opened an 18 month old Orval last night and it was outstanding. I would even say better than fresh.

I agree older Orval is nice but the biggest change is that first year or so. It keeps well and does not change a ton in years to follow.