Posted by This is not a post that I actually researched information for, it’s more of an opinion post.
Is it me, or do the National brand seasonal beer releases get earlier and earlier every year? (Sam Adams is going to get picked on quite a bit in this post.) I actually don’t have a problem with a seasonal beer coming out early – I have a problem with it going away too early. I look forward to seeing Sam Adams Summer Ale on the shelf in March, because I’m happy that their Winter Lager is gone. If you’re going to release the seasonal beer before that actual season even starts – at least leave it around through the season! Sam’s Oktoberfest comes out in August and when it does, the Summer Ale is gone. My vote would be to just to extend the season for Summer Ale and wait another month before releasing the Oktoberfest.
I know that different parts of the country have changes of seasons at different times but it’s summer in August everywhere and I want to drink Summer Ale in the actual summer. I’m a big fan of Sams Oktoberfest and look forward to it coming out but not at the expense of the Summer Ale going away when it’s still hot. Sams Oktoberfest disappears off the shelves right about the end of October in lieu of the Winter Ale. I get that it can start to get cooler or even cold in some Northern states, but early November doesn’t constitute Winter in my book.
As I’m writing this, I think I just want Sam’s Summer Ale and Oktoberfest to have longer seasons and the Winter Ale and Cold Snap to have much shorter ones.
Not to just pick on Sam Adams, I have seen some pumpkin beers out this year way too early – Schlafly – I’m looking at you.
I know that breweries sometimes have to purchase certain ingredients ahead of time and want to get their product on the shelves to stay as fresh as possible and that consumers want their favorite beer as early as they can, BUT we can all consume the same amount of our favorites if the seasonal beer is out through the season it’s representing. It’s just a vicious cycle.
Anyway, that’s my “not so well thought out opinion” but I had to say it. I feel better now, thanks for asking.
Cheers!
Scott
