While many folks are running around … or standing in line ... or reading Tweets and Facebook posts about six-packs of Saint. Arnold’s eleventh release of Divine Reserve, I have mine. It’s a Double IPA with LOTS of hops. I’m not a hop head so I’ll be sharing and trading some of mine. But kinda’ like collecting baseball cards when I was a kid, I had to get my six-pack.
Two words about getting my six pack – Thanks, Jackie!
While this IS a post about DR11, it’s also about relationships.
Jackie is the “beer girl” ... more correctly the Beer Specialist ... at Whole Foods-Sugar Land. She and I became acquainted many months ago. She alerts me to beer tastings at her place, special events, and special pricing. I’m on her email list. It’s why I buy from Whole Foods-Sugar Land (well, that and the fast wi-fi, great products, and the indoor and outdoor tables). Jackie keeps in touch. I wished more retail locations would have a localized email list. Some Tweet, some Facebook, but I like direct emails (and I even get replies).
In the Divine Reserve past (DR 8 and DR 9 for me is "the past") … I was following Tweets and other posts and lucked into misplaced 6 packs. The 6-pack of DR8 was hidden behind some Budweiser at HEB. The purple carriage of DR9 was sitting on a furniture display at a Kroger Marketplace store. I did a double take both times, and promptly bought the beer.
But since then, I’ve gotten to know Jackie an come to appreciate her expertise and devotion to craft beer in Texas and promoting it through the Sugar Land store. Getting DR10 and now DR11 was a case (well, a 6-pack) of simply walking in the door.
I also “know” some beer GUYS – Ron and Joey. They are great guys to know as well. They are home brewers, beer aficionados, and always pointing out the newest beers in stock and the best deals. It’s a different atmosphere at their places (one near my house, the other miles away). They deal in high volume. Yet they recognize faces and remember tastes … “you’re a brown ale guy … here’s what we have in that you’d like.” I’m wondering, “how does he do that???” Their company does weekly emails. I’m on their list and get the info. Whole Foods emails as well, and several of the Whole Foods Tweet, and Jackie also sends out personal emails.
I also became great friends with Stephanie (a beer AND wine person), but, alas, she got married and retired. Stephanie would email on a regular basis. There was always something on sale at her store. It may have been cheaper somewhere else, but Stephanie invited me in to sample, to learn, to buy (no pressure). Her replacement has not kept me posted about their store events. I tend to forget about them (I’m a guy and I need to be reminded – there, I said it!)
The point is – get to know your beer guy or gal ... or your wine person (kudos to Kris and Andy and Andrew – my wine guys ... more them later, too). They’ll take care of you. Many places have samples. You may have to know when and where for sampling. Be sure to participate in their events. Ask if they have an email list. If they don't have one and enough people ask, they might develop one (or they might Tweet). Good participation can mean good sales for the store ... and it can mean more events. It also means learining and expanding your palate. You may be a red or white wine person, but if you never sample “the other,” you’ll never know what you’re missing.
Two last words in closing – try it. TRY what’s being sampled, be it beer or wine (or bourbon, gin, cheese, meats, or chips ... or hot sauce – more on the hot sauce tomorrow). You might find something you like. Jackie got me to trrrrrrrry a blue cheese blend on a recent visit. I don't like blue cheese and I told her so. She smiled, prepared the sample, and even coaxed me (kinda like Mom coaxing the kids to eat their veggies) ... and I hesitantly took the sample. I tried it. Hey - it was okay! I probably won't buy a pound of it, but I can envision a small portion in my basket on a future trip.
Thanks Jackie!
It's time to cue the "Cheers" theme music ...
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to be where everybody knows your name.
Here’s the official press release on today's "diviness" ...
HOUSTON, March 17 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today revealed plans for its upcoming release of Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11. Brewed in mid-February, Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11, is a Double IPA (India Pale Ale). The beer is slated for release around April 1 – no fooling. (PPP note - it actually was in stores today, March 29 in most places in Houston and Austin - March 30 and 31 for others).
The Saint Arnold Divine Reserve series was introduced more than five years ago and generates considerable excitement among craft beer fans for delivering high-quality, full-flavored beer in limited quantities. In response to frustrations voiced by some who have been unable to locate previous releases of Divine Reserve before supplies ran out, Saint Arnold significantly increased production of Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11.
“We had intended to boost production of Divine Reserve No. 10 to make it easier to find, but we ran into some challenges in the brewing process and ended up with fewer than 2,000 cases and three dozen kegs,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “We intend to come close to doubling production of Divine Reserve No. 11 so that people with jobs don’t have to take a day off to be able to score a six pack. Still, we thought previous production increases would help out with availability.”
This will be the second time the Saint Arnold Divine Reserve series offered a Double IPA, but this is the first Double IPA created by the Saint Arnold brew crew (the recipe for Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 3, also a Double IPA, was based on a winning entry from the Big Bash Brew Bash). Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11 uses Simcoe, Columbus and Centennial hops from the Pacific Northwest, resulting in a very citrusy, hoppy beer. More information on the Saint Arnold Divine Reserve series is available at http://saintarnold.com/beers/divine.html.
Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 11 is priced at approximately $16 per six pack and will be available at stores, restaurants and bars in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Even with the larger quantities produced, Saint Arnold is requesting that retailers limit sales to two six packs per customer and is asking customers to limit their purchase to a six pack or two.
