Alpine Considering Killing All Exponential Hoppiness Packaging + Reaction
Alpine Beer Co’s Pat just released a very angry message in their newsletter. Read his words, as well as comments from us. frownyface.bmp
You have seen your very last growler of “Exponential Hoppiness” ever to be dispensed.
Since I previously stated if I ever saw a growler of “Exponential Hoppiness” for sale on ebay there would never be another growler sold again. Don’t blame me, but you can see who to blame HERE. As for bottles of “Expo” on ebay, I’m seriously considering never bottling it again. This is not just a personal issue, it’s illegal. The fact that people drove down from LA to make a quick buck and denying the locals the chance to buy some is also just plain wrong.
So, you can see the timing of the releases listed above. The first two beers were released last week, the next comes out today and the last one comes out tomorrow. That is the most advanced notice you ever receive. Our little operation is focused on supplying the local market with fine beer. If you live in the area you can now get first crack at our releases before they can drive in from points unknown. That’s the best I can do for you, my loyal locals.
From Dan – I know this isn’t the popular response, but my gut is to say “what can ya do?” Penalize the good ones because of a few bad eggs? Besides Alpine being mad, they have now just upped the hype value of this beer to the moon.  While I don’t like it, Pat might be right. Keep it as a pub attraction, which will in turn reward the locals. But who’s to say someone 5 miles down the road didn’t participate in a black/gray market transaction?
February 29, 2012 @ 6:00 pm
Well put Alex.
February 29, 2012 @ 2:53 pm
Wow, I can’t believe people are paying that kind of money for this beer. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a wonderful beer, but it’s JUST BEER FOLKS!!! While I can’t fault the folks at Alpine for being appalled by this I also agree that they should not react with such vitriol. I have no problem with them making Expo a tap-only beer. Do it just like Russian River handles PTY — it’ll bring people to their pub, and they can send it out to the various bars who carry Alpine products. And, btw, Expo was still on tap at the Alpine pub last week when I was there.
February 29, 2012 @ 9:09 am
Man, I was a big fan of Alpine, until today. I converted so many friends to craft beer with their beers. It pisses me off that Pat, thinks so low of us(LA fans).
If his goal was to sell less beer, then it worked. I’m not going out of my way to buy their products any more. His message tells me that he cares more about his reputation than his customers and community. When we(people from LA and points unknown) go to Alpine, we usually spend money in other local businesses, food, beer, cigs, gas, hotels, etc… we put money in the pockets of their loyal locals.
Expo, PH, Nelson, Duet, etc..now leaves a bad taste of angry dude in my mouth. Ostracizing people from LA because a dipsh*t tried to sell a growler on eBay…no bueno. They need to find better things to do with their time, instead of trying to police people on ebay. What people do with their money is their business. The buyer and seller take all the risks. Until ebay takes legal action to stop these transactions, it will continue to happen. It sucks but it is what it is.
Their distributors should dump them and bring more beer-community-friendly brands up to LA. There are many other great breweries in SD and surrounding areas, that don’t sh*t on their customers and fans, regardless if they are local or not.
February 28, 2012 @ 7:28 pm
So drove from the IE, waiting it line 2 hours and picked up my 6 bottles. I guess I’m the chump cause I just gave 2 bottles to friends and shared 2 bottles. So just because I drove a long way to get this beer doesn’t make me (and the rest of us) bad. Stop making great beers and we will stop wanting them (please don’t stop). For the record I have NEVER sold any beer even though my wife would love me to cash in on my Chocolate Rain 🙂
February 28, 2012 @ 7:16 pm
I have a bottle in my fridge too! Get me in on that action!
February 28, 2012 @ 7:09 pm
Regardless of the 1 person in question. Regardless if its growlers or bottles. Pat says in his email, and aknowledges that theres bottles on Ebay and its illegal. And goes on to say that people coming down from LA and “denying the locals a chance to buy some.” So it seems as if he has more of an issue with outside SD locals hoarding the beer and selling. BUT! Like Alex said, its the locals that are buying up the bottles themselves and selling them.
BTW I have a bottle in my fridge right now for sale if anyone wants it..first bidder gets it!
February 28, 2012 @ 6:17 pm
The item listing on eBay says the seller location is Los Angeles, CA.
Alpine really strikes me as a brewery that couldn’t care less about all the hype on their beers. They’ve had tons of opportunities to open their beer up to a wider market and choose not to.
While the BeerAdvocate losers eat that up and will romanticize them even more for it, there’s not much the brewery can do about that. I say good for them, stop doing growlers of Expo.
February 28, 2012 @ 6:09 pm
The eBay seller in question was from Los Angeles. Pat is anti-beer geek/hype. He’d be just as happy making and selling to the local Alpine residents.
February 28, 2012 @ 5:30 pm
@ Steven: good point. only 6 of the 24 auctions he linked to (1 is for hopslam so n/a) are from LA. all the rest are SD-based.
February 28, 2012 @ 5:02 pm
MEHer..
February 28, 2012 @ 4:42 pm
Whorres…
February 28, 2012 @ 4:37 pm
How do they know its people in LA? I get the feeling they’re using this as publicity and seeing the PtY hype and using this as an excuse to do brewery exclusive. I know 3 other TIPA’s that Ive had anyway that are better..
1 PtY
2 Hopocalypse Black Label
3 Founders Devil Dancer
So do what you have to do Pat..now you can start bottling Bad Boy