I wrote yesterday about an ungettable gathering I will be going to next week, and it got me thinking about the ungettables I have. I thought I would go out to the bunker and see just what I had out there that could be classified as “Ungettable”. When I did this I realized that there are two kinds of ungettable, those that are not sold locally, and are ungettable because of geography, and those that are from a vintage that is no longer sold.
Certain ungettables in this photo like the Bourbon County Rare, and the Bells Batch 9000 are one time releases making them extremely rare. Others in the photo are like the Abyss, is sold here every year, but my vintage is 2009, making it somewhat ungettable. Still others like the Belgian Red from New Glarus and the Duchessne de Bourgogne are not available in my local market, baking them ungettable here in Idaho.
This is what is so incredibly cool, and frustrating all at the same time about craft beer. It is regional. There are some breweries that distribute widely, but others that just don’t, and probably never will. I know we have discussed that fact many times here at B&WB, but it is still part of what makes the world of craft beer so special and unique. It is the same, however to a lesser extent with Whiskey, unless you are talking about Scotch whisky. There are some that are very hard to come by.
I got to thinking, I have only been drinking craft beer seriously for about 2 years now, and I have these ungettables, as well as some others that might be considered that as well. What about you? Tell us about the ungettables you have. I know that many of you have very VERY extensive collections of craft beer, and you have traded for things that are not available in your local area. What do you have? Do you have any vertical beers. The only one I have that could be considered vertical at this time would be the first and second run of Life and Limb. What are you most proud of? When will you drink them? Do you wait for a special occasion or just grab one when the mood strikes? Let us know in the comments below!
-Don
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
I wrote something similar on Monday, but I didn’t use the idea of “ungettables.” Had I gone this route, my list would have gone beyond the five or so beers I mentioned in my post. I like the term and may have to use it. My post is here
Nice list Zac! I wish i had gotten into the vertical epic series. I thought I was a bit late to the party, so never purchased any. Now I’m kicking myself for not at least picking up a few.Duh!
I lucked out as the my sister found the first two at one time. Since then, it’s just been a matter of remembering to pick some up each year.
I’m down to just one bottle left out of several 2006 Sweetwater DonkeyPunch Barleywines. They’ve served me well at my and various friend’s 50th Bday celebrations. For verticals, the most complete one I have is a set of Terrapin Wake ‘n Bakes from 2006 forward.
Nice. Are you saving the Donkey Punch for a special occasion, maybe one you have in mind?
My ungettables include a Rare BCBS, Founders CBS, Founders Blushing Monk, Bell’s Batch 10000, and since I am in Indiana I will put Pliny The Elder on that list as well. But my list will be shrinking as CBS and Pliny are coming to thanksgiving with me.
Yes, te Pliny you have to drink pretty quickly or it fades. I like to collect Stouts and Barleywines that can age for a long time!
I had my dad bring the Pliny back for CA with him in October. I will be about 1.5 months old on Thanksgiving. So not too long.
Well I HAD a 2009 Midnight Sun Berserker (thanks to your pals up north) but then my wife HAD a birthday this weekend and I just HAD to open it! Pretty tasty, but now it’s gone! 😦
Yeah, Jim. You really don’t understand beer vintages. For you it is right now or coming out.
So this is pretty loose on the definition but we milked a case of Yuengling for nearly a year. Now that it’s going to be in Ohio, it’s a little more “gettable” for those of us in Indiana…
Tangent question: What’s your classification of beers that are regional (albeit a large region) like Yuengling and Fat Tire?
gettables 😉
I have a few.
I have this unfortunate predeliction to drink the beers as soon as acquired. Nothing sits around the house too long before being consumed. Probably need to learn patience, but I’ve never been the patient type.
You and Jim should hang out and drink each other’s beer! 🙂
I agree 100% Tom – I only age beers by accident…
Ditto!
Nothing particular as we’ve all aged off beyond the “biggie” !…I’ve considered donating it to a charity auction, as Sweetwater is pretty involved here in Atlanta, but the opportunity hasn’t presented itself. It may not live past New Year’s ! 🙂
Thanks – now I have to brave the cobwebs of the Area 51 Craft Beer Closet sometime tonight to see what “ungettables” I have that I can’t recall off the top of my head. Until then, here’s the list that I’m sure about:
Stone VE2007, 2008 & 2010 (vintage)
2006 & 2007 Alaskan Smoked Porter (vintage and geography)
Ballast Point Indra Kunindra (geography and one time brew)
Heavyweight Perkuno’s Hammer Imperial Porter (brewer out of business but they sold the recipe to Victory which now brews it – slightly tweaked – as Baltic Thunder).
As soon as I find my miner’s helmet I’ll check out the rest of the stash…..
@TheAlemonger
Oh yeah, I forgot about Stone. VE 2006, 2007, 2008. Missed 2009 since I WAS HAVING A BABY so didn’t really care about getting 2010 in a bottle. Did have it on draft though and while I really enjoyed it, I didn’t think it would age well.
Nice list there Monger! Don’t let that old bowling ball knock you on the head when you are checking on the rest of your stash!
I have a Blushing Monk and a BCS Vanilla, Firestone Walker Parabola, Bell’s Wild One along with 07-11 Dark Lord vertical and I guess now 3 bottles of Baller Stout though I was more excited for the six pack of Zombie Dust that came home.
I tried the Zombie Dust at the Three Floyd’s booth at GABF, along with the Moloko Milk Stout. Both were awesome. Pity we can’t get their beers in CO, but I’ll get a chance to visit the brewery this Spring when I head out to Chicago for a wedding.
We can’t get Zombie Dust in Indianapolis. I sent my husband to the XV Anniversary party as part of his Christmas present and he came home with a six pack of it. We’re three bottles into it and it’s really good.
I’ve got a handful of things like you, Don. Dogfish Head, Russian River, and Oskar Blues selections come to mind. And quite few things that are aged and those vintages aren’t on the shelf anymore.
Oh, speaking of vintages, I here Gernika has the ’10 Abyss on tap right now. I know where I’m going for Beer :30 today!
Let’s get a definition…an Ungettable is something you can’t just go out and buy in your state, correct? Like my Deschuttes and Odell is ungettable, but my Founders CBS, BCS Rare, etc. are gettable because I purchased them here?
I would say an Ungettable is something rare and not easily available.
Example: CBS was sold in Indiana, however due to my lack of purchasing from the store that got it, I was unable to get on the list and reserve a bottle. Just about very bottle in Indy was spoken for before it hit the shelves.
I woudn’t call that ungettable, I’d say you were LAZY… 😉
I was actually told that I hadn’t bought enough beer from the store to earn a spot on the list. Wasn’t for lack of trying. 🙂 But I somehow got a bottle of Blushing Monk?! Give it up for the girly beer. *kidding* *kinda*
Same here in KY, but me and a buddy got five somehow for the three people.
lucky ducks!
lucky drunks*
Now you understand the concept.
Ok then.
2011 Dark Lord
2011 Founders CBS
2010 and 2011 Founders KBS
2010 BCS Rare
2010 Jubel Once a Decade
Bitches Brew 2010 and 2011 (now it’s easier to get)
Odell Bourbon Barrel Stout and Woodcut $5 as well.
Is it just me or do you give rare bottles as gifts? Friends had a baby, I gave them a bottle of New Glarus…we received our bottle of BCS Vanilla as a housewarming present, etc.
If I can buy more than one at a time, then yes.
I just drink them for occasions or when friends are over. Sometimes gifts as well. I don’t like the concept of sitting and aging things for years and years, it’s a beer. Drink it if you want. You aren’t killing a sacrificial lamb by drinking a beer.
If I’ve got more than one and I’m cool with parting with them, certainly. Honestly, I’m not cheap by any means, but when I think about gifting a nice bottle of wine vs. a nice bottle of beer, the beer is generally the more economical choice. Also, I’m a craft beer evangelist. If I get a chance to turn friends, who don’t normally consume craft beer, on to an exceptional example of the beverage, I’ll do it every time. 🙂
I gift them open and with glass in hand…
I haven’t really traded for any beer or bootlegged across state lines, but I do have a decent collection of vertical tastings and one-offs. Off the top of my head, I have:
Great Divide Yeti – 2009-2011
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti – 2009-2011
Great Divide Chocoloate Yeti – 2010-2011
Great Divide Espresso Yeti – 2010-2011
Deschutes The Abyss – 2010
Deschutes Jubel 2010 (Once a Decade Ale)
Deschutes Mirror Mirror Barleywine – 2010
The Bruery Cuir (Coton) – 2010
Mikkeller Black – 2009
Mikkeller Big Worst Barleywine – 2010
Odell Woodcut No. 3 – 2009
Odell Woodcut No. 5 – 2011
Avery Rumpkin – 2011 (got the last bottle in my neighborhood!)
Avery Hog Heaven – 2009-2011
Avery Czar – 2009-2010
Stone Imperial Russian Stout – 2009-2011
AWESOME topic idea. I’m currently free of ungettables, but I’ll be in Madison over Thanksgiving and will stock up on them, whether it’s Dogfish Head, New Glarus, or Ale Asylum. And there’s usually one or two that I’ve never even heard of that I’ll find and grab.
There’s nothing like the anticipation of getting ahold of a beer that was previously unattainable.
Love this topic. I was just chatting with a fellow about verticals becoming more popular. I just completed two yesterday with my procuring of FW XV and Deschutes Abyss 2011. Here is a partial list off the top of my head:
FW: XI-XV, Parabola 2010-2011, Abacus 2010-2011, Black Xanthus 09-11
Stone: 7th-15th, Old Guardian 06-11, Vertical 06-11, Double Bastard 06-11, RIS 06-11
Russian River: consecration Batch 01-06, Temptation batch 02-06, Supplication batch 2-7
Deschutes: Black Butte Anni XX,XI,XXIII (XXII was not released), Abyss 06-11, Dissident 9,11
Bruery: Black Tuesday 09-11, Anni 1st-3rd (both barrel aged and regular), Christmas
vertical(both barrel aged and regular), Autumn Maple 09-11 (barrel and regular)
Newport Brewing: Storm 05-07
I wish I had started earlier on the Vertical epic by Stone. It would be nice to have the 02. But I do have friends with 03,04, and 05 so we can do almost the whole vertical next year on 12/12/2012.
I’d post my list of ungettables but Idone drunk em all. I still have BCS Rare and a Founders KBS 2011 but eveything else just tastes to damn good!
Well that’s why you got ’em in the first place!