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In This Article
- Introduction to Small-Batch Beers
- What Is a Small-Batch, Limited-Edition Beer?
- Why Small-Batch Beers Are Hard to Find
- Craft Beer Subscription Services (Best All-Around Option)
- Brewery Taprooms & Release Days
- Independent Bottle Shops & Craft Beer Stores
- Beer Festivals & Brewery Pop-Ups
- Brewery Email Lists & Membership Clubs
- The Most Reliable Way to Find Small-Batch Beer (Reality Check)
- Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Introduction to Small-Batch Beers
Like any hobby, craft beer has the potential to create some serious FOMO. Breweries of all sizes and models release one-off and exclusive beers that can be seriously difficult to obtain. Whether it’s a barrel-aged stout or an IPA with a special blend of hops, specialty releases are where brewers really push the limits. Some specialty beers are strictly released at the brewery, while others require the right timing or a relationship with a retailer. Either way, you’ll need to put some effort into finding these products, assuming you’re in the right location!
Luckily, there are a few reliable ways to track down these small-batch releases, no matter where you live!
What Is a Small-Batch, Limited-Edition Beer?
For breweries, “small-batch” means anything made infrequently and in low volumes. This wall involved a certain barrel quantity, but the actual number will depend greatly on the size of the brewery. This can range from a few kegs for the taproom to a (relatively) limited number of kegs or cases, reaching retailers across markets. The numbers might vary, but the intent remains consistent in that brewers want to try something unique and want the beer to remain special by keeping it scarce.
These often feature more involved recipes or special ingredients, and are almost always more expensive to make than year-round brands. The most common styles for a specialty release are barrel-aged stouts, double IPAs, and Belgian-style wild ales.
Why Small-Batch Beers Are Hard to Find
Small-batch brews are, well, made in small batches… Whether to create scarcity or simply because the brewers want to keep making new products, limited-run beers are hard to come by.
Some of the biggest reasons include:
- One-time brews: These people are as (if not more) adventurous than the drinkers, so they don’t want to be brewing the same thing over and over again. These one-offs are fun projects, even if they’re never replicated.
- Taproom-only releases: Most taprooms will have a few draft lines dedicated to small-batch brews that only see the light of day in their bar. This is great for regulars, but fans not in their area find themselves missing out.
- Limited distribution footprint: Smaller breweries tend to have a small geographical presence. And if the company does send beer out of its local market, oftentimes only the core brands make it.
- High Demand: Often driven by social media hype, these beers can sell out immediately. Some releases even command lengthy lines on release day, with some fans having to walk away empty-handed!
Craft Beer Subscription Services (Best All-Around Option)
An oldie but a goodie, beer subscriptions are a great way of getting your hands on limited-release beers. Not only does this option involve next to no effort, but the collections are curated by beer experts, and some allow users to make their own selections.
Why Subscriptions Are Ideal for Small-Batch Beers
Breweries allocate limited-run beers to subscription partners as part of their distribution model. Not that many breweries in your town? These subscription-based models source beer from all over the world. Beer subscriptions will take much of the effort out of the equation, so you won’t find yourself standing in line just to grab a 4-pack of IPA.
Why Beer Drop Is the Best Option for Small-Batch Releases
There are plenty of different subscriptions to choose from, but the best one for small-batch beers has to be Beer Drop. This company takes the tried-and-true subscription program and adds features that die-hard beer geeks are asking for. If you would like to find out more about Beer Drop and how it works, make sure you check out our guide: Why Beer Drop Is a Better Way to Discover Craft Beer.
- Brewery-direct drops are very common, so you won’t have to worry about bland selections of flagship brands.
- Beer Drop seeks out limited and collaboration beers to keep things interesting.
- You’re able to customize your drops based on style preferences. So you’ll get what you actually want to drink every time.
- You’ll have the ability to skip or customize deliveries to avoid brands you’ve tried before.
- These are curated selections, not just a random group of beers from breweries you’ve already tried. Check out their ever-changing roster of breweries.
- Beer Drop emphasizes freshness, which goes a long way in the quality of IPAs, lagers, and pale ales. Take a peek to see their freshest batch of drops.
If you’re interested and would like to give Beer Drop a try, you can do so here! Make sure you use the Code BEERDROP10 to Save $10 off your first order.
Brewery Taprooms & Release Days
Unsurprisingly, going to the source is often the best way of obtaining a brewery’s most coveted creations. Now that breweries in most states are allowed to operate taprooms and their own bottleshops, their limited releases are often exclusively sold at the brewery. This can be done online or in person. In recent years, breweries have started to shy away from this so they can maintain relationships with their retail partners. Brewery-only releases can be anything from a barrel-aged stout to “hype” IPAs in 4-packs.
Tips for Brewery-Only Releases
- Follow all your favorite breweries on Instagram. All of their top releases will be announced with at least some notice before they put the beer on sale.
- Check out taproom menus. If they have a beer menu on their website, you can take a look at what’s on draft to see if there are any on-offs you want to try.
- Joining a brewery’s email list is also an easy way to learn about special offerings and events. There’s often a monthly bulletin listening to everything coming out.
- Watch for release-day announcements and do your research before heading to the brewery. You can look at message boards on social media to learn whether or not you’ll need to get there early.
Independent Bottle Shops & Craft Beer Stores
Independent retailers specializing in craft beer are highly underrated when it comes to obtaining limited-run brews. If the owner is dialed into the local scene and has good relationships with the breweries, they can often land cases or kegs of highly coveted beers. These are often in highly limited quantities and will have ample demand, but it’s one way to get these beers without heading directly to the brewery.
These stores tend to take beer pretty seriously, so you can expect expert curation, the beer will be well taken care of, and there will be a nice variety of both local, regional, and international brands. There will be other beer nerds on the scene, so this option might not equate to getting your hands on that specific beer…
Signs of a Good Bottle Shop
- Fast stock rotation equates to the freshest beer possible. Their retail spaces will also have proper temperatures and other storage conditions.
- Purchase limits prevent “hoarders” from ruining it for everyone else.
- There’s a focus on a well-rounded offering that includes local, regional, and international breweries.
- Knowledgeable and approachable staff are always a good sign.
Beer Festivals & Brewery Pop-Ups
While they are certainly less popular than they were in the 90s and 2000s, beer festivals remain a vital outlet for breweries looking to get their beer in front of new drinkers. Breweries will often bring multiple beers to the festival, and their lineup usually includes one or two staples along with some heavy hitters like stouts or hazy IPAs.
Another common feature is festival-specific brews crafted in honor of the event. This can include collabs between two like-minded breweries, especially one that’s helped host the event. While you can stumble upon some “whales” at these festivals, it’s less of a sure thing than directly obtaining these beers.
Brewery Email Lists & Membership Clubs
Plenty of breweries offer membership clubs to provide additional value to their most loyal customers. This is a brand and community-building function that provides die-hards with even more of a reason to be loyal to the brewery. There are plenty of different models, depending on the brewery, but these are a few common perks:
- Club members often have early access to limited edition beers, so you might be able to skip the line to get your hands on that barrel-aged stout release.
- Members-only beers are easily the most beneficial perk, but that offering isn’t as common as others. There are a few famous ones to join, where members get access to some of the country’s most sought-after stout releases.
- Priority ordering at taprooms or even discounts are great for regulars.
- Invites to members-only events and beer releases.
- Merch. Most memberships come with plenty of swag you wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else.
The Most Reliable Way to Find Small-Batch Beer (Reality Check)
There’s no one way to obtain these coveted limited-run beers. In many cases, you have to be in the right place at exactly the right time. You can, however, utilize services like BeerDrop to explore breweries you might not otherwise have access to. Make sure to also keep tabs on your local breweries through social media.
What’s the best limited beer you’ve ever managed to get your hands on? Give it a shout out in the comments.
Want access to small-batch beers without chasing releases? Check out current small-batch drops and see what’s available this month. You can also sign up for the CraftBeerMe Newsletter to get notified when limited-run beers drop!
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