Update - December 26, 2009: In 2010, we’ve made several improvements to our popular Big Beer Series Subscription. For details on how the program works, please look over these Frequently Asked Questions, and our answers:
Q: How much Big Beer does Smuttynose make, and where does it go?
A: We brew about 150 barrels of each edition of our Big Beer Series. About half of that is racked into kegs and the remainder, usually around a thousand cases, is bottled and allocated among our twenty-two wholesalers, spread out over eighteen states.
Q: What does the subscription consist of?
A: If you purchase a Big Beer Series subscription, you are purchasing either a full or half case of each of the nine editions (styles) in the 2010 series, for a total of 4.5 or nine cases, depending on which option you choose.
A: A full-case subscription costs $485; and a half case suscription is $250, payable at the time you sign up.
Q: How many subscriptions will be made available?
A: In 2010 we plan to limit the total number of cases sold through subscription to 50.
Q: How do I sign up and pay?
A: You can sign up for the 2010 Smuttynose Big Beer Series Subscription online and pay with any major credit card or through Paypal. Here is the link.
Q: Do I need a Paypal account?
A: No. Any credit card will do.
Q: If I don’t sign up at the beginning of the year, have I missed the boat, or can I sign up later on?
A: We’ll offer subscriptions until all 50 cases have been sold. Keep in mind, however that this program runs for the calendar year, which means that you will be responsible for picking up all the editions that have been released up to the time you subscribe.
Q: Can I purchase only selected editions, or do I have to subscribe to the entire series?
A: The subscription is for the entire year’s Big Beer Series. Individual editions are not available.
Q: After I subscribe, how do I get my beer?
A: You must come to Smuttynose Brewing in Portsmouth and pick up your cases in person.
Q: Can you ship the beer to me if I don’t live close by?
A: Unfortunately, we are not able to ship beer.
Q: Do I have to pick up the beer on a certain date?
A: Shortly before we start shipping the next Big Beer edition to our wholesalers, we will send a notice to our subscribers, informing them of the upcoming release date. For those of you who can make it to the brewery on that date, we’ll host a social hour and tasting in our hospitality room. For those who can’t make it on the release date, we’ll hold your beer for ninety days from that date. Whenever you arrive, whether it’s for the Release Date Social Hour or some other time, there will be a case (or half) of Big Beer with your name on it waiting for you. Please note: If you can not pick up your case at a Release Date Social, we ask that you call or email us before you plan to stop by, so that we may have your beer ready for you.
Q: Once I’ve purchased a subscription, can I drop out of the program before I’ve claimed all nine of my cases and get a refund for the balance?
A: No. Subscribers agree to purchase the full year’s series. We may be able to help connect you with someone who will purchase the remainder of your subscription if the subscription is sold out.
Q: How firm are the release dates and Series editions listed on the Smuttynose website?
A: We are fully committed to adhering to the schedule we’ve posted, but circumstances beyond our control occasionally require us to change that schedule, or even the sequence of editions. Although we reserve the right to make changes in our Big Beer schedule, we will do our best to inform subscribers of any changes in our program well in advance. Our top priority is the satisfaction of our customers, and we pledge to do our very best to assure that!
Have we answered all your questions? If not, drop us a note.