What was supposed to be a one-time, lighthearted collaboration between the Boulevard Brewery and Christopher Elbow has turned into a massive scavenger hunt for beer drinkers across the metro.
Boulevard's Chocolate Ale has been a hot topic since it launched last Monday, and yesterday, the brewery announced that it would be bringing the Chocolate Ale back for Valentine's Day in 2012 because of the unexpected demand that left many people shut out (including the brewery's own employees) from sampling the latest in the Smokestack series.
The odds of finding a bottle around town are about as good as Charlie Bucket turning up with that Golden Ticket. But depending on how much you're willing to pay, you can find a few "collectible bottles" on the secondary market and possibly a keg that hasn't yet been kicked.
OnTapKC has dedicated an entire page to the latest sightings on tap and in bottles. It's easily the most updated site when it comes to tracking down craft beer, and the latest Boulevard seasonal is no exception.
Beer profiteers have also taken to Craigslist and eBay in the hopes of turning their good fortune at finding a few bottles into a tidy profit. One Craigslist seller in Lenexa will sell you a bottle for $70 or two bottles for $125, while a St. Joseph seller has four bottles at $75 apiece. It's nice to know that there's no hoarding in a time of beer shortage.
The price on eBay is a bit cheaper (although the bidding process could easily drive the number past $75). Among the 17 bottles listed for sale is a steal of a deal, a Buy It Now option of $59 (three are available). Keep in mind that the original price was somewhere between $8 and $10.
So to those who've had the opportunity to sample one of the 19,300 bottles or so, we at Fat City are happy for you. And to those who decided to try to make some money off our joy, may the beer that you drink for the rest of your days be flat.
[Image via By The Pint]
Showing 1-2 of 2
