Supply barely keeping up with demand

[FedoraDave]

It's weird....

Last year, I had such a full pipeline I actually had to go out and buy bottles.

This year, it seemed as though I was always nearly running out of homebrew and I've got dozens of empty bottles that I haven't even touched. Even though I don't think I was drinking more this year (although that's a possibility, of course), and I know I was brewing on the same schedule, rotating weekly through two 2.5 gallon batches and one fiver.

I think part of it was the fact that my first brew after the summer slow-down was a lager. So yes, I brewed a five-gallon batch Labor Day weekend, but didn't begin drinking it until nearly Christmas. I also had some batches that went bad, and had to be discarded, so that's probably a couple of cases or more that left me short-handed.

I've already cut back on my brewing for the summer, limiting myself to 2.5-gallon batches, although I bottled a fiver of Pale Ale last week, so that will help during August. But I just did a quick inventory of my drinkable beer, and I'm heading into the weekend having to schlep some rather young beer upstairs. It should be fine, but I really liked the luxury I had last year of having four or five varieties filling the beer closet at all times.

[RickBeer]

Even though I don't think I was drinking more this year (although that's a possibility, of course)

Perhaps you can't recall that you are drinking more because you are drinking more which is affecting your thinking...

My pipeline was being dramatically impacted and I figured out the root cause and had him and his girlfriend to Florida... Down to 11 varieties (2 in very short supply) and 9.45 cases. 5 gallons of White House Honey Porter 1 week into fermentation and 5 gallons of Mackinac Island Red on deck to replenish. But I will end up with 1/2 dozen varieties intentionally as Mr. Beer refills fall out of my pipeline.

[Rebel_B]

Dave, the beer will get drunk even faster when you start kegging. The young beers will taste better than ever... I guarantee it!

[Beer-lord]

I've got the opposite problem this year since my good friends moved and we're no longing doing our Wednesday night thang. I can't drink the beer I'm brewing and I am definitely brewing less and missing it more.

[Kealia]

I've slowed my own brewing, too. Mostly because there are so many good beers available right now that I want to try/drink. When I have a lot on-hand I feel like I *have* to drink them and it almost feels like a chore. I like having variety on hand, too. Even 2.5G is a lot of the same beer for me when nobody else is drinking it. I think it's time to bottle some up and give it away so I can clear some out and not feel guilty about buying some stuff. I must be Catholic.

(No offense to any Catholics intended. Just a poor reference to feeling guilty about buying beer when I have so much)

[Beer-lord]

I'm a Catholic......I guess that explains my guilty feelings too!
And, people get offended way to easy. That's a big pet peeve of mine.
MAN UP!

[BigPapaG]

I can tell you through first hand knowledge, Catholics sure can drink!

So like Paul said Ron, MAN UP and get to drinking!