This was posted on Facebook yesterday (3-4-2010). Good news! I don't know what the timeframe is from brew start time to being shelved at the local liquor stores but this sounds like a very good thing. I think Surly fans are really chomping at the bit as their patience thins out waiting for Surly to release beer. The release of Smoke was delayed due to some issues procuring bottles and I still haven't heard anything about them having the bottles, only that they were ordered. That could also affect the release of "Four".  Abrasive will be in cans so there should be 'zero' wait time on that. I have a strange feeling 3 big surly releases are going to happen all at the same time.

My opinion on this is that its a slight business failure to have this happen. I pardon their mistake as they walk into some new territory with their company. Growing pains and some learning mistakes with new bottling lines. I think they will have this figured out for the next round of a bottled release. Surly isn't generally a very inexpensive product to purchase, it will definately be difficult if I have to buy smoke, '4', and Abrassive all at the same time to ensure I get some. That trip to the liquor store could end up being $100 ($45 if i just get one of each..abrasive being one 4 pk of course) It reminds me of something that happens often in my field, I give an estimate on when I will have something done based on the way things went in the past, then a big monkey wrench finds its way into the cog and freezes all progress. As big as monkey wrenches are, its always hard to see them comin. All the work piles up and it all has to get done at the same time.

All this aside, Surly continues to make some of the best beer in the country, arguably the world. I hope they keep that coming and work out all the business kinks for future releases.

 

I'm feeling Surly about not being able to get my Smoke. :)

I'm going to get Abrasive before its past Four.