Comments on: E-mail: Trader Joe’s Vintage Ale, Ordering Grilling With Beer… http://www.ibabuzz.com/bottomsup/2006/12/30/e-mail-trader-joes-vintage-ale-ordering-grilling-with-beer/ Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:31:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Ron http://www.ibabuzz.com/bottomsup/2006/12/30/e-mail-trader-joes-vintage-ale-ordering-grilling-with-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-72 Ron Sat, 10 Feb 2007 19:02:53 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/bottomsup/2006/12/30/e-mail-trader-joes-vintage-ale-ordering-grilling-with-beer/#comment-72 Trader Joe’s has been carrying Czechvar (Budvar from the Czech Republic).

On January 8, 2007, Budvar announced that they had jumped in bed with the Devil, Anheuser Busch, signing a distribution agreement, thereby dumping the US importers. As a result, the same week, the price of Czechvar INCREASED 45%. I emailed the brewery (budvar@budvar.cz), thanking them for “rewarding” those who assisted in popularizing their product, explaining that the 45% price increase immediately led to a 100% purchase and consumption decrease on my part.

That email was the only communication to Budvar that went unanswered. I guess the bastards are a bit uncomfortable with the new PR. :-)

Trader Joe’s carries another Czech beer, BrouCzech (brouczech.com), a reasonably good beer, and communication with their importer, Eurolink, has been fantastic.

TJ’s also stocks Topvar, which is from Slovakia and, like Pilsener Urquell, is part of the SAB group.

Lastly, a couple or three thumbs up for TJ’s Hofbrau and Bohemian. Their other house brands are on my “to do” list. :-)

]]> By: Mark http://www.ibabuzz.com/bottomsup/2006/12/30/e-mail-trader-joes-vintage-ale-ordering-grilling-with-beer/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Mark Tue, 16 Jan 2007 04:37:53 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/bottomsup/2006/12/30/e-mail-trader-joes-vintage-ale-ordering-grilling-with-beer/#comment-71 What a great blog. I’m new to homebrewing (2yrs) and certainly new to Trader Joe’s Vintage Ale… Hello, I’m hooked. Although I know a bit more about beer in general than the average Joe, I’m still newer to some of the hidden treasures that are out there. Specifically, dubels. Now I don’t believe that Trader Joe’s Vintage Ale is a ‘dubel’…but wow…the similarities are striking if that’s the case. Anyway, the finer points of the true, and original, nectar of the Gods have me hooked. CHEERS!!!

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