Monday Rant: Seasonal Beer Paradox

I've delved into this subject way too many times while writing this series of posts. I understand the economical facets as to why seasonal beers keep coming out earlier each year. I also understand that distributors and wholesalers don't want to sit on the beer and risk having it go bad. If you're in the restaurant business, that's pretty much the same thing as just having food sitting in the freeze. Just money down the tubes.

I finally partook in the weekly festivities at Pipers Pub on Carson Street this past Thursday that the local online beer community usually attends. While meeting and talking with some of the people there this subject came up once again.



According to a post via Beer Pulse, Penn Brewery is to release its new Pumpkin Roll Ale sometime this July. Is this a sign that most of the other pumpkin beers will be out at some point in July as well? Also, will this pertain to the other times of the year that seasonal brews appear?

If I remember correctly, most of the fall beers were out before my birthday in August last year. Is it just me or are we starting to see a trend of beers coming out earlier and earlier each year? You can only have an earlier release each year so many times before you get to the point when the beer hits the market a season (or maybe two) before it's actually intended.

It just boggles me to think about it. Think of it as the earth's magnetic poles slowly reversing. The more you know.