There are some rare beers out there like Pliny the Elder from Russian River, Dark Lord from Three Floyds, Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout from Cigar City, and Kentucky Breakfast Stout from Founders. And those are just the American beers; many gems do not even leave their country of origin, leaving beer zealots scrambling overseas to score a Cantillon Don Quijote or a Westvleteren 12. They are small batch, limited production brews that some people wait days in line to get their hands on. Some are even barrel aged making them ever scarcer. 

A good way to snag one or more of them is to trade with an equally rare brew. Some breweries offer elite member clubs that give the lucky card owner first dibs on those “white whales.” Cigar City just started the El Catador Club. For $126, the member is guaranteed one bottle of five barrel aged beers including a barrel aged variant of Hanahpu’s, as well as advanced notice of release events and other goodies. The Bruery offers the Reserve Society, a $295 ticket to some of their rarest treasures. Unfortunately, these exclusive guilds are illegal in Texas. 

If you have a beer bucket list, be prepared to spend a lot of time and money to complete it. Traveling to breweries--especially foreign ones--is a must, and there may be disappointment along the way. It is best to become good friends with many other beer aficionados and share the wealth when you get a good find. Being a beer consultant, I had a once in a life time opportunity fall in my lap when Cigar City was presenting at one of our meetings and let us try a few ounces of the precious Hunahpu’s well after Hunahpu Day had culminated.

Cheers!

Adam Shugan, Beer Consultant, Gainesville - Archer Road

Follow him on Twitter @abcbeeradams