Line stretches down Main Street for Jolly Pumpkin beer release
David Bardallis | Contributor
Cindy Hegenauer and Dede Phillips-Hoydic got what they came for. So did 200 others willing to wait in line nearly two hours.
“We got here at 11,” said Hegenauer. “We wanted to make sure we got ours.”
The what in question was Perseguidor Oak Aged Ale, released annually by Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. This is the fifth version of the much-anticipated brew, which was sold four bottles at a time to folks who began forming a line outside Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery, 311 S. Main, more than an hour before Sunday's noon release.
Owner and brewer Ron Jeffries sells bottles of Perseguidor Ale to thirsty patrons.
David Bardallis | Contributor
The brewery sold 40 cases, with each 12 oz. bottle going for $9.50, and it was all gone within 2 hours. A beer dinner scheduled for 4pm—and rumored to also include bottles of the first Perseguidor—was canceled due to too few reservations. It seems people preferred to run straight home with their bottles and pair them with their own imaginations.
If you missed out, well, there's always next year!
David Bardallis is a freelance writer and editor, blogger, bon vivant, and man about town. Visit his Web site, DavidBardallis.com, to engage his services or read his latest. Email your beer-related thoughts to annarborbeer@gmail.com, follow @dbardallis on Twitter, or join the "All the Brews Fit to Pint" Facebook page.
Comments
Dave Vannette
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 8:54 p.m.
The line started at 9AM (I started it) and many people came from out of town for this event. Jolly Pumpkin also released a beer called 'Lambicus Dexterius' on New Year's Eve and there was a line for that event as well. Kudos to Ron Jefferies for his excellent beer and his burgeoning reputation as one of the best brewers in the U.S.!
truenorth
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 10:39 a.m.
Wow- this guy is like a beer rock star. Love his beer. Took me a while to understand his style of tart Farmhouse beers but now I am addicted. I can't believe we have a world renowned brewer in Ann Arbor- awesome. Someone told me that some of JP beers are ranked with the best in the world. Also I was there for lunch with my kids and the beer "fans" were hilarious. Can't believe people waited in line for almost 4 hours.
CindyA2
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 11:29 a.m.
would also like to mention Dede and I were the only ones "going Green" with our own containers. True Ann Arborites in a sea of beer geeks from other states.
Foodie01
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 10:08 a.m.
Thanks for answering the question about why so many people were lined up at Jolly Pumpkin on a Sunday afternoon -- there was still a line at 1:30 and it made us curious.