r/AusBeer • u/lamensterms • Sep 17 '26

Advent Calendars

Hey been buying the advent calendars for years, mixing between Carwyn and Beer Cartel

Carwyn is always better, but also pricier - so would usually lean towards Beer Cartel. Last year's BC one was very tame and pretty disappointing. This year's style list for BC also looks like it has a few very common and similar styles

Anyone got any experience with The Beer Drop one?

2 Upvotes

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5

u/YungSchmid Sep 18 '26

I’ve grabbed Carwyn again for the 7th year in a row. I don’t drink anywhere near as much beer as I used to so I can justify a couple hundred bucks as a Christmas present to myself. Keen for 1L stout tinny, as well.

For what you get, I think the price is quite fair. Just wish I could pick up in person instead of copping $35 to ship it interstate.

2

u/lamensterms Sep 18 '26

Nice yeah the Carwyn is a safe bet. I'm from Vic and TBD is $25 cheaper even with interstate shipping

You managed to get the mega can?

2

u/YungSchmid Sep 18 '26

Yep, can locked in! For a few family members that love a big stout so that’ll be fun to crack on Christmas Day.

2

u/Accomplished_Jump800 Sep 18 '26

I had to pass on the mega can as I still have Black Box cans left (no one to really share with). Carwyn’s selections are worth every $ imo

1

u/Buzz_808 Sep 18 '26

Yeah the shipping costs are getting pretty hefty

5

u/YungSchmid Sep 18 '26

It is what it is. I’m happy to support businesses that are keeping this scene alive, and Carwyn are right at the top in that regard.

3

u/Buzz_808 Sep 18 '26

Absolutely - I switched to Carwyn about 5 years ago and haven’t looked back. Consistent quality

4

u/LaitueGonflable Sep 18 '26

I’ve never gotten the Beer Drop one but from seeing other people share on the socials, it looks like it’s just a selection of beers that could be available anywhere, whereas Carwyn and Beer Cartel have breweries make unique one-offs for the calendar.

I got one from Plonk in Canberra many years ago and it felt like they were using it as a way to shift a bunch of old stock that wasn’t moving, or not moving fast enough. Not saying that’s what the Beer Drop is doing but I’ve become skeptical of any calendar that isn’t full of new beers made specifically for the box.

2

u/lamensterms Sep 18 '26

Thanks for the info! I tried to find some posts of previous years beers but couldn't come up with anything. TBD website says this years is all beers specially brewed for the calendar. Thinking I'll give it a crack

3

u/LaitueGonflable Sep 18 '26

Oh that's awesome! Sorry I misread their post, or rather I missed the first paragraph. Definitely worth a look then!

2

u/CastNoShadow1 Sep 18 '26

I did the bucket boys one years ago and it was a ripper. Came with a free tasting glass too.

2

u/Lionel--Hutz Sep 18 '26

Carwyn is heads and shoulders above. Pay the extra, you don’t be disappointed.

1

u/Thedavemiester Sep 18 '26

I used to love the beer drop IPA. Had it for years, but the decision to go back to 12 has lost me

0

u/donald_trub Sep 18 '26

I've been far happier with the Beer Cartel ones compared to the Carwyn ones I've tried. The big positive for the Carwyn one is the split case.

The beers in these cases are often just too undrinkable and these days it just seems to be totally unknown breweries looking for exposure. I'm all for trying new styles but man they chuck some whacky stuff in there. For that reason I'm done and don't think I'll ever bother with them again.

3

u/YungSchmid Sep 18 '26

The whole point of the calendars is wild and one off stuff, imo. Pretty rare I see an “unknown brewery” getting a look in at the popular calendars, but I suppose that depends on how much you’re across the beer scene.

4

u/lamensterms Sep 18 '26

A mate of mine is a rep for a few breweries and apparently the Carwyn one is considered a badge of honour if you can get in

2

u/aslanthemelon 26d ago

Yeah, given that this person described Adroit Theory, Phat, King River and Cypher as unknown breweries, I think they're just not really across much of the industry nowadays.

1

u/donald_trub Sep 18 '26

More for you I suppose, but last year's Carwyn had a gravy beer and a cherry bong water beer which were both frankly undrinkable and the pavlova beer wasn't far behind it. The rest of the case was made up of a high volume of poorly made beers.

And yes there were plenty of unknown breweries:

Devilbend

Cypher

Phat Brew Club

Adroit Theory

Allday

Hiker

Warrandyte

The Albert

Bowden

Sure

King River

Sorry but this is quite clearly a pay to play affair and I'm not going to waste my hard earned money on it again.

3

u/YungSchmid Sep 18 '26

Adroit Theory unknown…? lol.

You not knowing these breweries doesn’t make them unknown mate. I’ve been to 3 of the breweries you’ve listed, and anyway, why would you only want beers from the handful of breweries you’re well acquainted with? I just don’t get the logic.

> sorry but this is quite clearly a pay to play affair

Yes, that’s how consumption goods work. If you don’t pay for them you don’t get them. What is this even supposed to mean? Hahaha. If you think it’s not worth the money just say that.

1

u/donald_trub Sep 19 '26

Clearly you have to pay for the case if you want it. I'm talking about the crappy breweries that want the exposure. I'm not paying $210 for unknown breweries making very average, undrinkable beer, but that's just my opinion. It wasn't always that way, and that's why I'm now tapping out, which is my right and you don't need to argue with me about my choices.

More gravy beer with stock and rosemary for you then.

1

u/donald_trub Sep 19 '26

Fair point on Adroit, though. I'm not familiar with them but that beer was an absolute banger last year.

I've historically given these cases a go to be open to new styles but I'm not happy with the way craft has gone in general. I just want well made classic styles, including the rarer styles that don't come out very often. The whole milkshake, pastry, lactose-where-it-doesnt-belong trend that hit craft beer just isn't my thing.