99 Bottles club

We wanted to create a reward system for our frequent and loyal customers, so we came up with the 99 Bottles Club. To join the club, get a 99 Bottles Club punch card, present the card for punches with each bottle* purchase, and once all 99 bottles are punched you're a member. It's that easy!

The Benefits

Club members receive the following rewards for each card completed:

Card #1

• 99 Bottles t-shirt (waitlist for out-of-stock sizes)
• 10% savings on kegs and brewery-packaged cases
• 25% savings at $10 tasting events (club price: $7.50)
• 50% savings at $5 tasting events (club price: $2.50)
• 75% savings at $2.50 tasting events (club price: $1.00)
• Invitations to purchase tickets to 99 Bottles Club events
• 99 Bottles Club eNotes (must also be a subscriber to The Weekly Brews)

Card #2 and beyond...

• Your choice of a 99 Bottles t-shirt -OR- any glass priced at $12.00 or under (that's nearly any beer glass in stock) upon completion of each card.
• Bring guest(s) to tasting events and save! One guest per completed card at the club rate.

Additional member benefits to be announced.

99 Bottles Club Shirt

Upon joining the 99 Bottles Club, you'll receive a 99 Bottles t-shirt. Below is an image of the current 99 Bottles t-shirt. Each shirt is a limited release; previous shirts are no longer printed.

99 Bottles t-shirt history: v.1 was available for purchase and to club members; v.2 was exclusively for club members only; v.3 is available for purchase and to club members.

The Rules

To become a member of the 99 Bottles club, you must complete a 99 Bottles Club punch card. The punch card has 99 bottles — ten 6-packs and 39 bottles. Completion of a card requires purchase of 99 bottles*, while presenting the punch card at the time of each purchase.

Goods that get punches

*Card punches are given for beer, hard cider, mead, brewery sauces, and bottled digestives.

Card punches are NOT granted for gift cards, t-shirts and other clothing, glassware or other empty containers, magazines, or other brewerania.

Carry your card with you

Present your card at time of purchase. 99 Bottles is NOT responsible for lost, stolen, nor any other form of, missing cards.

I forgot my card... I just learned about the club...

Each prospective member must present card for punches at time of purchase. Sorry, no retroactive punches. If you forget your card, start another — you can always consolidate multiple cards later.

If you just learned about the club, it's time to get started!

One member per card

If you're working on a card together, that's great! It'll get you through the card faster, but keep in mind that it is one member per card. That means you have decide among yourselves who gets the first membership. Membership benefits apply only to the person named on the card.

Club member discounts at 99 Bottles tasting events

A member may purchase as one tasting for each completed punch card. Single card holders may purchase one tasting. Multiple card holders may purchase a tasting for themselves and guests—for every card completed and a non-member guest is treated at the club rate!

Rules are subject to change. The current revision lists the applicable rules.
99 Bottles Club Policy last revised: 01.20.2010

FAQs

When do benefits start?

Only after completing a card do membership benefits begin. If you reach your 99th punch at the time of purchasing brewery-packaged full cases or kegs, we'll give you the club discount on those items!

Do members get free beer?

No. The Washington State Liquor Control Board prohibits retail stores from giving away free beer.

I forgot my card. Can I get retroactive punches?

No. The card must be presented at time of purchase. If you forget your card, start another. We will gladly consolidate multiple cards later. If you chose not to start another card, don't bother trying to get retroactive punches with a receipt. The receipt gives us no way to confirm if punches were/weren't granted.

No one told me about the club!!

The club information has been posted on the counter at 99 Bottles and on the Web site since April 11, 2007. We are not responsible for notifying every individual about the club punch card and its benefits.

If you just learned about the club and would like to participate, it's time to get started!

How long do I have to complete the card?

As long as you like. Some folks take months to complete their card, others take years. We've even seen a few finished on the same day they were started!

Does the membership expire?

There is no expiration date. We expect the club will be active the entire time we own and operate 99 Bottles.

I'm moving out of state. Can I transfer my membership to a friend?

No.

I'm finishing my first card and don't want the shirt. Can I get something else?

Though we setup the first item as the 99 Bottles shirt, we realize that not everyone wears t-shirts. If you choose to forgo the club shirt, you can select any glass priced at $12 or under.

I'm a multiple card holder; can I apply the $12 toward something else?

No. Your choice upon finishing card two...three...and beyond is either a 99 Bottles shirt or any glass priced at $12 or under. This value is not treated as cash and, therefore, cannot be "put toward" any purchase.

I want a specific glass, can you waitlist me for it?

As our glass selection frequently rotates, we're happy to mark your membership with an "IOU" until you see a glass on our shelves that's $12 or under and suits your fancy. Please be advised that we don't special order glasses and cannot guarantee the acquisition of a specific glass for you...you'll need to eventually choose from what's on the shelves.

I noticed the number of punches recently changed for kegs, can I get additional punches for a previously purchased keg?

Punches are given based on the active published rules, with no retroactive punches granted. Buy a keg today and you'll get the number of punches identified under the current rules.

What happened to the dex boxes? Why don't you store cards anymore?

Though in previous years, 99 Bottles had card dexes for storing cards, this no longer done. Posted on each card dex box from January 11, 2009 until December 31, 2009 was a post that said: "Take your card with you. Cards remaining after 12/31/09 will be destroyed." As many have asked why we ceased storing cards, we'll answer that question here... "Due to the number of complaints and abuse customers gave 99 Bottles staff, we no longer hold cards. Yes, I mean abuse...our part-time employee was cussed at and had the boxes slammed across the counter by a customer who didn't want to look for his card. (And this is just one example.) Hence, no dex = no abuse."

I should get more punches for higher priced bottles.

It's not about who spends the most or what the bottles cost. It's our way of thanking loyal and repeat customers who support our business by purchasing 99 BOTTLES. If you don't like the rules, you don't need to participate.

I should get more punches for bigger bottles.

Again, if you don't like the rules, you don't need to participate.

I should get punches for gift cards, t-shirts, etc.

It's called the 99 BOTTLES Club, not gift card club, t-shirt club, etc. The person coming in with the gift card is the one who will get punches for the bottles purchased with the card. And I'll say it one more time: If you don't like the rules, you don't need to participate.

What's the most cards completed by a person?

24. Yes, that's 24 cards completed by one person. He's earned a new liver.

How many members are there?

September 17, 2008: There are over 200 members in the 99 Bottles Club.
February 16, 2009: There are nearly 300 members!
January 18, 2010: There are 534 members!

What other benefits are under consideration?

Here are some ideas we've been kicking around: A plaque on the wall after completion of 10 punch cards. Beer discounts. A new limited-edition members-only t-shirt. Advance announcement and 24-hour holds on certain limited-release beers. Club members, tell us your ideas.