Sticker Shock at Beer Bars (Part Two)

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by shebby, Feb 19, 2013.

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  1. yemenmocha

    yemenmocha Grand Pooh-Bah (4,092) Jun 18, 2002 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Society

    yes I've labeled the problem as "beer selection goggles" and far too many are afflicted. It's as if all other normal criteria are out the window and it doesn't matter that your glass is empty half the night, the food is lame, restrooms nasty, etc.
     
  2. dpjosuns

    dpjosuns Initiate (0) Dec 8, 2009 Illinois

    Another reason I get my stand-bys at the bar if I can, and the harder to find stuff in my fridge. Do always ask price though.
     
  3. Shagator

    Shagator Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2012 Kentucky

    I dont know about the bars or anything where you all are, but there are two beer bars here in Lexington. Both of them are exclusively beer and they dont serve food, wine or any other alcohol. The mark up on their beer is their only income that they have. Their prices are usually higher but you are paying for the beer, their lease/rent/mortgage, electricity, profit, etc. Liquor stores, grocery stores and other package places, can tack on their margin to the other products that they are selling and therefore can sell the beer a much cheaper price. With a bar that exclusively sells beer or even some of the other craft beer restaurants, they can make up their income on the beer price. These places often have the limited releases or rare beers that the big boys dont carry. So yes, you are paying for the atmosphere of the bar, the camaraderie of friends or other beer lovers and the overhead of the bar. Most times it also provides for the opportunity for them to have a beer that you couldnt get elsewhere.

    With that being said, I was in Boca Raton and spent $8 for a Miller Lite. THAT HURT
     
  4. kdb150

    kdb150 Initiate (0) Mar 8, 2012 Pennsylvania

    Creating a "nice" bar as a justification to rip off customers isn't a good excuse. I've been to bars all over the country, and with few exceptions, they all seem to price some things fairly, and price other things way too high. A price which is more than 200% of retail for something that is pretty widely available just strikes me as a ripoff, that's all. I think the point of this thread is that bar markup on beer is getting to be really high, and this is just another example of that. Hell, it pisses me off when I walk into a bar and see they want $15 for a Rochefort 10, which happens more frequently than you might think.
     
  5. Benny3000

    Benny3000 Initiate (0) Apr 4, 2012 Michigan

    These are all reasons why I drink at home and order water at restaurants.
     
  6. hornsup

    hornsup Initiate (0) Nov 29, 2012 Virginia

    agreed, a growler of FBS was $13 when I went in there yesterday. Went to the local bar and got a Dugges Idjit and it was $10 for a 8oz pour...bullshit
     
  7. coreyfmcdonald

    coreyfmcdonald Initiate (0) Nov 13, 2008 Georgia

    Where are you finding 375s of Tilquin for under $7? I've purchased it for around $11, and a quick search found it around $12-$15 at liquor stores (NOTE: not bars). A 50% premium at a bar for a bottle is perfectly reasonable in Manhattan, IMO. Also, I'm not saying that a "nice" bar can "rip off" customers. I'm saying a "nice" bar in the highest rent borough of the highest rent city in the country can command a premium, and must command a premium to make money. I'm also saying the premium on this beer is minimal next to most nice establishments in major cities in the US.

    EDIT: I noticed you said 200% of retail, not 200% more than retail after my statement. Either way, the rest of the statement stands.
     
  8. coreyfmcdonald

    coreyfmcdonald Initiate (0) Nov 13, 2008 Georgia

    You're also drinking a beer at Whole Foods. I'd rather drink one at home, and it'd be cheaper.
     
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  9. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    To be fair even though I love Whole Foods with their no pint over $5 and even then a $1 off happy hour and no tipping, they are not relying on beer sales to stay afloat.

    Our Whole Foods has a pretty nice bar attached, and the food is good.
     
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  10. chcfan

    chcfan Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2008 California

    Happy Hour is extremely overrated, at least in the Philadelphia area. Some places are a $1 off all drinks, but most just select a few slow movers and make them $2 off, maybe half price - but that's only on beers like a random brown ale from Abita or some shit. A number of places don't offer any discount at all. If I do a HH, it's to drink with friends right after work, not for the discount because it's pretty much non-existent.
     
  11. BearsOnAcid

    BearsOnAcid Pooh-Bah (2,215) Mar 17, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    So would you rather just get rid of it? Maybe even have higher draft prices instead?
     
  12. neophilus

    neophilus Initiate (0) Apr 4, 2009 Massachusetts

    $9 for 12oz of Shipyard XXXX when I just saw a 4 pack in the store for $7. It's not even that good of a beer you've got to be kidding me.
     
  13. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    I kind of see where you are coming from, I mean a buck off draft doesn't get me to go to the bar when otherwise I wasn't going to...but if I happen to already be there or have plans to go I'll take any amount off I can get.
     
  14. chcfan

    chcfan Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2008 California

    I would be mildly annoyed if it didn't exist, but I'm just pointing out that you're not missing much. Not sure why I would want higher prices (is that what people call a strawman?), but the fact of the matter is that there is no discount on the beer that I want to drink more often than not even when I am at a Happy Hour. If there is, it's a whopping dollar 90% of the time. I probably saved a less than a tank of gas's worth of money last year due to HH. It might be better for BMC drinkers, but I don't search out those deals. I would trade no happy hours for the case law any day of the week.
     
  15. MostlyNorwegian

    MostlyNorwegian Pooh-Bah (1,912) Feb 5, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Sure, it's sticker shock. But it's truly a suckers market when you see people forking over close to $30 to 50$ for a bomber of something the well tended packy sells for $10 - 15. At least with the BA pour. It's straight from the source, so you get that pour with all of the notes and characteristics and not too mention, quirks inherent in serving BA beer.
    And $9 dollars for a BA pour is pretty right on the money. Served on site; you're also paying for the time, atmosphere, and some of the operational costs that it took for that beer to become that BA and get properly served to you. I'm presuming the original beer which trucks along at a 9% abv and for everyone's safety because it is so big was also never served in a dimple or as a pint unless you're a dear regular or a mug club member. Cost wise, since it's a big one in a lot of ways. I'm hedging on its already priced in the 6$ - 7$ range a 10 oz maybe 12 oz pour for all of the above aforementioned reasons.
     
  16. chcfan

    chcfan Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2008 California

    That's pretty much the long and short of it with me. If more places offered half or even $2 off all or most drafts, I would go much more often, but $1 or none off that's the overwhelming norm for HH doesn't exactly make me wish I hadn't worn sweatpants, if you know what I mean.
     
  17. BearsOnAcid

    BearsOnAcid Pooh-Bah (2,215) Mar 17, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Im just saying higher prices and no HH because that's what I have in Boston. I drink out much more than I buy beer for home. Actually I rarely go to a store to buy beer. Saving a buck on a beer or mixed drink at a bar would be nice.
     
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  18. smutty33

    smutty33 Pooh-Bah (2,088) Jun 12, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Thats why I love Prime 16's happy hour........
    Half off ALL drafts between 3-7pm weekdays,2-4pm on saturdays........:wink:

    BUT,beer trading usually keeps me outta the beer bars.

    Cheers
     
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  19. CTJman

    CTJman Initiate (0) Jan 14, 2013 Connecticut
    Trader

    I just spent 20-30 each on a few cantillon bottles in Shanghai China (keiba beer bar-visit it if you travel here) Kriek was 30 for a 2008 go figure, Rose 2010 about 20 and what baffled me. 2002 Vigneronne was only 19. glad I had the opportunity to visit Shanghai.
     
  20. ESeab

    ESeab Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2013 New Jersey

    WOW, I guess I should no longer go get a $12.50 10oz BCBS after work every Saturday. I guess that statement answered the OPs post
     
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