Latest Pipeworks Releases and Updates

I've found that in my experience canning works really well for some styles and not at all for others. It works especially well for hoppy brews. There is a brewpub in Baltimore called Brewer's Art. They bottle and can two of their beers: Resurrection and Ozzy. I love these beers. The bottled format is 750ml and the canning format is standard 12oz cans. These are Belgian style ales and do not taste nearly as good out of a can (though the price is much more reasonable). I personally like 12oz bottles best for non hoppy beers. Price per ounce on bombers and 750s makes it prohibitive to buy them often. $10 for 22oz (45 cents per oz) vs. $10 for a four pack (21 cents per oz). Not even close. There is some psychological phenomenon (involving wine?) that is playing out on this one. I'd think buying in quantity with less materials would be cheaper but that's almost never the case.

Glad you guys are getting a new system. Cheers to the notion of smaller format!

 

It is a state law. It has a long story attached to it that ended badly.... Gov Ryan! Alot of stores don't know the law or care as long as you got cash. Get a passport! Problem solved!

 

nice reaction time Fitz... they teach that at the academy?

 

interesting when you put it in those terms... it actually does cost us exactly twice per ounce to make the beer we put in bombers (on average, higher gravity) then it does for the beer that might possibly end up in aluminum...

the other big cost factor is that those 750ml Belgian bottles cost us $1.00 a piece... and the 22oz bottles ~$0.50, so that's the biggest price driver in large format bottles.

 

How about 12oz bottles and 4packs?

 

Yeah I'm okay with paying for a beer by gravity. That makes sense to me. Like KBS for example is (at the brewery's taproom price) $19 for a four pack. That is in line with a $10 bomber for price per oz. I'm perfectly fine with that, it's definitely worth that price. I guess my real point was that bombers/750ml beers vs. 12oz beers of the equivalent gravity usually end up having different price points.

Take BCBS in 22oz format vs. BCBS in 12oz format. This is a great example because not only are we comparing beers of almost exactly the same gravity and from the same brewery, but also literally almost exactly the same liquid as well (except for the addition of coffee so yes that's an additional expense). I'm not sure what the suggested retail price was, but I'm just going to use the cheapest price I saw them retail for.
BCBCS bomber --> 22oz, $21 = $.95 per oz.
BCBS four pack --> 48oz, $24 = $.50 per oz.

Here's another example that I noticed. Stone sells a lot of their IPAs in four or six packs and in bombers. Now these are not only exactly the same gravity, but literally the same liquid in the bottles which makes for an even better example.
Stone IPA bomber --> 22oz, $7 = $.31
Stone IPA sixer --> 64oz, $12 = $.18

And I have seen this phenomenon many times. I think consumers are 'fooled' by the bottle size because we think of big format bottles as fancy due to the subconscious feeling our culture has pushed us into toward wine. Wine comes in a big bottle so a big bottle must mean fancy. Beer historically has come in 12oz bottles and until recently was considered very blue collar, inexpensive, and less fancy. So when buying a larger format bottle the consumer feels more justified with paying $10+ with a large format bottle.

All that being said, I have zero problem with $10 a bomber for a high gravity beer. But paying that same price/oz ratio for a lower gravity beer just becomes too expensive over time and will push me to buy other brands with better price points. Of course I am always willing to have a good beer every now and again (almost) regardless of the price point.

...just a few thoughts. Hope it's useful for someone.

 

I was thinking the same thing, thanks for clarifying. The term "brewhouse" can be easily confused. But you're talking about the components that make up your brewing setup (mash/lauter tun, controls, heat exchanger, cooling, kettle, etc).

I do think canning is a great option that you should consider. It appears more cost effective for both you and the consumer (minus upfront cost of canning equipment) plus I think the market is really coming around to the can format. Beer in cans isn't frowned upon as macro or swill anymore. Locally I think Revolution is doing a good job with offering just a few of their beers in can format. I would agree with 1up in that hoppy beers tend to hold up best from a can but again Revolution's porter and wit hold up well. In addition I think Vivant is doing nice things with canned belgians.

Long story short; if you put beer in a can I would buy the shit out of it.

 

I have heard for awhile that PW would like to eventually can some beers, but nothing concrete to when or if that will actually happen. But, I would put more money on them eventually canning than not.

 

yeah im gonna use my passport in il form now on.

 

Put your beer in an smaller format, whether cans or 12oz bottles, and Pipeworks would be 90% of what I drink.

 

That's quite a tease if I do say so myself!

 

Did anyone get Cascade Ninja in the Western Suburbs? My two local shops in Lombard and Glen Ellyn never received their shipments. Did I miss it or did it just go to the city only?

 

They only made it to the city.

 

Bummer Thanks for responding!

 

Hello! That one might go even faster than Raspberry Truffle Abduction!

 

think this was from a FB post, not sure if there is any still left...

there are 30 other cases out there somewhere in the city (only suburban drops for Cascade are: Binny's Skokie, Binny's Highland Park, Cardinal Niles & Norridge)

 

would you could you in a can?

 

Easily. Just give me the chance!