Variety packs

Picked up the Boulevard Brewing variety 4-pack includes:
The Sixth Glass
Double Wide IPA
Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale
Dark Truth Stout
Plus a really cool Boulevard tulip glass

All outstanding. Glad they offer it.

 

Supposedly NJ is getting Boulevard soon- I sure hope they send that variety pack. What a great way to start.

 

Chimay Red/White/Blue w/glass at Sam's Club for $13.96. Picked up 3 sets.

 

Variety packs were a huge part my early forays into craft beer. Awesome way to try a bunch of beers on a budget, especially in PA with the stipulations on what quantities of alcohol you can buy where.

 

"TheJermis", a Boulevard brewer, kinda squelched that rumor.

 

Thanks for pointing that out, although it's a bit of a bummer. I'm sure it'll happen, but just not as soon as I expected.

 

Yeah, hasn't Bell's been "coming soon" to NJ ---- for the past 2 or 3 years?

 

I suppose- but it did hit NY like they said it would, so they're inching closer.

 

Variety packs sell well. I don't think mix 6-er shops should allow people to rip open the variety boxes just to get the one off beer though. Not fair to the brewer who put it in the pack as means for sales and profit.

 

I love variety packs! sometimes when you buy a case of all one beer, you get bored. Also what beer I want depends on my mood. After a big test might want a IPA, and when I'm hanging out with friends I might want something a little lighter. With a variety pack, you have the privilege of that.

 

Best variety pack ever is the Southern Tier super pack with Iniquity, Unearthly, and 2XIpa mmmm

 

I don't think its the 'herd mentality' when a brewery puts out a mixed 12-pack or case. I think its the brewery realizing that there is a market for this type of purchase, and they are merely trying to sell more beer. But if it comes from a brewery that does not make good beer then its probably a marketing ploy as a desperate attempt to sell more beer.

 

I used to LOVE variety packs and still do to a point however, I come across too many these days that have one-three beers I really just don't care for. If you're only buying a twelve back that's no biggie but if you are buying a case, it sucks having four-six beers you just aren't that into. It is a nice way to sample what a brewery has to offer, though, if you're not too familiar with their lineup.

They are really good for parties too, and there is typically something for everyone in them.

 

- great value
- great for parties where drinkers preferences are somewhat unknown
- great for sampling a brewery you haven't tried
- great for the brewer to sell more volume
- great for trading with others (you get to sample 1 and if you don't like it you have only 2-3 of same style you can give away...just be honest and let them know you didn't care for it though...otherwise your trading partners will quickly diminish)
-great if your new to craft beer and don't have access to bottle shops that provide mixed 6-ers or singles. Inexpensive way to tick and sample.

 

My favorite variety pack is from Van Steenberge. On each of Bornem Dubbel, Bornem Tripel, Piraat, Privateer, Gulden Draak and Gulden Draak 9000. It was selling for $16, which considering these beers normally sell here individually for about $5 each, so that works out to about half price. Naturally the price just went up another $2, but its still a good deal and nice selection of solid beers.

Other variety packs I like are from Firestone Walker and Brooklyn Brewing. I used to enjoy the Beer Camp box from Sierra Nevada, but the last two didn't interest me much, especially the latest one.

All in all though, I wish more breweries offered these variety packs as long as they were reasonably priced and contained a good selection of different styles.

 

I think you only see these at xmas time. I never see them after Jan 10 or so.