Thoughts on Spencer Trappist Ale?

I agree 100%. It's a fine drinking beer, and should be $10/4 tops. And I would drink it if the price wasn't a total ripoff. One and out for me.

 

Same here...and the bottles are 11.2oz, not 12, so it's even less of a bargain.

 

Few comments from the retail side of things. Yes the beer is expensive when compared to other locally produced beers. But what about when you compare it to other Trappist offerings? While I realize it is not imported like Chimay, Achel, etc., keep in mind that all of the Trappist monks are "brothers". If this beer was $10-12 for a 4pack, would you change your buying habits when it comes to Trappist beers and shop local instead? Just throwing this out there, but maybe they were pricing it with other Trappist beers regardless of origin to avoid undercutting their brothers in Europe.

Also, $17.99 is below standard markup.

I thought the beer was quite nice despite the price tag.

 

That's a silly rationale. Belgian Trappist beers are, what, 1-2 euros/bottle in their home country? It's hypothetical at this point, but what happens when Spencer sends beer to Belgium? Are they all going to triple their prices as a "friendly" gesture?

Word of mouth is that the current price is somehow a "necessity" due to startup costs and the like, and that the monks "want" the price to be lower in the future. It's nth-hand, but that sounds like competing with imports on price isn't something they're avoiding.

 

I thought the beer was very good. A little fruity and the clove taste was the best part for me. That being said at the $12.99 price point for 4 12oz bottles it might be my last buy. There are too many solid beers being produced in the NE region to go here very often. I think they over extended themselves out of the gate and the hype will die down in due time.

 

I believe that's called collusion and/or price fixing and is presently illegal under the Sherman Act.

 

That was the price at Gary's in West Roxbury.

 

If it's tacit, or the action is unilateral, it's legal. If Chimay et al conditioned their help on a minimum selling price, then it's not.

 

Haha right. I do love all the excuses some are giving for the price of this beer. Not directed at anyone in particular, but I find it funny. "It's Trappist!" "It's in line with the other Trappists!" "They need to pay for their big expensive brewery somehow!" " They're monks - who doesn't love monks?" "It's going to a good cause!" "They don't want to undercut their brothers!"

 

Notably absent: "it's worth every penny."

 

Tough to argue with the price complaints - I got my 4 pack for $15 on a one time special pre-order, and even that seems steep. I am waiting to share it with my brother, so I haven't sampled yet, but I would have to be pretty blown away to be likely to purchase a Belgian blonde again at suggested retail. That said, would the complaints be so vociferous had they packaged in bombers and sold them for $9?

 

Either a typo or a mis price - $12.99 is cheaper than distributor's price.

 

The guy at the shop where I bought mine swore that it was because the distribution agreement required them to ship the beer down to Maryland and then back up to MA again. Uh huh.

 

If that is the case then someone else has their hand in the coffer and is making a substantial profit from this brand. Anyone know who the primary investors are? Doubt the Abbey had the capital for this venture from the jams they sell.

 

Sorry just checked again - $14.99

 

I think the price is higher than everybody wants it to be, myself included. However, if the beer was only available at the monastery with a limit of one case per person, everyone here would be easily shelling out $20 per 4pk.

 

I'm not buying it now and wouldn't buy it in that scenario either. While there is a subset that chases rarity, "everyone here" is laughable. I also highly doubt that the people who would still buy it would't be complaining about the price as well.

 

I would be even less inclined to purchase it under that hypothetical.