Is all "bomber" packaging a rip off?

Buying more of a product generally does mean a lower price per ounce, except when you're buying more of a product via lots of small packages grouped together.

For example, a 2 liter of soda is cheaper by the ounce than a 12-pack of cans, even though the 12-pack contains more soda. A large bag of potato chips is cheaper by the ounce than one of those boxes that includes many small bags, even though the box of small bags contains more chips.

In those cases, you're paying more for the extra packaging being used in the multi-packs, as well as the convenience of being able to open one of the small packages without having to consume the rest of the the product within a certain time frame. There's no reason this same principle shouldn't apply to beer, except that as a luxury product some people perceive beer differently and are inclined to place a higher value on bombers than 12oz bottles.

I believe bombers continue to sell at such high prices per ounce because:
- The package looks fancier. Big bottles remind people of wine, small bottles remind people of BMC.
- Some beers are only available in bomber format.
- People are bad at math.
- People understand all of the above and don't mind paying extra.

 

That's exactly it. Where I live, there are a lot of great beers that simply don't come in 6 packs- such as Philllip's Amnesiac. Either accept the format or miss out/be limited to the same selection of 6 packs all the time.

 

QFT, it seems like most people are neglecting this fact.

 

Comparing bomber pricing to 6-pack pricing makes a lot more sense than comparing bomber pricing to bar pricing.

 

I don't buy bombers much at all. Are they a rip off? To me, yes. But if they were truly a bad deal, no one would buy them and brewers would stop using them. So I know I'm in the minority on that. As to why I don't buy bombers much at all, I want quality and quantity. Folks like to dichotomize the two in these types of discussions. I'm not buying 30 packs of PBR nor am I buying $30 bottles of Eclipse. However, I'll gladly take a six pack of Long Trail Limbo (rated on this site as "very good") that costs $11 over a bomber of Stone Enjoy By (rated on this site as "world class") that costs $10.

 

Understandably, I just find it funny how people will pay $6-8 a pint but will balk at paying near the same price 22oz bottle.

Though yeah I feel most of the time bombers are little pricey, but sometimes that's the only way to drink most beers because their not available in a 6pack format. Beers like Victory at Sea and Enjoy by I'll definately grab the 6pack vs the bombers because its more valuable.

 

If you are paying $8.99 for a bomber of Hop Stoopid then you are getting ripped off. So yes, it sounds like the store you are shopping at is overpriced.

 

New Holland is doing a pretty good job pricing their sour offerings packaged in bombers. I'll gladly pay $4.50-$8.00 (depending on the beer itself) for them any day of the week.

 

Lagunitas gets it. 9$ for their barrel aged imperial coffee stout. 4.49$ for their barleywine bomber and imperial stout. 4$ for hop stoopid.

 

Cripes, are there really so few places that let people buy single 12oz bottles these days? I've got several places that let me do that, and they're pretty much the only shops I frequent, so I really don't understand the "I just want to try it but don't want to commit to a six-pack" mentality.

Sure, there's stuff that's bomber-only, but, frankly, I just pass 'em by. $10 or $12 to try the latest IPA or saison? No thanks. Too much good, affordable beer to mess around with that.

Finally, for those who think beer is undervalued, you'd be horrified to see how little it costs in other parts of the world, incl. places like Germany -- whole cases of (high quality) 16oz bottles for $20.

 

The ability to split six packs seems to be much less common in the Midwest and East Coast than it does out here. Hell, it's so widespread in Oregon that you can walk into pretty much any grocery store and pluck a single bottle from any six pack you want.

I honestly can't recall the last time I saw a store with a "mix a six" section because it's pretty much taken for granted that you can buy single bottles of almost everything.

 

I wonder why Long Trail is now releasing Limbo in $8 bombers. That to me seems a little like gouging when you can already get the same beer in reasonably priced 12 oz format. The bomber price equates to about a $26 six pack. Another example - I took a bomber of Sculpin to the counter the other day and it rang up at $11.49. Sculpin is expensive in bottles and cans, but that was a HUGE mark up - like a $37 six pack. I didn't buy it and recommended that they put the price on the bottle.

 

Founder's and Bell's have it right; they don't do bombers, except for the extremely occasional limited release that (normally) deserves a higher price tag. Anyone who uses the crappy mantra of "har har, I'd rather pay $8 for a bomber than $12 for a 6 pack in case I don't like it" really don't consider that if bombers didn't exist, there'd be more room for a singles selection.

Plus, I can't think of a situation where I'd rather have my measly $4 than A LOT of extra beer. Very little beer is THAT bad, and you have BA if you're really that unsure to prevent you from buying it in the first place.

 

No one has that mantra since your numbers are not realistic. Yes there are a lot of $8 bombers and $12 6-packs, but it is rare that the same beer with have those price points.

When I buy bombers I generally look to buy 3 bombers for the approx. price of 1 6-pack of the same caliber. I only get 66oz instead of 72oz, and I might pay a buck or two more, but I get three different beers instead of 1.

Yes, mixed 6-packs negate that. I do mixed 6-packs whenever I can, but not every store in my area lets me do that.

If you are buying $8 bombers of a beer that you can get a 6-pack of for $12, you are doing it wrong.

You are using a straw man argument. I am talking about $5-6 bombers instead of $12-$14 6-packs. Of course it will vary from beer to beer and from retailer to retailer. No one defends bombers based on your hypothetical $8/$12 prices, so don't burn that straw man and say the other side has no argument.

 

They're doing it for the folks that don't want to commit to a full sixer, which, if this thread is any indication, is a fairly large group of craft beer purchasers. Also, I don't know how serious you were with your use of the word gouging, but just so we're all on the same page, you can't price gouge a luxury item.

 

I rarely buy bombers anymore because they are a poor value. With the explosion of craft beer and the myriad of choices available, I can be more picky and purchase great beer for a fair price.

 

Yeah, but it won't stop me from over paying. Damn this obsession!

 

If it's a beer I want then I pay the price for it. If not then I will pass. A bomber is the norm for many beers so if I feel the beer is worth it then I pay the price. No big deal,

 

Not if that's the only format the beer is available in. You've gotta pay to play.

 

For most beers, I'll take the 12oz or can format if available- however if its a beer i want I don't think twice about getting the bomber. In other instances though (enjoy by from stone). I've stopped buying them as the bomber is more than I'd want to drink of that particular beer.