Why are Belgian beers so expensive?

Better question is why do American beers cost so much. Cantillon at the brewery is far, far cheaper than say Cascade or Russian River sours.

 

This.

Take Heineken for example which is coming from The Netherlands but can be found on any shelf for the same price as Corona which is brewed just across the border. I'm betting distributors are making outrageous margins on Belgian Trappists.

 

For your consideration this was the answer I provided previously in this thread to your question:

“Apparently US consumers are willing to pay wicked high prices for these sour beers?”

Cheers!

 

I guess there's a slim chance this may be the case in Jersey, but if so that's on your local distributors rather than the breweries or importers. The wonderful thing about computers is that barring some catastrophic crash, they never forget. Case in point, I looked back through our database for pricing on Cantillon Classic Gueuze 750ml vs Chimay Blue 750ml.

In 2007, a 750ml Classic Gueuze cost $12.99, and in December 2014 (the last time we received it) the price was $14.99, which is a 14% increase over the span of 8 years.

In 2007, a 750ml Chimay Blue was $10.49, and it's now sitting at $13.99, which is a 25% increase over the same time period.

 

It is not just Jersey, bottles of Cantillon (if you can find them) sell for waaay more than 15 bucks in Pennsylvania.

You were very kind to your customers in Oregon.

Cheers!

 

Time
Distance

 

Wow, a import beer that is cheaper here. We're paying only $4.00 a bottle for Chimay Blue. But like most people say here there are importation costs involved.

 

I wonder if that has something to due with the case laws. I'm assuming they aren't selling it by the case, which means you have to go to one of those places that actually sells singles and six packs at a higher price than the "normal" case distributors.

 

But priced roughly the same in the States as the American sours. Basic supply and demand- I supply the sours and I demand you pay more. Sadly the American sours don't hold much of a candle to the Belgian sours, though pulling Nails batch 1 was pretty close.

 

What do you think a Sam Adams costs in Brussels?

 

That's correct. In addition to the add on from the labor, those places also have to be able to operate a successful eatery with food and beer available for both on premises and of site consumption.

 

In the Philly area there are a good number of retailers that sell beer by the bottle and 4/6 pack. I recently purchased a 6 pack of Pilsner Urquell for 10 bucks. How much do you charge for a 6-pack of Pilsner Urquell?

Cheers!

 

not trying to be a smart butt, but, just like farrari's, Mercedes and cartier, there is an upper upper level there, and those beers exist there, not a knock against others!. You have to pay for perfection.

 

funny, I just got home from my latest haul shopping, found a 4 pack 16 oz. cans pilsner urquell for 4.99 bought one, should have bought two at that price.

 

Is that value of $4.99 a promotional (sale) price?

Cheers!

 

I think a Belgian holiday is in my future.

 

A single bottle of Pilsner Urquell in England is around $3.00.

 

Baltika is dirt cheap, and I actually like them a bit, I have seen them under $2 a bottle at times and I find that a great price point. But the point is dead on, anything east of Germany is basically given away

 

$10.99 per 6pk.

 

So, it is fair to say that the high price of Cantillon in PA is not a function of our particular retail outlets?

Cheers!