Rant: Low Volume Pour for ABV Deemed "High"

I’ve always looked at it like the high ABV or barrel aged beers are more expensive to produce and that’s why they give you smaller size for the same price. Just like in the store the can of barrel aged beer is more expensive than the can of lager for the same volume. I don’t think they would stop you from ordering a second if you wanted more. None of my locals do anyways. Cheers.

 

'Correctness' is a matter of opinion, and I can't comment on whether you're constipated, but it's a good excuse for being cranky.

My entire career has been in the insurance industry, and it's a fact that sometimes those responsible persons that you mention screw up and over-imbibe, get into a car and kill someone and seriously injure themselves. Attorneys go for the deep pockets and sue the bar on behalf of the deceased person as well as the 'responsible' idiot. To the bar owner, it's his livelihood, so an element of protection is needed.

As for the pricing of the high-alcohol beers, it costs more to make those beers so a higher charge is necessary to the consumer in the way of a smaller serving. Otherwise it would cost $15 for a pint, and many responsible people don't want to pay that cost for a beer and don't want a pint anyway.

 

Considering most 'higher' ABV beers cost more per ounce when bought to-go, it makes sense they cost more in a serving setting.

Now if you do live in a state who won't let the bartender pour you two of these smaller pours at the same time, consider moving.

 

It seems this is the norm, smaller pours of 10% + beers. Can't remember when I didn't see this.

 

I found a bar once that served me BCBS in a shaker pint glass. That was a good day.

 

Have you ever gone into a bar and ordered a whiskey neat?

 

I read on here that the new brewery Everything or Everywhere ( someshit of that sort) charges $10 dollars for everything on the menu. 4% Lager? 10 bucks! 7% IPa ? 10 bucks. IDK about porter and stout serving sizes, but 10 bucks!

I'd be more pissed at that. If you don't like it then don't go there .

 

Damn, why do you have to be so reasonable and measured?

 

Try some of this and then go back and see if you feel less aggravated, maybe being backed up has made you less patient

 

To add on to this :

OP What would you like ? 12-16 oz pour of a 12% beer? For most people that's a one and done if you need to drive.( possibly way too much) .

DUI is a major cause of accidents and deaths ....

Also very sexist of you to say SO are there to drive your irresponsible , Can't Hang and drunk ass home after you have too much.

 

Yes. Interestingly it's usually quite a good sized pour.

 

Uh, that ain't how brewing works.

As the old brewmasters used to sing:
"That ain't luck, that's more fermentables - and we don't get that stuff for free."

A while back now , a local bar got kegs of both of the Dogfish Head/Sierra Nevada collaboration brews, Life & Limb (10%) and Limb & Life (5%). (I guess the latter was the second runnings? Been a while.)

Rather than put both on tap at the same time so one could do side-by-side comparison, they put the former on tap first BUT charged the same price as their normal craft prices. Probably something like $6 with tax in a shaker glass. We agreed we got a good deal and then laughed that we'd probably complain when we came back in a week for the latter at the same price.

"WTF! You're asking for $6 for a 5% beer when we got a 10% beer last week for the same !@#$ six bucks!"

 

Homage is similar, I was one and done there.

I’m good pricing all beers via consistent margin, but would also be good with this price / serving structure which should approximate cost for most styles using January 2023 Dollars:

• $7 Imperial Pint ABV under 4.5%
  
• $7 Pint ABV 4.5-7.9%
• $7 3/4 Pint ABV 8-10%
• $7-$8 Half Pint ABV over 10%

Barrel age beers are the wild card between variability of time and yield, plus barrel acquisition costs. All other beers are pretty much known quantities in terms of cost.

 

It would be irresponsible for the bartender to serve you say KBS in a pint glass without considering it's ABV at all. Bartenders do have the right to refuse service for a reason. They are certified by state and undergo training to serve alcohol correctly and to make sure people are safe. The OP sounds like he's a young buck, and if he's not then well, lets hope he is lol and just give him a pass for being young and in-experienced with this subject matter.

 

OCD???

 

You're just a natural diplomat.

 

Me: "Objection. Assumes facts not in evidence."
Judge: "Objection sustained."

 

It's not a 'nanny state' scenario at all.

1. It's got to do with the cost to produce those high ABV Beers.
2. The brewer's don't "get lucky" and end up with a higher ABV beer. They're not trying to brew a 5% beer and it just happens to end up being 12%. It's a function of the amount of fermentable sugars used in the brewing process.
3. I can't think of any brewer / beer bar type establishment that doesn't do this. In fact, I can only think of one brewery that has the option of a full pour (for more $$$) of the high ABV stuff.
4. Order your 8oz pour, drink it, and then go order another 8 oz pour. Totally a pint. I guarantee (provided you're not obviously inebriated) they'll give you that second pour. If it was a 'nanny state' thing going on, they wouldn't.
5. The only aspect of 'nanny state' that may be in play here is that the establishment can be held liable if they over serve you. Same as how any establishment will (or at least should, legally) cut you off if you're visibly drunk.

Edit: to add to this, it's also not uncommon to see smaller pours for lower ABV beers, that are more expensive to make. Barrel aged sours / saisons is good example. Honestly, I'm kind of surprised some of these beers continue to be packaged in 750ml bottles. I never want 750ml of a sour by myself in a sitting. Too much.

 

It's funny to me how much of the alleged "nanny state" [generally, beyond alcohol] is really because private commercial insurance companies can and will raise premiums, exclude coverages, and/or refuse to renew policies for insureds who do not or will not keep their house in order...moral hazard and all that.