Variety packs

The Dundee 12 pk Craft sampler was an early introduction to my forays into various styles. I still pick it up, to this day. Boulevard makes a killer sampler, too.

 

I actually think that variety packs were more common back in the 90s and early 2000s, and most brewers don't do so today. No herd mentality at all.

I like variety packs for trying out a brewer I haven't had before, but usually don't care if brewers I already like do so.

 

I grab a Brooklyn variety pack every now and then. Its got their flagship lager, the pennant ale (english pale ale), the east india pale ale, the brown and their pilsner. I enjoy all of them quite a bit, so this is a good deal as far as I see.

 

I've enjoyed picking up the New Belgium Folly Pack, it usually features:

2 Fat Tire
2 Ranger
2 Rampant
2 seasonal-appropriate picks from their regular lineup (Sunshine Wheat in summer, Abbey ale in their current winter pack)

+ 4 "Revival series" beers. Which is a past seasonal beer they bring back, 2° Below in the current pack.

I also like to pick up the SN Beer Camp pack.

For these 2 packs, I feel they move fairly well as they are seasonal options.

 

I just saw an Ommegang gift pack with Hennepin, 3 philosphers, and one other beer with a glass for $24. I hope some thinks of me.

 

I like the variety packs IF...

...it includes something that can't be purchased individually and/or seasonal offerings of which I might not want to purchase an entire six-pack.

For example, Odell's sampler includes 3 IPA, 3 90 Shilling, 3 Isolation and 3 Wellspring. So, two staples that I would gladly keep on hand for drinking or sharing with guests, one seasonal, and one that is only available on tap or in variety packs.

Or Boulevard, which includes 3 Wheat, 3 80 Acre, 3 Mid-Coast IPA (tasting room only), and 3 Westside Rye (tasting room only). Again, six beers that are nice to have for casual drinking or sharing, plus six more that can only be obtained via the sampler (or a forward-thinking bottle shop with a mixer sixer program).

As noted, New Belgium does something similar with theirs.

One variety pack that I'm not impressed by is Stone's new one. If I remember correctly, theirs consists of four year-round releases that you can easily pick up in a six-pack. I feel like there should be more to the offer than just different packaging quantity/combination.

 

Variety packs can be tricky, because usually they have a "clunker"...but they can also be an excellent, cost effective way (compared to a bottle shop) to try different styles that you otherwise might not have tried. Be open minded and give some other beers a try. Even if they are not big sellers" YOU may still like them. They are also good to bring to parties.

 

I agree and disagree on this. I do wish they included a seasonal but the stone variety pack is a cheaper way ($16 i think?) for people to try more than one stone beer w/o spending roughly $35 plus tax for four sixers.

 

I loved Ithaca's Box of Hops variety pack, 3 new IPAs. 1 was stellar (Creeker), one was very good (Black Vine) one was meh- I'm looking at you, Double Zilla, plus 3 of my favorite IPA, Flower Power. It would have been better if they had swapped Double Zilla with something like Outdoor Harvest or Napoleon Complex.

 

I get them mainly for when they have new beer to try. Some breweries like Saranac and Sam Adams will always give you new beers in each seasonal pack and others wont give you anything new. Wachusett's variety pack was great because they gave you 3 Larry's and you cant get a DIPA in most variety packs.

 

A fair point, to be sure. I think the reason that doesn't quite do it for me is because it's so easy nowadays to create a mixer sixer and grab a single of each of those beers. If I'm the type that doesn't want to buy a full six-pack to try a given beer, I'm probably not much more keen to buy three of a given kind of beer.

But hey, I'm not every consumer. I'm sure there are lots of people who see exactly the benefit you articulated in your reply.

 

I like the fact that I can try a selection of representations from a single brewer in a 12 pack. Many cases it is an old favorite combined with a couple of over looked, and I am glad I was able to experience. I liked the Stone sampler, loved the box of hops by Ithaca, Victory and Heavy Seas always seem to have an interesting mix.

Great Lakes here in Cleveland does a sampler that is a great way to expose someone wanting to try something new to some of the most popular beers in their line up. Personally, I think it is a great idea.

 

In BC the government stores had limited skus for product so many brewers use mixed packs to bring seasonals without removing another sku ( sku stays the same for each seasonal mixed) . It can often be a try out for a new beer without the big expense of individual packaging.

 

Actually was just at the store today and saw the Goose Island variety pack with Honker's, IPA, and Ten Hills Pale Ale (haven't tried yet, but like the early reviews). I think it was $13. That's the same price as 12-packs of Celebration, so I'm unlikely to buy it now, but I thought that was a pretty solid mix at a nice price, especially since it was fresh.

 

Have to mention the Gordon Biersch seasonal 12 pack which is quite decent and is a nice way to have a few German style beers in the fridge.

 

This reminds me of the joy of living in a market where the grocery shopper is entitled to rip open any pack and buy a single or 3 of the 4 or absolutely whatever. The world is your sampler...

 

The other is tripel perfection

 

There's usually a flavor or two in every variety pack that I wouldn't buy a sixer of, and would rather just get the other offerings by themselves. I find it aggravating though when breweries put a seasonal or something you otherwise can't get unless you get the variety pack, like what Great Divide does with Hades. Rrrr...

 

I buy them all the time.
Unlike many here, I'm not against drinking the same beer twice or drinking a beer i find to be just ok.