Explaining to others why we spend so much on beer

I'd probably just make a comparison to weed. Mexican brick vs the sticky-icky-icky.

 

I would give them this quote from The Matrix:
"After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember: all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more." Then offer them a taste of my beer

 

"Dude what the fuck is that. Shits sour"

 

I don't tell people how much I spend on beer, so there's no reason for me to explain anything to them.

 

This is awesome.

 

I'd ask them if they eat their toast butter side up or down.

That, or why do you spend so little on beer?

 

I don't gamble, smoke or solicit prostitutes. I like beer. Period.

 

Has anyone ever tried to explain to random consumers who scoff at the prices we pay. I've had countless cashiers as well as people near me in the beer aisle just passing up some really great beers because all they see is 4 pack and $9.99. Sometimes the beers do come in 16 oz. cans, so you're really not buying a "four pack". And that the ABV makes it a ABV/price drunkiness value very close to that of macro light crap? If you're goal is to get drunk cheaply, craft can actually come close lol. You can also have something that tastes good.

How short sighted are consumers? it makes me sad so many are so ill informed. Other than session IPAs, most beers seemed priced rather well for values sake. Most consumers still only see the price and quantity.

 

I bought a case of Hopslam for $65 and a 20-pack of Bud Light for $15 the same night. Felt like I way overpaid for the Bud...

 

I just read this whole thread and was shocked to see that nobody had made the ABV/$$ argument. Also add to that higher quality inputs, smaller economies of scale, and the creativity of the brewers

 

I usually point out the ABV tends to be much higher. One 22oz bomber of a 11% stout will get you a decent buzz going all by itself. Then of course there's the quality difference.

I'm also lucky to have Lagunitas in my backyard, so I get all their stuff and often fairly cheap. I can get a sixer of their IPA for $7 pretty consistently. Most of their bombers I get for $4-5 as well.

 

What's funny is the same people who give me crap for buying a $12 4-pack of quality beer at the store will spend $5-$6 per Miller Lite or Bud Light all night long at the bar. Seriously?

 

Most folks I know would drop $15 easy on a bottle of mediocre wine. Seems like an easy comparison to me. If they'd do that, why wouldn't I spend it on something I like to drink?

Maybe I'm a lucky sucker, but my wife actually encourages me to buy a good beer when she sees me ogle it. I'm usually a bit of a cheapskate and will bargain hunt for anything so I think she kind of enjoys it when I splurge on something even if it's just a 22 of some decent beer.

 

First rule about beer club, "Don't ask how much I spend on my beloved..."

 

It has never really come up other than my wife jokingly (I hope) saying on occasion when going through the bank statements "on every page I see a 'Weyerbacher'" (lol) and the funny thing is about 1/3 of the time I pay cash. lol

But, if it comes up:

"I am proudly supporting a local business. Small businesses kept the economy humming."

 

This is my exact message: Think of it like wine, we don't so much as bat an eye at someone spending 10, 20, sometimes even 30 dollars on a single, standard sized bottle of wine. MANY people do not have the intention to re-cork and save a normal sized bottle and drink on it over time, MAYBE two days in a row, but typically it is shared or polished off on one's own. Much of the beer that gets into these high price ranges is like wine, its got a similar and often times exceeding ABV, and it is sipped and savored like wine and is drank slowly and has tons of different flavors like wine.

 

I spent $45 on a 12pk of Tree House Green tall boys last night. I have no idea how to explain that to someone who doesnt like what I like.

 

To kind of quote Paul Williams( If I remember correctly he said it) in Smokey and the Bandit "Because I'm thristy........dummy........"

 

Get a higher fence