Variety packs - any value in them?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by SCW, Jun 9, 2015.

?

Are there any value in variety packs?

Poll closed Oct 7, 2015.

  1. 1. No, they are just a gimmick. If I want variety, I'll buy a few singles or commit to the 6pack.

    20 vote(s)
    4.7%

  2. 2. There is, but I don't buy them because I don't want to commit to trying all of the beers.

    27 vote(s)
    6.3%

  3. 3. Yes, great value. I love the ability to sample a wide range of beers and buy variety packs often

    175 vote(s)
    40.7%

  4. 4. There is some value, but I rarely ever buy them.

    208 vote(s)
    48.4%
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  1. SCW

    SCW Initiate (0) Jul 25, 2004 New York

    I recently was at a bottle shop and when I asked the clerk what his best selling beer was, he said "our mix n' match 6pack." At first I was surprised, but then it seemed obvious. So many beers, hard to commit to just one!

    Seems like with all of the beers available these days, folks might appreciate the ability to sample a wider variety of beers with a single purchase.

    That had me thinking...do beer advocates actually see any value in variety packs? Or is it just a gimmick? Do you welcome them and see them as a good thing, or would you rather just buy a single or commit to a six pack?

    If you were to do a variety pack, what would you do? What would be your ideal variety pack be?

    There are a lot of them on the market these days, but is there any room for improvement?

    cheers
     
    #1 SCW, Jun 9, 2015
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  2. KSOZE

    KSOZE Initiate (0) Feb 10, 2015 Ohio

    Your poll seems to be asking about pre-packaged packs which I rarely buy (but will if the price is right). I love the mix-a-six and use that often to try new beers.

    Variety packs seem to throw in 1 or 2 sub-par (probably slower moving) beers in there to move inventory. This makes me shy away, especially if I've already tried it.
     
    #2 KSOZE, Jun 9, 2015
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  3. chicagogooner

    chicagogooner Initiate (0) Feb 5, 2014 Illinois

    I see value in it when I am wanting to try a few different beers from breweries that I do not have access to locally. As for variety packs of beers I can grab locally, I prefer to commit to four or six pack.
     
    #3 chicagogooner, Jun 9, 2015
  4. seth27

    seth27 Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2015 Pennsylvania

    As long as I can find a couple pretty good looking beers I pretty much always do mix sixes. The only draw back I've found is that that shelf tends to be where out of date beer goes to die
     
    #4 seth27, Jun 9, 2015
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  5. zeff80

    zeff80 Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,425) Feb 6, 2006 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah

    Yeah, I rarely buy a variety pack made by a brewery, but I love to make mix a six on my own.
     
    #5 zeff80, Jun 9, 2015
    KSOZE likes this.
  6. Yeah_IPA

    Yeah_IPA Initiate (0) May 15, 2015 Virginia

    Interested to hear opinions on this, especially IPA's.
     
    #6 Yeah_IPA, Jun 9, 2015
    SCW likes this.
  7. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I have purchased three 12-pack variety packs so far this summer season: Victory, Sierra Nevada and Straub.

    Will we soon be seeing a Sixpoint variety pack?

    Cheers!
     
    #7 JackHorzempa, Jun 9, 2015
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  8. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    This post is a bit confusing. Are you talking about "mix-your-own-6pack" or brewery variety packs? Either way, it's a "No" for me.
     
    #8 BMBCLT, Jun 9, 2015
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  9. Tsar_Riga

    Tsar_Riga Grand Pooh-Bah (3,349) Sep 9, 2013 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I'll add that it can be a good buy when I want some or all of the beers. It is also the main means to get certain beers (e.g., Tumbler), and I will pick one up from certain breweries then, too. I almost never buy a big variety pack from a brewer I don't know and trust, however, since it is a big buy.

    I buy them often, because they are a good value, but as I've said, I tend to only pick up ones from brewers I trust.
     
    #9 Tsar_Riga, Jun 9, 2015
    bushycook likes this.
  10. SCW

    SCW Initiate (0) Jul 25, 2004 New York

    That's what I thought too. Aren't the mix n' match packs sometimes made with inventory from damaged cases? Its not an issue if you are inspecting every can/bottle prior to purchasing, but very few craft breweries sell loose cases...
     
    #10 SCW, Jun 9, 2015
  11. KSOZE

    KSOZE Initiate (0) Feb 10, 2015 Ohio

    Most stores break out the beers from six packs/cases from what I understand. Whether or not that's "against the rules", I'm not sure. But that's the impression I get from the stores I frequent that have mix-a-sixes.
     
    #11 KSOZE, Jun 9, 2015
  12. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I can see why people like them, but personally I:

    1. Never buy brewery-packaged variety packs (usually too many beers in there that I have no interest in)
    2. Very rarely buy mix-a-sixes

    I also rarely buy full six-packs of any beer. My personal habits tend towards picking up a couple of bottles/cans at a time, often of different formats. I think the reason is that whatever I'm buying in a store tends to be for personal consumption at home (and I don't "cellar" or age beers). Most of my social drinking is done at bars.
     
    #12 rozzom, Jun 9, 2015
  13. SCW

    SCW Initiate (0) Jul 25, 2004 New York

    "Variety pack" as in a prepackaged, predetermined set of beers.

    This is opposed to a "mix n' match" 6pack where the customer determines the quantity and selection of the beers.
     
    #13 SCW, Jun 9, 2015
  14. Scott17Taylor

    Scott17Taylor Initiate (0) Oct 28, 2013 Iowa
    Trader

    I like mix packs. I like to try as many beers as I can for cheap and they are a better option for that.
     
    #14 Scott17Taylor, Jun 9, 2015
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  15. Cameron_como

    Cameron_como Initiate (0) Jan 31, 2015 Missouri

    I love seeing sampler packs, especially when it's 4/5/6 different beers in a 12 pack instead of just 3. I don't mind buying the 12 pack to check out multiple beers new to me, but it's generally a one time purchase. After that I'll tend to seek out only the beers I liked from the pack. (Also please distribute to Missouri)
     
    #15 Cameron_como, Jun 9, 2015
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  16. PatrickCT

    PatrickCT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,776) Feb 18, 2015 Connecticut

    I buy one a week. Mostly in the summer and usually Sierra Nevada. They are a good mix of drinkable, warm weather beers and they are accessible enough for company. Not to mention the price point. $18.99 for 12 SN or $12-13 for a 6pk of Lagunitas.

    I hope that you are looking around for feedback to see if Sixpoint should put out a variety pack. I would be very interested in that!
     
    #16 PatrickCT, Jun 9, 2015
    silverking likes this.
  17. SCW

    SCW Initiate (0) Jul 25, 2004 New York

    that's interesting - in certain states/stores they won't even allow you to break apart your own 6packs and pull the inventory out. However, in NYC, the place where you can buy anything one unit at a time (even purchase a single cigarette in a deli) you can buy a single bottle of beer right out of the 6pack :-)
     
    #17 SCW, Jun 9, 2015
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  18. JuicesFlowing

    JuicesFlowing Initiate (0) Jul 5, 2009 Kansas

    I like brewery released mixed 12 packs, but only if I can get 2-3 new beers out of it. I detest mixed six packs from the singles shelf because I'm paying $14 for a sixer of average beers.
     
    #18 JuicesFlowing, Jun 9, 2015
  19. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    The best part about variety packs is that there is often a "one off" or other beer in the pack which isn't normally available in a certain size or not readily available at all. Case in point - last year the So. Tier Variety pack had 12 oz. Iniquity in it, which I've never seen anywhere else - at least in 12 oz. size. And personally I prefer 3 types of beer and 4 of each type instead of 4 types of beer and 3 of each type. It's a storage thing - my beer fridge fits rows of 4.
     
    #19 otispdriftwood, Jun 9, 2015
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  20. chrismattlin

    chrismattlin Pooh-Bah (1,663) May 10, 2014 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    I like variety 12 packs from breweries, but rarely buy them because there's usually a beer or 2 in them that I just will not drink. The price points on these are almost always attractive, but if I'm not gonna drink 2 of them, then the price seems high. I think the most attractive variety packs are the ones which include some kind of special release.

    FWIW, the last 2 I bought were from Stone, which included a special release, and from Ithaca, which was priced beautifully at $13.49.
     
    #20 chrismattlin, Jun 9, 2015
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