More 3F Insanity

$35 is highly aggressive for beer, but I put it in context of the greater Wine/Beer/Spirits landscape. I was (and still am) an avid wine enthusiast. I commonly visit local wine stores and happily spend $10-$15 on your standard "craft wine" bottles. All a step well beyond the Yellowtails and Little Penguins of the world. Occasionally a larger decision must be made. Do I plunk down $30-$50 for a rare or highly sought after wine? Occasionally, yes...but only in some instances.

My point here is that I don't believe a bubble is occurring or that price points (on one-offs in particular) will ever reach a point where demand drops across the board. Rather, I think a paradigm shift is occurring where the beer industry seems simply to be catching up to the models which have been insanely successful in the wine and spirit industry.

Is it frustrating? Perhaps. But I've realized 2 important things along the way:

1. There is ALWAYS someone willing to pay for a premium whatever, even if that person does not appear on the surface as your "average" enthusiast.
2. Something else rare is ALWAYS around the corner. I once asked my wine guy what his cellar was like and he told me I'd be disappointed. That he purchased only occasional big wines and usually drank them within reasonable timeframes...because there will ALWAYS be something else released soon.

Just some random thoughts this fine morning. I hope to hear what people think of the RtB. I forewent the chance to hit FFF so I
Can grab the more reasonably priced SheWolf today! Excited for that!

 

BMW 7-series retails for about 70k.

i should be able to buy one today for 10k because i want one. any other price is outrageous and a clear slap in the face of craft car buyers. BMW should commit to making the 7-series affordable and available to all car buyers everywhere.

they aren't doing so because they are douchebags who only care about internet fame.

i won't ever buy another BMW product again.

 

I understand where you are trying to go with the argument, but I believe the actual comparison in this example would be BMW releasing the "7-squared series" with a price tag of $300K, and the buyer would need to buy the car blindfolded without having driven the product prior to purchase.

The arguments brought up in this thread don't go to actually 'wanting' the beer, it has been more or less a general discussion as to the direction of the industry in a 'it is what it is now' type of framework.

 

Well, of course buying a case of ZD helps them, but not nearly as much as one of these specialty bottles. They wouldn't be running a successful business if they weren't turning a profit. I'm referring the difference in profit margins. A case of ZD and a specialty beer both sell for the same price, but it costs FFF a lot more to produce a case of ZD than it does one bottle of these specialty beers; thus their margins are lower when you buy cases. Of course, I'm just speculating here.

 

Yes I agree Lansman. misterid's quote makes no sense at all!

 

One 750ml bottle versus an entire case of FFF beer for the same price. Hmm...which would I get more enjoyment out of....

 

it's only at Half acre.

I agree with most of your post but there are a lot of variables though that we don't know on the cost of making this bomber and the margin they're looking for. what if the profit on this bottle was really $5 dollars? wouldn't be a high margin.
I don't run a business and don't know numbers but I would assume that it would 'cost' more to make RtB (this release) based on the fact that it took up space in their facility to age (plus brewing, recipe, etc) where instead, more ZD could be made during that time without being aged and knowingly will sell out by the case. ZD, hypothetically speaking, will sell forever, (low profit, but on going sales?) while this bottle is a one off and eventually will sell out (sold out?) and the profit needs to be there immediately. I will not be buying this bottle, too expensive and i'm not defending FFF or hating them, just being devil's advocate on your single post.

that just depends if the bottle would land on Ebay, CL or FT:ISO

for some people the bottle would be more 'fun'

 

A barrel version of a just ok everyday beer for $35. I wouldn't buy that garbage for half the price. This is part of the reason I only go there for DLD and then trade them. What's next? BA ZD for $50. Suck it FFF!

 

it's a niche product for a niche market. the people who are in that niche market will spend the money "blindly". i'd guess most are buying this beer based off their past experience with Floyd's beers, the breweries track record of making beer they enjoy, the potential trade or sharing value of the beer and maybe to support the team.

really does it matter why?

i don't think it's something to be terribly worried about. there are a handful (more?) of breweries that do these kinds of releases. nothing says the consumer is forced to buy the product. speak with your wallet (the royal you). tweet about the injustice. don't patronize breweries that practice this type of business.

i'd be shocked if this "trend" became the status quo and we started to see every run-of-the-mill new beer released at a premium price. for every special release event there are dozens/hundreds of good/great new beers released to the market at entirely reasonable prices. many of which we'll never sample before purchasing... and most of which we'll never ever try, period.

 

One of my business professors has a great analogy for this kind of pricing structure:

"There's an ass for every chair."

 

Sure is alot of angry people on the internet. ^

 

Yours was a really well thought out and written post. Hopefully everyone on this site reads it. If you miss out on one this time, there will be something else coming out soon to try!

I think the issue of such a high price is that it makes trading even more expensive. The hope of landing wales really drives sales sometimes.

 

I'm still confused as to what everyone is angry about..

 

I can't help but wonder what DLD would look like with $35 dollar bottle and no Ebay to instantly list bottles at twice the price.

 

you buy DL just to trade it? well, we don't need you back.

 

Trade it, hoard it, masturbate with it ... People certainly aren't buying it because it tastes good.

 

It would still sell out in a heartbeat and look like any other DLD.

 

I don't doubt it would sell out. I don't think it would sell out as quickly once it becomes a more expensive venture. ... Did you even look at Ebay on DLD? It is quite amusing. The primary marketplace for people who don't know what they are doing is gone.

 

Thank you, sir. And your angle of higher price equating to more difficult and expensive trades is definitely valid. On a lighter (and completely unrelated) note, I love the avatar. Burial is one of my favorites - I'm a big fan.

 

I love 3 Floyds and think almost everything they do is great, but today is the day I say "no" to them. Affording it is not a problem for me, but I have an issue with the principal of the matter. I've been supporting them forever, but I just feel like they are price gouging on these special limited releases. Yes, I have the others from the last couple of months, and in my opinion-not worth the price.

There is certainly an ass to fill my seat for this one; hopefully they'll enjoy the beer and totally think it's worth the $35. I still think FFF makes some of the best beers in the world, and they can be had for much less than $35 a bottle, so I'm joining the "rather have a case of Alpha King" club.