Mexican Cake Release?

While one of my favorite beers, I don't know if my wallet would approve yet another price hike. 20% price hikes each year seems to be a bit absurd but would put bottles around $18.75 this year if the trend was the same.

 

We all know Westbrook will try and squeeze their customers as much as possible. They dont want to leave any profit on the table.

 

Retail in GA hasn't gone up only $1 in four years. That said, I guess it's up to Westbrook and distro if they want more profit, but retailers don't seem to be gouging too much.

 

I don't think anyone cares to get into a pricing debate, because in the end you can just not buy it (lol at that happening).

However, as an outsider their pricing seems very reasonable for the craft market. Didn't they just release a strong ale that was cognac barrel aged for 12 months for $10?! Their cans are all priced well.

I guess I'm more tainted by paying CCB & Cycle prices for bottles...

 

While I agree with CCB, Perennial, FFF, etc, Cycle only releases BA bottles...so I don't have any issue with Cycle prices!

 

Hah, well obviously I don't have a problem paying Cycle prices (when I can!), probably should have said Angry Chair instead. (who again, I am happy to pay what they are asking) so it's a moot discussion.

CCB has (in my opinion) been testing the limits lately as limited release stuff is finally turding it up in their coolers...which is relieving to see us nerds have our limits. (22oz DIPA for $14 for a while)

 

For the most part I think Westbrook is very reasonably priced (Grand-mere as above for $10; Gose sixers $10; some of their bombers in house at $6, most of their limited BA releases around $15), but every once in a while they drop a crazy price in there (like that new IPA Crowler at like $14). I also think its important to note that there can be a price increase from retailers even if the brewery is charging the same amount. Not sure if thats happening with MC or other WB's, but it definitely happens with some beers.

 

I totally agree. I was just poking at their outrageously priced "vintage bottle list" at the taproom

 

Which is a fair complaint, but even that is super variable (although I haven't looked at it in probably 9 months). But last time I did there was absolute absurdly priced BA Cake bottles, but then right beside them a several year old vintage Apple Brandy BA Tripel for only $25 (which was delicious).

 

Man, I always thought that Westbrook has some of the fairest prices for actual good beers of most anything going. I guess no one here has ever purchased anything from this little outfit called Wicked Weed.

 

Forgot about that! Yeah, the vintage and BA list for on-site is as close to black market pricing as it is fair market. And what I mean by fair market is what they themselves sold it for retail.
It doesn't align with what their normal pricing structure is, but is likely a result of their frsutration with the d-bags reselling their products. I don't know.

 

Can't fault the brewery if people are willing to pay it. Seems that if MC was $20 a bottle this year, people would bitch and moan and still hand over their wallets. It's 'our' own damn fault.

 

Btw, i opened a tequila cake tonight for cinco de mayo and it was awesome. The tequila flavor has died down considerably but is way more balanced than it was fresh. I think maybe 6 months ago would have been the perfect time to have drank it, but it was still an incredible beer.
Ive done a four year verticle of reg cake and i wouldn't suggest aging those at all, especially no more than 2 years (just for science).

 

I will absolutely still try and buy at least a case. Those beers make trades happen for me.

 

MC has been $11-14 for several years in AL. It is a little high for a non-BA stout, but not bad at all. I was amazed at how long WB 5th and Siberian Black MP sat on shelves here, it is still on them actually. Both are under $10 here, so I hope that trend continues with MC! It is a huge trader for me, so I have to go to several shops to get it and I am always surprised at how much the price varies between shops in the same market. Oh well, is what it is I guess.

 

Crazy that panther is still on the shelves! That stuff didn't last more than a day pretty much all over town, great stout! WB 5th just cleared out of the city in the last week. I saw 4 bottles at Total Wine last week and bought 2, makes a solid extra...cheers!

And MC is a great beer, and is worth $15, just spoiled by it being $10 for a while and fairly easy to walk away with a case for $120...now it sells out at the brewery on a silent release in 2 days...

 

I popped my Tequila Cake last night, too! Even posted on the WBAYDN thread (page 5). I agree with your assessment that it was more balanced and the tequila (and peppers) had diminished. I had my last taste of it at the BA Cake release last October and thought it was nearly perfect at that point.
Last year's regular MC has held up well since it was spicier than previous batches. I've got some of those bottles left and am ready to do a side-by-side soon.

 

From my observations last year, the $15 price at the brewery was the highest that I paid out of all of the places I purchased MC. Most of the retail stores in Charleston were in the $12-13 range. I don't mind paying a little extra at the brewery b/c I know it's a PITA for them to deal with the bottles.

 

As of right now we have last year's price in our system but who knows, it could change when we pick it up. Once it leaves our hands though it's up to the retailer to decide what to charge for it. Some decide to make an extra $ or two, some don't.

 

I'm dying over here! Will be in town tomorrow-Saturday!