Price vs. Size vs. Taste vs. Location

Sierra Nevada is my default beer. Torpedo has saved me many a time. Hop Hunter kicks ass at $9 a six pack in these parts. I also compare my beer costs to what a Budweiser could cost in a bar ($5>)and work that into my calculations.

 

@MikeP64 feels good to let off some steam..............
you bring up some valid points but like you are saying everything is relative
and you should do what you want to do
Cheers to the weekend

 

I agree in that we get caught up too much in others. That's why I try to stray away from those threads.

Just as a personal rule of thumb, I try not to spend $15+ on a beer, 4-pack, 6-pack, or bomber. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen, but that's when I get into the "this is expensive territory". But I typically look at purchases as to how much I'm spending that day, not per ounce. I also think draft is a rip-off. I only go out for beers when a.) something rare that I really want is on tap and I can get a DD or b.) my friends want to go out for a pitcher of beer (which happens extremely rarely anyway).

But, I'm a ticker, so I may end up paying more per ounce for some purchases than others. Personally, if I found the Beer Camp sampler local, I'd pick it up.

 

Mixed pack deals depend on the store. Locally we have one store where the $9.99 pick a six shelves have leftovers, some of whom are a year past their use by date. Another local store has a wide range of fresh beers rotated by the reps and charges $8.49 a six. Fat Tire, Oskar Blues, etc.

20 minutes away we have a tobacco shop that sells beer. They're a few blocks from the distributor and will sell singles, mixed sixes, mixed cases, whatever, at no markup over regular price. They have a lotta stuff including items such as Ayinger Celebrator, Ten Fidy, Rochefort 10, St. Bernardus 12, yep, a real man's candy store.

So whether it's worth it or not depends on where you shop.

 

I agree with you that I will gladly pay prices at the bar that I would never consider when buying bottled beer. There is a value to location and experience that is hard to quantify.

 

Yes, my son and his friends like to go out and I kid them mercilessly about their outrageous bar tabs. I'd rather drink high grade stuff at home where I can hear myself think.

 

I have a couple of price ranges. Generally I like $15 or less for 12 packs, $10 or less for 6 (yeah, I know, but not everything comes in 12 packs.) and $10 on bombers, with occasional forays higher for something really good.
I grabbed a 15 pack of All Day IPA cans today for $15. That's my kinda deal, a good beer (daily drinker type, not a "special" one) for a buck a pop.

 

The mix six packs are not really a good deal when you think about it. I like to do it to try new beers and am willing to pay a slight premium to get to try six new beers. Only you know if the beer is worth it to you, for me I drink a lot of cheaper craft because as much as I like a lot of the expensive beer I can't afford $10+ bombers or $20+ four packs all that often.

 

Its nothing to go and have 4 beers on tap and spend 40 bucks.But if i see a six pack for 14 it's way too expensive.I will spend 10 on a bomber if i want it but i wont think twice to spend 20 on a round at the bar.Atmosphere has everything to do with it.Your paying for atmosphere.I finally understand,and i think im going to the bar now,cause it's payday

 

I spend more on a steak at a restaraunt then I would if I grilled my own at home...and I like to do both. Same applies with beer/wine/spirits

 

I'd much rather spend $15 on a 4 or 6 pack than go to the bar and lose $30+. I have a good record collection, it's fun to drink at home!

 

Interesting conversation. I try and keep things realistic with prices but when you go out, you never know. I went out to a tapas place with the wife and they have a reputation for really good wine. My wife had a glass of something very nice but the bomber of Juliet caught my eye and I had to have it, AT $40! I was happy though so I can't complain. I have paid stupid prices for a Coors light when I had no other options.

 

This is a tough discussion because everyone's discretionary income level is different. Ballast Point is a good example. I'm sure there are plenty of people here who would almost never pay their prices and some who do it without thinking. Probably very dependent on where you are financially in life.

 

I would suggest going to your app store, downloading the 6-pack Equivalent Beer Cost Calculator, and making beer decisions based on that. I even paid for the ad-free version because I think it's such a great tool.

It changes to the way one look at bombers (a terrible deal) and sixers that cost $15 (a relatively good deal) or more. I get excited when I find great beers at a good price-per-ounce value. Sipping on a .394 Pale Ale as I type in fact!

 

While this is true, it still doesn't change the fact that frugal craft beer drinkers would get more value from an Enjoy By six-pack at $17 than the same beer in an $8 bomber. In fact, it would, benefit them even more though it may cut down on variety.

 

I'm rich in sentiment but considerably less so in cash. I've come to accept that though I jam econo in most areas of life, I spend more than is strictly practical on beer. My having spent less and less time in bars and taprooms in recent years is more a function of middle-aged fatigue than of fiscal responsibility.

 

Knew a guy who claimed he'd spent most of his money on beer and women . . . and the rest he just wasted.

 

I agree that the mix-a-six prices are a rip off (it's about $11 in grocery stores around here, up to $14 for shops that specialize more in craft and therefore have a better singles selection). However, I would much rather pay $11 (or $14) for 6 different, new beers than spend nearly that much on a 6 pack of one new beer anyway and potentially be stuck with 5 of them I don't really like. So it's not a great deal in that sense, but it's less wasteful and therefore I feel better about my purchase for making less of a commitment. It's saved me a lot of headaches as far as "What the hell do I do with the other 5 of these?" I made the mistake of buying a 6 pack of Victory at Sea a while back because there are no singles of it available for less than $5 each ( ) and I assumed I would like it. Of course, I ended up really disliking it, but luckily I have a friend who will drink nearly any stout, so I passed my remaining 4 onto her. Still, an expensive mistake.

I think bar prices are ridiculous, especially considering most bartenders don't even know how to pour a beer. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten a foamy mess or no head at all, and they're mostly served in pint glasses. Not worth $5 or more, imo. I can pour better AND use appropriate glassware for a fraction of the cost. I typically only have one or two drinks on the rare occasions I go out, partially for that reason.

As far as 6/12 packs, I tend to either buy from local brands, or the "bigger" craft guys like Founders and SN, who have relatively low prices. I try to stick to stuff that's under $12 a 6 pack, but it can be tough around here since PA prices can get insane. My "this is getting expensive" point for bombers is right around $12 too, anything more than that makes me second guess my choice because the price per ounce starts getting crazy and I already kind of hate the bomber format. I go over that budget plenty of times, but I hate myself for it afterwards.

That's just me, and I'm kind of stingy about money in the first place.

 

At this point in my life where there are less days ahead than behind, I guess I don't see much difference in a 10$ and 15$ six pack. I mean 1.67/each vs 2.50 each. Really? As I don't drink for ABV and consume less than 20 yrs ago, the difference doesn't register to me much at all.

It really needs to be if I like it.