The $10 Six-pack "Challenge"

@lambpasty I would buy beers from breweries such as these, even Sam Adams, and follow this advice.

More importantly, I would take this as an opportunity to gain a better appreciation of the more subtle styles. Hefeweizens, Pilsners, Helles, non-imperial stouts, English ales...etc. tend to cost far less than your local 4 pack of a 16 oz. IPA.

I could happily rock 6/12 packs of Notch's Pils/Saison, Smutty's Hayseed, and Sierra Nevada's Summerfest all season long.

 

I did $50/month for a while. There are great bottle shops in the twin cities that have huge singles collections.
Do it with cash, too east to lose track with credit cards and it keeps you honest.
This lasted for me until I got into BA stouts....

 

Swing over the border to NH and Market Basket has 10-11 dollar 12 pack sales each week. Something is usually worth while.

 

Urquell 12-packs are also reasonable ($16-18) and can be found fresh regularly now.

 

For me, cutting it out altogether would be easier. I'm in this for the discovery, for the experience, and for the community. Buying cases of the same beer and sitting at home drinking alone just to drink or to get a buzz or to self medicate doesn't appeal to me. At that point, it stops being a hobby and starts becoming something else.

 

I do have a question for people who mention Costco: do you have to be a member to go into the liquor store? I know Sam's Club you don't.

 

If I had to, sure. But since I don't...

 

This is a myopic view of the situation.

With the amounts the OP is drinking, it doesn't sound like he would be getting much of a buzz and/or self-medicating.

Just because you drink less, choose to drink at home, and drink "cheaper" beer, doesn't mean you're relegated to just one beer or even style of beer. Moreover, having multiple beers during a session of a more subtle style can yield an even greater experience than sipping on one "flavor bomb". It might take a few pints to truly discover all the nuances and flavors in some lower ABV styles.

I completely empathize with going out to a bar, beer fest, and/or event, socializing and experiencing all that is this lovely hobby. But just because you sit at home and drink a beer or three, doesn't make it any less of a hobby or experience if that's what you enjoy doing.

 

I may as well put in a plug for DAB as well - a great value for $6.99 a sixer of pint cans.

Lately I've been getting Kostrizer Schwarzbier, Bitburger and Benediktiner Helles for $4.99 a four pack of pint cans, although that was probably just a distributor dump and won't be that cheap again. Still, worth looking out for.

I love having stuff like that handy and never regret buying it - something I can't always say about 'craft ' beers.

 

Posting to watch thread. I used to spend about 40 bucks every two weeks on beer, but it has caught up with me. No longer can I buy a variety pack plus a few bombers (Thanks Wicked Weed for pumping out new sours weekly...) and a baby single or two. It sucks to have a less full fridge. But my wallet is more full. I just bought trader joes coffee FFS

 

I do 25.00 a week so 100.00 a month should be doable for most folks. 50.00 per month would take me out of the craft world and into Nascar drinking

 

Hell no. Not even close.

 

Me too - a buying problem - I love the merry clank of beer bottles in the car.

 

In order to be happy I could live on Brooklyn Lager and Two Hearted alone if need be and not suffer. At 9 beers a week that would run me about $60 per month. I figure I am worth the extra $10.

 

I had to save for a trip to Europe and survived on 15 packs of All Day IPA for a few months.

 

My Son told me yesterday that if I didn't spend so much money on beer we would be millionaires...lol...sounds like he's been talking to his Mom about this. I could probably spend a lot less on beer than I do but I don't have any plans to change that right now. Variety is the spice of life, especially when talking about beer.

 

I am currently on a craft break. The wife and I have plans of doing home improvement stuff and saving for a kid in the future. Now I buy a case of some type of AAL (I don't mind them.) and a six pack of a craft that is $10 or less. This tends to last me the whole month. I drink a good beer, then sip on a few AAL's. Sometimes the only thing I have to buy the next month is another $10 six pack. Also lost about 10lbs not drinking so much craft.

 

I typically grab a case of Bud or PBR and variety pack of something like SN and maybe a pick 6 or two and that keeps me under $50 easily. Drinking some PBR primarily and mixing in the craft beers occasionally keeps the budget low. If I wasn't on a budget I would just buy SN and some local beers by the case!