Great values: Midwest edition

Agree 100% with FS and Half Acre. FS Pils is always wonderful. I had not seen Hallow around until recently.

Utepils 4 packs at $8-10 are good values as well.

 

Explain "value". You must mean more than price since Fair State is not a low-priced craft lager in the Twin Cities. For example, Surly Hell is ~$7/4 pkl ~$14/12 pk.

 

I like Pipeworks for both value and craft. Solid APA/IPA/DIPA for $11-$14, 4PKS

 

Also 30 Pk of Hamm’s.

 

op, I found myself starting to be more price conscience about a year ago. Half of it was inflation. The other half was trying a lot of beers (especially hazy IPAs) that did not come close to matching their price points.

It's tough to beat those 15 packs that Founders pushes out. Above average beer at below average prices.

 

I though we settled this debate years ago? $13.99/12-pack right here:

https://www.totalwine.com/beer/ale/ipa-india-pale-ale/american-ipa/summit-saga-ipa/p/123682122

 

I don't want to share because I want all of the $10 Trumer 12-packs.

D'oh!

 

Woodman's has the lowest everyday margins on beer and sometimes has near code date fire sales for those lucky enough to live near one in Wisconsin or Illinois. You can find most of their offerings refrigerated, which is a bonus you typically don't find in the big box liquor stores.

Individual beer brands (Value = Quality + Price):

• Classic IPAs: Revolution Anti-Hero, Spiteful IPA and Tighthead Longsnapper.
• Barrel Aged Imperial Stouts: Revolution' Deep Woods and Central Waters
• Pale Ales: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Spiteful Alley Time & Founder's Mosaic Promise
• Pilsners: Half Acre Pony & Trumer Pils (co-signing @steveh 's recommendation)
• Saison: Off Color Apex Predator
• Wheat Beer: Allagash White
• Lagers: Dovetail & Great Central (various offerings)

Would add Fat Head's Head Hunter & 3 Sheeps Waterslides IPA if we had access in Illinois (6 packs $10ish).

 

You may not like Surly for political reasons, but you can't deny that make quality beer.

I'm sorry.... engaging in guessing games as to what breweries you approve of is not of any interest to me.

 

I’d be curious to know if breweries have seen a decline in volume sales with recent price hikes. I have definitely pulled back from my mainstays unless there’s a sale. Bottom line is it’s hard to justify taking a chance on something unproven at certain price points. That’s a drag, because trying something new is half the fun. Even then, I’ve long loved Metropolitan, for example, but I just can’t justify 13.99/6.

Is it just inflation/costs/ability to make a living, or is it other factors pushing the costs? Brand positioning? Distribution? Taxes?

But, some more flavors to add to the question:

I literally just had some Summit EPA before reading this. Solid for the price after all these years. I grabbed some in WI recently. (Not Midwest, but had Sierra Nevada Pale Ale just now, too. I mean, after all these years, at that price and reasonably fresh, you really can’t go wrong.)

Lakefront, lots of things. At $8-$10 depending on Woodman’s, it can be an incredible value. My Turn Trista, billed an Irish Pale Ale, was a steal. I thought it was surprisingly delightful. Same with My Turn Anthony, a Kellerbier.

Off Color anything Belgian inspired I still think is a great value from them. (Or other stuff.) They seemed to have a Saison/Farmhouse renaissance last fall. If they do the same this year at $11/4, I’d say those are all good values, even though I do miss the ‘ol $10/4 on principle.

p.s. I wish Fair State was more gettable down Southern Wis. and Ill. I found some Hefe, at $10/4–great deal! It was kind of more carbonated than I’d expect (I think) and less in your face with banana/clove, but still really nicely balanced and refreshing and well made. I was going to grab some pils, but it was nearly a year old, so I passed.

 

Solid list. I wish we had more Wisconsin and Minnesota beers available here. I believe Summit and August Schell were available at one time in Chicago, but that was before my time in craft beer (bourbon/whiskey was my vice). Would like to try both and Fair State as well.

In terms of your questions, the primary drivers of beer price increases the past two years for the brewery are increased raw material prices (cans, barley and other ingredients, and also fuel costs to truck beer into another state).

It has impacted all breweries, including the largest (AB, Miller Coors, Constellation) which have the best market power to negotiate bulk purchases (or actually own the means for production such as hop farm ownership).

Distributors are also increasing prices to cover their fuel and fleet costs, and both (hopefully) are increasing wages so their workers can stay afloat.

Wages are typically higher at the distributor than at the brewery, partially because the large distributors which own rights to 90% of all beer sold have union warehouse and drivers, whereas most brewery staff average lower wages (front of house / entry level brewers and other staff). Some smaller breweries also rely on volunteers to perform part time brewing and canning, though that practice has waned over the past several years.

 

So, you think it is light hearted to call Surly Hell "cheap"?

I'd call it a good value midwest helles lager.

And I didn't ask "people" I asked you since you overlooked the obvious good value MN craft lager, at ~$3 less per 4-pack.

Where did I "shit" on Fair State?

 

If only.

I used to be able to hit the Kenosha Woodman's on my way home from work, but I had to go and retire. ()

Fortunately, they opened a Binny's not far from me -- just bought 2 12-packs of Trumer for $20.

Always a catch, looks like I have to drink them by November. I think I'm up for the task.

 

Anything from Civil Life. All $6 pints and 6-packs to-go from the brewery are $9.

 

Maplewood Son Of Juice. I've bit the bullet and purchased plenty of $20-$25 4 packs of "hyped" hazies, but it was refreshing to see this on the shelf for $12.

 

You need to take a few breaths and get your emotions under check, man. We get it, you don't like Surly, and you got triggered when MNAle mentioned them. Him asking for you to elaborate on value wasn't hostile at all as "value" means a lot of things. As is the case in beer anything, it all comes down to personal taste. The guy gave a true example of price and you jumped at his throat due to your emotional hatred for the brewery. If you're bothered by emotions getting in the ways of facts, then why are you doing it?

If you want facts, leave it at facts:
Surly Hell at $7/4 pack
Fair State Pils, Vienna Lager, Side Pull etc. etc. at $10/4 pack

Pick your poison and drink whatever the hell you want. My vote goes to 12pk of Allagash White at $17/12 pack. Obviously not local, but top-notch belgian wit. For lagers, Schell's is hard to beat. Bock for $8/6 pack. Their kellierbier is to die for, but wish it was around more. Overall, props to MN and IL for pumping amazing lagers into WI. There's far too many $6-7/can IPAs and smoothie seltzers these days.