12 oz. High ABV Singles

Avery high abv like their demon series are usually in 12 oz bottles.
I like them in 12s even a bomber split between a few friends can be over kill if you want to sample more them a few. I hear the Firestone's are smaller now but not much cheaper then the equivalent larger bottle which is ridiculous

 

Lagunitas with Waldos and High Westified come to mind. I enjoy the ability to consume beers like tweak or wws in one sitting, but the firestone walker beers seem to have increased on a $/oz basis. I am not as enthusiastic about that.

 

Avery's barrel aged series like Jacob and so on (ETA: someone above mentioned the demon series) has been singles for ages.
Personally I don't mind - part is that something high test like that may be too much for a big format, and also, it's avoiding sticker shock for either a bomber or even a 4 pack. For a $10 single, that would be $20+ for a bomber, (going my what other price at) or $40 for a 4pack. For some reason, the $10 is more palatable for many people.

 

I can't drink a 750ml bottle of high-abv beer by myself (well, I can and have, but I SHOULDN'T ). Having the beer as a 350ml/12oz bottle increases the likelihood of me actually popping it and enjoying it! I agree with the sentiment about the Firestone Walker releases though. The smaller format is fine, but not if it's a guise to increased prices.

 

Founders has done this forever... but, then, pretty much all their beer is in 12 oz bottles!

And, I prefer it.

22oz or 750 ml of high ABV is just too much.

 

Lots of other breweries have been transitioning to 12 oz bottles and not just for high ABV beers. (Brooklyn brewing Sorachi ACE at 7.5% began its life in the 750 ml size bottles. So did Saison Dupont at 6.5%). It seems that if a beer sells well in the 22 oz or 750 ml format and the brewer thinks it wil continue to do well with an even larger audience they will put it into 12oz size since many people prefer that size.

I don't know where you are in PA but Flying Fish over in NJ is a good example. They started their Exit series plainly stating that each offering would be the first and last time the beer was brewed. All the beers were first released in 750 ml bottles. But when some sold out rapidly and were getting highly praised, the brewery recognized that they some winners on their hands, for example, the Exit 4 Trippel and the Exit 16 Double IPA (brewed with both wild and regular rice). Now those two and several others from the Exit series (but not all) are easily avilable in 12 oz bottles in the Flying Fish distribution footprint and they even put out a variety 12 pack containing 4 different 12 oz size Exit series beers.

 

I much prefer a smaller format for high ABV beers. If there is a big beer I want to try and it's available only in a bomber or a 750 (Lizard of Koz, Molotov Cocktail Heavy, w00tstout), I'll either save it for a bottle share or drink part of it and recap it. The latter is not really a.good option, as it will sometimes go flat within a day or so.

For some odd reason, I don't have the same problem with wine. I love a good "session" Napa Valley Cab.

 

I still have a weird aversion to buying a single 12 oz beer. 750mls and 22 oz. are at least novel enough (and kinda look like a wine bottle) that it doesn't seem strange.

But the handful if times I've bought a single 12 oz, I've felt odd. The more mainstream this becomes, the more comfortable it will feel. So I welcome it.

 

I love big beers in 12oz format, hate them in 22oz! The reason is simple.. I don't want that much, high ABV beer. I don't remember the last time I bought a stout in bomber format, to be honest.

Excited that Java Cask from Victory is rumored to be in 12oz format this Fall.

 

What about Prarie? I don't know much about their beers but every one I see seem to be 12oz

I love the 12oz barrel aged stouts. Sometimes a bomber of Big Bad Baptist or Abyss isn't quite enough. Now I can send it home with a Parabola or High Westified.

 

I prefer 12 oz servings for anything over 10-12%. A 6 oz pour of a BA stout if I'm sharing is enough and 12 is about perfect if I'm knocking it down solo.

 

Like others, I'll take a 12oz high-ABV beer over a bomber of high-ABV any day - when there is a choice. I am the only drinker in the house, so if I crack a bomber then I am compelled to finish it within a few hours. I will buy such bombers if it is something I really like or want to try and it's unavailable in smaller doses. I'll drink it in halves, stoppering and refrigerating in-between. I had a 12oz 18% ABV Dogfish Head World Wide Stout last night, and am thankful that didn't come in a bomber. As it is, it was the equivalent of 4.2 "normal" 4.2% ABV beers. A 25oz bomber would have been equivalent to 9 "normal" beers!

 

I much prefer the 12 oz option. If I really like it I can buy more and if I don't I'm not stuck with leftovers.

 

When I do buy high ABV singles, I buy them as part of a Mix a Six, filling out rest of six with less expensive beers I love or haven't had. Reduces the average cost per beer.

 

Founders Dirty Bastard is perfect for a 12, as is RJ Rockers Bell Ringer. That one's almost syrupy it's so thick. Beer what drinks like a meal!

 

Last week I had an Avery Uncle Jacob's BBA Stout, glad that was only 12oz as it is 14.9%. Excellent sipper.

 

12 can be swell.

 

a month ago I saw at least 8 bottles (in boxes) of 12 oz stickee monkee, for 10.99 each,or about 66$ a sixer. great beer!,wow, no thanks. I passed. if I hadn't just had a 22 bomber of that a few weeks prior, I would have jumped, be all things being equal. no. that's why I never buy the praries, too costly.i bought a 4 pack of kbs for 30 $. or 7.5 each. a far better deal. just my own opinion on this matter.

 

I personally prefer the smaller format bottles for all beer regardless of style. It does definitely make drinking a bigger beer by yourself easier and typically the price per ounce is a bit more reasonable than larger formats.