Are stores stocking less bombers from bigger breweries ?

Seems it's vice versa actually. Maybe breweries are diminishing them slightly.
But honestly, it's more of a value for us to receive them in cans or packs.

 

Years ago we wondered if folks realized how much extra they were paying per ounce of beer in the bomber format (okay,Sierra Nevada might be the outlier - if you plan on pointing that out I saved you the trouble). Perhaps folks have started noticing?

 

I can't help but notice that the bombers from big breweries are the only beers that have stayed put on their shelf over the course of this year. Even other big local breweries like Schlafly, Boulevard, and Mother's have bombers that have been sitting on the shelf since they arrived on the truck months ago. I equate to two things:

1.) as others mentioned, it's way more expensive per ounce. I can't think of many instances where I'd prefer a big Dale's Pale Ale can vs. a 6 pack.

2.) There are so many new bombers that are showing up on the shelves to try.

I was chatting with someone at the bottle shop last night. We were asking each other what beers the other liked, while pursing the aisle. It became quite apparent that both of us preferred to try things that we saw once or twice, not stocked daily. The main reasoning being either of us could return and grab that other bottle next week. The limited release from Stone, maybe not so much.

I understand my reasoning is based on anecdotal evidence, but you can find more proof around this forum. Folks flocking to get a beer that they only make 100 cases of versus something they could nab all year, or even just a few months out of the year.

 

Interesting. I don't recall ever seeing and Sam Adams or Long Trail beers in the bomber size. Guess our stores weren't bothering to have double formats on the shelves or our retailers found the 12 oz stuff sold better.

 

The beer manager at a large store near me told me that the store manager wants to possibly do away with stocking bombers and has been blowing many of them out. .He also said that the customers were more in demand for the can format as of late . I personally like glass, but I understand the reasoning behind cans environmentally and also the smaller format. I don't think we will ever see them disappear, but I do think we will be seeing more and more brewers going to this format .
Either way CHEERS !!!

 

My SA distributor dropped their bombers last year. I'm not against stocking bombers on my shelves but I have noticed that if something is available in 4/6 packs and bombers the packs will sell much quicker. I'm selling more bombers right now as they make a better "gift format".

 

The 22oz bottle format has dropping in popularity across the industry. Consumers are buying fewer of them, breweries are investing in formats of packaging, and retailers are sick of dealing with them. I say good!!!! I hate 22s, and can't wait until they have gone the way of the dinosaur.

 

Bombers are a dying breed, thankfully. Lagunitas putting there Hi-Westified in 12 oz is hopefully just the start of the trend. I hope to see more BA stouts in 12 oz going forward. Better price point, better value, more responsible serving size, more beers to a case, I don't see many cons here.

 

Seems like locally, they are going the route of the one off, high ABV special releases and sours (not gose).

--I'm good with that.

 

The age of bombers is nearly over

Now we're in the age of $16-$20 canned four-packs of non-BA/sour beer direct from the brewery

 

Ah, the big beers. Well I've still never seen them around here.

 

I think some stores are trying to carry less bombers altogether. Certain good beers only come in that format though, so if you want them you need to get it. The beers you are looking for may just be out of season, sold out, or maybe switched over to 4/6 packs. With limited space some stores have to be picky about what they carry too.

 

I see the SA big format bottles in the grocery store still and once in a while the Shipyard or Long Trail bottles. Those SA big format bottles don't appeal to the average SA drinker who is happy drinking whatever SA seasonal or regular rotation beer is out at the time. They also don't appeal to the average craft drinker who has so many other better (at least perceived better) options out there. Big format bottles aren't really impulse buys, with craft beer stores posting their latest beers to Facebook or Instagram I'm going to be much more selective with where I spend my dollars on expensive format beers.
I wish SA would take a page from Long Trail, Space Juice and Green Blaze were both surprisingly good. Space Juice can probably stand toe to toe with a lot of the hyped up IPA's in the top 250. The whole Rebel IPA Line is just a "me too" offering and the other breweries Boston Beer is investing in are pretty marginal as well. They need someone to take over for Jim, all the respect in the world to him but they need to turn things around IMHO.

 

I like bombers and think that as grocery stores etc expand their selections in my area, it is easier to skip the bombers and just stock six packs and cases out of convenience. However, I am also wondering if some breweries are starting to ease off on selling bombers as they move more towards cans? Too expensive to ship? Perhaps we will see crowler sized cans in place of the bomber in a couple of years.

 

If this trend continues, perhaps someday we will see those Firestone Walker "big beers" sold in 4 packs of 16 oz cans ($50?)

 

Well thank God that the Belgians will never have your same feelings .
We all are entitled to our opinions and I agree that you are correct about retailers and many consumers, but I still think they make for a nice late afternoon/evening treat and also a much nicer gift then some 4 or 6 pack .
If you offered me the same exact beer in a 12 oz bottle or 12 oz can I would personally pay extra for it in the bottle .
Maybe I'm ridiculous, but I like the look so much better . Now when it comes to stacking your brews in the fridge or cellar, well obviously the cans are way more efficient.