BCBS Sightings - Chicago

Yeah. It's not like the old days where Goose fought hard for every account. Pretty sure you can get 312 pretty much anywhere that carries InBev products now.

And Rare is obviously a chase beer with fancy boxes and whatnot. It makes sense to see stupid pricing on it. It's more the 2-5x markup on goddamn regular that makes me roll my eyes.

 

Goose is too big to care, yes. However, I know of several smaller breweries (particularly in the PNW) who really don't like seeing their product marked up substantially on the shelf. The sentiment is that they charge a particular amount with a particular MSRP for a reason, and when someone sees bottles for a ridiculous price, the fear is that a casual consumer will see that (without context) and say 'F that brewery, that's ridiculous' without knowing that the brewery didn't have a hand in setting that ridiculous price in the first place.

 

Oh yeah, I have no doubt of that. I mean, I'm sure that there are plenty of guys who work for GI (not Clybourn, since they're a different animal, obviously) that aren't happy about it. Most of the brewers/people who work at breweries that I've talked to are just really passionate about making good beer, getting it to peoples' mouths, and hoping they enjoy it. This is the exact opposite of that.

 

The scary thing is that people are deciding to actually pay these gouged prices....assuming that continued, AB might (will) eventually decide to raise list price instead of letting the retailer make crazy margin on the product. That's what scary....

The higher price on variants is one thing - I might splurge on something crazy if I was dead set on trying it and couldn't find it on tap. The higher prices for regular that are being paid could be a bad thing for all of us

 

Most breweries still like to present themselves as having populist pricing. Even FFF likes to maintain the blue collar illusion for their sixers.

The exception to this (of course) is boutique breweries like Bruery, Side Project, etc., that have no problem pricing things more in line with wine than beer. Even then, we still really haven't breached the $100 mark for "chase" bottles like wine has...

 

Yeah, for sure. It's particularly worrisome given the parallels with the bourbon industry, where a bottle of Pappy goes from ~$80 MSRP to $2000. I don't think we'll run into anything nearly that dramatic any time soon, but I'm sure prices will continue to rise.

For example: Spiteful is charging ~$25 for their BA Malevolence Caliente (I think their BA barleywine is similarly price). I will certainly pay that, because I love the beer, but since when did Spiteful get to price in that tier? No knock on them, but even Firestone Walker wasn't charging more than the high teens for their BA stuff a couple years ago, and they were already legendary by then. The fact of the matter is, if guys like Spiteful know their relatively-unknown (even after FoBAB) beers will fly off the shelves at the mid-$20s, what's stopping FW, FFF, GI, etc., from charging in the $30s? Or $40s? Rare was the first test of this (okay, not the first, but probably the most high-profile) sort of pricing, and it worked (I have yet to see a bottle/box myself).

 

Goose Fulton St. had Proprietor's for $7 last weekend for a 5 oz. pour. Looks like Prop bottles are going for $39. On a per ounce basis, you're paying 90 cents more per ounce to have a bottle at home than you would at a bar. Talk about ridiculous!!!

 

IDK where you shop, but Prop was $25 last I read.

 

If somebody can tell me where to go for $25 Prop, I'll buy the whole case. I haven't heard of anybody getting that price except for at Binny's last weekend. Although I thought I heard $28.99 at Binny's, but I could be mistaken. In either case, it's still more expensive than the bar. That's ass backwards

 

I wouldn't pay much more than $25 for Prop. Maybe I'm alone, but I actually think this year's regular is miles better than regal and prop. I'm shocked people are paying well above MSRP.

 

Out of curiosity (I've had Regal, Rare and Prop this year, but no regular), are you saying that because you actively don't like Regal and Prop much, or because this year's regular is specifically great?

 

Regular this year is super solid compared to prior years. I've had all variants except rare and its regular I'm most excited about right now. That said I think prop and regal will be VERY interesting to age.

 

Regular is fantastic every year, but a little hot at the start. I'ts not hot at all this year. It's like a thick bourbon brownie.

Prop is very good, but crazy sweet. Definitely a maple bomb. Regal is very subtle. I wouldn't recommend drinking it unless you are sober and it is at or near room temperature. Even then, the subtle berry flavors just get in the way of that special BCBS flavor. I can't really justify spending crazy money when regular is so much cheaper. Although, I do miss those 4 packs...

 

100% agree on Prop, which I liked initially but agree is too sweet. Regal will be interesting as well, but I think Prop is the one that will really shine.

Also, alright, you guys have convinced me. I really liked regular '14 (I think I was the only one, because it was a little sweeter and more chocolate-y than most people seemed to want), but figured I wouldn't worry about regular this year. I guess I am now, so my wallet says THANKS.

Yeah, it sounds like we're on the same page on Prop and Regal. I'll definitely check out some regular.

I too miss the 4-packs; it was great to pop open a bottle and know you had 3 left.

 

Yes everyone would buy a case at that price and that's why it gets marked up

 

I've always liked regular BCS quite a bit, but this year's version is unbelievable. A friend of mine who has always thought regular BCS is a bit too hot is wildly in to this year's batch, too. So much so that he's now hunting for the stuff in LA, which he never would have done a year or two ago.

Also 100% agreed on the lack of four packs. I loved having a four pack of reg, coffee, and BW and knowing if I want one I can have it and there's still more waiting for me. These bottles are great but I do miss that option of having more on hand for future consumption.

 

The lack of 4-packs makes the decision to turn some into ice cream much harder...

 

I paid $25, $25, and $30 for my 3 bottles of prop. All from smaller shops. I guess I just choose to visit the non-asshole store owners.

 

But $40 a year from now will sound like a bargain.

 

I couldn't have made a better assessment of this year's regular. Its by far the most balanced I've had BCS fresh. You get so much of the vanilla, oak, chocolate, even coffee notes that are typically masked by the bourbon. I can only vouch for the 13.7% version, but would assume the 14.3% version is the same. Had on tap and bottle and have thought its one of the best vintages I've ever tasted. But I like my stouts thick and fudgy.