Beer Prices/quality ratio?

I generally check the reviews here before I buy any of the pricey stuff. I do buy the occasional one to check it out but overall sometimes they are great and sometimes not so much. I tend to stick to Sierra Nevada and Sam Adams since the prices are always good along with the quality.

 

You're forgetting an important component of this ratio: hype.

 

In all seriousness OP, I'm not sure if Maryland is a crappy/expensive place for craft beer, if Wisconsin is an excellent/cheap place for craft beer, a mixture of both, or something else entirely, but those prices seem high for what I'd say "most" beers are. Sure, some 4pks like KBS or BCBS and some 6pks like Hopslam and Third Coast Old Ale can fall in the price ranges you list, but most craft beer around here is $1.40-$2 a bottle for 6pks, and $2-$3.50 for 4pks.

I might suggest shopping around a bit.

 

This is about average for FL too.

 

8.99 for Old Rasputin. To get a beer rated that highly for 9 bucks is a very good price to quality ratio IMO. Yeah its a 4 pack and not a sixer but you cant have everything.

 

It's worth considering that many brewries tie alcohol content to pricing. Thankfully we have Lagunitas.

 

NY prices are probably as bad as MD (my former state) if not worse in most cases. You're on the right track, find places that sell singles at little to no markup (they exist), find breweries who offer quality year round offerings for good prices (Lagunitas has been mentioned, Stone, Sierra Nevada also come to mind) and do your research/develop a strong sense of what you like before committing to pricier bombers and the like.

Most importantly for me, and I don't know if this is an issue for you, was learning to limit my intake. I do the splurging at events/tap takeovers for the rare stuff/nights out, and use my brain and restraint to save money at home.

 

90% of the time I'll check reviews before buying a really pricey beer. It sucks to get a really expensive beer that is mediocre at best. That said, part of the fun is trying all kinds of new beers, and obviously all aren't gonna be world-class. If trying new beers is a hobby expect to spend some money, and just enjoy the ride. It's not about only drinking great beers, it's also finding what you like and don't like.

 

i never check reviews. I'll try any beer once. If I feel it's not worth it, then i won't buy it again. End of story, for me. I'm usually not upset that I spent the money to try it.

 

I think it's alarming that you're "disappointed more often than not." If I was working on an astroturf social media marketing campaign for AB-InBev, this is exactly the kind of thing I'd post. Just sayin'.

 

$9-$13 dollar six packs here (four packs in the same price range for bigger beers). I mean craft in general isn't cheap. My budget has been cut recently so before I buy an unknown beer now I have to check it out online. People can say they don't rely on reviews which is fine, but if 1200 people seem to like something I am at least more likely to like it than if 1200 gave it an average of 66 or something.

I may miss out on some beers but I try my very best to avoid beers under an 85. Hasn't really failed me so far.

 

Yea price to quality ratio is usually way off around here. Quality is generally quite high, but the price is astronomical. I've recently turned to the kegged versions of local craft, which is significantly cheaper than the bottled versions for most local breweries(there are a couple of notable exceptions where the kegged version is still absurd) Still 'aint cheap, but manageable.

 

There are some beers that are rated in the BA Top 250 and are priced reasonably:

Bell's Two Hearted about $9.99/6
Lagunitas Lil Sumpin Sumpin Ale about $9.99/6
Lagunitas Hop Stoopid around $5 a bomber
Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere around $6 a bomber
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier/Vitus/others about $9.99/6
Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye around $5 a bomber
Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout around $4.50 a bomber

Those aren't the only ones. I agree there are some expensive beers that are mediocre though.

 

On Long Island, everything is expensive, if you know what you want, you can find cheaper at the large beverage centers, if not into old stuff, check dates due to them sitting on shelves growing hair, last week I did find a Stone 060606 for $7.99 but was terrible, "old" not the same as "cellar"

 

The one brewery that I think wins the ‘bang for the buck’ award is Sierra Nevada.

Other craft breweries that I would recommend to the OP are Stone, Victory, Lagunitas, and Flying Dog (which is a MD beer).

Flying Dog makes two very tasty hoppy Belgian beers: Raging Bitch and Wildeman Farmhouse IPA. Other beers I like from Flying Dog: Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout, The Fear (Imperial Pumpkin Ale). Flying Dog also makes a pleasant drinking lager: UnderDog Atlantic Lager.

Cheers!

 

Those $5-6 are equivalent to $16-19 6pks. Not so cheap...

Also, Sam Smith is 550mL bottles right? That's over $17/6pk at $4.50/550mL.

Outside of something like Hop Stoopid at CA prices and Helios out east, big bottles are almost guaranteed to be a losing proposition.

 

^ This. Most definitely. I do a lot of "impulse buying" when I am in the beah stoah... Nobody twists my arm to make a purchase, so I don't worry about it or get upset if I am "disappointed". Drinking good beer and bargain hunting seem at odds to me, but I understand the value proposition. I'm just not obsessed by it. If I buy expensive brews, I buy fewer bottles to keep the spending more or less level.

Agree with most of the "bang for the buck" breweries listed here, although Sixpoint runs to the high side at my local stores. Lagunitas, Sierra, Stone, and Victory are generally good value and consistently good products. For me, Mayflower and Ipswich are priced right and most of their brews are good - don't know if they make it to MD. And don't forget your locals - not always a bargain, but some certainly fill the bill. Nanobrewer next town over - $4.99 for a 22 oz of perfectly drinkable pale ale, stout, and IPA. Yeah - I know the cost per ounce argument, but I don't have a problem with that price point for super fresh local beer.

 

That's valid about the big bottles and you are right that the Sam Smith bottles are 550mL. However, it's still top quality beer at an accessible price. You don't have to pay at a minimum more than $10 to at least try one of these. Definitely though it's cheaper to find quality 6 packs at these prices, like as other have mentioned: Lagunitas, Sierra, Victory, etc.

 

Go to Canada once in a while. You'll feel a lot better about all this.