Breweries That You Won’t Support Because They Are Too Expensive

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by RaulMondesi, Feb 11, 2021.

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  1. RaulMondesi

    RaulMondesi Grand Pooh-Bah (5,209) Dec 11, 2006 California
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    This is by no means a “hater” post. In reality, I just wish certain beers that I like weren’t so expensive. Case in point: Prairie. Bomb! Isn’t even barrel aged, yet at it’s cheapest it’s $9.99 out here in Southern California. When I can buy CBS, KBS (and its variants) at $5.99, why would I even think about overpriced Prairie? Yeah, get it together guys... And Toppling Goliath, I’m looking at you too.
     
  2. Shanex

    Shanex Grand Pooh-Bah (4,466) Dec 10, 2015 France
    Regional Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I luvvv Prairie and Modern Times but goodness me they’re steep!
     
  3. MistaRyte

    MistaRyte Pooh-Bah (2,397) Jan 14, 2008 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Adroit Theory... I only seek out their non-IPAs, but woof...
    Generally, I'm leery of ANYTHING that's 20ish a 4 pack at TW
     
  4. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,071) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Constellation supposedly paid $1 Billion (with a 'B') for Ballast Point.
    :open_mouth: Whoa, way too rich for my blood.
    (:thinking_face: Gee, whatever happened to that deal?)

    But then, Sapporo apparently got Anchor for a mere $85 Million, but, you know what? Still out of my league.

    In fact, I'd imagine even if the next Pandemic Relief Payment comes through, every brewery is still too expensive for me, so I'll just have to be satisfied with buying and drinking their beers.:smiley:
     
  5. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,134) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    The list of breweries I buy little or nothing from because of their price is too long to type. But I don't worry about it. There is soooo much great beer available today. I look in my DBF and at my credit card statements and all is well.
     
  6. ChicagoJ

    ChicagoJ Grand Pooh-Bah (4,073) Feb 2, 2015 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I agree both are typically too expensive compared to competitors. So many great reasonably priced California options. Speedway Stout, North Coast Old Rasputin and Lagunitas Willetized are typically great deals, and with IPAs, you can't go wrong with AleSmith and Beachwood. PtE is more expensive but worth the occasional treat as well.

    Not sure how pricing compares in France to here, but MT's standard offerings are priced like their competitors. Stone and Ballast Point are in another price range, so I never really pick them up. MT's Devil's Teeth are excellent but very pricey, I try to pick up a can or two as a treat when hitting California (they never make it to Chicago).

    My Take / List:

    Breweries that charge what they can, and if there is a market for their beers at higher prices, more power to them. I rather they make profit over the ubiquitous neckbeard beer scalpers that overrun our area.

    That said, I'm aware of two breweries that have begun "scalping" their beers recently (double, triple plus over their MSRP) for off-premise consumption, namely Toppling Goliath and Goose Island. I stopped buying TG a while ago, and GI purchases out of a rare taproom visit have dried up except for the BCBS which has also become too expensive IMO. Some East Coast breweries started dropping here with ridiculous prices so I just pass (Jackie O's $1.30/oz BA beers and Equlibrium/Other Half $8-$9 per 16 oz can of NEIPAs).

    I've been buying majority local, and even for BA there are significant savings. My favorites are:

    Chicago:
    • Revolution: $20 IPA 12 can variety, packs, $10 six packs, and great Deep Woods beers at $0.52-$0.63 / oz for great beers (Deth's Tar, Ryeway to Heaven, Straight Jacket).
    • Spiteful: $10 IPA 12 oz 6 packs (Chicago's best year-round WCIPA) and $12-$14 for their 4-6 16 oz specialty releases.
    Michigan:
    • Founders: $15 15 packs of All Day IPA and Mosaic Promise, oh hell yes. And 4 Giants, Blushing Monk and their BA Imperial Stouts are among the best at a reasonable price.
    • Bells: Pick up at least a twelve pack of Oberon each year and they come up with some reasonably priced beers across many styles that are great, and their Expedition Stout is awesome.
     
  7. Insomniac

    Insomniac Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2019 Canada (ON)
    Deactivated

    It’s not that I don’t buy them, but whenever Cascade brings something into my market, I only buy one. Their stuff is really expensive up here.
     
  8. SierraNevallagash

    SierraNevallagash Initiate (0) Sep 23, 2018 Maine
    Trader

    Other Half certainly isn't winning any awards for "best priced beer", but then you have some guys who are straight up EGREGIOUS...

    TOPPLING GOLIATH
    Forager
    Prarie
    etc...

    I'll always admire Hill Farmstead (and Tree House) for consistently putting out world-class beer and not absolutely gouging a hole in your wallet.

    Yet I still keep returning to Side Project like my life depends on it...
     
  9. dele

    dele Zealot (560) Mar 13, 2019 Massachusetts

    The pattern in my area is that small, local breweries open up their doors with no reputation or track record of quality and want people to pay $17 for four cans of a 5% pale ale or pilsner, and $19 for an IPA or stout. That's always going to be a hard pass for me. You can get away with charging those prices once you've proven your beer is reliably good. Not before (and the lighter stuff should always be $12 at most anyway).
     
  10. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    Literalist! :wink:
     
    jdell15, Bitterbill and jesskidden like this.
  11. eagles22

    eagles22 Pundit (998) Sep 7, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Toppling goliath is ridiculously expensive 9.00 a bottle for DDH king sue for example. Also levante 18.00 for a 4pak of pale ale and for an ipa your talking 20.00 to 24.00 it's insane
     
  12. SierraNevallagash

    SierraNevallagash Initiate (0) Sep 23, 2018 Maine
    Trader

    $50 per bottle of Mornin' Delight...$100 per 12oz bottle of KBBS...
     
  13. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,291) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I agree with you on this one. I realize that barrel-aging of sour beers adds a huge cost to the brewery for the price of barrels and the time aging, and the finished product is always very good, but I'm just not into sours enough to buy them regularly. Since Jolly Pumpkin is a Michigan brewery I'd love to support them more (their beers are even much more reasonably priced when compared to Cascade), but I'm just not that big of a fan of sours to buy their beers very often. Kettle-soured beers will have to do when I crave that style.
     
  14. Urk1127

    Urk1127 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,728) Jul 2, 2014 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I want to try Bruery Helles but not for $15 a four pack. I stick with very local or imports to keep it reasonable
     
  15. GoatmanBrewsMD

    GoatmanBrewsMD Initiate (0) Dec 16, 2010 Maryland
    Trader

    Equilibrium Brewery seems overpriced at the stores in Maryland compared to their website. On their website, a lot of their beers are in the $17-$20 range for a 4pack...which is still a bit much for me. But my local store has 4 packs for around $30.

    I'll admit, I purchased a single can to see if the price was worth it. It was a great beer, but I also have more reasonably priced beers that are just as good available.
     
  16. Urk1127

    Urk1127 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,728) Jul 2, 2014 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    $45 for prairie gift set. 2 bomb. 2 birthday bomb. One glass
     
  17. Harrison8

    Harrison8 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,771) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Stone.
    Cascade.

    Used to rip on Prairie, but I do think some of their work is worth the price. Not near all of it though. Like wise, I've dropped some money at Side Project, but it's always a special treat, usually associated with a vacation.
     
  18. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,030) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Sorry for this one, likely to be flamed, but I haven't bought 3 Floyds in many years because I saw them jump their prices back before anyone else had.

    Sure, many are catching up now, but it just seemed like a pretentious move by the brewery based on their popularity.

    No, I have no solid proof of this, but when they were $2 a six-pack more than most of the others on the shelves, I knew I could find something else.
     
  19. eagles22

    eagles22 Pundit (998) Sep 7, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Are you serious?! That's down right insane!
     
  20. BeastOfTheNortheast

    BeastOfTheNortheast Pooh-Bah (2,153) Dec 26, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Any brewery that charges a ridiculous price for a mediocre hazy IPA.
     
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