Buying for the ABV?

A beer that I loved when I first had it but I never noticed it wasnt well balanced until now.

 

I'm with you as far as low funds go. Not so low that I'm homeless or doing without cable, but low enough to have to think twice-thrice about beer purchases. I also tend to buy based on higher ABV, but I also prefer beer styles with higher ABV (IPA, DIPA, and most strong Belgians). I've found some of the advice re: going with 4-6-packs more friendly on the wallet, especially Dogfish Head brews. I also have found Sierra Nevada's Torpedo IPA to be a nice fall-back when I'm in a crunch. $8.99 for a solid, sure-thing 6-pack IPA is just what I like.

 

I agree. My ratings don't reflect the appreciation I have for the ABV/$ you get with these brews.

 

Old chub cheapest good high abv 6 pack
Thomas creek xtrem ipa is 12.5% at only 9.99, best deal out there for craft

 

No offense, you're just being dumb then. Why are you sacrifice being able to drink quality beers when you're just paying more for bombers? What makes it "easier to justify" when you're just completely wrong on your math and just buying higher ABV for no logical reason?

Also, you're not getting "bang for your bug" with ABV. Those two have no correlation. If you wanted to find beers you could enjoy and love for cheaper, that's a reasonable idea. If what you want is to get drunk, go drink vodka. Beer is to enjoy. Don't waste your money on craft brews.

 

They must have more in back because I cleared them out on the shelf a couple weeks ago (2 bottles).

 

For me Vodka, but same principle.

 

Really depends on the situation for me. During the winter months I'm finding myself buying higher ABV barleywines, stouts and strong ales. However, I don't always want a high ABV beer. For example, usually with dinner I would like a lower abv IPA or Pale Ale - or a good session beer for me would be DFH 60 Min or SN Pale Ale. Usually after work I'll want a 5-7% ABV IPA and then night cap with a 8-10% ABV Stout/barleywine/old or strong ale, etc. Or I'll have a couple IPA's and then nightcap with my favorite whiskey.

More often than not, I'll buy 6 packs over bombers, unless it's Lagunitas Hop Stoopid.

 

If you really want to get a good bang for buck. I think Walgreens has Sam Adams Imperial White, which is around 10%, for $3 or $4.

 

ABV = Irrelevant. You want to get drunk cheap try Steel reserve or cheap Vodka.

 

What the hell? Burton and Palo Santo are easily $13-14/4 pack here, and they brew the damn stuff in my state! I though Mass was supposed to be on the expensive side.

 

Not really anything to add to the original post, but I do find my ABV comfort zone to be in the 6.5 to 7.5 +/- range. I rarely drink beers lower than that but do enjoy many that are stronger, although I do feel like they can hit me pretty quickly.

 

This is my local example-
I'm stopping for a 6-pack after work at a store with a [very] limited selection.
The best available [in this example] is New Glarus Moon Man, Black Top. At the same 6-pack price of $7.69
It's the 6.9% Black Top over the 5% Moon Man 8 out of 10 times. Love'em both, but the answer is Yes!
The abv is indeed a consideration when the love is the same.
Price point, abv and love of style are always something to wrestle with when makin a purchase.

 

If I am on a budget I am not buying based on ABV, I'm buying Two Hearted by the case. I'll be just fine living off of that.

Also, bourbon.

 

Just an FYI.

BLATANT Session Ale was priced so the retailer could charge $5 and make a great margin.
I have seen it in the past (haven't brewed it in months) for $6 and made a mini stink to those retailers. but it is their right to charge what they want to charge.

on a side note. Love me some Notch Pils!

 

Look at the $/servings. Well, not exactly servings. Whatever is cheapest to make you satisfied is what you should buy if this is of utmost concern. For me, I know I stop drinking when I'm satisfied, not at a particular inebriation level. For example, usually one Gueuze or Berliner Weisse is enough to get me satisfied, despite the typically lowish ABV of those two styles. They also happen to be expensive styles, but you get the idea.

 

Start homebrewing. I found a facility close to me with their own mash tun that brews all-grain beers. I bring my own recipes, hops and yeast and have started brewing great beers for my family and friends, with over 13 gallons in each batch. So now my everyday session beers are homebrew and I still have enough money for great bombers and 750s.

I was skeptical at first, but its surprising how tasty homebrew beers can be.

 

I don't go into a purchase looking for high ABV but the beers I like tend to be at the higher scale. Today, the lowest I bought was 7.2% and the highest I believe was 11.5%. From what I've tasted, higher ABV doesn't necessarily mean a better experience. I do enjoy the warmth as I enjoy my Double Bastard, though.