Firestone Walker XXI

I love the change in format because it means I can actually find bottles when they drop. I’ll gladly pay the $1-2 extra dollars to be able to obtain some of my favorite beers.

 

I don't think I paid less than $20 for the Anniversary since XVII. Pretty sure Anni has always been more expensive than the others.

 

Even still, $12.99 for a 12oz works out to $24 for a bomber. So worst case it would be $4 more for a bomber based on the new 12oz prices

 

I really never found it that hard to find the bombers. I never sought it out, was just told, "hey, we have the new FW." Just not as easy as it is to find the 12oz ones because people don't want to pay that much per ounce thus being out in the open.

 

Yea I’ve bought their Anniversary beers in RI, NY, Mass and NC and never paid less than $20 for one.

 

Looks like bottles are starting to hit the city, Astoria Beer and Cheese just updated beermenus...for $16.99 UGH

 

The 22 oz bottles typically have been $25+ I believe, but at $16.99 for 12 ounces the fears people had of the price creep for 12 ounces coming true.

I love FW, I still have a bunch of their bottles, 18,19 and 20 I still need to drink. I much prefer the 12 ounce format, but the price is getting a bit much. Retailers are not stupid, they see the fervor for the select beers and they price accordingly.

 

I think I paid 11 or $12 in NJ for XXI.
But your last line is spot on. There is a store by me that has CBS for $40.00. Is that ridiculously overpriced? Yes. But I can't be mad at them. Someone is going to buy it for $40. To be honest, I am considering it.

 

I was in Los Angeles this summer for vacation and hit their Venice brewery with wife, had some Parabola on tap, nice and buzzed headed to the gift shop. They literally have a beer cave with stacks of beer including Parabola and other sought after beers. I loved 19, in the euphoria of the beer cave paid $50 for a 19! Good thing that cave was freezing cold (34 degrees) and my suitcase was full, God knows how much stuff I would have bought !

 

Special release FW 22oz bottles would typically come in anywhere between $15 - $19 in the NYC/BK area, however they sold out very quickly. Anniversary was the only beer that was consistently priced in the mid $20's.

The move to 12 oz has led to more of the beers staying around longer (notably Helldorado, Velvet Merkin and Stickee Monkee, I can still pick those up), however I'm sure a lot has to do with the increased price per ounce, which to be frank is the whole purpose of the bottle reformat, to make more money, which I do not appreciate as a longtime customer when the product has not improved yet are priced 30% higher, it's straight up price gauging.

And here I thought moving away from the higher cost 22oz bottles would help decrease pricing as cost of larger format is often cited as the reason for higher cost per ounce.

 

I would have done the same.