Good bye bombers?

In terms of volume of beer I probably buy about 40% bombers and the rest non-bombers. Environmentally bombers are probably the worst way to package beer. Growlers are probably the best followed by cans. I was at Dangerous Man a week ago to fill my growler and they now have crowlers which are bomber sized cans. For those who worry about small brewers taking a hit if bombers are phased out, crowlers may be the answer.

 

Completely agree. I have never had family or friends buy me anything but bomber bottles as gifts and they only bring bombers to events/gatherings. Granted, large bottles are better for sharing but never really thought about the purchasing habits of those who are unfamiliar with beer. They also do most of their shopping at TW, so I know single 12oz bottles are options. Either way, I'm happy with any kind of beer as a gift!

 

I ran into this problem last night. Saw everyone on social media posting pictures of the stouts they were drinking for stout day so I decided to take a look and see what stout I could crack open. It was around 9pm and I just got back from the gym and had to wake up early the following day for work so a 12oz imperial stout was all I was really looking to drink. Unfortunately I only had 2 12oz stouts that I had been cellaring and wasn't ready to open and literally every other stout was in a 22oz+ bottle.

 

I also wish they were in 12 ounce bottles, but a beer being in a bomber rarely prevents me from buying it if I want it.

 

I guess I am in the minority here. I like buying bombers because of all of the reasons that were given as exceptions to the reasoning of getting rid of the format:

- I enjoy when belgians, stouts and barley wines come in bombers. Easy evening sipping.
- New beers. Two pours vs. a whole 4 or 6 pack. Sometimes, you buy a beer that's less than what you hoped for and it's gonna sit in your fridge for a mighty long time. Hoppin' Frog is a great example.
- Can't always make a "mix your own six". Not all stores do it here. When they do, it is almost always out of season or something your not looking for. Binny's and Trader Joe's have the better options here; far cry from perfect, though.
- Bombers take up less space in the household refrigerator. I have one door shelf for them. Other beers stay in my bedroom dorm fridge.
- Would " mom and pop" liquor stores have less room for some of the breweries we love if the bomber format was to totally go away? Not a fact, just a thought.
- Great way for new breweries to get their stuff out and get exposure.
- Pricing. I can't argue with you there. More often than not, it really is less for your money. I also look at some of the breweries that do try to keep their bomber prices somewhat reasonable. Lagunitas, Sam Adams and Stone almost always have reasonably priced bombers on the shelf. Bought the Bastard Box for 20 bucks plus tax. (Again, a new beer for me as well. I know, I know ... ) I like that! I also like that SA's Merry Maker is priced at 5.99. I want to revisit that this holiday season. There are always exceptions to the rule when it comes to pricing.

When you add them all up, the bomber format as a whole is a decent value to me. I, for one, would hate to see it go away.

 

I only buy bombers if that is all that is available for said brew.

 

I would have to agree with you. But I tend to instead just admit that I'm a fool who likes beer more than I do saving money... Which is why I'm always broke.

 

Bomber format sucks for consumers in most any situation, but if that is the only format available for said beer then we consumers need to decide if we want to step up to pay that higher price per oz. or pass for another beer option. Really no need to elaborate further.

 

I still buy bombers. Maybe one every other trip to the bottle shop. I homebrew so I use bombers to package my beers. So I keep the bottles for future use.

 

Bell's 30th Anniversary Stout (10-11% big stout) is a prime example of why 6 packs are so much better more versatile for a consumer.
6 pack sold to me for $17.
Went home and had 1 bottle myself on night 1.
Day 2 - Left 1 bottle on the doorstep of neighbor who was away on business travel (whom texted me later that night how awesome it was to have this brew waiting for him to crack open when he came home)
Day 3 - gave 1 bottle to a different friend (he's still sitting on it, hasn't had time to drink it yet)
Day 4 - shared 1 bottle with my brother while we watching Sunday NFL football together.

Remaining 2 bottles I stuck in my cellar for later...probably pop 1 this winter and keep 1 for a year to see what happens.

If that was in a bomber format, I'd probably pay about the same price (maybe a buck or 2 less), but I'd only be able to drink it when I could coordinate with another person or 2 to share in 1 sitting. Very limited flexibility and options.

 

Yes, I think Crowlers are the wave of the future and answer to do away with growlers. Not sure about bombers thought since Crowlers only keep a few days like a growler where a bomber is fully sealed and keeps like any other bottle.

A small brewer could pre-make several Crowlers on a daily basis before the taproom opens, to be more efficient and save time during the busy taproom pint pouring. Less multi-tasking/less waiting for the on-site consumers.

 

why is it called a bomber?

 

Not sure if someone already made this point but I was talking with a few people who work for breweries and they said the simple fact for some bombers being a little more expensive, $2-3 more is that the cost of making the bomber size glass bottles is pricier than a 12 oz bottle.

 

Get them all the time, cant stand taking chances on six packs and being stuck with beer I don't want to drink.

 

+1 on this response. I've been on a bomber protest for about a year or two. While I like 22 oz of beer in a bottle, why is it twice as expensive (or more) per ounce? I still haven't seen this answered? Does the packaging really cost that much more than it costs to bottle two 12 oz? There is plenty of good stuff for a LOT cheaper. There is no way I'm paying $15-$20 for a bomber of something that isn't extremely rare and going to make me bust a nut in my pants when I taste it. Furthermore there's no way I'm spending over $10 on a bomber for something that is the equivalent of a $10 sixer.
Before I had kids I would, but I'm not down with wasteful spending anymore.

 

That makes two of us, I knew I had forgotten something! Thank you!!

 

That is what Dangerous man does - they only sell tap beer, growlers and crowlers. It seems to work for them.

 

Give me one good reason why they can't be butt plugs?

But seriously, it's way more economical to buy sixers or four packs unless the beer only comes in a bomber format. I still buy them from time to time, but not so much when I use my brain sense.

 

Bombers are still cheaper than going to a bar to try something (at least around here in NYC)....

 

As an importer, the store love bombers as they can get more beers on the shelf. Also as an importer the breweries say they aren't cost efficient, they feel are ripping the customer off and it is mostly packaging prices.