How often do you drink shelf beer?

To me shelf beer is any beer that hits beer store shelves (even if only for a second or even if those shelves are behind the counter) period. So Cantillon Fou' Foune is a shelf beer while Cantillon Don Quijote is not.

I answered 80%-100%

 

If you live in the area, then it is available most weeks and can be purchased in large quantities (i.e. No limits/case volume). It's definitely not like a lot of other beers, so I guess I will go with shelf beer around here!

 

I love trying new things and sharing hard to find beers with friends. That said, the longer I drink craft, the more I appreciate easily accessible quality shelf beers.

 

Pix or it didn't happen

 

Barring the occasional draught-only growler, it's all shelfies for me. Fwiw, I'm close enough to NYC that BCBS is essentially shelf beer here.

 

about 90% stuff i get at the store (off the shelf, held in the back, on a waiting list for, etc) and 10% on-site consumption only small batch stuff from Perennial, Side Project, etc.

 

There is some excellent beer on shelves.

 

I voted 80-100 %, but I'm still a bit hazy on the definition of shelf beer, and I also don't know how to calculate the percentage...is that 80-100 of a week, month, year, etc. So saying 80-100, that means for every 80-100 shelf beers (whatever that means) I have, I'll have one non-shelf beer (special release, or something that I can't get in my area)...am I mind fucking this enough????

 

The only non-shelf beer that I buy comes home from breweries with me in growler form, but the beer in many of those growlers can also be purchased on shelves (although some of it on relatively few shelves). I said 80-100%. Now that gas is cheaper that number may drop from close to 100 to closer to 95.

 

I only purchase beers that are stacked in the display stands in the middle of the aisles. So no shelves for me.

 

Where can someone get some backcountry breakfast stout? I might be headed to colorado in the spring / summer

 

My definition of a shelf beer and im pretty sure the true definition is anything you can walk into a store and buy off the shelf. pretty simple really. so this excludes brewery only releases and only on tap. there are many whales that you can get off the shelf though. but they will not last very long. that's my question is if a whale sits on a shelf for 30 mins is it a shelf beer? like anything from firestone that comes in a box. it all hits store shelves but only lasts hours if that. and then again a shelf beer for me will never see a shelf in whatever other state. so I guess it all depends on where you are. but all in all to the OP just because it is a shelf beer does not mean you will save a lot of money. there are a lot of shelf beers that cost a fortune as well.

 

My definition seems to be in line with most within this thread, and based on that I would estimate at least 80% is 'shelf' brews drank at home. I do purchase quite a few 'limited' releases (not necessarily whales, but certainly not on a shelf without a limit) and of course pick up the occasional growler or draft-only release.

 

Maybe I'm confused about what a whale is. I would think from my list Abraxas would have to be a whale. It's a limited seasonal release, and almost no distribution. What makes a beer a Whale? Is it price? availability? Reputation? Abraxas isn't expensive $20 per bottle, but it's not easy to get. Is Heady Topper a whale? It's the number one rated beer, but it doesn't seem to be tough to get via trade.

If Heady and Abraxas aren't whales I don't drink any whales.

 

So true! (Or $19-24 depending on what it is!) Not a 4-pk, but sticker shock yesterday when I shelled out $19 for a sixer of On the Wings of Armageddon.

 

Shelf year-round 12 oz: 30%
Shelf seasonal 12oz / bombers / special releases / imports: 69-70%
Whales: <1%
White Whales: 0%