Justifying bottle shop prices

Sometimes.

 

I do a good job of justifying it with myself by saying- "This Prairie Bomb is $10 for 12 oz - I'd probably pay $10 for an 8oz pour at the bar." or "If I was at a Cubs game, I'd be paying $10 for an Old Style, why not make an occasion out of this purchase."

This rationalizing has drastically hurt my wallet. lol

 

I use to have a harder time justifying it when I actually tried to justify it. Now I don't even bother trying unless something is absurdly priced, like a bomber for $40.

 

what would I be willing to pay for a glass of water if i crash-landed in the sahara and spent two days walking out of it? hmmmm

"Yeah you know what - I will go ahead and take that Voss please"

 

Rather than cost per ounce with some of the more desirable stuff, I rationalize based on cost to try a beer. For example, even if a pour is $8/5oz, if it's a high gravity beer that would have been a $25 bottle, I almost always go for the bar pour because it's less out of pocket and I'm pretty sure I don't need a whole bottle of whatever 12-15% ABV beer is available.

 

I draw the line at around $15 a bomber/750. I've passed on so many beers over that (and less than that too) that I would actually love to try because of what I have read about them. I just won't pay more than that. At the end of the day I don't want to pay more than $8 per glass of beer. It's just beer. You drink it and it's gone. Works for me.

 

About 90% of my drinking is in bars , so MOST store prices don't shock my at all and even seem cheap by comparison .Everyone's spending is different so high and low prices are subjective.

 

My favorite bottle shops also serve beer on tap, so I get to drink beer while I shop for beer, that certainly doesn't suck!

 

Agree, at end of the day most of us probably have limited funds and while I love a great beer, it is not something that last long, you drink it, enjoy it and then just are left with an empty bottle to recycle and memory of said beer. Certainly at some point to me a beer is just too expensive as there are plenty of great cheaper choices in beer stores

Just one example - recently I enjoyed Maine Co Another One at a bar, paid 8 bucks for 10oz pour I believe. It was great, but when I'm in a beer store I would pass the bottles up every time because I can get something similar for 1/3 the cost. Over time that really adds up to more $s I can spend on other items I need/want

 

Avalability plays a big roll where I live. I wouldn't pay $10 for a single 12oz bottle of DFH 120 minute Ipa. I haven't seen it in over a year. Next time I won't hesitate. I've never had that beer.

 

I don't compare high beer prices in bottle shops to other beers or what I would pay at a bar for the same beer. I compare them to fine wine, champagne, or other top shelf liquor prices. The fact that you can buy world class beers for $5 or $10 for 12 oz bottles or $15 - $20 for bombers or 750ml, still makes it a great deal compared to what one would pay for a world class bottle of wine or champagne.

 

Whenever possible, I try to get it direct from the brewery - which, hopefully has the beer on tap and I can taste it before buying. And since I live just outside of Portland (as well as being within driving distance of quite a few amazing breweries in the region), I can do that with many of my favorite breweries.

But for breweries that are not in the PNW - I've got little choice outside of trading. The only real option is bottle shops. And if they have something I really want, I bite the bullet and cough up the dough. I think of it as a finders fee and definitely saves me wear and tear on the car.

Plus, there are a few bottle shops that I enjoy supporting. They're good guys who stock killer beer that I can't find anywhere else. I have no qualms giving those shops my money.

 

Like several other people have noted, I will justify a purchase by telling myself that it is cheaper than in a bar. If I have never had a spendy beer before I might buy it or is I feel in a celebratory mood but under normal circumstances I mauy also look for something in the same category that is about as good for a lower price.

 

I do not see over the counter and bar pricing as equivalent. They are totally different situations and cost structures. My justification is always how many dollars vs how much enjoyment. I rarely buy expensive bottles other than special occasions when I can share it with friends or family. This can justify an expensive bottle.

 

True, but it costs a heck of a lot more to produce world class wine/champagne than world class beer. Malt, hops, yeast, and water come a lot easier (even the best possible quality) than old growth vines producing a few clusters of intense grapes. Of course, I'm not throwing down big $$ on wine either...same search for high quality at low cost applied. Maybe I'm just a cheapskate.

 

I bought some in Maine for about $15. Was told that they used to distribute in MA but stopped after they found distributors were marking it up to the point where it was on the shelf for about $25. Told the distributor to lower the price, they refused, so they pulled their product.

And in MA your distributor partnership is (by law) forever, so if they came back they'd have to use the same distributor again.

 

There is also a ton of variance in prices from one state to the next. For example Shelton Bros recently brought in Anchorage's A Deal with the Devil beer to MA where shops had it on the shelf at $55 a pop. Other states it was $35. Such bullshit.

 

Most often, yes. Saves me a ton of money and I never have to think about how I'm getting home.