Lagunitas bomber vs. 6-pack pricing

Yep, if I'm not looking specifically for something new but also don't want a whole six/four pack, Lagunitas is absolutely the go-to. Maximus bombers go for $3 flat where I am. Probably the best deal in craft beer, IMHO.

 

Without being too long-winded here, it's competitive market pricing plus logistics. They have gigantic brewing facilities on the West and East coasts which allows them to have a lower price point due to reduced shipping costs. Also, the sheer size of their total operation puts them in an advantageous position in which they have mobility with the multitudinous distribution companies they work with across the entire US. It also helps greatly that they use 22oz bombers vs. 25oz bombers. It doesn't seem like much, but with the added size of the box combined with added weight from the bottles it saves them around 20% on costs for a 3 oz difference, hence why you see the continued trend towards 22oz bottles amongst larger brewing companies. They realize they make enough money on their core line and produce such high quantities of beer at separate brewing facilities that it gains them a loyal customer base as well as moves product more quickly by offering lower priced bombers. And I am one of those loyal customers for that reason.

 

Where is their East coast facility?

 

Thanks. Thats why I asked. Had heard of those two but not an East Coast location.

Chicago's a long way from the east coast.

 

@drtth It's not just a second brewery, it is the largest brewery in Chicago which may surprise some considering Goose Islands' presence there. Considering it takes longer to drive from Petaluma, CA to Seattle, WA than it does to drive from Chicago, IL to New York, New York, makes the idea of Chicago not essentially being an East coast brewery, absurd.

 

Tell it to the mid-westerners.

 

At least in Grand Rapids there's really no discrepancy. Bombers are $4.99 pretty much anywhere you go and the most expensive of Lag's stuff at the shop I manage is Brown Suggah and that's only $11/12 6pk. $4 per 24oz sounds like a pretty solid deal to me.

 

Haha I know all too well, I grew up in PA and remember the Ohio mid-west vs. northeast arguments, I don't miss them. Then again, most people don't consider Florida to be a part of the United States these days so my points are invalid.

 

Takes longer to drive from Lisbon to Alexandria than it does to drive from Athens to Alexandria. Athens is a essentially an Egyptian city by your logic.

 

Logic does not exist in beer, I was explaining the reason that Lagunitas is capable of providing these price points across the US and that for all intents and purposes, their Chicago brewery is their East coast brewery. If they had a brewery in say, Lyons, CO and a brewery in say, Brevard, NC (aka Oscar Blues) they would have West and East Coast Distribution points even though CO is not technically West Coast. Typical beer conversation. People want answers, get real answers, fight over geography.

 

Although, "re-introduced" would be more accurate, since the 22 ounce bottle was a standard size on the west coast after Repeal.

Around the same time AV claims to have introduced the bottle, a number of imports from Germany, Australia and Japan were available in 650 ml. bottles, often labeled 21 or 22 oz. for the US market.

 

Greetings...Lagunitas here...
When we first bottled we hand-filled 22's and then they were $2.49 at retail...all of them, Gnarlywine and BrownShugga included. It just seemed like a good price. Scale now makes them really profitable as does Chicago's proximity to Egypt, but that's not how it started. Also, it's somehow gotten out there that we were the first to use 22's but we weren't. They were everywhere in 1993, but most stopped by the late '90's and we kept it up, and then they came back into fashion again. But on price we now charge more that we ever have for bombers, and that's the truth...Cheers, all.

 

Clarifications from the source are always welcome.

 

I'd actually prefer a bomber due to storage space at home, but these bomber prices have been absurd for years now. I love three floyds and for instance their space station middle finger at nearly 10.50 a bottle. When zombie dust comes I can get an entire 6 pack for the same price. That's what 60oz of the same style beer for the price of a 22 oz bottle? That's crazy to me considering their is more glass in and labels in the six packs. I've been at odds with this for years now from every brewery I've ever bought.. but what can we do? Refuse to buy the best beer available? Refuse to buy what suits our tasting needs and if there isn't zombie dust 6 packs but there is space station bombers just forgetting the world class pale ale and purchasing something with less class? It's not in our beer drinking nature to settle for less and it's almost like everyone making money on this industry knows this. We need a revolution to get this changed. Enjoy by coming in 12 oz bottles is a start I suppose.

 

I thought it was good value for $4 in the San Francisco Bay Area, and also with Hop Stoopid around the $4 mark makes it one of the best value beers around.

 

At $9.99 I think High-Westified was one of the best beers for the value so far this year. I only wish I'd found more than one..