New Breweries - Big Bottles

For me this is true only if you're talking about the same beer in alternate formats. But given shelf space issues, I understand why bombers are so prevalent, especially for new, unproven breweries. A 22oz bottle takes up, what, 4 square inches? Compared to a 6-pack that takes up 48 or so? If every beer were available only in 6-packs, 12-packs, and cases, every beer section would take up half the grocery store and beer stores would look like Costco (some hyperbole here). Which of course would be every beer geek's wet dream—but if you're refrigerating most of this beer it quickly becomes an untenable proposition just from the electric bill standpoint, let alone square footage of real estate.

I personally don't mind paying a little more for a bomber of a beer I've never had before. But I admit, several of my beer reviews also contain the phrase "I'd buy this regularly if it were available in 6-packs"...

 

Yup, I did mean the same beer in different formats. But also, if there are 2 roughly equivalent beers, 1 in six-packs and 1 in 22s, for the same price, I'm taking the sixer every time. I grudgingly buy plenty of 22s, because I want to try every beer. But if a beer is available on-tap, in sixers, and in 22s, at the same time, the 22 is last on the list. I hate 'em.

 

Shelf space explains the bottle size but not the price, and it's the price, not the bottle size, that is the source for most complaints. A bomber of APA/IPA/porter/etc usually goes for $6-8 here in MA, which is at least double the price of a $10 6pk.

If brewers sold bombers for $3-4 instead of $6-10, this would be a non-issue.

 

I agree w/ this, but only if it's a beer I've had before and know I like. I've got too many beers already, so the last thing I need is to start accumulating five extra bottles of every beer I haven't tried yet. I also seldom get to try anything new/special on tap, as I usually need to be home after about 6 p.m. (parenthood). That would be my solution, but for now it's not an option.

 

I completely agree on the price issue, and it's also ironic that the format that takes up less shelf space also costs more. You'd think it would be the other way around.

 

I can't justify paying $7+ for a bomber of new brewery beer, especially when I can get a six pack of proven quality beer for just 1$ more in most cases. If I am out at a bar, i'd be more willing to give a new local brew a shot. On the shelves? No, not when I'm looking to get the most bang for my buck. I don't agree with some of the sentiments posted in this thread either. If you were shopping for a car you liked, food or a house and someone tried to sell you something for more money than the going rate, surely you would scoff at it. Why is the case of craft beer any different?

 

Analogy fails. How many houses or cars do you buy in a given week or month? How many beers?

Many of us are not interested in getting the most "bang for buck" (whatever that means) as much as trying as many different breweries, styles, and beers as possible and really, fully exploring the breadth and depth the world of beer has to offer.

In a perfect world, every beer would be available in single 12oz cans or bottles, priced at exactly 1/6 the price of a 6-pack of the same beer. That's not the world we live in though.

 

To all that are saying things like "shelf space explains the bottle size" or "22/750 bottles take up less space on the shelf" - this is so stupid it makes my head spin. Limited shelf space is no excuse. If shelf space is limited, why move to larger bottle formats?! I can't wrap my head around this. All you have to do is think about it and realize, gee, a single 12oz bottle/can take up even less space than 22/750 bottles! If a stores just stock their shelves with single 12oz bottles instead of 22/750 bottles if space is a concern? I've been to so many liquor stores throughout the country that stock their shelves and coolers with single 12oz bottles. By stocking shelves with single 12oz bottles, stores can stock even more variety and probably carry less inventory which means more turnover and fresher product. The consumer benefits by being able to take more risks because bottles are $2.00-$3.00 as opposed to $7.99-$9.99, and also benefits from the increased variety the store can now stock.

You can't honestly tell me that breweries aren't thinking "profit profit profit profit profit" when they bottle in 22/750 bottles. Why would Ballast Point package standard American IPA like Sculpin in a 6-pk and sell it for $9.99-$12.99 when they can package it in a 22oz and sell 50oz less beer for the same price! Same with Clown Shoes and Laughing Dog and Firestone and..... Even with specialty beers that sold in 4-pk vs 22oz for the same price it's still 26oz less for the same price.

 

Speaking for my area, it's pretty rare to see single 12oz bottles/cans available anywhere, aside from pricey imports (which are even more $/oz). Just a handful of specialty bottle shops, that's it. Of course selling in small formats individually would be the best solution for the consumer (see the last paragraph of my post right above yours), but for whatever reason (packaging laws, store policies, profit motive) this is a very unusual practice. So that's why I pointed out the smaller footprint of a bomber/750 vs. a 6- or 12-pack.

Not stupid at all, as far as I'm concerned. But thanks for your input.

 

The analogy certainly works in that I wouldn't pay $7 for a slice of pizza at a shop when the one next door is selling the sam quality of pizza for $4. The $3 upcharge isn't worth it to me 'just to try something new', when I know that the $4 slice suits me perfectly well. As for the "bang for buck" portion of your response, I make a decent living, but I am by no means wealthy, which means I have to budget all of my dollars, whether that be for beer, clothes, food, etc. So when I go to the store and see that $8 bomber of beer that may or may not be good sitting next to the $9 six pack of tried and true product, guess which one will get lefftbehind on that shelf 10 times out of 10?

 

Actually this is a good comparison if you think of a slice of pizza as a bomber and a 6-pack as the whole pizza. Usually you pay less per slice if you buy the whole pizza (say $15 for eight slices, vs. $4 for one). But what if you don't want to eat a whole pizza, you only want a slice? You end up paying more per slice (just like with beer), but you're only buying what you want to eat. And you're actually saving $11. Beer is less perishable than pizza of course, but if you are (like me) in "try everything" mode then it definitely makes more sense to buy bombers (or slices) than to buy an entire 6-pack (whole pizza) of everything you might want to try, even if the price per ounce is a little higher. Again, in a perfect world all beers would be available in single 12oz cans/bottles, but unfortunately that's not how it works in a lot of places.

To each his own. I've discovered a lot of really amazing beers that I will definitely be buying again regularly by staying open-minded and being willing to try almost everything once. And unfortunately, many of these currently come only in 22oz or 750mL bottles. Sure, I've had my share of duds too. But through this process I've also worked to develop my palate so I know the difference.

We all have to budget (OK most of us), but everyone's priorities are different. You don't buy the absolute cheapest house or car on the market, you buy what you can reasonably afford given your needs, priorities, income, etc.

I say if you can afford it and want to try a wider variety of beers, maybe buying bigger bottles makes more sense given current constraints on what's available at the store. Given the opportunity I'll usually buy single 12oz cans/bottles over bombers, but I'll also buy single bombers over 6-packs even though I know I'm getting screwed on price per ounce—especially since a lot of beers are available only in 22oz bottles (Hop Stoopid). That's just because I don't want a whole bunch of the same beer sitting around (with a few exceptions: Celebration, Lagunitas Sucks etc.). But I wouldn't characterize this practice as "stupid," which was your initial, somewhat insulting point. Just different.

 

I'm not inclined to make a $10.00 bomber purchase from a new brewery. I won't.

 

If I had that policy I'd have missed out on this: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/18858/62911
Not that I was exactly happy about spending the $10, but in this case it was totally worth it.

 

I don't think the issue is bombers all together. It is understandable (or at least known) that they will be higher priced than a 6-pack. It is the new breweries that a) don't offer any other packaging and b) have bombers that are priced higher than well established/highly regarded bombers.

 

I should have never read the threads that bash bombers/750's. I just bought a 750 of DFH Black and Blue for $12.99 and where before I would have been fine with it....now I am a little ticked.

 

If I'm understanding your argument correctly, you'd prefer 12oz singles (who wouldn't), but since that's not an option for you most of the time, the next best option is 22oz singles. I can appreciate that. I genuinely feel bad for you if that is the case. It's just not like that at all here on the east cost (or the few places I've been to in the Midwest) where almost every store I go to not only allows you to pull singles out of six packs, but actually encourages it via 10%-15% off if you buy six or more bottles. I think you can appreciate in my situation that 22/750 bottles are a thorn in my side on this quest to try everything.

 

That's the equivalent of paying $32.72 for a six-pack. Quite high for an IPA. I hope it was good.

 

Yes, it was good. But it's not the equivalent of paying $32.72 for a 6-pack. It's the equivalent of paying $10 for a 22oz bottle. I wouldn't have bought this beer if it was only available in a 6-pack (at least not @ $32.72). That's my whole point.

 

No, it is the equivalent, since you liked it, and based on your initial response, you have or will likely buy it again.

I know it's a tired topic, but bombers are the biggest (and most successful) ruse on the American public. It creates an undeniable denial.

 

The local premium is real, and it's ridiculous. If it's local, it should be CHEAPER if anything since the transport and storage costs are less.