Comparing some "hype" beers I've bought, I've overpaid for things like Other Half regularly, and some of their cans are great, some are misses. I've also paid way too much for some vintage or hard-to-find bottles (big BCBS fan), and there's plenty to be found for cheaper that I've enjoyed more. I've consistently rated TG Pseudo Sue higher than most NEIPAs I've found, and Burial higher than most true "New England" IPAs. Barrique beers are some of the best and by far some of the cheapest both in cans and on draft at the taproom. The biggest discrepancy I've seen is paying $8 for a pint of PtE at Monks' Cafe in Philly, which destroyed 99% of drafts I've ever had. $8 is cheaper than most 10oz DIPA pours in Tennessee, which is a much cheaper state overall.
Minnesota has an import tax, that might be part of it. I can't remember the tax rate but it is a complicated formula based volume moved into the state.
Import tax is not likely (that would be an illegal TARIFF). Minnesota has a rebate program for in-state brewers of less than 250000 barrels. Brewers get 4.60 per barrel, or about 8c a 12oz six pack for the first 25000 barrels . Not really enough to make a noticable difference in retail price. See https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/brewer-credit-and-annual-production-report
I remember Pacifico was .25 a bottle buy the case 1980's. Making inflation adjustments with 96% water doesn't work very well. They price it as high as long as the public keeps buying it. Brewery/tap room prices at $8-11 a pint is shocking I refuse to play along in that world. Prices can go down but there subjected to trends of the day.
Not a fair comparison. Your really paid only $6 a case for Pacifico in the 80s? The current price of a bottle of Pacifica based on case price is about $1.50. Inflation from the 80s is about a factor of 3 or 4. So the real bottle price, even with your memory of a $0.25 bottle, is up by maybe a factor of 2x. The brand in the 80s was owned by Modelo, later purchased by Inbev. Inbev sold the US rights for Pacifica (and Corona and Modelo) to Constellation as a result of the ABInbev merger. Maybe the high level financing, including the cost of big new breweries, has something to do with the price of some Mexican beers??
Hmmm... I don't know, but I remember paying $2.99 for a 6 pack of chihuahua lager and several other Mexican lagers at TJs in the early 90's. So I could see a case going for around $10 at Liquor Barn, Liquor Mart or some other big box, discount store. Maybe less than that on sale. So it's not too huge a stretch of the imagination, seeing a case go for $6 a pop in the early 80's. Obviously, the buying power of $6 in the early 80s is much different than it is today. In that regard I agree... this is not a fair comparison.
Correction: AB took an interest in Modelo prior to the AB Inbev merger, and they sold US rights to Constellation.
When I first started drinking craft beers and import beers over 25 years ago, my beer mentors told me that Belgian beers were the thing. Back then, PA had the case law making the acquisition of Belgian beers in PA an expensive proposition. My friends went to Virginia to run a half marathon and stopped at a Total Wine. Total Wine had their Belgian beers on sale and my friend loaded up his shopping cart with said beers. One of those beers was a magnum of Scaldis Noel. During one of our subsequent Sunday bottle shares, four of us decided to close out the session by cracking open the Scaldis Noel magnum. We had no idea Scaldis Noel was 12% ABV, but soon realized this was some high octane stuff.
Reminds me of when I was Brussels several decades ago on a business trip and I visited a pub near my hotel for some happy hour drinking. I drank three small bottles of Duvel, which I knew nothing about, and I was a bit woozy. At the time I thought it was a jet lag thing. I later learned about the high ABV. Cheers!
The high prices have me thinking about brewing costs. If costs continue to rise on their unsustainable path the way they have over the past 10 years then perhaps a more cost-effective means of brewing will be sought out so that customers are able to afford a pint of beer and not feel gouged. Maybe brewers will produce more American Pale Ales, English Bitters, Kentucky Common, basic Lagers, etc. and reduce productions of large batches of costly beers that half the time end up being shelf turds. Basically focus on beers that cost less to produce simply because the ingredients cost less. Just a thought.
Recently went to a brewpub with good beer on a Saturday night. Dinnertime the place was full. Around past 8pm the place slowly going empty. Pints were about $8. Personally if they had a late night happy hour I think it would be full.
My fave local pub has gone a tad nutz with their pricing lately. The last 3 selections on their menu go for the equivilent of $9.30, $15.25 & $12.35 - per pint. I refuse to pay that and really only go there anymore to cherry pick their best bottles for takeaway.
The cheapest place to buy Warsteiner in my area, Total Wine, is now charging $35.99 per 24pk of 11.2 oz cans. I absolutely refuse to pay that and due to tariffs I won't be purchasing many imported beers at all until things change. They can get bent. Outrageous!
My 'local' Total Wine & More is in Claymont, DE: Warsteiner Premium Pilsener 24-11oz Cans 4.7 out of 5 stars 163 reviews $24.99 A long drive for you but you can save 11 bucks. Plus Delaware is the state of tax free shopping! Cheers!
About ten bucks a six pack isn't bad. You seem to be blaming the manufacturers and importers for the imposition of import taxes, and they aren't the culprits.
