I see there are people willing to pay more than me for beers, some willing to pay less, but I have to think everybody has some kind of limit. Here are mine: $20 for a 4-pack for a whale, something I've always wanted to try but never found before. $15 for a 6-pack of something I've had before and loved. $10 for the occasional 6-pack splurge of a beer that's a little too classy for anytime drinking. $8 or less for a typical purchase. I'm always looking for clearance or sales. Sometimes when I'm on this website I feel a little cheap, but I'm sure my wife would give another opinion. Anyone else have limits they set themselves?
I don't know of many four or six packs under eight bucks, so I'm always higher than that. I don't know where my limit is, but it is getting to be a bit too high. Almost never buy bombers anymore.
I really think it depends on where you live as pricing is all over the place. Pretty high here in PA from what I see in other parts of the country.
I still have a lot of good breweries under the $8 mark, but they're getting fewer by the day it seems. I want to support breweries, but there is a market balance between the buyer and seller that can't be denied.
most of the beer i tend to buy during my bi monthly stock up is between 9.99-12.99, and one of those times i'll treat myself to something at the 14.99-16.99 level. i bought hopslam last month and i kid you not the owner of the store,an extremely decent man, said to me, "don't buy it, get two dirt wolf's ($9.99). i really should have listened. it will be awhile before i splurge on a beer again.
I've spent upwards of $30 for downwards of 12oz, but I kinda hate myself afterwards. Usually $10–$12ish for 6-pack or 4-pack of pints; $15 for semi-special bombers (up to $30 rarely), but target is sub-$7 for bombers. Would like to find a great cheap everyday option, but I'm addicted to finding and trying new stuff, so...
I think you have a good system OP. In fact I set a cap of $10 for four packs, $12 for some sixes but $10 for most and $9 for any bomber. I would rather give my coin to great lakes or to victory who has beer I can afford to drink and not just taste only once.
I go about it another way. I have a monthly budget, and once I hit it, that's it. It gives me some flexibility to buy the occasional expensive bomber or a couple higher-priced beers at bars on the weekend. Then I fill in the gaps with $13-$15 12-packs. I usually have two of those going at any given time. I've already spent a decent amount this month, but I'm also sitting on a bit of a stash, so it also forces me to drink what I buy. I hear some people have a problem drinking all the great beers that they sock away.
There are just so many factors to consider. For instance, I did a driving trip from NYC up to Vermont last month, and I told myself I wouldn't pass on anything I wanted because of price, especially since I was already spending on the car and gas. If I'm on a trip, I don't think anything should be considered too expensive unless you can get it at home. If something extremely rare or (gasp!) unavailable in your area reaches a shelf (somehow), I wouldn't hesitate to pay a premium. Recently some Westy 12 bottles from the 2012 brick appeared at a bottle shop near me and I didn't hesitate to buy 3 of them for $25 each. Last week at the same bottle shop I bought a Serpent's Stout for $17, which is more than I spent in Massachusetts on my way back from Vermont on the aferomentioned trip. A couple of months ago I saw a Scharbeekse Kriek on the shelf for a ridiculous price of $43. I bought it.
$25 for a 4-pack of a whale, something I've always wanted to try but never found before (Ex: BCBCS) $20 for a 6-pack of something I've had before and loved unless I know I can find it on-tap for a better price per ounce (Former Ex: Hopslam but never again) $25 for a bomber of something uber rare/barrel-aged/special (Ex: Surly Darkness most recently in trade value) $15 for a bomber of "normal" beer (Ex: Mikkeller) $10 for a 12 oz whale $6 for a 12 oz of "normal" beer (Ex: like one of the Stillwater singles)
I generally look to keep 12-packs of high quality IPAs under $15 or so. I refuse to pay $20 for Stone IPA or Racer 5 when I can get Torpedo for $12.99 most weeks. For 12-packs, I'm generally willing to pay $10-$12 for something that's good and not available in 12ers. I don't chase whales for the most part and stick with what I know is good or is a newer release from a brewery with a good reputation (snagged a 6er of Notch Left of the Dial last night for $10).
If you're selling me a Barrel Aged Stout or BW, it better as cheap as Parabola, Sucuba, and the Bourbon Counties, because there is a very minute chance your beer is better. If you're selling me a DIPA, it better be cheaper than Dirtwolf, Enjoy By, and Maximus because there is a slight chance your beer is better. If you're selling me a IPA, it better be cheaper than Swami's, Torpedo, Sculpin, because there is a pretty small chance your beer is much better.
