Singlecut the NYC sleeper for hops and lagers

Well, that's not how it typically worked just a few years ago - before the rise of the "own premise" brewery (aided, in part, by changes in many states' alcoholic beverage laws).

It was once common on this and other beer forums to read complaints that beer purchased directly from the brewery (thus, in theory, cutting out the two middle tiers) was the same or nearly equal to the price the brand was being sold at nearby retailers. Brewers explained that was because they did not want to undercut their retailers and wholesale distributors, since the brewery depended on their 3 Tier (or, where there was legal self-distribution, 2 Tier) partners who account for the bulk of their sales.

Now breweries are able to "keep" a large portion of the retail price that once was the retailer and wholesaler profit margin. On top of that, they've eliminated, or shifted to the purchaser, the traditional expenses of distribution (labor, warehousing, vehicles, fuel).

The fact that these beers that sell for $15 at the brewery but after distribution are selling for $20 or more ("an extra $2-3/can" ) at retailers suggests that many brewers are simply selling beer to the wholesalers or, if self-dist., retailers without much of a traditional "wholesale" quantity discount.

Or, of course, the second and third tiers are just charging higher prices for an above-standard profit margin because of hype/rarity/demand.

 

The extra $2-3 a can is usually on loosies. There's a deli by me that's really reasonable that sells Grimm loosies with a buck mark up on loosies, but I'm in south Brooklyn.

 

@TmaveTebow Would you have any background on their "Billy 18-Watt" "18-Watt", etc.? (the name has changed over the years). I started drinking it back in....I guess 2016 in the suburbs north of Boston, MA. I was blown away. Super bright yellow, murky and the fresh hoppy smell just exploded in your face. The taste was massive grapefruit with extremely low bitterness. And it was 5.0% abv. I was drinking lots of Treehouse and Trillium at the time but no IPA compared (for me) at 5% abv. Then a couple years later, something happened. It completely changed. It become less murky, still with a bit of haze and the color turned a dull gold. The aroma was ok but nothing too special and the taste had much less grapefruit and way more sharp bitterness. I was able to find some in cans and had the same experience. Found it on tap at a 2nd spot (similar location) and same change. I tried reaching out to see if there had been a recipe change or whatever but I didn't have any luck contacting anyone. Every 6 months or so, I pick up a 4pk to see how it is but it's been the same ever since. Anyway, it used to be one of my all-time favorite beers and I've always wondered what changed. Any chance you've talked about or know anything about this specific Singecut beer? Thanks!!

 

@TmaveTebow Thanks for the reply and insight! I shouldn't harp on about color too much it was just something so different from the usual. I wondered if maybe they switch up the hops in that one sometimes too which would definitely change hop flavor/aroma. Another possibility that crossed my mind was the kind of hop contracts they had in the past vs. what they have now. Anyway, I'll keep trying it out every so often. Thanks again!