Small batch brews hit the auction block

Skinner is also known for wine auctions. You can see the whole auction catalog here: http://assets.skinnerinc.com/pdf/catalogs/2649b.pdf

 

It says they are also known for wine auctions, which have been a big thing for a long time. Just hope Hong Kong/China never develops a taste for craft brew as they have done for fine wine

 

Beat me to it, damn!

 

No they are not licensed to sell Alcohol, but instead affiliate themselves in some way with a Wine/Liquor store for the auction.

 

$1200-$1800 for a bottle of Don Q

 

Anyone else see this as a bad thing? Breweries are already getting brazen enough to charge fine wine prices for mediocre beers. This will only embolden them.

I mean yea, devil's advocate, we are the ones paying for it, so as long as we keep paying these ridiculous prices, they will continue with the ridiculous gouging...

 

How is it ridiculos gouging. I bought a 1985 vintage Dom Perignon for my wedding a few years back which was REE-DIC-U-LISS and ridiculously expensive.

I dont have any money, literally, I have like 40 dollars to my name and 4 kids, but poeple with money should have the opportunity to buy a supra rare one off Cantillon on occasion. On occasion. How is that wrong.

 

that would be a bad thing? I see the far east as a hugh market & plenty of opportunity for expansion & new brewers

 

Expensive wine can suck, too.

There is no such thing as gouging with beer....

 

Not sure how thats relevant to my point.

Really? I know of a place that was charging $49.99 for 4pk of BCBS. This is the exception obviously, not the rule... for now.

 

Gouging involves monopolies and/or necessities.

And for what it's worth $50 is just over 2x the MSRP, as far as I know. It's a very high price, but it's by no means gouging, both in contextual terms and in terms of the % they are "overcharging."

 

Beer is a market extremely prone to monopolies and imperfect competition given the antiquated three-party-system, blue laws regarding distribution, and huge discrepancy between brewers/product.

 

In the legal sense. But I'd consider such a price gouging. Not to mention that, the $25 MSRP is already quite high, much much higher than they charged only a few years ago. If I had to estimate, I'd say craft beer in general has gone up in price by about 50% in the past 5 years.

 

Funny, we're on here to support small craft brewers. But this anti-"price-gouging" attitude is why the same small craft brewers can't get health insurance.

Honestly, if you make a good product and want to mark it up, I'm going to assume you aren't charging me for your investment in grain, but rather for your time/skill. And as long as it's good, I'm ok with that.

*edit: if rare bottle collections and auctions wind up leading the charge in upping the standard price for excellent products, then I see no reason to be upset with it.

 

Oh - and with the article.... Baladin Xyauyu is totally worth it. So get it together, Gary.

 

Pretty cool. I wouldn't pay the price of a really nice TV for a Don Quijote, but I know some people would!

 

You can't drink..., er... I mean cellar away a TV for years. Oh wait...

 

One person's trash is another's treasure. One person's gouging is another's bargain. It all depends whether you have the palate and the money to afford and appreciate this type of beer. I don't have either so it doesn't bother me and I don't believe for a red hot second that a brewery who makes something special that may end up at an auction is going to raise prices across the board on their production beers. It's not anybody's holding a gun to your head and making you buy anything - rare or commonplace. And the brewers are taking somewhat of a chance as well investing time and materials to produce something which may not sell. Yes, I know you're thinking what chance? All of it sells like crazy. First of all I said somewhat and second, it doesn't mean it will go on forever. On the plus side, I do believe something like this gives craft beer a bit of a push up the status ladder.