Sticker Shock at Beer Bars

Nothing speaks louder than your feet. If you don't like the way the establishment does business politely let them know what bothers you & then go somewhere else.

 

I think you know the answer. People are less likely to order a $9 beer if they know ahead of time that it's $9. It sucks, but unless a place has prices that are much higher than the competition and they have no other glaring issues, I would continue to go to such a place. My favorite Philly suburban spots price their beers and one (TJ's) has the board with beer, brewery, location (I think), abv, glass type, size, price. It's perfect.

 

I got pissed when on 3/16 this local pub had on "Irish" themed stuff switched over, included Miller Lite, and we got the bill for the Smithwicks we ordered they were $6 a pop. The bartender stated " these are expensive kegs you know". It was the better of those on tap too for my tastes. If I would have know this price per pint, I would have ordered the Yuengling instead.

 

I thought this thread was going to be about random beer stickers at beer bars. Oh well.

 

I've never been to a bar without prices listed. Why would you keep going to a place that does that? Tell the manager that they won't get your business until they show prices, and then tell your friends to do the same. Maybe that'll get their heads out of their asses.

 

When I read the OP I immediately thought of the BrewDog bars across Scotland (and England I suppose). Now don't get me wrong, I love the places and the beers they have are pretty much all totally jizztastic but the quality craft bottles and bombers are not openly priced and I've only once ever seen a beer list to ascertain selection and cost.
Its their Achilles heel.

 

$160 for a 1/2 keg here retail which yeilds what like 125 pints? So that's over $700 at that price...

 

I thought sticker shock was the local bar near me that sells Heady Topper for $10 per can.

Yup, I said $10 per can.

 

hmm, in wi bars generally tend to list it, but in the chicago area good luck, almost nobody seems to list prices it seems.

 

I was just at a bar in Geneva (traveling to Fermilab) that listed prices.

 

I've only been to one Brewdog bar - Camden. They had the draft beers and pricing displayed on blackboards behind the bar. I seem to recall they also had a beer menu listing the bottled offerings and prices. Perhaps this is just in that bar....

 

Whole Foods has a big board with every price, ABV, and where appropriate there's designations for nitro or cask.


Prices for beer itself aren't the big issue for me. I'm more irritated by the industry's change from 15% to 18% to now 20+% tips, and not for "good" service but for just satisfactory service.

So that $8 pint is now $8 plus local taxes, plus 20% minimum tip (and I guess now you're supposed to tip on the taxes too, yet another change).

 

Don't be surprised if the Millennial servers chime in and tell you that if these prices are too much for you, then you should just drink at home. That's often the line for tip complaints, and tips are less $ than beers.

 

And that's the problem I have with bars in general.

I know the rule of thumb for businesses such as bars is a 300% markup over cost.

I sell bars kegs of Bud Light for less then $82 dollars, so theoretically the bars should have the Bud Light on tap for $2.00. Well $2.00 are reserved for happy hour. Most places charge $3.00 for a pint of Bud Light which is over a 400% markup.

And the real shitter is that I am the middleman, I get the kegs from the multi-county distributors and sell them thru my distrubutor to the bars. My margin for kegs is around 7%.

 

I get the impression that BrewDog tries to provide a menu with prices, and I've seen it once, but assume they struggle with the turnover volume and the probable reality that the menu often goes the way of student souvenirs.
Still no excuse in my book though.

 

Price is pretty commonly posted in these parts. ABV not so much. I wish that were more clear as sometimes I don't find out that awesome new IPA I just guzzled was actually a DIPA until I feel it hit me.

 

Well, they should go old-school: carve the menus into tablets of stone and chain them to the bar.....

 

The Op is making a non-issue into an issue. Bars tend to highlight a price or two in relation to what the 'promo' beer is at the time. For example: Bud Lt - $2 mugs. I don't imagine a bar with 20 taps putting up 20 prices.
It is not hard to ask the bartender for the offerings and the prices. I ask, he answers, I order, he serves. If all goes well in the end, I tip - generously.
Why is it that we support craft beer but begrudge the purveyors of the very beer we love their effort to make a buck? I do not work for free, nor should anyone else.

 

i mean it isn't like all of them don't, but many of the ones i have been to don't

 

Yeah, I'd rather bars be upfront with prices (I'm convinced is the best practice for all involved) or I'll simply ask. If I make the mistake of assuming what my tab will be and a bar cornholes me, I won't be back.