The Mix Six Pack Appreciation Thread

It's either late, or early, depending on your perspective. To chime in, I must say I like mix 6ers. The guy who runs my local is a beer guy, and he always has a cool selection of singles. I pick up IPAs, lagers, stouts, porters, ambers, etc all the time. Sometimes I just don't know what I want. The variety gives me an out.

 

Singles shopping is definitely grande, but in my neck of the woods they basically still charge you $12+ for what would have ordinarily been a $8 a sixer price. And they don't even give you a kiss or KY as they slip it to ya.

 

If you couldn't mix/match craft beers I doubt I would've even gotten into craft beers, paying $9+ for a six pack that destroys your virgin palate would get old after a while.

 

Yeah, for a beer lovin' nut it's a must. All the best retailers have them, if they don't I'm less likely to be a repeat customer. Options, options, & more options...

 

go to Julio's Liquors in Westborough! Literally every single beer in the store is available in singles, and you can mix any 6 (including bombers and 750s) and get 15% off your purchase!

 

I love stores that allow for you to walk around and build your own mixed 6 packs. Even craft beers I love and want to repeat, I may buy 2-3 of in a mix 6 pack. I usually go to these stores most of the time, and occasionally 1-2 other stores that don't allow mixed 6's some as well but usually just to see if they have sales or a few obscure and hard to find options that I haven't seen in the mixed 6 pack stores.

I have no trouble paying my average of $14-$15 for a mixed six pack vs. a $9.99-$10.99 average priced 6 pack of beer that my pallet tends to get bored with after 2 bottles of the same beer or risk on new beers that I may not like at all and have to figure out to trade or give away the remainders.

 

Singles is a huge part of my learning experience with craft beer.
I will usually purchase a 6 or two of something I like, and then mix another of new beers to try.
I do look at dates on all the beer I purchase, and quite often, if I look through all the bottles I will find some fresher than others.
I know this has saved me a lot of money, as I have had a few beers that I would never want another of, but I have had far more I liked than not.

 

I do love me a mix-a-six! It's the way to go when trying new styles and seasonals. Yesterday, I made a mix of pumpkin brews. I've been looking forward to trying the style, without committing to a full six of each. (The only exception will probably be Schlafly's . . . can't get it in Chicago.) I also like mixing a sixer to go deeper into a breweries offerings. That's when I prefer Binny's or Mariano's to the smaller shops. Dates seem fresher.

 

Unlimited mix-ability in the two stores where I shop.
I can just grab a 4 or 6 pack and swap out bottles until I've got the mix I want.

Why shouldn't it be that way, right?

 

I do a mix a six about every fourth purchase, just to try new things that I would not pull the trigger on a whole six or twelve pack. I'd rather pay extra in that format than buy a six that I don't really enjoy. I'm happy I have several options for putting together mix a sixes and have discovered some treasures (and some duds).

 

I love being able to buy singles... a couple shops around here have the option, but some use it to get rid of beers. Like if a beer from a sixer is broken or missing then they might split it up in the MM, or they might do it with seasonals or beers like IPA's that are nearing the end of their shelf life.

I do like the option of buying singles and NOT having to buy a whole sixer, as sometimes I have one or two in mind I would like to try but might be a little iffy...

 

I do the mix a six quite regularly, But I only Go for the styles that can be cellared for quite some time, learned my lesson after a can of of Ipa that tasted like my socks. I have though found 2011 and 2012 gems hidden on the shelves of some spectacular stouts and ales.

 

I use the mix a six to sample seasonal beers mainly. Although when I see something exotic in the pile and it's close or past the freshness date, I'll try it anyway if it's not too old.

It is a great way to explore beer at home!

 

Generally, I don't do these. It usually takes about 3 beers or so of the same type for me to form an opinion about a beer.

However, for some brews where I'm just curious (but doubt I really want an entire 4 or 6 pack, they work well. For example, I just got one with a DuClaw Sweet Baby Jesus and an Anchor Big Leaf Maple. Neither of these types is really my thing, but I am curious about them. Even when I do mix-a-sixer, I only do so for brews whose single price is either about the same or just slightly more than the 4/6 pack unit price.

For some reason, though, my kids always try to talk me into buying these. I think they find it fun to help me pick out the different brews in the mixed pack!

 

Every Saturday on my way home from work I stop by a shop on the way home (Circle A) and get a six pack of brews to try throughout the week. If there is something I've never tried before I'll grab it instead of the other guys checking their Untappd apps. In my early twenties I was introduced to buying individual bottles at Southland Beverage (R.I.P.) and it seriously blew my mind at the time (Before chain grocery stores found out they could cash in on the business). It is always nice when the owner/manager knows their beer and can make a good recommendation..plus give you a heads up of whats coming in. If you are reading this and in your early twenties this is the best way to get into good beer.

 

The mixed sixer is one of my favorite features of a store. Six singles, 2-2-2, whatever. I like variety.

 

Raleigh has a great little convenience store tucked away in the back of a shopping center that allows you to mix without marking up from the six pack price. His six packs are usually a dollar more anyways, (9.49 vs 8.99) but it's such a great deal and the only shop I know of that does that and doesn't mark up.

 

I love the six pick option at my favorite local store, the previous owners didn't have the option and now the new owners get much more of my business. Fun way to sample beers without getting stuck with an entire six that doesn't fit your tastes. The mix six there is only 10.99, not bad considering that's the same price for plenty of brews.

 

gotta plug the store I manage the beer at.. we're now doing all craft beers as individual bottles as well. check out Urban Grape in Boston and Chestnut Hill, and give me a shout if you're stopping by!

 

stop by Urban Grape in Boston South End/Chestnut Hill.. all craft beers available as singles