Troegs - Nimble Giant

I don't understand everyone's complaints about the pricing. It's $11.99 in my local shop as others have paid so the fluctuation in pricing is at the retail level, not due to Troegs fleecing anyone. It's a fresh DIPA in 16 oz. cans, seems to be priced very fairly to me.

 

$11.99 is more realistic, but also the same as Heady Topper at the new brew pub. I am pretty sure I paid $13.99 at Wegman's in PA for Nimble and I saw it it in a distributor for about the same.

 

I paid $13.50 in Delaware. This is not a crazy price. You can compare to other brews all day long and find ones that are more, less, same, better, worse... but what's the point? If you like it, great. If you don't, also great. Saying it's more expensive than Heady or less expensive than Tired Hands is really pointless.

 

It isn't crazy in and of itself, but with as many choices as their are in the beer marketplace, I think value (if not straight price) is a big factor in how well received a beer is, how it sells and whether it continues to exist. A buck or so extra per can is unlikely to break anyone, but if all beers were priced at this level an awful lot of them would sit on the shelves forever. None of that has anything to do with how good a beer is in an absolute sense, but we aren't giving out gold medals, we are consumers. Given that, I think the value proposition is entirely relevant. We may have to agree to disagree on that though.

 

If anyone in Bergen county is still looking, Bottle King on route 17 had a case or so left as of an hour ago

 

For what it is worth I rescind my complaints. I first saw Nimble Giant at $14 or $15 and said to myself that I'd much rather pay that for Tired Hands. The store had an abnormally high price though and I later had Nimble Giant and enjoyed it.

Comparing it to expensive fad local brews might be unfair though so and compared to fresh DirtWolf and Shape of Hops to Come I think it was different tasting but similar quality.

 

You can't get Heady at your local bottle shop. The Alchemist also isn't sending it to distributor (who adds on their mark up) then to a store (who adds on their mark up) Not an apples to apples comparison.

 

FWIW and to eat a little crow, I sent a can to a very trustworthy buddy in MN. He rated it a 4.5 so maybe I'm being harsh. Will open a can this weekend and report back.

 

I don't know if it is a 4.5 but is damn good

 

I think it's good, but no way 4.5 good. Scratch 229 was 4.5 good though

 

I just had this beer and it's good, not great. As I finished it, it had me questioning why would they make this a summer seasonal, then I realized I asked myself the same thing back in December when they released Blizzard of Hops. Both are good beers, but IMO, both are released in the wrong season and leave you underwhelmed. I like them both, but would appreciate them more if they switched seasons.

 

The distributor markup is a completely fair point, although it is unclear to me why this is showing up @ $11.99 in NJ and $13.99 in PA (confirmed). Part of it is likely due to different taxes, but I occasionally buy in NJ and I've never noticed much of a difference in price. As for the local bottle shop, true but a lot of HT and other beers from up that way find their way down here on a regular basis.

I am getting off topic and this is not what I am referring to above, but that mid-May release of Sip of Sunshine in SE PA was crazy in that people were paying less for it here than I've paid in person in VT. Taxes are high in VT though and some areas/towns have additional taxes on beer. I don't think you had to pay any tax at the cannery (or it was included). I wonder if that will still be true in Stowe.

 

Thought this was a solid IPA, but nothing special. The can was very nice though.

 

I am not sure you are paying attention if you haven't noticed a difference in prices between NJ and PA bottle shops. I've always payed a lot more in PA for the same beer and PA residents are always complaining about their state's prices and driving over the border to SJ to get the same beer for less.
And I think a very limited amount of HT hit Philly once or twice 3 years ago so saying it (and other beers from up that way) make it down on a regular basis is just not accurate.

 

Agreed. I've noticed prices are a little better in NJ, but not by $2 a 4 pack / $12 a case. I will definitely pay more attention next time.

 

I've definitely seen some crazy differences. I've seen Founders FBS for $12 in PA vs $10 in NJ or Fifty Fifty Eclipse for $37 in PA vs $27 in NJ. It's typically much cheaper in our state, it's the one awesome thing about shopping for beer in NJ when our distribution is usually far behind SEPA and NYC.

 

tastes just like SOHTC and a lot easier to find. 2 big +s in my book.

 

I just had this on tap at the Audubon Ale House in Pa. Very nice! My current favorite (although that changes weekly...).

 

It's good. Troeg's attempt at Stone Enjoy By, only not quite as well executed.

The Azacca hops certainly don't belong in recipe. I think that's what threw off the taste for me.

No where near as good as Nugget Nectar.

 

So not as well executed and more expensive.