Variety Packs - 2019 edition

The reason I don't buy these much is that it's very difficult to count on freshness with these packs. They're rarely kept cold, and with many of them, there's no way to see when the beers were packaged. Even some that have a date on the outside of the carton often contain beers whose own bottled on dates are quite different from when the cardboard carton was stamped. Too many times I've bought a variety pack I was excited about only to find that the beers were all 6+ months old.

 

I was looking at OmmeGang's Three Philospher's 4 pack variety, but didn't pull the trigger lol

 

Damn. I would've loved to get the Elysian Pumpkin pack. We're so limited here in PA with Elysian pumpkins. We only get Night Owl usually. One time I saw (and had lol) Punkuccino

 

I liked the Sierra Nevada mixed case (24) that was sold at Costco this fall- 6 each of pale ale, flipside, Vienna and Octoberfest.

I saw some chatter that flipside and Vienna were different. I thought both were great. It’s the first time I’ve been able to get the Vienna and didn’t notice anything off about flipside.

I’ll also get several of the Guinness 200 anniversary mix 12 pack with Original( not extra stout), antwerpen, foreign extra, and 200th anniversary. All excellent and each brings something different to the glass.

 

Oh shit, does that come out every year? I thought they just did it for the 200th Anniversary?

That was one mix pack I loved.

 

We were somewhat limited here with pumpkins in general this year. It was a pleasant surprise, until I went back to get more and it was already gone!

 

Lol, I hear ya. Around my way (Philly area) you gotta get your pumpkins in August, early September or that's that!

 

I had thought it was to be a one-off, but it’s been on the shelves all year around here. If they are old, they still taste fantastic...actually, it’s about time for me to pick up another.

 

https://mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com/2019/11/schlafly-releasing-stout-bout-sampler.html

mixed stouts? would love to see this as a trend.

 

Picked up a variety 6 pack from Brouwerij Van Steenberge with Gulden Draak, Gulden Draak Quad, Gulden Draak Black, Piraat, Piraat Dry Hopped, and one of their blondes (Augustijn maybe?) for $18. Happy with that price since the quad, dry hopped, and blonde aren't available around here.

 

IMO no one fucks with Odell when it comes to these variety packs- their Montage packs.

Always changing, including seasonal releases, along with specialty one-offs that are only found in these packs or in the taproom. I buy these fairly often.

I will add to the OP’s point- grabbed a mixed bucket of Great Lakes about a month ago when I was out east and not a single one of those beers left me unsatisfied... especially that Edmund Fitzgerald

 

Wow! That is a great price.

I just did a quick websearch of this pack and the first hit was Total Wine & More. This pack is priced at $21.99 and unfortunately it is not available at my 'local' Total Wine & More (Claymont, DE).

https://www.totalwine.com/beer/vari...van-steenberge-belgian-ale-sampler/p/16297811

If I see this pack at one of my local PA beer retailers I will consider purchasing it but I am expecting the price to be more like 25 bucks here.

Cheers!

 

Variety packs I've picked up/plan to pick up:

• Shorts Hoppy Holidays.
  
• Schlafly Mixed Stout Pack
• Terrapin IPA Survival Kit
  
• Terrapin Dispensary Pack
  
• Revolution League of Heroes

 

I really enjoyed the Greetings from Tröegs Variety 15 Pack that I saw back in the Spring. Some really good beers in there. I'll probably pick up their Most Wonderful Beer of the Year sampler, if I see it.

 

Checked the box after I got home, I was wrong about the dry hopped.
Gulden Draak, Draak Black, Draak Quad, Piraat, Augustijn Blonde, and Monk's Cafe Grand Cru (Flemish ale).

 

Still a nice pack IMO. I am uncertain whether I will pay the likely higher price for buying this in PA but...maybe this will be a Christmas present to myself?

Cheers!