Variety packs - any value in them?

The value may not be financial, but surely it's worthwhile to try new beers. The Smuttynose box is awesome.

 

I have made a space, just for that half case. As soon as PA sends it my way.

 

Seriously awesome to see you guys move forward with this! I only wish this was already out, so I could snag one for my trip to the lake this weekend. I guesssss I can survive on the 4Beans and Resin that I already picked up for it.

 

FWIW, a good way to raise the ol' beer karma score...

 

The value I see in variety packs over six packs is that I like to change up what I drink and tend to not drink the same beer twice in a row. So the variety pack gives me a variety I can rotate between and I usually get a lower price per beer out of a 12 bottle variety pack then a sixer. Also my beer fridge is only a minifridge so getting the same variety in six packs would tend to fill it up. The value I see in variety packs over singles is that they are a better per beer price and they often don't have the age issues that singles have in a lot of locations.

That said I stay away from variety packs from breweries that I haven't come to like and trust simply because I don't want to get stuck with 12 beers from someone who doesn't brew good beer. Another potential issue with variety packs is them pairing up beer I like with beer I don't, at some point you have to ask yourself why you're buying beer you don't like. Considering the variety in people's tastes that's always a potential issue.

My ideal variety pack would be 2 each of 6 beers for maximum variety but I can see how that might pose logistical challenges particularly if it contains seasonals (which is often the case in my experience). Also, I wouldn't mind seeing variety 6 packs, a 2 each of 3 beers would be neat. Aside from that themes beyond the season would be nice to see. Some of the larger breweries have enough brews to do things like national style variety packs, something like a German styles or Belgian styles variety pack would peak my interest. Hell, a collaborative variety pack (not necessarily collaborative brews but a mix from two breweries) would be neat but I could see how that could have a bunch of hurdles and not necessarily make sense from a business perspective.

 

Seems to work for the Sam Adams Longshot series. Also St. Bernardus does one (maybe for PA only) which is 6 different beers per six pack in a variety case..

 

Shiner "Family Reunion" is a mixed 6-pack.

 

There is some value, but most of the time it’s 3 bottles of an interesting and/or new beer that I want to try packaged with 9 standards that I have no use for. The only occasion this works is when I bring it to a party. The standards fly off the table quickly, and I’m left with the good stuff.

 

Buying variety 12 packs is like buying those Frito-lay chip variety packs...your always left with something that you don't want.

 

Hallelujah Brother, Sister, whatever you are! Time well spent in planning, it looks fantastic. Hope they are available in full pallet quantities

 

Some are but most aren't..3 that were good were Stone mixed 12 pk..Southern Tier mixed 12 with their DIPA's and Ithaca Box of Hops

 

I agree with the Southern Tier mention, especially 3 different beers, 4 each. I thought that was a great way to split a 12 pack. My other recommendation would be Great Lakes and Yards (regular). Both purchases were examples of every beer in the pack being a solid, enjoyable brew.

 

I would love to see seasonal vatiety packs
I say do it this way:
Fall: Bengali, Crisp, Autumnation, and Octoberfest
Winter: Resin, Global Warmer, Sweet Action, a stout
Spring: Bengali, Resin, Beast Mode, a bock
Summer: Crisp, Apollo, Session IPA, Jammer (a variety maybe peach?)

 

A store I frequent had mixed their own Sixpoint cases at one point. Six different four packs of pounders (bengali, sweet action, crisp, apollo and diesel if I recall). Fantastic; it was my favorite variety case. I actually stumbled across this thread looking into getting more.

 

Some value, rarely buy. I prefer to take a very long stroll around the store, see what's new, and pick my own variety pack of singles if the store allows it.

Although the other day I almost bought a St. Bernardus variety pack. I've already tasted all the beers plenty of times, but don't happen to have the glassware that came with it. Those ones are usually a good value because of the glass.

 

Short's in Michigan does very cool seasonal variety 12pk's. Mostly beers appropriate to season, and smaller runs of beers that don't make it onto their yearly larger scale brew schedule. I usually pick them up to split with friends.

 

I usually buy SN variety packs maybe once each season and occasional Sam Adams but not as much SA anymore as there haven't been very good offerings in the packs. SN always has beers of a high standard and pricepoint can't be beat. Usually $15 a 12 pack and that is what I usually spend on average each week on a mixed 6er. 2x the beer+high quality. If I'm bored with 3 of the same one, I just swap or offer to a friend or leave for guest beer. So much options and great value.

I've eyed the Stone variety, but at $21 a 12 pack...that $6 more than SN, I've never pulled the trigger.

 

Ignore me if I'm reiterating sentiments found in previous posts; I haven't read them, but I almost never buy cases of variety beers. There is almost always one or more duds, or beers that are simply not to my style. I pretty much only buy beer for me, so you can see why this doesn't work for me.

A lot of my friends buy them though. But they have way more people over and have girlfriends that will drink the wit beers and shit. For me to buy one, everything in it has to be appealing, and it helps if there is something that is exclusive to the variety pack.

I'm trying to think of a variety pack of your existing offerings that I may actually buy, but nothing comes to mind. I'd rather just buy a 4 pack of whatever like always.