Variety packs - any value in them?

It's the assisted-living wing.

 

I just picked up a Sierra Nevada Variety 12 pack for $13.00! I wanted to try Nooner and Kolsch. I already know that I like the Pale Ale and the Kellerweis, so this was a great value for me!

 

I buy variety packs a few times a year, mostly for group activities or parties. It's a good way to appeal to a group with varying craft interest/experience. I tend to shy away from the seasonal variety packs and usually go for the ones that pack the year round core beers. The New Belgium Folly pack (can version) is usually my go-to, as I enjoy all 4 beers in the pack.

I really enjoy Sixpoint's year-round offerings and would definitely pick up a variety pack that included Resin, Bengali, Sweet Action, and Crisp.

 

I am still at the phase of wanting to explore new beers, hence I seldom want to buy a six pack of one beer (though I sometimes do) My (convenient) choices are A. Buy a mixed six pack (or under 6) at total wine B. Ditto at Trader Joes C. Buy a mixed six pack at one of the regular supermarkets D. Get a brewery variety pack

The advantage of A is there is such a huge variety, I can construct the pack according to any tasting theme I want. The disadvantage is that they charge singles prices The supermarkets charge a fixed amount per six pack which is a pretty good deal, except the nearby ones have paltry selections. TJ charges one sixth of the six pack price, which is not a bad deal, and has a better selection than the other supermarkets, but still pretty limited. A brewery variety pack is tempting, but I tend not to buy 12 beers at once - my wife is still not quite used to this being my hobby. I am tempted to get the Saranac variety pack as it is the only brewery variety 3 pack I know of. As for what I want in a six pack, it is a good variety of beers that would make sense for a tasting - either all the flagships, or a seasonal pack, or all the IPA's or some more or less logical theme. And would prefer more different beers, but fewer of each one.

 

Just got this at the Food Lion in Avon, Outer Banks, NC.... I'll know tomorrow when it's chilled, but it looks pretty darn good...!

 

yeah I love them for many reason

I do not like drinking the same style for long periods of time. So it gives me options on a bit of everything.

Also in PA, why pay $30-god knows how much. When I can get a 12 pack for roughly 20. In Mo I got a variety pack of schafly for the same price as the 12 pack of blue moon. What would yall pick?

Great for parties especially with people who might not be craft leading people. Might not like the Porter but dig the amber.

 

They're good for parties. That's basically it.

 

I love mixed packs but admittedly only buy them if they contain beer I will drink or beer I can't get any other way and can justify the price minus what I won't drink. Example: GLBC's Spring sampler box. I love Holy Moses and was disappointed they retired it just as I found it (2009). 6 years later, it's back in the sampler. I valued Holy Moses as a $5 beer and just needed to like one of the other beers to be happy with my purchase. New Belgium has the same trick with their revived styles in their Folly packs. Stuff Porch Swing into that box, add Fat Tire, Ranger, Slow Ride, and 1554, all beers I love, and it was a day 1 buy for me.

A mixed 4 or 6 pack with all different beers would be something I would always buy because I'm the only one that drinks beer, so I don't need a lot of stock. That is also why I tend to shy away from full 6 packs, as I often don't finish them, much less cases. A mixed 4 pack of six point beers or 6er would be the dream. Would love to see a mix featuring a rotating IPA/DIPA (Resin, Hi-Res, etc), Sensi Harvest, Sweet Action, Righteous, a revived beer, and a new exclusive beer.

 

My only qualm with variety packs is that they are often just the four most easy drinking beers from a given brewery. I don't keep more than 12 bottles in my fridge at any given time, so when I purchase a mixed pack I am committing to drinking only low-ABV, subtler beers for the next 2 weeks. I am more likely to purchase a mixed 12-pack when it offers a broad range of styles.

 

Man, I love the idea of variety packs, but the thing that gets me is how they're used. Here's the format I normally see:

Flagship- I understand it's put in there for brand awareness and as a reminder for people to re-buy our classic, but in my opinion, I rarely see people that buy the variety packs that haven't had or would not remember to buy the a six pack of the flagship anyway.
Seasonal (or 2)- Eh, most of the times a particular brand that is using their seasonal (let's say: Sam Adams Summer), already has it plastered everywhere. I have never seen the follwing: "Well, I really would like to try that Kolsch SA is debuting, because I like Kolsch... wait, what is this Summer Ale they speak of? How intriguing. I will purchase this for the mystery of the Summer Ale!" Most people I see go for the next reason.
One off (or 2)- This is the main reason I buy variety packs, and everyone that I know of buys variety packs, novice beer drinkers and beer nerds alike.

If you put 4 flagships in there, or two flagships and two seasonal beers you release every year, I won't buy it. I already know which I like and will put my money into a full pack of those, or I won't. I'm also not buying a 12 pack knowing that I've had all of the beers and hate 1, don't mind 2, and like/love the last.

I'd like to see more variety packs using a pilot approach. As in, every year, we're going to debut a variety pack that will have 4 (or 6) new beers. Have a popular vote via social media or whatever, and put that beer into full production, save the recipes of the other 1-2 favorites and debut them in a few years as a "throwback" pack or similar. Those that win the popular vote can be added to the full lineup, or seasonal lineup, or become bombers, or whatever.

Now, I get that it might be hard to put the R&D and allot tank space into brewing those, and might be easier to just have the classic and seasonal and not need to worry about busts while continuing to have people be reminded of the flagship, but I would love to see it.

 

thank you. what this man said

 

I also always get a Short's seasonal variety 12. You can't beat the selection. Of late they've been a nice mix of new, retired or off-season stuff. Dan's Pink Skirt in the last autumn pack, for example. I look forward to them because of the otherwise unavailability.

Otherwise, the SN is nice but I usually buy a sixer when it comes to them.

The Stone sampler 12 looks appealing but it's not 13 bucks by me. It's 20. Tempting but probably not going to grab it.

I did by the Green Flash sampler 8 pk recently because it had exactly what I was in the mood for: 4 West Coast, 2 Hophead Red and 2 Double Stouts.

No mystery beers, no loaded with stuff you can get anywhere, three/four interesting/unavailable beers, no exorbitant price tag, I'll give it a shot, why not.

 

If sixpoint did a mixed 12 pack that included Bengali, The Crisp, Sweet Action, and maybe Resin I would buy it often. I always have a hard time choosing between them anyway, a variety pack would be great.

 

I usually stay away from them. I had a co-worker bring New Glarus sampler packs to Illinois and shared it with co-workers.

 

Mixed 6 pack would be genius with the cores, have some with Crisp and some with sweet action. Like a beginner sixpoint pack. 2 beers each means not a huge commitment to any particular one and you get to try core beers to see what you like.

 

I like the mix six packs. I get to try beers that I haven't had, or revisit some without buying a six or twelve. As for brewery variety packs, SN 4-way ipa. Haven't had enough yet!

 

Couldn't vote as none of the choices really suited me, but I like variety packs - don't know about $ value - but for trying a bunch of new beers and revisiting some faves - great fun - loved the Ithaca Box of Hops, Stone's Bastard Box was tits, and the Sierra Nevada sampler I had last year was a lotta fun, too. When I first got into beer, a Belgian sampler was a great start into the Belgian scene.

 

I love variety packs, especially when trying beer from a brewery I have never had before. I get to sample three to four new beers and if I don't like one I usually find two or three others that I do like.