Why are Belgian beers so expensive?

Just stating that people may think European imports are expensive, but my experience has been that they are in fact lower priced than their American made craft analogues.

 

Most Belgian beers are actually pretty cheep, compared to their high ABV American made counterparts these days.

 

That may be true for sours.

I have yet to see a North American brewed Trappist-style Ale priced higher than the Belgian Trappist Ales (as priced in the US).

Cheers!

 

another way of looking at it: 2 small beers is about one bomber. so a $20 four-pack = 2 bombers = $10/bomber. do you balk at paying $10/bomber for imported high-alcohol beer? didn't think so...

 

The Trappist monks have huge drug habits and wild parties you are helping fund, but they make great beer so we put up with it.

 

It only has to do with demand. Not that long ago in the USA Cantillon and Chimay cost just about the same. They don't now. Both cost as much to brew and export as they used to. Some drinkers are happy to pay big $$$ for Cantillion so it more expensive.

 

Rochefort 10 is around $7 per 330ml in in England, so that would be $28.00 for 4...Though beers are usually sold as single bottles here. England appears to more expensive than Europe...

 

It may be that I haven't noticed the price difference in the Belgian abbey style beers between USA made and Belgian made because the US versions I have had have rarely been as good as the OGs, so I don't mind paying the extra?

Honestly never gave it much thought before, as I assumed those styles were just more expensive to produce and the Belgians were the best of the bunch in those styles.

Will have to pay more attention the next time I buy an American abbey-style ale.

 

Why are Belgian beers so expensive?

The same reason that divorces are so expensive; because they're worth it.

 

Because the good ones have Jesus in them.......DUH.

 

Because that's what the market will bear. If it didn't they'd either drop the price or it wouldn't be worth it to export.

 

This probably isn't the case everywhere, but it may have something to do with the size of the distributor/ middlemen. In Ontario, the LCBO / The Beer Store (Crown Corporations-owned by the government) is the seller of all alcohol in the province. Means that selection for craft beer can be pretty damn mediocre, but what is brought over, is brought over in such substantial quantities, that discounts surely kick in and tariffs may be less due to the purchasing power of the government.

It's possible to find Chimay Blue (330ml) for $3.15CDN, Rochefort 8 (330ml) for $3.30CDN, St Bernardus 12 (750ml) for $9CDN and Rochefort 10 (330ml and only seasonally) for $3.75 CDN. With the exchange rate what it is currently, it's only about 80% of that (plus a tank of gas to get across the border) for Americans. German imports get the same treatment

On the other hand a 24 of Bud (and other AAL's) still costs $38 CDN and the supply of reasonably priced American Craft Beer in Ontario is reprehensible. ($8 CDN for a bomb of anything Rogue). So you can't always get your cake and eat it too.

 

$8.49 for a 6-pack and it's an excellent Dubbel. A fraction of the price of St. Bernardus Prior 8.

As for import fees, shipping, etc, I seem to recall during my last trip to Europe that beers like Hoegaarden, Peroni, and Pilsner Urquell were priced similarly to what we pay in the U.S. It may have been slightly less, but not by much.

 

Huh. Tried to find this beer using New Belgium's beer finder and it turned up no results within 100 miles of Los Angeles. Guess I'll have to keep drinking the beers from halfway around the world that I can get easily here.

Also, a personal preference: I drink only a couple of days a week and I really favor variety, so I usually shun 6 packs (and even 4 packs) in favor of 750's and 22 oz. That way, if I get a crappy beer or one I'm not too enthused about, I don't have a bunch more to drink.

 

That's really odd. I would think it would be readily available in L.A., but maybe not.

I'm the same way. I usually buy a single bottle/can of something the first time I try it. New Belgium Abbey sells for $1.79/bottle around here and that's how I first tried it. I was shocked at how well it fared next to the far more expensive imports.

 

When I was in Watou Abt 12 was about 1.1-1.2 euro's, Triple's Prior 8's were under 1 euro at the convenient store in the town square.

I miss that place.

 

Just for the record, there are 73 locations within 5 miles where I can buy Fat Tire.

 

Because they are made using real Belgians.

 

It's impossible to find in L.A. I've only had from the Folly pack. I would buy it if available.

 

What really gets me are those eastern European beers that are cheaper than bottled water! A darn good porter from somewhere Baltic is like a buck (or less) for a 16oz bottle - now where are your import fees?