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I'm waiting for the oversaturation to drive down prices a bit. A brewer who was a bike messenger 6 months ago has no business charging $15 for a bomber of his new black saison chamomile double barrel aged session ipa. A couple weeks ago a guy wanted $22 to fill my growler AT HIS OWN TAPROOM.urbanhack said:
Not sure what his previous employment should have to do with the price. You charge what the market will bear and if the product is up to snuff you make money.
I've never had a black saison chamomile double barrel aged session ipa. Seems like something like this isn't widely distributed or mass produced, which is what's great about the whole craft beer thing.
I agree.......most taste like dog piss anyway.Slapdash said:
"What the market will bear" is of course the entire point of my comment and the notion that a bubble is forming. The market analysis I've seen from a friend who just opened a brewery indicates that our local market has room for growth, but I agree with Slapdash's comment above that the craft beer market nationwide feels like a bubble. Much of the craft beer I see is overpriced by any rational measure. Breweries like Sierra Nevada, New Glarus and Lagunitas can stock my grocery shelves with several excellent beers in a variety of styles for about a dollar per 12 oz bottle. The mirco craft breweries have a higher cost structure, and I understand the reasons an aged beer might cost a bit more, but there's really no rational reason for the market to continue to support a 22 oz bomber of standard ipa costing $12. That's just hype at this point, and I think it will burst eventually.
The "black saison chamomile double barrel aged session ipa" is of course a joke. The naming of the new variety of craft beers is ridiculous. How can you make a beer that is both black and pale, red and pale, or white and pale ("black ipa", "white ipa" "red ipa", etc). The term "session ipa" is an oxymoron. What is an "imperial pilsner"? We already have names for these beers. My session ipa's are called "pale ale" for example. I understand the need to hit buzz words in the beers being marketed these days, but eventually the beer hipsters will see that the emperor is wearing no clothes. As for a $22 growler at a tap room? What difference does it make if its a double ipa? If Bells can put a six pack of Hopslam on the shelves, bottled, labeled and shipped to my city and sold at retail for $13.50, the only explanation for a $22 growler at a tap room is irrational market hype - or, a "bubble". If he is selling those, I am quite happy for him and absolutely wish him the best of luck while it lasts.
Yeah the market will settle. But I don't think it isn't going to be soon. We seem to be in the growth stage in most areas right now. Once the market matures some then we may see price decreases. But the thing is small batch is more expensive to do. By it's very nature it is never going to be as cheap as something mass produced.
Hey usually we get attention for all the wrong reasons. I'm just glad we are #1 in something remotely good.
I see your Bells 6-pack, and raise you a single bottle or Rogue XS Dead guy Ale, retailing for $25.99 for a single 750ml bottle.
Drinking craft beer doesn't mean you only have to buy $22 double black saison bombers. My local grocery store is filled with 6-packs of more normal local craft brews (pale ales, ipas, oatmeal porters, black lagers, etc) at $1.25-1.50/bottle.
I like how he assumes millennial are all broke or something. Every single friend of mine is doing very well.
The growler/micro thing has been going on for decades and still continues to grow.
You serious, Clark?
Grand Rapids has only 30 breweries and it is #1?
Its a readers choice poll.
It's a readers poll, but quantity does not equal quality. I think GR has won 3 or 4 years in a row.
Theyre frequently mentioned along with Funky Buddah in discussions about quality breweries in S Florida...if I'm ever in the area I'll check it out for sure.Gonna hit Proof brewery in Tallahassee in 2 weeks on my way back from Alabama...I hear they've got some good beers going on.
I mentioned this in another thread, but you should check out Funky Buddha. They are in Boca, I think. They had some really good stuff at the GABF, and I used to play FF with the owner.
Haven't had a ton of those but had a Victory DirtWolf the other night for the first time and loved it.
Great beer. Victory is a killer brewery.
