Rant - What the frig is up with overpriced pints at the brewpub?

[evrose]

Yeah, I enjoy paying $6 for a "pint" of Sierra Nevada. Or I could ask them to ruin a margarita by dumping a little bottle of Corona in it.

In your area I'd say Pizza Port is an excellent brewpub and Lost Abbey is one of my absolute favorite taprooms. Also, Stone has one of the most amazing outdoor spaces I've ever seen at a brewery, but the food prices mean I sit at the bar. And usually break down and get Ruination Cheddar Soup because it's amazing.

I've been going to Pizza Port since it opened in the late 80's... great place. They are opening a location in Bressi Ranch, about a mile from my place, and I'm friggin' giddy about it.

Was just at Lost Abbey last weekend. Love, love, love that place. Iron Fist is also close to me - good as well. I work around the corner from Green Flash. Being in SD like having Beer Christmas year-round.

 

[ktblunden]

I've been going to Pizza Port since it opened in the late 80's... great place. They are opening a location in Bressi Ranch, about a mile from my place, and I'm friggin' giddy about it.

Was just at Lost Abbey last weekend. Love, love, love that place. Iron Fist is also close to me - good as well. I work around the corner from Green Flash. Being in SD like having Beer Christmas year-round.

Yeah, if it was feasible I would absolutely live in north county, I love the area. Haven't been to Iron Fist yet, I'll probably hit that on the next trip down.

 

[HBngNOK]

i've been going to pizza port since it opened in the late 80's... Great place. They are opening a location in bressi ranch, about a mile from my place, and i'm friggin' giddy about it.

Was just at lost abbey last weekend. Love, love, love that place. Iron fist is also close to me - good as well. I work around the corner from green flash. being in sd is like having christmas year-round.

ftfy

 

[Indytruks138]

I think the idea behind the high-priced fancy food is to change the image of beer a little to the average observer. Instead of the college kegger fuel, it is the same as wine in that a great beer can be perfectly paired with gourmet food for a better experience. You can easily drink it with cheaper options, but to show the possibilities is a great idea.

 

[hogwash]

Mainer here. Maine Beer Company is a good choice, their beers are just fantastic. Not sure where you are planning on staying, but the Portland area has a few breweries you can try out. Shipyard isn't exactly my favorite, but they have a decent tour. There is also Allagash to check out. In South Portland Sebago Brewing has a nice brewpub. If you go up the pike about 30 minutes to Lewiston there is Baxter Brewing Company and they are really putting out some good beers--and they only sell it in cans in the store. If you make it to Bar Harbor, I suggest you try out Atlantic Brewing Company. Their tour is pretty thorough, their tasting room is great and they also make a bunch of sodas that kids can try out so they feel like they are part of the tour too.

In response to your original post, $7 for a pint isn't out of the ordinary around here for something better than a BMC. When I am out and order a beer, I always think to myself for $2-$3 more I could have a six-pack, but what are you going to do.

We are visiting the in-laws just outside of Portland. I rode up to Maine Beer Co. yesterday and got a mixed box of 12, unfortunately we have been fighting major allergies and sleep deprivation since we got here so I didn't partake in the tasting room. We're doing better today and will hopefully get up there tomorrow. Cool facility. Went out in Portland last night and had a MBC "MO" pale ale which might be my favorite new pale ale. Holy cow was that good. Also had a Bunker Brewing "Beast Coast IPA" that I thought was great, the wife and brother-in-law were not as impressed. Still chasing down some Baxter and Rising Tide. Maybe tomorrow we can find some. We can get Allagash at home so I don't worry about trying that too much when we're here. Today we went to Infiniti and had the "Won IPA" that was quite tasty. They have an impressive facility, whoever built that has some deep pockets. Their beer menu was interesting, several Belgian styles, a rauchbier, a baltic porter, not much on the American styles though and not much in the lighter Belgian styles either.

And to keep this somewhat on topic, I don't think we've paid any more than $6 for a pint of any of the local stuff that we've had.

 

[Yellowirenut]

I guess diggin this thread back up

this was posted on FB from the brew pub that just opened in the little town my parents live in.

Chef Johns latest Echo Bend Pizza: Braised greens and pickled onions from Charla's Echo Bend CSA, house-made pancetta, house-made marinara, drizzled with a fresh watermelon juice & vinegar reduction. It's perfection. Try it before it's gone!

This is what i posted in response

looks good but.. how about some good ol food also. Fried pickles, tater skins and the like?

unless someone speaks up and all they get is "oh that is wonderful" I think they will fall off the deep end. In fact that "pizza" is very close to the end for me.

 

[forstmeister]

I guess diggin this thread back up

this was posted on FB from the brew pub that just opened in the little town my parents live in.

This is what i posted in response

unless someone speaks up and all they get is "oh that is wonderful" I think they will fall off the deep end. In fact that "pizza" is very close to the end for me.

That pizza does sound amazing honestly. Are they charging a lot for it or is it reasonably priced?

 

[passedpawn]

That pizza does sound amazing honestly. Are they charging a lot for it or is it reasonably priced?

haha. To each his own. Drizzle watermelon on my pizza and I'm out.

However, to stay true to the nature of this thread, if that's the pizza you want, it should be overpriced. Lots of effort into a pizza like that.

 

[ktblunden]

I'm 100% with them until the watermelon juice, I wouldn't even try that pizza for that alone.

 

[forstmeister]

To be fair, I hate watermelon. I just think it would be pretty well masked. You only live once, might as well try good stuff. And lots of it.

 

[Yellowirenut]

I am all for trying new things. I just would like to see some plan bar things also

 

[biochemedic]

You only live once, might as well try good stuff. And lots of it.

+1...I just had a bacon peanut butter burger yesterday, and it was pretty damn good. Conceptually odd enough that you double take and think twice about actually ordering it, but too hard to pass up...and as I said, a very good unlikely marriage after all...

Further to the original topic though...I recently visited two small brew pubs in western PA (North Country Brewing and Beaver Brewing) and the *most* expensive pint at either place was 5 bucks...

 

[BreezyBrew]

I was at a pretty popular craft pub last week and they have a pretty good list. They had an Evil Twin imperial IPA on tap for $10. Don't get me wrong this is an awesome brewery, but seriously guys? My buddy bought one out of our curiosity. It was really well made but not something worth the price.

 

[JRems]

I don't think $7 is a lot. I don't know what your complaining about. I have been to many places in NYC and got a $10 bmc.

 

[forstmeister]

Well, I just dropped $15.99 on a bomber of Deschuttes Black Butte XXV. Guess I'm part of the problem actually!

 

[Mongrel]

Well, I just dropped $15.99 on a bomber of Deschuttes Black Butte XXV. Guess I'm part of the problem actually!

It's $14 at the source, so not a bad deal. One of the few beers I'm willing to spend that kind of money on.

 

[ktblunden]

Well, I just dropped $15.99 on a bomber of Deschuttes Black Butte XXV. Guess I'm part of the problem actually!

Every year I gladly pay $13 per bottle for Abyss and whenever it comes out $15 or $16 per bottle on Dissident. Their limited release stuff is amazing.