This Can't Be Good: Last Call At Another Notable Brewery

[SteveH aka shetc]

I can't speak for everyone, but I think one reason I like ales so much is that when I was a kid, there were nearly no ales available. We had bottled Guinness, which was gross, and Molson Golden, which was horrible. For the most part, it was lager, lager, lager.

Maybe this is one reason IPA is so big.

IPA is big because it is more alcoholic

 

[MikeCo]

I can’t wrap my head around all of it. Now that many have sold, the macro market is stuck. Over produce product that is just ok. I’ve quit going to local breweries. Most are producing beers that just aren’t good. $8-$10 pints of poorly brewed swill. My last visit was at a brewery that every beer had almost no carbonation. Who serves flat saison? Place was packed and people were commenting on how good it was. Only a few are doing it right across the board. Quite frustrating, just make well made beer. Is it that hard to do?

I've been surprised too at the increase in cost of a pint over only a few years. One of my favorite local breweries opened in 2018 with $5 pints. Between 2020 and 2023 the price went up to $8. A tip is expected on top of that. To me, that is just not a good value when I can get the same beer in a liquor store for $12 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans. I still go out for beers, but less frequently and I usually only have one. Still, the place is busy and many people apparently aren't bothered by the high prices.

 

[MaxStout]

I've been surprised too at the increase in cost of a pint over only a few years. One of my favorite local breweries opened in 2018 with $5 pints. Between 2020 and 2023 the price went up to $8. A tip is expected on top of that. To me, that is just not a good value when I can get the same beer in a liquor store for $12 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans. I still go out for beers, but less frequently and I usually only have one. Still, the place is busy and many people apparently aren't bothered by the high prices.

There's a lot of post-pandemic inflation (read: gouging) going on. Sure, costs have gone up, but the increases often outpace that. Businesses simply making up for profits lost during covid.

It's not that I can't afford it, it's that I refuse to pay $9 for a 12 oz. "pint" of shiatty beer. I am shifting more towards drinking my home brew, and buying packaged beer for the styles I don't brew. And I don't need to find a DD when I'm enjoying beers at home.

At the risk of derailing things here, I'll say the tipping thing is getting out of hand. You pour me a beer, I'll give you a buck. But I'm seeing places tacking on a compulsory "service charge," usually 20%. What used to be a gratuity is now a baked-in fee to help the business offset some of its payroll expenses.

At least the "service charge" goes entirely to the front end staff, and not owners/mgrs. (I ask).

Pay people what they're worth, instead.

 

[MikeCo]

Pay people what they're worth, instead.

I completely agree with all you said, but also don't want to derail the topic.

 

[balrog]

for $12 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

What @MaxStout said about post pandemic inflation
$12 for a 4-pack pints of local craft is on the very low, hardly seen, end of things.

 

[moreb33rplz]

What @MaxStout said about post pandemic inflation
$12 for a 4-pack pints of local craft is on the very low, hardly seen, end of things.

It is on the low side and it's messed up that we should be giddy to only pay $12 for a 4-pack.

I dunno I love beer in all its forms and I want to love commercial craft beer but somewhere along the way I started to dislike it in general. The vibe, the more-often-than-not mediocre beer, the high prices.

I like my homebrew. When I visited Germany I liked the way people drinked beer there. Jury is still out on everything else

 

[MaxStout]

Shrinkflation: 4-packs are the new 6-packs.

 

[balrog]

Shrinkflation: 4-packs are the new 6-packs.

Don't think I've seen a six-pack of pints.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

RE tipping, we're turning into Egypt. Literally can't enter a men's room there without giving someone money.

Handing someone a bag at a cash register is not service.

 

[MaxStout]

Don't think I've seen a six-pack of pints.

Don't see an abundance of 4-packs of pints, either. Most of what I see on the shelves these days are 12-ouncers.

 

[day_trippr]

A four pack of twelves would be unusual here. Fours are still typically sixteens...

Cheers!

 

[hottpeper13]

Most of the beer i buy is in 4 pack 12 oz bottles ,RIS barrel aged and north of 10%. I'll get IPA's if I don't have one on tap ,which happens about twice a year. In the past when I got my CO2 refilled I'd try some new beers,but now I just add to my whisky cupboard.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Same here in my area. Eight bucks for a pint is steep. On the rare occasions I do go out I look for the happy hour prices or go to a new place and bring my Craft Pass book. Buy 1, get one free, get my book stamped and I'm out the door.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

For those wondering about the Craft Pass, here's my 2022 book. Each page has a Wisconsin brewpub, buy one, get one free. The book is good for one year and they are available for other states. For Wisconsin the book is $36, some other states that have less stops the book is cheaper.

At the pint prices these days it's a great deal to have the book. My 2023 book is in my vehicle ready for the next stop.

 

[Brewdog80]

Here in NW Arkansas there have been really a glut of craft breweries open and many close in the 13 years we've been here. One of the first was a restaurant and brewpub. It's now just opened back up for either the 3rd or 4th time in 12 years. Last one made it 2 years. Beer just so so, food at best average. Everything else is food trucks. Which I HATE. One if the biggest flops was CORE which expanded to 5 or 6 locations in about 18 months and crashed back to one little location but they still can and sell locally. Can't brew to style at all. Everything is IPA hopped. Everything. Lager with 50 ibus... awful. We stopped in at one that can actually brew yesterday at 2pm. We were only ones in there for 15 minutes. Dead. They can into 24 oz. $8 each. But most of the fancy brewpubs are making decent beer but want $7 to $9 for 6 to maybe 10ounces. But I want a pint. 16 ounces. Not 8 ounces in a cute footed glass, or at best you get a 11 ounce pour in a 12 oz glass. It's why I brew my OWN

 

[Dog House Brew]

Every beer sold should be by the pint. Any thing above 7% is an 8-10oz pour. SMH…I saw Surly on the shelf for the 1st time here. I was so excited, then tried some in the mixed IPA 12 pack. Once again, I don’t understand….to self, just stop waiting your $$.

 

[MikeCo]

Don't see an abundance of 4-packs of pints, either. Most of what I see on the shelves these days are 12-ouncers.

I see a lot of local breweries selling 4-packs of pints in cans.

 

[Brewdog80]

A pint is 16 ounces. Anything less is just a can or a bottle. Beer, the one industry that doesn't do truth in advertising.

 

[MikeCo]

A pint is 16 ounces. Anything less is just a can or a bottle. Beer, the one industry that doesn't do truth in advertising.

I think beer for distribution is pretty tightly controlled in terms of the volume advertised on the bottle or can. At tap room, a lot of places sell pints or what they call a full pour in glasses that only hold 14 ounces or so.

 

[beersk]

It is on the low side and it's messed up that we should be giddy to only pay $12 for a 4-pack.

I dunno I love beer in all its forms and I want to love commercial craft beer but somewhere along the way I started to dislike it in general. The vibe, the more-often-than-not mediocre beer, the high prices.

I like my homebrew. When I visited Germany I liked the way people drinked beer there. Jury is still out on everything else

100% agree.

Curious, what did you like about the way people drank beer in Germany?

 

[MaxStout]

I think beer for distribution is pretty tightly controlled in terms of the volume advertised on the bottle or can. At tap room, a lot of places sell pints or what they call a full pour in glasses that only hold 14 ounces or so.

They can legally do that with tap beer because there is no statute requiring a pint be 16 oz. It's a "nominal" measure that has been allowed as a customary business practice. Same with lumber--those 2x4s are only 1.5x3.5". It was 2x4" before kiln-drying.

Some commodities are subject to weights & measures laws, like gasoline. A gallon must be dispensed as 128 fluid ounces, and those pumps must be calibrated. Same story for scales in grocery stores and butcher shops.

IIRC, Michigan passed a bill, stating that if advertised as a "pint," the pour must be 16 fl. oz. I suppose some bars and taprooms still use shaker glasses and just call it a "full glass," or something. No idea if any other states have a similar law. Minnesota does not.

 

[beersk]

They can legally do that with tap beer because there is no statute requiring a pint be 16 oz. It's a "nominal" measure that has been allowed as a customary business practice. Same with lumber--those 2x4s are only 1.5x3.5". It was 2x4" before kiln-drying.

Some commodities are subject to weights & measures laws, like gasoline. A gallon must be dispensed as 128 fluid ounces, and those pumps must be calibrated. Same story for scales in grocery stores and butcher shops.

IIRC, Michigan passed a bill, stating that if advertised as a "pint," the pour must be 16 fl. oz. I suppose some bars and taprooms still use shaker glasses and just call it a "full glass," or something. No idea if any other states have a similar law. Minnesota does not.

Well, I don't know about you, but if I'm given a pour that clearly has 3+ fingers of head on it, I know I'm getting shorted and I always ask for a top up. Like mentioned earlier by someone, the prices are ridiculous, I want every last drop I can get. But the easier thing to do is know where the best happy hours are or don't go out for beer. And really, I don't go out for beer much anymore unless it's a Mexican restaurant or a special occasion.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Yup, I was writing the same a pint should be 16 ounces if beer, not 12 ounces and four of foam.

Also those 2x4's are rough cut then planed down to 1.5x3.5 the standard size. Sometimes you can buy the rough cut full side lumber at the saw mill yet but they wouldn't be stamped for construction use.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

So my 9-ounce "pint" glasses are actually a scam!

When my wife and I were trying to visit Czechia, I watched a lot of videos, and I was surprised to see they serve lagers that are literally all foam. I hope that doesn't catch on here. I'm still not over the 14-ounce Haagen-Dazs pint. I can't believe fat people haven't stormed the factory.

 

[bwible]

They can legally do that with tap beer because there is no statute requiring a pint be 16 oz. It's a "nominal" measure that has been allowed as a customary business practice. Same with lumber--those 2x4s are only 1.5x3.5". It was 2x4" before kiln-drying.

Some commodities are subject to weights & measures laws, like gasoline. A gallon must be dispensed as 128 fluid ounces, and those pumps must be calibrated. Same story for scales in grocery stores and butcher shops.

IIRC, Michigan passed a bill, stating that if advertised as a "pint," the pour must be 16 fl. oz. I suppose some bars and taprooms still use shaker glasses and just call it a "full glass," or something. No idea if any other states have a similar law. Minnesota does not.

Every .5L at Oktoberfest is filled about half

 

[Brewdog80]

Haven't been to octoberfest in Germany, but at other times, they serve pretty dang close to a full half or liter. And it is why the UK has a line on their pint glasses. Foam above the line, beer beliw

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

My wife and I also tried to go to Munich. I had a hard time finding a hotel. We had no idea Oktoberfest was in September.

I looked at some videos to see what it was all about. I had assumed it was about people who really appreciated the craftsmanship that went into good beer. Not exactly true. Those people lying face-down in the street weren't thinking about balanced malts and subtle hopping.

 

[day_trippr]

lolz! I was fortunate to have been flown into the Greater Munchen Area on business in the middle of Oktoberfest and conveyed around the notable bierhauses by the local sales dudes. I saw plenty of merriment (that Hofbräuhaus behind the Glockenspiel was a total riot) but fortunately no face-down drunkards. Same deal at Kloster Andechs - lots of red faced folks that probably should not have even considered driving home but I didn't trip over any bodies

Cheers!

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Check out Youtube. It's a real spectacle. Vomiting, passing out, falling down...really glad we were not there.

I don't know how widespread the high school behavior is, but the videos are pretty off-putting.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Our visit to Dublin also featured some issues due to excess. Had to step around vomit a few times. My understanding is that most of it comes out of British tourists.