Why is commercial beer getting more expensive?

[urg8rb8]

I just picked up a 6-pack from the supermarket and I noticed that all their prices have gone up $1 per 6-pack. Is anyone else seeing this as well? This is crazy!

 

[CUrchin]

Supply and demand. You still bought it, didn't you?

 

[Gavin C]

Probably a case of fundamental economics at work.

Supply -v-demand

• Demand is increasing to outstrip growth in supply.
  
• Inflationary pressures.
  
• Rising costs of brewing that get passed down the chain to the consumer.

Those 3 possibilities leap to mind.

A healthy free market is self correcting so I wouldn't be concerned.

 

[urg8rb8]

I know about supply and demand very well.... I'm a follower of Austrian Economics! Next time I'll probably only bring whatever is on my tap.

 

[lowtones84]

A couple of years of bad malting barley crops probably doesn't help either.

 

[iijakii]

It's the bomber prices that get me. There's some decent $4 and $5 bombers, but the majority are $7-10 for any standard beer, then $15 for big imperial stuff. It's insane.

 

[Gavin C]

It's the bomber prices that get me. There's some decent $4 and $5 bombers, but the majority are $7-10 for any standard beer, then $15 for big imperial stuff. It's insane.

Are they priced insanely enough for you not to be buying them?

 

[iijakii]

Are they priced insanely enough for you not to be buying them?

Around here the majority of them are $8 IPAs, and I absolutely pass on those. Most are mediocre to boot. I can get some really good IPAs for $4-5; Citrus Mistress, Workhorse etc. That said I do spring for a new Stone every once in awhile to try, but not often.

 

[Gavin C]

Around here the majority of them are $8 IPAs, and I absolutely pass on those. Most are mediocre to boot. I can get some really good IPAs for $4-5; Citrus Mistress, Workhorse etc. That said I do spring for a new Stone every once in awhile to try, but not often.

There you go. Playing your individual part in dictating market pressure.

Enough folks thinking like you and the market will self correct the price of an $8 mediocre IPA bomber.

Similarly, demand for your favorites going up will potentially cause a price rise. Don't tell anyone how good they are.

Macro-economics is a beautiful thing.

 

[Jwin]

You could have had a local taxation increase as well

 

[urg8rb8]

How about just price inflation in general? The prices of all the beers went up here! A 6-pack for Bud Light was $7.99!!!

 

[Michigan_Wolfman]

I just picked up a 6-pack from the supermarket and I noticed that all their prices have gone up $1 per 6-pack. Is anyone else seeing this as well? This is crazy!

It's a conspiracy..... *looks over my shoulder to be sure They Who Follow are nowhere near* ipe:

 

[slym2none]

Lagunitas keeps their bombers at around $5, and they can be 8%, 100IBU beers sometimes.

For $7-8, it has to be something special to buy a bomber of.

$10+, pass.

That being said, looks like I am getting one of the BCBS 500mL bottles here on Friday. I guess it's worth the $15 they will bend me over for.

 

[jwalk4]

How about just price inflation in general? The prices of all the beers went up here! A 6-pack for Bud Light was $7.99!!!

A sixer of BL cans in Ontario is $12.50.

Mind you, due to our outrageous taxation, I could break my arm and not pay a penny to anybody, hospital or insurance.
So there's always a trade off.

 

[Jwin]

Pbr is still less than $6 for a sixer of tallboys

I know because I decided to give myself a headache earlier this week

 

[iijakii]

Lagunitas keeps their bombers at around $5, and they can be 8%, 100IBU beers sometimes.

For $7-8, it has to be something special to buy a bomber of.

$10+, pass.

That being said, looks like I am getting one of the BCBS 500mL bottles here on Friday. I guess it's worth the $15 they will bend me over for.

Expensive soy sauce.

 

[AZCoolerBrewer]

Fair market, supply and demand my rear. http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/georgia-beer-brewers-state-sold-us-out-to-distribu/npQcC/
BMC merged for a reason. Their days were numbered and these are the beginnings of the fight. The linked article is about a decision made in Atlanta where urg8rb8 the OP lives.

 

[tennesseean_87]

Are they priced insanely enough for you not to be buying them?

I don't buy commercial beer much at all. I just brew my own.

Also, inflation.

 

[day_trippr]

How about just price inflation in general? The prices of all the beers went up here! A 6-pack for Bud Light was $7.99!!!

An appalling price for an appalling beer. Seems wrong.
Craft sixers here are selling for $8.99 - and up...

Cheers!

 

[drainbamage]

You could have had a local taxation increase as well

This is what I was going to suggest as well. Our statewide alcohol taxes went up about 2 years ago and 6-packs saw an increase of around a dollar.

 

[castillo556]

A sixer of BL cans in Ontario is $12.50.

Mind you, due to our outrageous taxation, I could break my arm and not pay a penny to anybody, hospital or insurance.
So there's always a trade off.

That's the thing, you ARE paying, you've just been conditioned to think that you aren't.

NOTHING is free.

 

[Phunhog]

That is why Macro breweries buying craft breweries will soon have an edge. They can discount their six packs a buck and make it up in sales volume. Most independent craft breweries are tapped out on space and can't increase their sales volume much. So if they follow suit they will be making less money than before. I don't know about you guys but the craft beer I buy at the store is almost always the cheapest one or the one on sale.

 

[Hello]

Is that all beer?
I haven't noticed an increase across the board, just with some that have gained quite a bit of popularity.

 

[SevenOaks]

Hey, I've got an idea ... Let's all brew our own beer!

 

[Ike]

Hey, I've got an idea ... Let's all brew our own beer!

<tinfoil hat>

Just wait... BMC will be coming after the LHBS next.

</tinfoil hat>

 

[SevenOaks]

BMC can buy me out for a billion dollars any time

 

[iijakii]

I think homebrewing has led me to drinking even more craft... always trying new ones for "inspiration".

 

[specharka]

What's more confusing to me is when bombers are 2x expensive per ounce as the SAME beer in 12 oz form... Are we supposed to be idiots?

I've seen a lot of bombers north of $22 recently, and it's starting to bother me. Makes my $60 IIPA grain bill look downright frugal.

 

[JKoravos]

Beer is moving upscale. Prices will continue to increase like this for a long time. Even mediocre wine is $10 a bottle with regular prices in the $15-$30 range for nothing special. This is where beer is going. I'd wager good money on $25 six packs of 'typical' beers within ~10 years.

I also predict a massive boom in homebrewing.

 

[Phunhog]

Beer is moving upscale. Prices will continue to increase like this for a long time. Even mediocre wine is $10 a bottle with regular prices in the $15-$30 range for nothing special. This is where beer is going. I'd wager good money on $25 six packs of 'typical' beers within ~10 years.

I also predict a massive boom in homebrewing.

What we need is craft beer that is along the lines of a "Two Buck Chuck" wine. Not fantastic but very drinkable and the price can't be beat!!