Shit Irish Breweries

[imark]

They also have a higher average wage so it's not really a fair comparison.
Having worked there in the 90's I can say that we owe what we consider craft beer to the few genuine brewers that started a movement...and that all happened in the states

[auralabuse]

Thinking of having a hairy goat by a roaring fire,  this would have a totally different meaning in Iraq

[cruiscinlan]

I know i for 1 feel strongly about the "craft tax" and that it has to end , the vfi has to be told in no uncertin terms that if they keep this up they will kill the goose and have no craft golden eggs

As the great Bill Hicks said if you work in marketing or advertising kill yourself.  This is all marketing, known as premiumisation and brand leveraging, you're not essentially paying for the beer, you're also paying for the perceived idea or experience.

Classic example is coffee, as a raw material or commodity its $1.79/lb, as an industrial product its E3/500g, in a paper cup in McDonalds its €1, but as an experience in Starbucks it's €2.50

I don't think we need to blame the VFI for this as they don't set prices in off-licenses and the Irish brewer with the largest chain of pubs (to my knowledge) i.e. Galway Bay has a fair whack on its products €5+ for almost all its beers (Via
Maris being the exception).

It's the same in the Irish whiskey world where although we do have the disadvantage of the 3rd highest rate of duty in the EU, Ireland is the most expensive place in the world to buy 'premium' Irish whiskey.  This is as the makers know that outside of Ireland Scotch is synonymous with good whiskey, whereas as Irish is the poor relation.  After all Scotch is the defacto term for whiskey.   

people are not stupid and a pint at +€5 leaves a bad taste ,drives people away from micros and from the pub ,

I'd agree with the second point instead of the first. The evidence is that people are as happy as larry to pay E5+ for crap macro lagers and ciders. 

I'm also annoyed with the fact that its cheaper for me to buy one of the big craft beers like Theakston, Shepherds Neame etc. than to buy a locally made beer, Galway Bay starts at €3.29, (€5.99 for Foam and Fury) and Independent from Carraroe has their range all at €2.99 

[hopapotamus]

Thinking of having a hairy goat by a roaring fire,  this would have a totally different meaning in Iraq

well living in west cork i wouldnt be saying it in public lol , but i assume the lads on this form would accept my lifestyle choices ........ love is where you find it 

[Qs]

I really don't get why OFAF is so much more expensive than the rest of the GBB beers. So there's a few more hops in it, and the abv is higher but it's such a massive price jump. Great beer but very hard to justify buying.

[DEMPSEY]

Have ye seen the dollar euro rate lately $300 is €244

[molc]

Maybe the Irish beers like Galway bay are also more expensive as manufacturing is more expensive in the country. Alas, while they cost the same as some much higher quality Belgian or UK beers, I just find it hard to buy Irish. I think I've only been given Galway bay beer as gifts at home, as I can't justify paying the prices they ask when looking at all the options in an offlicence.

The pubs are just as expensive as other craft bars and you're there for the social aspect more than the beer, so that never really bothers me.

The more I've read this thread, the more I think the only way to bring the Irish off license prices down is not to buy. I just wish it was not the case.

[molc]

Oh regarding ofaf, I'm guessing part of the price is also the lower yield and efforts required in a higher gravity beer, as well as the larger malt bill. It's just a pity that they've made a beer that's a really great example of Irish craft, but put it as a price point that's a disencentive to buy.

[mr hoppy]

Materials don't drive prices to any significant degree. Double Irish from 8 Degrees is 2.99.

[mr hoppy]

I think looking at Belgian Quad prices tells an interesting story. Pre Westvleteren 12 brick Rochefort 10 cost maybe 3.30 and St Bernardus 10 cost less than 3. In Belgium they cost hless than 2. Now R10 costs nearly 6 here and St B12 is over 4.

Why I find this interesting is they are imports, from a materials perspective they are very similar and critically they are made with a large helping of dirt cheap adjuncts (maize flour, sugar) and owe everything to expressive yeast.

I know excise may have gone up, but not to that extent.

To me that's a crystal clear case of premium pricing and the main reason I don't drink these beers any more.

[johnrm]

If that is 330ml that makes it E4.50 for 500

[mr hoppy]

Whereas 0FAF is 5.79+

Plus, who really needs a pint of DIPA instead of 330ml?

[Qs]

Well I bought 8 bottles of Blacks of Kinsales Black IPA yesterday for €18 in Dunnes. Thats decent value but its still double the price of macro beer. To me thats fair enough. Used to be you could get 4 of most Irish beers for a tenner just 2 years ago.

Whats I'm getting really wary about now is sampling Irish beer. Far too often I've paid €3.30-€4 for a beer and its been terrible. I like to try as much Irish beer as possible because I want to support good local brewers but they really don't make it easy.

[IrishBeerSnob]

I know i'd a pint of Bru Pale in a local hotel at the weekend €4.20 a pint - macro's all more expensive.
Was in a different pub in the town and it was €5.20 and macros about same price.

We just don't have that culture of supporting the local brewery like they do in the UK

[Taf]

Materials don't drive prices to any significant degree. Double Irish from 8 Degrees is 2.99.

I paid €3.99 for double irish in bradleys on Sunday which I didn't think bad for a 9% beer. It was €6.20 a pint in the beirhaus which I thought fair enough. Full Irish in Bradleys was 4 for €10 which I'm also happy to pay.