The Price of Beer

  I used to spend a lot of money on beer.
  I mean I still do, but I used to too.
  A couple of 24's a week wasn't unusual around here and supplemented with a trip or two to the bar, we were dropping a bit of cash on our own personal social lubricant without much thought. While my choice in beer has changed decidedly, my spending habits haven't drifted much with the exception of going out, I've become a stay at home drinker for the most part, my beer fridge usually has a better selection than the bars in my area. But where my $100 would before yield 4 dozen bottles, that same money now lands me perhaps half that amount of beer and while I am very happy with the quality of the product I now consume, I can't help but think of what kind of lucky privilege it is to be able to afford Craft beer as my regular purchase.
  The cost of our beer is changing and our buying power is now focused more on quality than quantity. Some fantastic prices exist of amazing beer (Great Lakes Canuck for $2.80 anyone?), but generally we are spending more per millilitre on our beer than ever before and that is a choice we gladly make to support both the local craft beer scene and a shift in how we identify as consumers. The upwardly mobile buyer of craft beer is evident by the enormous growth and footprint this scene has acquired in the last half decade. But who is buying and when does it become too expensive for all but the upper middle class and beyond to be regular drinkers of what we term "better beer"?

  I do have a budget I have to stick to when it comes to anything, we are not wealthy people but rather that most Canadian of middle class folks.  Double income, but not too much, a little more than paycheque to paycheque living most months. We choose to buy craft beer exclusively because we love the options available and have adjusted our consumption and acquisition habits accordingly, but the fact that we have this kind of discretion and extra income available is definitely a privilege not accorded everyone.  The shift toward higher prices for a lot of places is simple business math. Spending more to make a unique product has costs all along the supply chain and at the end, the consumer must decide if that product is worth the money being asked. A 12% Bourbon Barrel aged Imperial Stout costs more than a pale ale based on a whole host of factors, including initial ingredients, storage, risk and loss of a beer that takes time and patience to see if it will even turn out.
  We may not have hesitated when we first started buying craft beer to pay any price for certain beers or breweries but as the industry grows, leaders in quality and value begin to emerge and our dollars gravitate toward those who return our investment with a product worthy of the higher prices. Past performance predicts future results seems to be what is happening when it comes to beer and some inflation and perhaps even price gouging seems to emerge when it comes to both the source purchase and subsequent secondary market. There exists low ABV Pale Ales retailing for $3.50 and above and this stinks a little of taking advantage of new to craft beer drinkers and those who want to try anything new alike. No doubt not all craft brewery owners are just in it for the love of better beer and the chance to own a small business in a thriving community, some are cashing in on the hype in hopes of making a quick buck before the inevitable contraction.
  Besides the obvious pricing issues of certain beers, we must also be mindful that the ability to travel all over visiting different breweries and buying whatever we want, when we want to, is a class privilege writ large.  I understand all too well the desire to have a cold beer after a long day at work and not having the discretionary funds to afford one. Being broke because you have just enough for bills and food isn't a unique thing and their are millions of folks who work 2 jobs, 7 days a week, just to keep a roof over their heads. Drained of any respite, they look for the best price they can get to have a few pints in the fridge for their all too uncommon moments of rest. Do they spend $5 a can (times 2) for a double IPA or $11 for 4 tall boys of Old Milwaukee, getting a nice evening on the patio with a buzz so desperately needed in a world that moves faster all the time. While you or I may choose to get the 2 double IPAs because we have changed palates and perhaps seek what we see as the better product, but for someone who is new to craft beer, this kind of math seems off and will send them back to the comfort of the known and the better bargain. There is no shame in drinking what you can afford and what brings you the most joy. It has taken me a long time to stop beer shaming and learn to enjoy life at my own price and pace. For sure I will have a little fun, at my own expense, to highlight why craft beer is a better deal in the end but  without needing to mock or put down anyone's choice in beer. Economic decisions about your beer can be as simple as quantity over perceived quality because you just want to have a beer.
  So while we may be blessed to have the ability to buy better beer and support local small businesses, but that is not always possible for everyone, all the time. A treat of a few tall boys of a favourite IPA may be all someone can afford in a pay period and despite working their fingers to the bones, we can't all afford to buy everything we'd like to, beer or otherwise.
  Everyone has a story and a struggle, try to remember that when your having a pint. Bottle shares are pretty awesome and it's nice to pour something special with your pals when you can. Beer choice shouldn't cause anyone stress, it should be a joyful part of any day when you get to have one. Be kind and be the one lifting people up, it makes the world better every single time you do.

Cheers!
Polk