# 4-packs of beer: yea or nay? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** beer\ **Created:** [January 4, 2011, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347 "2011-01-04T12:20:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/1 "2011-01-04T12:20:27Z")
I love microbrews, and am a bit dismayed at the recent trend by microbreweries to produce 4-packs of beer. They usually go for around $10 at the retailer, which works out to $15 for a 6-pack. I generally set a $10 limit on a 6-pack, so I have never purchased one of these 4-packs. Has the 4-pack been a successful marketing ploy? I guess I’m just amazed that people actually buy these things. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/2 "2011-01-04T12:27:15Z")
Are you talking about microbrews that have a higher alcohol content and usually come in 22(or more) ounce bottles? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/3 "2011-01-04T12:27:39Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/4 "2011-01-04T12:37:29Z")
I dunno. I pay around $10 for a 6 pck from a commercial brewery (name brand, like Blue Moon, Dos Equis, etc, but not microbrew). $10/4 seems like a fair price for something made without those economies of scale. I’d probably buy a 4 pack. The annoying thing about a 6 pack is if you don’t like what you bought, you still have 5 left. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/5 "2011-01-04T13:06:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are you talking about microbrews that have a higher alcohol content and usually come in 22(or more) ounce bottles? No. 4-packs containing 12-ounce bottles. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/6 "2011-01-04T13:09:14Z")
I pay $8 for a four pack of Boddington’s. I would LOVE to pay that for a 6 pack. I takes what I can gets though… ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/7 "2011-01-04T14:48:54Z")
I like beer, but I don’t drink much of it. I have a six pack of Grolsch in the fridge right now, which I bought in November. There are four bottles left, and I haven’t had any alcohol from any other source. So yeah, I’d buy a four pack, and be happy about it. Beer doesn’t get better with age. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/8 "2011-01-04T14:58:40Z")
I’ve paid $10 for a 4-pack of Sam Adams doublebock, it’s that good, but I wouldn’t do it on a regular basis. I’m with you that it looks like a trend. My local grocery that usually only carries a few non-mega-brews has recently started carrying some nice Abby ales in the large bottles, around $10 each. I want to encourage them to carry the good stuff but have a hard time spending 10 bucks on what amounts to 2 beers. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/9 "2011-01-04T15:15:05Z")
I’d buy a 4 pack, sure. Sometimes I’ll see a micro-brew that I want to have a sample of and not feel commited to like I would if I had to buy an entire case ($50+ maybe). Chances are I’ll like it, but if not, having only three leftovers wouldn’t _seem_ like the waste 5 would if I didn’t, I guess. And $2.50-$3 for a good craft beer is a pretty good deal around here. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/10 "2011-01-04T15:36:24Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Beer doesn’t get better with age. Grolsch won’t, but a lot of high-alcohol beers will, up to about 5 years or so. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/11 "2011-01-04T15:42:56Z")
Almost all of the craft four packs are “big” beers. Double IPAs, imperial stout, dopple bocks, barleywine, and Belgians. They’re not just more alcohol, but more flavor, and a lot more ingredients were needed for these. The four pack exists to keep the price under $20. I don’t buy the pricey ones often - like St. Bernardus Abt. 12, but I know I’m not getting ripped off when I do. Founders Breakfast Stout is a four pack that I buy often and Duvel too. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/12 "2011-01-04T15:50:19Z")
It depends on the beer. Sometimes it’s worth it, sometimes not. Any of the Surly 4 packs (16 oz cans) is worth it. Some of the craft beers have pretty high ABV’s as well, so a 4 pack of 12 oz bottles with a 10% (or more) ABV is the same bang for the buck as 8 regulars beers. Those kinds of heavy, high end, high ABV brews are for sipping, not soaking down. They’re not what you want for a back yard barbecue, but they’re good to sip after dinner while you’re watching _House_ or something. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/13 "2011-01-04T16:02:46Z")
Since we haven’t had a beer thread in a while, I’m going to create a little side-bar discussion. Boulevard Brewery is putting out some of its Smokestack Series in 4-packs. If you see Tank 7, get it. It’s currently my absolute favorite beer. I was lucky enough to have it on tap when I was back home in Kansas City for Christmas, it’s really remarkable. (For that matter, keep an eye out in your liquor store for the Smokestack Series display - they’re sold in 750ml bottles, and very much worth trying. I’ve really enjoyed Tank 7, Double-Wide IPA, Celebration Ale and Long Strange Tripel. There’s a saison out there, but I haven’t tried it (yet). ---
**Author:** ![Kenyth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kenyth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenyth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/14 "2011-01-04T16:03:13Z")
Comparing your general light american lager to a dark ale is like comparing a wine cooler to Cabernet or Merlot. They are totally different beverages, for totally different purposes. The craft beers have a lot more ingredients, and time, put into making them. I would no more enjoy a good maduro cigar with a Coors light than I would chug a Belgian ale to quench my thirst in the middle of July. ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/15 "2011-01-04T16:28:57Z")
I occasionally buy 4-packs of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout for $22 or so. Definitely worth it because it is **not** a session beer. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/16 "2011-01-04T16:30:20Z")
So, when are politicians going to start looking for votes from Joe Fourpack? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-packs-of-beer-yea-or-nay/566347/17 "2011-01-04T16:45:16Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > So, when are politicians going to start looking for votes from Joe Fourpack? 😃 Holy shit - I think you just coined Sarah Palin’s next snide sarcastic soundbite insult.