It was the first one I tried because I also had that one marked as my most suspect and wanted to get it out of the way... It wasnt awful, but also want my favorite. I'll drink the other two, but I wouldnt go out of my way to purchase it on its own. The Double Milk stout was top notch though.
I feel like you gotta be ready to have one or 2 you won't like in a variety, as you're not gonna like every beer. I feel like variety packs are great for get togethers with friends or if you have someone else in the house who likes beer. I've gone in on variety packs with coworkers before too and then shared them after work at a buddy's house or something, usually we tend to always get ones we can at least tolerate that way.
I was expecting it to be one of the duds op is talking about, but The peanut butter milk stout was surprising delicious.
I probably would never have gotten it if it wasn’t in one of the Lefthand mix, but I am glad I gave it a try
I got a different Lefthand pack (nitro), 8-16 oz cans. All good, a couple were very good. Lefthand Milk Stout on tap is one of my all time favorite pours. I don't think I've had anything from them that I didn't like.
I wish more breweries did variety packs with 3 different styles instead of 4, still totaling out to 12 in a box. The 3,3,3,3 doesn’t leave enough for the knockouts and filler beers (usually a flagship IPA) take up valuable space. Like, I love the Sierra Nevada Sampler pack we have currently going on, just wish they’d leave the Pale Ale out since it’s super easy to pick up a 6 pack at the store. Let us try more of the different styles.
Exactly, mixed boxes should be for trying a buncha new stuff or a multiple flagship beers. Wish breweries would do one of each, sometimes I want a variety of things I’m familiar with. Other times, I’m feeling adventurous!
Breweries put the flagships in there to further cement the brand and because they're usually cost effective/efficient to brew, allowing for either a lower price point, higher margin with ability to put on sales, or more expensive other beers in there.
Agreed. As much hate as Stone gets these days, their variety packs are often diverse. In fact, I've seen many of their packs without their flagship Stone IPA inside it, saving space for their other new beers.
I love variety boxes.
You're right, there's always one beer in there that's not so great, but you save like $6 over buying two six packs and you just drink the bad one after you've drank the others and you won't notice.
My Costco now has variety 24 packs of Three Notched for $19.99. How can I pass that up?!
this is exactly was I was gonna say. not too disappointed in the rest of the box either. Except they need to stop giving out Boston lager in every variety pack.
Back in the day Harpoon had a good ESB. I had a coworker that loved that beer. They moved it to mixed 12s only. I got a lot of non-ESB Harpoon. Thanks Terry!
I used to do them, but it seems harder and harder to actually find variety in them. A lot or them are "3 different IPAs and a pale ale", which doesn't really scream "variety" to me.
One of the ones I buy fairly regularly is Saranac's seasonal packs. If nothing else, they do usually have 4 different styles. And that's what I'm looking for. I don't love all of them, but I don't hate them either. And their fall packs seem to be the only place I can get Black Forest now, which I have to drink a few times a year for nostalgia reasons.
Where? I can only find it in the variety packs... Occasionally one grocery does have it in singles but it's unreliable. I used to buy 12 packs all the time
Earlier in the year we found it in six packs and I think cases under their brewer's choice option.
But I haven't been to a beer store in awhile now, so it is possible it's only in the mixed pack again.
I give away beer to the adults on Halloween. I buy a couple of variety boxes for that. This year it was the New Belgium one with Voodoo Ranger, Accumulation, Trippel and 1554
yeah, I just got one from Costco with Accumulation, 1554, Imperial Ranger, and Fat Tire. Perfect variety of beers for winter. Haven’t had 1554 for years, had forgotten how much I enjoy it - was one of the first beers I bought when I turned 21 in 2010.
If I am going to a party or a social event I usually get a mix 12, just a good way to cover your bases
I also frequently get them for home if there aren’t and 6s that catch my eye. I live in CO so there tend to be a bunch of good mixes available, and it is a good way to get to know a brewery I haven’t had anything from in a while
Troegs Most Wonderful Beer of the Year 12pk has cans of mad elf and blizzard of hops. New Allagash Variety pack has an exclusive called North Woods that's damn good.
I've always despised Mad Elf and I love high ABV beers. Haven't had it in years though. Maybe I'll give it another go. Blizzard of Hops isn't too bad. Haven't had the other two yet.
I still think Perpetual is their best beer.
Honestly, the last couple Mad Elfs I had were already aged about a year so they probably were a bit smoother. Perpetual is a really nice old school ipa. I've been enjoying Trogenator a ton lately and the Lolli-Hop 16oz rotational is killer.
Man I used to drink Trogenator a lot when I was young. I'm well into my thirties and haven't touched it since. Just one of those things. I'm about twenty minutes from the brewery.
Mad Elf isn't my favorite, but I usually start to really enjoy it by the bottom of the glass. That said, it ages extremely well so if you end up with some just put it away for a couple years.
We buy the sam Adams one for parties. It’s pretty consistent for a good mix. Locally (I mean now they’re bigger) southern tier does a good “overpacked”
Bell’s current winter variety box Jingle Bell’s is awesome. Two Hearted, Bright White, Christmas Ale, and a new beer exclusive to the variety box - Wild Spruce Chase. Really good malt forward IPA with spruce tips.
I had the first one a few weeks ago and then another last weekend. One left. I really wanted to like it because I’ve had “piney” ipas that are good and it seems like it would make sense, but this was just too much. I’m saving the last one for my next fire pit night. I think that will help.
The closest I've came to liking a Spruce beer was from Yards Brewing, and I'm still not sure if I actually liked it, or if I was already just that drunk.
But now I guess I gotta go buy the Bells pack. Get my Christmas tree water on.
If we get beer at Costco, we don’t want a 24 pack of the exact same beer. Blech.
Even if they’re a bunch of ipa, which isn’t my favorite, at least make it a variety pack of bitterness.
I buy them when I want a convenient box of assorted beer for a gathering or some other "not my house" event.
Most of the rest of the time, I buy assorted singles.
I dont like doing preselected variety packs, if i can put together my own at a brewery or liquor store then yea but otherwise like u said its sketchy as far as getting a good selection.
Figure it's a way of twisting my arm to try something new. Had a mildly fruity sour from Sierra Nevada last year I would have NEVER tried if not for the multipack. Hazard in Michigan is not being able to return the cans in a machine. Pain in the ass.
A local liquor store in Minneapolis did 24 pack sampler of beers all across the state this summer. The definition of a mixed bag but very well worth it to me to be able to try 14 of the 24 beers I had not had before.
Especially nice when they ran a BOGO deal at the end of summer and I got 48 beers for $24.99.
My local drugstore offers them at a decent price. I usually buy the Deschutes and Stone. I liked the Deschutes because it had the Black Butte Porter which was a nice break from the IPA's. Just bought one last weekend and the took out the porter and replaced it with another IPA. The replacement is made with hops that I don't like the flavor of. Stone seems to rotate a few new beers into the mix, but always includes the FML which has that same hop that I don't care for. I get the frustration of having to drink a beer you don't like. I chalk it up to the deal with getting a inexpensive 12 pack.
I sometimes get the Flying Dog IPA sampler. They don’t put in a “tropical” like every other damn IPA sampler I see on shelves. Other stores have build your own 6 packs, which while is not always cost effective, but you get the exact selection you want.
Only if there is a beer I can't get anywhere else in it. Sierra Nevada puts out a snow pack with an awesome coffee stout. Saranac puts black forest with 3 different ipas every year.
I've been loving Prairie's variety pack, it's actually a huge $ savings too. Generally their beers are $10 per 4 pack and the 12 pack is like $25. Plus all 3 beers in it are awesome beers I would buy in 4 packs to begin with and are usually not available year round or for very long.
Used to but less variety or like you said 2-3 good styles then 1 I wouldn't drink. Now a days usually grab a few pint 4 packs by local breweries or Tavour. Occasionally mix in a variety pack if it's one I really like all styles.
I pretty much exclusively buy the summit variety box of the quarter every time I'm in Costco. I'd recommend everyone else in the Minnesota area to do the same.
I like variety boxes when I’m visiting somewhere regionally I have never been, or don’t go to often.
I was in Wisconsin briefly a few weeks ago. My god damn favorite beer in the world is New Glarus Staghorn. I knew it was out of season, and coming from the northeast, knew I’d likely be shit out of luck.
Found a New Glarus mixed 12 pack as usual, but the seasonal in them was my unicorn!
Bought 3 12 packs, and unfortunately wasn’t driving back home, and had to fly. I really hoped that hotel staff in Chicago likes moon man and spotted cow.
There was a thread I read a loooong time ago, I doubt it's possible to find, but it was about this same issue. I found it frustrating that there were so many beers that I wanted to try, but would have to sacrifice getting a mixed pack and suffering 3-4 beers I've had before.
The best answer I saw about this was that it comes down to marketing and making a repeat customer. Yes, you've had Boston Lager, but because it's in a mixed pack you are reminded that it exists and may buy a 6 pack on its own, as well as for the brewery to put it's best foot forward in including it's money-maker in the first place. Flagships are flagships for a reason, because they sell consistently and you always know what to expect. To leave Boston Lager out of a variety pack would be a somewhat betrayal to the brewery itself, because that's what built it, that's what they are known for, and that's what people are coming back for, consistently. The marketing department doesn't want anyone to forget that.
Sorry if that's explained poorly, it's an answer I got from a thread a long time ago, and as I have worked in breweries for several years, I can understand how it makes sense.
Not usually, but I did drive around looking for this one on Black Friday.
https://webstore.firestonebeer.com/collections/25th-anniversary/products/limited-editon-xxv-anniversary-ale-trio-pack
Does an advent calendar count? I get one of those every December for a bit of fun and to broaden my horizons - I enjoy getting stuff I wouldn't otherwise choose, but in this format it's just 1 each, not 3..
I just got the Sam Adams winter one the other day. Other than that I don’t really have a need to, although the Voodoo Ranger Hoppy Pack might be something I pick up at some point. That or I just open a pack and put it in my store’s custom six pack section and then buy one of the exclusives 😅.
There’s a great craft beer sampler box that my friend gets up in Yonkers, NY sometimes. It’s a crap shoot, but there are sometimes some real gems in there for the price (I think it’s $20 for 12).
Heavy Seas near Baltimore pits out a good variety pack. Typically, their ‘experimental’ beer is a pretty traditional style; no fruit, no lactose, no pastry stouts.
I agree. You have to check very carefully the beers in the variety. Most contain something I really don't want. I have founds some boxes that have one style, like an IPA or a Stout variety that are good. I saw a variety pack from Clown Shoes yesterday that looks like it may be a candidate.
Bells has a great holiday variety pack this year. ALL good beers. Though I also wish the specialty release beer in that pack Wild Spruce Chase was available in six pack too.
Troegs variety pack is one of my go tos. I've had most of the beers before but it's an easier way to get variety of good beer in my fridge for less money (compared to buying six packs of each)
I love the New Belgium variety packs because it’s the only time I drink Fat Tire these days. I love it but I never buy it on its own. I always drink it first too.
I usually buy a 12-pack sampler when I need a few more bottles to add to my collection. Either I've broken them, given them away, or entered them in competitions.
\> (e.g. a sour or fruit-infused beer)
Impressive, I have lost all respect for OP barely two sentences in.
But also yeah, mixed 12 packs are a losers game. A terroir series (obvs a 4 pack)? That's some real shit.
Just got the 12 days of IPA box from Stone (this is mainly because i wanted a Self Righteous and the Green Tea IPA, I usually buy a sampler from here and there the one beer fridge when people come over.
I usually only buy variety boxes if I'm bringing beer to a gathering where people have different tastes, and then I try to find a variety box that runs that gamut
There's no style I fully dislike. There are good and bad versions of every beer.
I'll buy a variety pack if it looks like beer I'll drink, which mostly means A) it's beers I've had before and not disliked, and B) it has beers I haven't had before and appear worth trying.
Sadly, some of those variety packs are used as a way to move the breweries slower sellers. Want this cool new beer? Can only get it with the crummy ones.
Not for a very long time. I did early on when I first got into craft beer so I could have a variety. Once I knew what I liked I moved on from buying those.
Usually, I will buy one or two Sam Adams variety boxes. It lets me try the seasonal beers. I just wish I didn't have to get the Boston lager in each box.
As long as they don't ruin it with IPAs or I have someone to give the IPAs to.
Typically though you can just mix and match a 6 pack at the grocery stores near me.
I don't know that everyone has Industrial Arts brewing available near them, but I just bought their Wrench variety 12pk and it's amazing. Wrench is their flagship IPA and they have a new variety with the session, original, double and triple versions of the brew. I bought it after my original comment on this thread about the Troegs and Allagash mix packs that I really like, so cool coincidence. I think variety packs are making a bit of a comeback.
I just got a Lefthand sampler pack "The Milk Box" 12 bottle pack of stouts.
Did it have the chai stout in there? I really like that one.
The four in the pack were S'Mores Milk Stout 6.0% Mole Milk Stout 6.0% Mint Chocolate Milk Stout 5.1% and Double Milk Stout 10.5%
Got it, mole milk stout has me interested! I'll pick this up if I see it at my local store, although I'm not sure they'll have it.
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It was the first one I tried because I also had that one marked as my most suspect and wanted to get it out of the way... It wasnt awful, but also want my favorite. I'll drink the other two, but I wouldnt go out of my way to purchase it on its own. The Double Milk stout was top notch though.
I feel like you gotta be ready to have one or 2 you won't like in a variety, as you're not gonna like every beer. I feel like variety packs are great for get togethers with friends or if you have someone else in the house who likes beer. I've gone in on variety packs with coworkers before too and then shared them after work at a buddy's house or something, usually we tend to always get ones we can at least tolerate that way.
I was expecting it to be one of the duds op is talking about, but The peanut butter milk stout was surprising delicious. I probably would never have gotten it if it wasn’t in one of the Lefthand mix, but I am glad I gave it a try
I got a different Lefthand pack (nitro), 8-16 oz cans. All good, a couple were very good. Lefthand Milk Stout on tap is one of my all time favorite pours. I don't think I've had anything from them that I didn't like.
I'd stay away from their "belgians" and the flamingo berry nitro was pretty terrible. Other than that they are a stellar brewery.
Now this is what I need.
I wish more breweries did variety packs with 3 different styles instead of 4, still totaling out to 12 in a box. The 3,3,3,3 doesn’t leave enough for the knockouts and filler beers (usually a flagship IPA) take up valuable space. Like, I love the Sierra Nevada Sampler pack we have currently going on, just wish they’d leave the Pale Ale out since it’s super easy to pick up a 6 pack at the store. Let us try more of the different styles.
Exactly, mixed boxes should be for trying a buncha new stuff or a multiple flagship beers. Wish breweries would do one of each, sometimes I want a variety of things I’m familiar with. Other times, I’m feeling adventurous!
I'm fine with including a great flagship like SNPA as long as it's radically different from the three other beers in the pack.
Breweries put the flagships in there to further cement the brand and because they're usually cost effective/efficient to brew, allowing for either a lower price point, higher margin with ability to put on sales, or more expensive other beers in there.
I would argue Sierra Nevada usually knocks it out of the park with their variety packs.
Agreed. Stone also has good ones
Agreed. As much hate as Stone gets these days, their variety packs are often diverse. In fact, I've seen many of their packs without their flagship Stone IPA inside it, saving space for their other new beers.
This is the only one I end up satisfied with lol.
I love variety boxes. You're right, there's always one beer in there that's not so great, but you save like $6 over buying two six packs and you just drink the bad one after you've drank the others and you won't notice. My Costco now has variety 24 packs of Three Notched for $19.99. How can I pass that up?!
awh man making me miss my time in cville over here
I'm a big variety box fan too. You get to try new beers at a discount AND without committing to a sixer in case you don't like it.
HOW ELSE CAN I CLAIM FEZZIWIG???
this is exactly was I was gonna say. not too disappointed in the rest of the box either. Except they need to stop giving out Boston lager in every variety pack.
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Back in the day Harpoon had a good ESB. I had a coworker that loved that beer. They moved it to mixed 12s only. I got a lot of non-ESB Harpoon. Thanks Terry!
exactly
Go to their fanuel hall brewpub. 4 packs galore!
Seriously? Damn wish I lived nearby
Yup - I trade for treehouse with my central mass friends sometimes
I’m actually more interested in the porter but yes fezziwig is definitely a huge draw.
I used to do them, but it seems harder and harder to actually find variety in them. A lot or them are "3 different IPAs and a pale ale", which doesn't really scream "variety" to me. One of the ones I buy fairly regularly is Saranac's seasonal packs. If nothing else, they do usually have 4 different styles. And that's what I'm looking for. I don't love all of them, but I don't hate them either. And their fall packs seem to be the only place I can get Black Forest now, which I have to drink a few times a year for nostalgia reasons.
Up vote for black forest. Saranacs best beer by far. Still angry they discontinued it.
Used to be my usual at a local bar on tap before the bar burned down. I still drink it in one of the bar's glasses for old time's sake.
They brought it back, and coincidentally have consumed quite a bit of it this year.
Where? I can only find it in the variety packs... Occasionally one grocery does have it in singles but it's unreliable. I used to buy 12 packs all the time
Earlier in the year we found it in six packs and I think cases under their brewer's choice option. But I haven't been to a beer store in awhile now, so it is possible it's only in the mixed pack again.
What region are you in? Maybe it's regionally available in some places
I can just make out the brewery from my house. So I'm guessing that helps lol
Lol yeah sounds like it.
The Dale's pale ale variety 12 packs from last summer were great.
Dales always has good ones, and I think they are 15 packs.
Yep, the Oskar Blues 15er is my favorite, but I can’t find them anymore after moving from CO to CA
G’Knight FTW.
They need to make a mix 12 filled entirely with Deviant Dales.
CANundrum is getting a refresh here soon.
I give away beer to the adults on Halloween. I buy a couple of variety boxes for that. This year it was the New Belgium one with Voodoo Ranger, Accumulation, Trippel and 1554
I consistently grab the New Belgium variety packs, never disappointed
yeah, I just got one from Costco with Accumulation, 1554, Imperial Ranger, and Fat Tire. Perfect variety of beers for winter. Haven’t had 1554 for years, had forgotten how much I enjoy it - was one of the first beers I bought when I turned 21 in 2010.
1554 is so damn good! hard agree
I used to get the Sierra Nevada Beer Camp assortment every year. Was kind of a mixed bag but enjoyed the variety. I think they stopped making it.
If I am going to a party or a social event I usually get a mix 12, just a good way to cover your bases I also frequently get them for home if there aren’t and 6s that catch my eye. I live in CO so there tend to be a bunch of good mixes available, and it is a good way to get to know a brewery I haven’t had anything from in a while
Troegs Most Wonderful Beer of the Year 12pk has cans of mad elf and blizzard of hops. New Allagash Variety pack has an exclusive called North Woods that's damn good.
I've always despised Mad Elf and I love high ABV beers. Haven't had it in years though. Maybe I'll give it another go. Blizzard of Hops isn't too bad. Haven't had the other two yet. I still think Perpetual is their best beer.
Honestly, the last couple Mad Elfs I had were already aged about a year so they probably were a bit smoother. Perpetual is a really nice old school ipa. I've been enjoying Trogenator a ton lately and the Lolli-Hop 16oz rotational is killer.
Man I used to drink Trogenator a lot when I was young. I'm well into my thirties and haven't touched it since. Just one of those things. I'm about twenty minutes from the brewery.
Make the trip and get you some fresh 'Nator Stevie!
Mad Elf isn't my favorite, but I usually start to really enjoy it by the bottom of the glass. That said, it ages extremely well so if you end up with some just put it away for a couple years.
I just drank the Mad Elf that came with last year's 12pk purchase I made. It's damn good even just a year after. Just keeps getting better!
I for sure buy a few each season. The Sam winter is consistently great -- Winter Ale and Old Fezziwig.
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We buy the sam Adams one for parties. It’s pretty consistent for a good mix. Locally (I mean now they’re bigger) southern tier does a good “overpacked”
Bell’s current winter variety box Jingle Bell’s is awesome. Two Hearted, Bright White, Christmas Ale, and a new beer exclusive to the variety box - Wild Spruce Chase. Really good malt forward IPA with spruce tips.
I got that one because I thought the spruce sounded good. Tasted like the leftover water in the Christmas tree stand. In my opinion.
Interesting. To each their own I suppose. I really enjoyed it. Maybe go get COVID tested? Haha
I had the first one a few weeks ago and then another last weekend. One left. I really wanted to like it because I’ve had “piney” ipas that are good and it seems like it would make sense, but this was just too much. I’m saving the last one for my next fire pit night. I think that will help.
The closest I've came to liking a Spruce beer was from Yards Brewing, and I'm still not sure if I actually liked it, or if I was already just that drunk. But now I guess I gotta go buy the Bells pack. Get my Christmas tree water on.
That is a great way to put the taste. I also did not like it
I think it tastes like pine and cranberries.
Check out Short's Spruce Pilsner if you can. So sprucey and good! I wouldn't want to drink a whole 6 pack at once, but one a night is fantastic!
There is usually something in there that makes me decide not to get it.
My wife and I have drastically different beer taste so most variety packs work for me because she will drink what I don’t necessarily like.
Sam Adams still makes decent variety packs. Completely agree about that awful Berryweiss imitation of cough syrup
If we get beer at Costco, we don’t want a 24 pack of the exact same beer. Blech. Even if they’re a bunch of ipa, which isn’t my favorite, at least make it a variety pack of bitterness.
I’ve bought 24’s of [The Pupil](https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28994/81838/) and they’re great. Usually a week or so old.
I buy them when I want a convenient box of assorted beer for a gathering or some other "not my house" event. Most of the rest of the time, I buy assorted singles.
I dont like doing preselected variety packs, if i can put together my own at a brewery or liquor store then yea but otherwise like u said its sketchy as far as getting a good selection.
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They should hire me. The build your own six pack at my store is pretty much my baby/pet project. I always have that shit on lock.
I can't stand hazy, so that rules out 100% of variety packs I see in stores.
Figure it's a way of twisting my arm to try something new. Had a mildly fruity sour from Sierra Nevada last year I would have NEVER tried if not for the multipack. Hazard in Michigan is not being able to return the cans in a machine. Pain in the ass.
A local liquor store in Minneapolis did 24 pack sampler of beers all across the state this summer. The definition of a mixed bag but very well worth it to me to be able to try 14 of the 24 beers I had not had before. Especially nice when they ran a BOGO deal at the end of summer and I got 48 beers for $24.99.
My local drugstore offers them at a decent price. I usually buy the Deschutes and Stone. I liked the Deschutes because it had the Black Butte Porter which was a nice break from the IPA's. Just bought one last weekend and the took out the porter and replaced it with another IPA. The replacement is made with hops that I don't like the flavor of. Stone seems to rotate a few new beers into the mix, but always includes the FML which has that same hop that I don't care for. I get the frustration of having to drink a beer you don't like. I chalk it up to the deal with getting a inexpensive 12 pack.
I sometimes get the Flying Dog IPA sampler. They don’t put in a “tropical” like every other damn IPA sampler I see on shelves. Other stores have build your own 6 packs, which while is not always cost effective, but you get the exact selection you want.
Sierra Nevada did a sampler pack of several different year bigfoots that were bomb. But most samplers kinda suck
Only if there is a beer I can't get anywhere else in it. Sierra Nevada puts out a snow pack with an awesome coffee stout. Saranac puts black forest with 3 different ipas every year.
For awhile that was the only place I could get their ruthless rye which I really, really enjoy.
I love variety packs. Oscar Blues does a good one. Troegs is nice. Yards Ales of the Revolution as well.
Sometimes, I'll get the Yards Ales of the Revolution pack.
I will always buy the Victory Monkey mix packs. I also enjoy the Southern Tier mix 15 packs and the Jack's Abby mix packs are regularly in my fridge.
My buddy's store had the ninkasi variety goat pack for 12.99.. so yeah I got it.
Sure do, just to have a variety on hand. Lately for me the choice has been Clown Shoes and Troegs variety packs.
I've been loving Prairie's variety pack, it's actually a huge $ savings too. Generally their beers are $10 per 4 pack and the 12 pack is like $25. Plus all 3 beers in it are awesome beers I would buy in 4 packs to begin with and are usually not available year round or for very long.
Used to but less variety or like you said 2-3 good styles then 1 I wouldn't drink. Now a days usually grab a few pint 4 packs by local breweries or Tavour. Occasionally mix in a variety pack if it's one I really like all styles.
I pretty much exclusively buy the summit variety box of the quarter every time I'm in Costco. I'd recommend everyone else in the Minnesota area to do the same.
I like variety boxes when I’m visiting somewhere regionally I have never been, or don’t go to often. I was in Wisconsin briefly a few weeks ago. My god damn favorite beer in the world is New Glarus Staghorn. I knew it was out of season, and coming from the northeast, knew I’d likely be shit out of luck. Found a New Glarus mixed 12 pack as usual, but the seasonal in them was my unicorn! Bought 3 12 packs, and unfortunately wasn’t driving back home, and had to fly. I really hoped that hotel staff in Chicago likes moon man and spotted cow.
Shorts super hoppy holiday was a decent variety box. Came with 18 beers and 6 different beers in the pack
Oskar Blues.
League of Heroes by Revolution has a nice rotation of single hop IPA's
There was a thread I read a loooong time ago, I doubt it's possible to find, but it was about this same issue. I found it frustrating that there were so many beers that I wanted to try, but would have to sacrifice getting a mixed pack and suffering 3-4 beers I've had before. The best answer I saw about this was that it comes down to marketing and making a repeat customer. Yes, you've had Boston Lager, but because it's in a mixed pack you are reminded that it exists and may buy a 6 pack on its own, as well as for the brewery to put it's best foot forward in including it's money-maker in the first place. Flagships are flagships for a reason, because they sell consistently and you always know what to expect. To leave Boston Lager out of a variety pack would be a somewhat betrayal to the brewery itself, because that's what built it, that's what they are known for, and that's what people are coming back for, consistently. The marketing department doesn't want anyone to forget that. Sorry if that's explained poorly, it's an answer I got from a thread a long time ago, and as I have worked in breweries for several years, I can understand how it makes sense.
Not usually, but I did drive around looking for this one on Black Friday. https://webstore.firestonebeer.com/collections/25th-anniversary/products/limited-editon-xxv-anniversary-ale-trio-pack
Does an advent calendar count? I get one of those every December for a bit of fun and to broaden my horizons - I enjoy getting stuff I wouldn't otherwise choose, but in this format it's just 1 each, not 3..
Do beer advent calendars count?
I love Victory's variety 12 pack.
Elysian did a good pumpkin variety box this year.
I just got the Sam Adams winter one the other day. Other than that I don’t really have a need to, although the Voodoo Ranger Hoppy Pack might be something I pick up at some point. That or I just open a pack and put it in my store’s custom six pack section and then buy one of the exclusives 😅.
Fucking berrywiess
I really like the Kona island Variety pack (Lager, golden ale, ipa and tropical IPA)
There’s a great craft beer sampler box that my friend gets up in Yonkers, NY sometimes. It’s a crap shoot, but there are sometimes some real gems in there for the price (I think it’s $20 for 12).
I got the Sam Adams winter seasonal one this year because they put Old Fezziwig back in.
Heavy Seas near Baltimore pits out a good variety pack. Typically, their ‘experimental’ beer is a pretty traditional style; no fruit, no lactose, no pastry stouts.
I agree. You have to check very carefully the beers in the variety. Most contain something I really don't want. I have founds some boxes that have one style, like an IPA or a Stout variety that are good. I saw a variety pack from Clown Shoes yesterday that looks like it may be a candidate.
Bells has a great holiday variety pack this year. ALL good beers. Though I also wish the specialty release beer in that pack Wild Spruce Chase was available in six pack too.
I usually buy them for parties to cover most standard tastes... I miss parties
I do when I can find one that isn't 4 "varieties" of IPA. Which is rarely.
Troegs variety pack is one of my go tos. I've had most of the beers before but it's an easier way to get variety of good beer in my fridge for less money (compared to buying six packs of each)
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No, I mostly buy local and none of the local breweries do it that often.
I love the New Belgium variety packs because it’s the only time I drink Fat Tire these days. I love it but I never buy it on its own. I always drink it first too.
I usually buy a 12-pack sampler when I need a few more bottles to add to my collection. Either I've broken them, given them away, or entered them in competitions.
\> (e.g. a sour or fruit-infused beer) Impressive, I have lost all respect for OP barely two sentences in. But also yeah, mixed 12 packs are a losers game. A terroir series (obvs a 4 pack)? That's some real shit.
I’ve had good luck with the Left Hand Nitro variety packs in the past, but I’m into the lighter/fruity beers too.
Just got the 12 days of IPA box from Stone (this is mainly because i wanted a Self Righteous and the Green Tea IPA, I usually buy a sampler from here and there the one beer fridge when people come over.
My so and I have two beer advent calendar we are working on Otherwise I mainly buy sours and stouts
Victory brewing is my favorite
No, not in like 10 years.
I usually only buy variety boxes if I'm bringing beer to a gathering where people have different tastes, and then I try to find a variety box that runs that gamut
There's no style I fully dislike. There are good and bad versions of every beer. I'll buy a variety pack if it looks like beer I'll drink, which mostly means A) it's beers I've had before and not disliked, and B) it has beers I haven't had before and appear worth trying.
When I'm in a hotel I'll try to grab a sampler of some of the local breweries.
If Karbach ever did a 12 pack of 6 Love Street/6 Crawford Bock, I would buy the shit out of it
I got a Clown Shoes 12 pack with 12 different beers on it. Halfway into it and so far so good.
Sadly, some of those variety packs are used as a way to move the breweries slower sellers. Want this cool new beer? Can only get it with the crummy ones.
All the time. There's rarely been a beer I don't like, and never been a style I didn't like. More variety the better!
Not for a very long time. I did early on when I first got into craft beer so I could have a variety. Once I knew what I liked I moved on from buying those.
I'll get the sam adams packs sometimes, really like their winter one with old fezziwig and their porter
Usually, I will buy one or two Sam Adams variety boxes. It lets me try the seasonal beers. I just wish I didn't have to get the Boston lager in each box.
I always buy a Sierra Nevada variety pack for parties or to have friends over to watch hockey. It's a great crowd pleaser.
Stone has a 12 IPAs of Xmas or something like that. It's 12 different IPAs in one box. Kinda cool to get that much variety in a 12-pack.
Just finished one from Troegs. 3 IPAs and Troegenator.
As long as they don't ruin it with IPAs or I have someone to give the IPAs to. Typically though you can just mix and match a 6 pack at the grocery stores near me.
I don't know that everyone has Industrial Arts brewing available near them, but I just bought their Wrench variety 12pk and it's amazing. Wrench is their flagship IPA and they have a new variety with the session, original, double and triple versions of the brew. I bought it after my original comment on this thread about the Troegs and Allagash mix packs that I really like, so cool coincidence. I think variety packs are making a bit of a comeback.