Your cart is currently empty!
Steven Coulson
Steven has been drinking beers, wines and spirits for decades and has a propensity to go about them at length after a few drinks.
Latest Posts
- 57/m: Love beer, but it doesn’t love me as much anymore
- No Stupid Questions Wednesday – ask anything about beer
- Does anyone else get treated like a beer snob for ordering literally anything that isn’t a macro lager?
- Is there a polite way to refuse a beer that’s being served in the wrong glassware without making everyone at the table uncomfortable?
- # What’s the most pretentious thing you’ve ever said about beer that you secretly didn’t understand yourself?
Categories
Tags
Social Links
The Price of Perception: Is Expensive Beer Worth It?
As an avid beer enthusiast, I recently found myself pondering a thought-provoking question: What’s the highest amount you’ve ever invested in a single beer, and was that experience truly worth it?
Just last night, I made an impulsive decision that left my wallet a bit lighter but my curiosity piqued. I spent a staggering $47 on a single bottle of barrel-aged imperial stout that had been meticulously crafted over 18 months in bourbon barrels, enhanced with Madagascar vanilla and Ecuadorian cacao. The shopkeeper enthusiastically pitched it as a rare gem—akin to liquid gold. He highlighted the brewery’s impressive accolades, including a notable gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival, and assured me that this was a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Excited by the promise of sophistication, I seized the opportunity and brought the luxurious bottle home. I made sure to chill it to the perfect temperature and served it in the appropriate glassware, ready to savor every sip. However, as I took my first taste, I was met with a flavor reminiscent of decadent chocolate milk with hints of bourbon—a delightful combination, no doubt, but certainly not worth the hefty price tag. I couldn’t shake the thought that I could have purchased a solid bottle of bourbon instead for the same price.
What troubled me most was the urge to convince myself of its greatness simply due to the price I had paid. I found myself sharing lavish photos on social media, extolling its “complex flavor profile” and “exceptional barrel character.” But deep down, I was grappling with the reality that I might have fallen prey to the hype surrounding the bottle.
This experience has led me to reflect on the relationship between price and perceived value in the craft beer world. Has anyone else felt ensnared in this trap where the allure of luxury outweighs the actual experience? What’s the most you’ve ever spent on a single beer that truly justified its steep cost?
Join the conversation in the comments below—I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories!