Have we reached peak seltzer? White claw set off a chain of events that has led to the big beers (bud, coors, Miller) all having seltzer's and even corona, dos xx, and most other beers make a seltzer. I assume they must be cheap to make and probably pretty decent profit margins. As I beer shopped I'd guess 1/3 of the cooler was seltzer. They are pushing craft brews out of the cold section at the Kroger by my house. How long does it take for the pendulum to swing back? I am of the bold opinion that we don't need 15 varieties of lime flavored beverage to choose from. Insert old man yelling at cloud image below!
Peak seltzer
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Last: 4 yr ago by Max Power
At my local grocery stores in the Midwest there are two beverages that are out of hand:
Hard seltzers
IPAs
I'm never going to drink hard seltzer, and I just plain don't like IPAs. I can't even get consistently in the darker beers offered from one store to the next even if it's the same chain. But good lord they are a dream for anyone that drinks hard seltzer or IPA. It also still makes me crazy that they associate athletes and Michelob Ultra like it's the Wheaties of alcohol.
So I guess I'm a fellow old man yelling at clouds. But if I buy beer from an actual liquor store there is less to be mad about and a ton more selections. I went to a new liquor store the other week and they even sold Lone Star, and we are at least an 8 hour drive from Texarkana.
Hard seltzers
IPAs
I'm never going to drink hard seltzer, and I just plain don't like IPAs. I can't even get consistently in the darker beers offered from one store to the next even if it's the same chain. But good lord they are a dream for anyone that drinks hard seltzer or IPA. It also still makes me crazy that they associate athletes and Michelob Ultra like it's the Wheaties of alcohol.
So I guess I'm a fellow old man yelling at clouds. But if I buy beer from an actual liquor store there is less to be mad about and a ton more selections. I went to a new liquor store the other week and they even sold Lone Star, and we are at least an 8 hour drive from Texarkana.
The reason for all of the IPA's is you can make a crap tasting beer and when people say, "Damn that tastes like someone mixed some hairspray, piss and fizzy water together.", someone else can say, " That means it's a great IPA."
rilloaggie said:
Have we reached peak seltzer? White claw set off a chain of events that has led to the big beers (bud, coors, Miller) all having seltzer's and even corona, dos xx, and most other beers make a seltzer. I assume they must be cheap to make and probably pretty decent profit margins. As I beer shopped I'd guess 1/3 of the cooler was seltzer. They are pushing craft brews out of the cold section at the Kroger by my house. How long does it take for the pendulum to swing back? I am of the bold opinion that we don't need 15 varieties of lime flavored beverage to choose from. Insert old man yelling at cloud image below!
If you're an old man yelling at clouds, then you're old enough to remember Zima, and what happened with it.
I'm old enough to have tasted a Zima that someone snuck from their parents fridge back in probably 9th grade. It was long gone by the time I was able to legally consume.
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I really like almost all kinds of non alcoholic carbonated waters and if I want them to be alcoholic I prefer to just add my own booze, the seltzer's are fine and the only one I like to drink is the Ranch Roser Spirits Ranch Water
ValleyRatAg said:
The reason for all of the IPA's is you can make a crap tasting beer and when people say, "Damn that tastes like someone mixed some hairspray, piss and fizzy water together.", someone else can say, " That means it's a great IPA."
This is a fun thread. Love how the OP told us nothing about the beer or style he was looking for.
NColoradoAG said:
This is a fun thread. Love how the OP told us nothing about the beer or style he was looking for.
That's because this a a thread to gripe about 50 different flavors of alcoholic sparkling water taking up too much room on the beer aisle. I'm sure if OP wanted a beer recommendation he would have started a thread titled "beer recommendations" or something like that.
This hits close to home...
I went to visit my folks over the 4th, in a small west Texas town. I've never really bothered to bring beer with me, because I can usually buy something decent there. But on Friday.... the liquor store had literally nothing except crap domestic light lagers, corona, and 41 flavors of hard seltzer (Yes, I counted). I settled for Shiner bock because it was the most "craft" thing on the shelf. On Saturday, it was the exact same thing at the grocery store. And again on Sunday, at the convenience store that usually has the best selection...
Seltzers are destroying craft beer. !#$^% ya'll that drink em. They're a cancer on the industry.
I went to visit my folks over the 4th, in a small west Texas town. I've never really bothered to bring beer with me, because I can usually buy something decent there. But on Friday.... the liquor store had literally nothing except crap domestic light lagers, corona, and 41 flavors of hard seltzer (Yes, I counted). I settled for Shiner bock because it was the most "craft" thing on the shelf. On Saturday, it was the exact same thing at the grocery store. And again on Sunday, at the convenience store that usually has the best selection...
Seltzers are destroying craft beer. !#$^% ya'll that drink em. They're a cancer on the industry.
Funny thing is when I go to the valley, I can't find any decent IPAs. It's just the crap macros fizzy piss water. I'd love to find one with some of that hairspray in it, but it's just bud light and corona.ValleyRatAg said:
The reason for all of the IPA's is you can make a crap tasting beer and when people say, "Damn that tastes like someone mixed some hairspray, piss and fizzy water together.", someone else can say, " That means it's a great IPA."
Maybe Denver is a bit trendier, but I've already seen craft cocktail cans begin to occupy more space than seltzers, at liquor stores anyway, leading me to believe the next trend is on its way and seltzers are out. At my local go to, the large product display right at the front is 100% craft cocktails right now. Mules, old fashioneds, etc.
Some smart breweries are already in the space, like dogfish head, boulevard and ballast point (who sold their 'cutwater' to Inbev a few years ago, after they sold the brewery to constellation).
I'm starting to see Lee spirits out of CO on a lot of shelves with their gin cocktail mix pack. That strawberry lemonade gin is pretty damn good.
Some smart breweries are already in the space, like dogfish head, boulevard and ballast point (who sold their 'cutwater' to Inbev a few years ago, after they sold the brewery to constellation).
I'm starting to see Lee spirits out of CO on a lot of shelves with their gin cocktail mix pack. That strawberry lemonade gin is pretty damn good.
You are spot on.
The low proof, minimal flavor seltzers (White Claw and Truly for example) will still do well with their demographic (20-30 year old women who want something light with few calories). Higher Proof, full flavored, Ready To Drink Cocktails (18-20 proof) are making their way into Liquor Store Shelves (in many states these can not be sold in Grocery Stores because they contain distilled spirits).
This category (Seltzers) is here to stay. Growth is phenomenal and shows no signs of abating.
One other thing...IPA's are still popular, but their growth is tapering. Nothing wrong with them, it's just what the trade data shows.
The low proof, minimal flavor seltzers (White Claw and Truly for example) will still do well with their demographic (20-30 year old women who want something light with few calories). Higher Proof, full flavored, Ready To Drink Cocktails (18-20 proof) are making their way into Liquor Store Shelves (in many states these can not be sold in Grocery Stores because they contain distilled spirits).
This category (Seltzers) is here to stay. Growth is phenomenal and shows no signs of abating.
One other thing...IPA's are still popular, but their growth is tapering. Nothing wrong with them, it's just what the trade data shows.
As someone who likes IPA's they have gotten out of hand. Seltzer makes sense as far as a summer/boat drink that's comparable to light beers although I still prefer a mixed drink. The canned cocktails seem awful but people are buying them.
Case in point. Some random distillery from Spokane Washington.
IPAs=
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California Cooler or GTFO!HTownAg98 said:
If you're an old man yelling at clouds, then you're old enough to remember Zima, and what happened with it.
Love it. Complaining about craft beers being pushed out.
It is 100% supply and demand. If you were to be honest, you would realize that the majority of craft beers suck, and that most people dont really care for them. As evidenced by hard seltzers taking over market share and shelf space.
It is 100% supply and demand. If you were to be honest, you would realize that the majority of craft beers suck, and that most people dont really care for them. As evidenced by hard seltzers taking over market share and shelf space.
Every ****ing seltzer has sugar.
I'd love one that's tequila, soda, lime juice. How hard is that? Why does everything need sugar?
I'd love one that's tequila, soda, lime juice. How hard is that? Why does everything need sugar?
.
its not hard at all if you have looked at all. This stuff is everywhere since it's InBev.Esteban du Plantier said:
Every ****ing seltzer has sugar.
I'd love one that's tequila, soda, lime juice. How hard is that? Why does everything need sugar?
This isn't considered seltzer. This is an RTD (ready to drink) cocktail. The thing I said is starting to take over seltzer shelf space. It is a distilled spirit (tequila). Seltzer is fermented (malt liquor)
The pine-sol IPA trend waned about 10 years ago. Most of the newer IPAs use more tropical fruit forward hops and less resin'y flavored hops.jgh85Ag said:
IPAs=
There are hundreds of hop varieties, try new beers and you might find some that you like. Or maybe you just like blondes / lagers. You do you.
There are actually signs of some hard seltzer abatement. Currently there is a lot of seltzer out in the market that has a high risk inventory reading, AKA in danger of expiring. Recent index is drawing back more for hard seltzer than other categories (everything is drawing back against this time last year simply due to Covid off prem demand).
Just last week Constellation (Corona) had to pull a lot of seltzer from the market that was close to expiration date.
And for the seltzer:craft comparison, that's not really what seltzer is hurting the most. It's the domestic light lagers that it's hitting the hardest and taking some shelf space from. It's stealing from all segments, but that is the one being affected the most. It's why AB and MC are throwing a ton of money at hard seltzers themselves.
Time will tell. Hard seltzer brands were getting ready for a big on premise push, even with kegged seltzer, in 2020. But the timing was obviously terrible. Then, when people were drinking at home a lot of seltzer demand that was already increasing increased even more. Now with the return to on prem, a lot of people don't want to drink what they had a lot of last year, and I think that's going to hurt hard seltzer a little bit this year.
That being said, the segment still has +% growth, it's just going to be less of a boom from here on out I think, and not be increasing every year by as many % points as it had been.
Just last week Constellation (Corona) had to pull a lot of seltzer from the market that was close to expiration date.
And for the seltzer:craft comparison, that's not really what seltzer is hurting the most. It's the domestic light lagers that it's hitting the hardest and taking some shelf space from. It's stealing from all segments, but that is the one being affected the most. It's why AB and MC are throwing a ton of money at hard seltzers themselves.
Time will tell. Hard seltzer brands were getting ready for a big on premise push, even with kegged seltzer, in 2020. But the timing was obviously terrible. Then, when people were drinking at home a lot of seltzer demand that was already increasing increased even more. Now with the return to on prem, a lot of people don't want to drink what they had a lot of last year, and I think that's going to hurt hard seltzer a little bit this year.
That being said, the segment still has +% growth, it's just going to be less of a boom from here on out I think, and not be increasing every year by as many % points as it had been.
white claw just scored airline sales too recently (last month I think).. so still growing, but like Chipotle said, it is taking away more from light lagers, specifically probably female light lager drinkers.
Never understand why all the seltzer craze upsets people.
Just walk past all the seltzers and grab the beer you want and check out.
Just walk past all the seltzers and grab the beer you want and check out.
Ag_07 said:
Never understand why all the seltzer craze upsets people.
Just walk past all the seltzers and grab the beer you want and check out.
The beer I wanted isn't on the shelf anymore, because it got bumped for a white claw lime seltzer, or a Budweiser lime seltzer, or a Dos Equis lime seltzer, or a vizzy lime seltzer, or a Michelob lime seltzer, or a topo chico lime seltzer, or a truly lime seltzer, or a crook and marker lime seltzer. Let's not forget orange, or berry, grapefruit, or several other flavors. Seltzer isn't bad on a hot day, but 30 different kinds of the same thing on the shelf crowd out other options.
I can only lol at this.rilloaggie said:Ag_07 said:
Never understand why all the seltzer craze upsets people.
Just walk past all the seltzers and grab the beer you want and check out.
The beer I wanted isn't on the shelf anymore, because it got bumped for a white claw lime seltzer, or a Budweiser lime seltzer, or a Dos Equis lime seltzer, or a vizzy lime seltzer, or a Michelob lime seltzer, or a topo chico lime seltzer, or a truly lime seltzer, or a crook and marker lime seltzer. Let's not forget orange, or berry, grapefruit, or several other flavors. Seltzer isn't bad on a hot day, but 30 different kinds of the same thing on the shelf crowd out other options.
For how many decades now has the craft beer I would love to see on the shelf not there because there is but light in 12 oz cans, bud light in 16 oz cans, but light in 12oz bottles, bud light in 16oz bottles, bud light in 24 oz cans, bud light in a 6 pack, in a12 pack, a 20 pack, a 24 pack, 30 pack, singles etc. Let's not forget all the same various sizing for coors light, miller light, pbr, natural light, bud light lime, miller 64, bud light platinum.
Completely honest question; do bud light drinkers really need 30 different packaging options for their beer? Literally the EXACT SAME PRODUCT. You wonder why they take up 1/2 the beer shelves of america, they have literally a dozen different ways to get BL.
Seltzer at least is different manufacturers. I've only seen a 6 or 12 pack of cans for white claws or Truly.
Fair enough
But I find it hard to believe you can longer buy beer because it's been bumped by seltzer.
I've noticed at both HEB and Specs that beers may be getting pushed out of fridge space and onto shelves but I haven't noticed that places are not carrying beers at all in favor of seltzer. Hell even niche craft beers are still available.
If that is indeed the case and your beer isn't available it's because it doesn't sell enough and not because of seltzer.
But I find it hard to believe you can longer buy beer because it's been bumped by seltzer.
I've noticed at both HEB and Specs that beers may be getting pushed out of fridge space and onto shelves but I haven't noticed that places are not carrying beers at all in favor of seltzer. Hell even niche craft beers are still available.
If that is indeed the case and your beer isn't available it's because it doesn't sell enough and not because of seltzer.
Maybe the beer you like sucks and that is the reason other products took its spot.rilloaggie said:Ag_07 said:
Never understand why all the seltzer craze upsets people.
Just walk past all the seltzers and grab the beer you want and check out.
The beer I wanted isn't on the shelf anymore, because it got bumped for a white claw lime seltzer, or a Budweiser lime seltzer, or a Dos Equis lime seltzer, or a vizzy lime seltzer, or a Michelob lime seltzer, or a topo chico lime seltzer, or a truly lime seltzer, or a crook and marker lime seltzer. Let's not forget orange, or berry, grapefruit, or several other flavors. Seltzer isn't bad on a hot day, but 30 different kinds of the same thing on the shelf crowd out other options.
You're probably right. Lots of crappy "big 3" beers are on the shelf because craft beers all suck. That's probably also why lots of restaurants with good food go out of business and McDonalds/Starbucks type places thrive. Because the things that consumers buy in mass don't suck...
BMC is the best beer for the same reason that mozzarella is the best cheese.
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I support anything that limits the amount of craft beer in the grocery store, I have no idea why they even sell anything but Coors Light
Man, I see i hit close to home here. Sorry. Not really.rilloaggie said:
You're probably right. Lots of crappy "big 3" beers are on the shelf because craft beers all suck. That's probably also why lots of restaurants with good food go out of business and McDonalds/Starbucks type places thrive. Because the things that consumers buy in mass don't suck...
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New Seltzer
OP gonna have a heart attack when he starts seeing more seltzers than ever take up his precious craft brew shelf space..
OP gonna have a heart attack when he starts seeing more seltzers than ever take up his precious craft brew shelf space..
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