Jason! ([info]jason0x21) wrote,
@ 2007-09-30 10:45:00
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Entry tags:beer, cheapskate, math, numbers

Help for the innumerate.
The new Heineken mini-keg catches my eye every time I walk by it in the store, and the thought of having a mini-keg in my fridge seems pretty cool. Fewer bottles to dispose of, and I could just have a few ounces if I wanted to (unlikely).

So I looked at the prices and did the math.

12 pack: $14.50. 144oz at $0.10 an ounce.
5L Keg: $20.50. 169oz at $0.12 an ounce.

Usually, the HT will break it down for you like this, but since the keg is in liters and the bottles are in ounces the breakdown - in which the units are not converted into something common like I did above - is useless. So granted, that's only a quarter more a beer (in 12oz increments), but it's still charging more per ounce for what should arguably be some sort of volume/packaging discount.

(cue: "The more you know")


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[info]rattleback
2007-09-30 03:17 pm UTC (link)
I wouldn't be surprised if the weight and cube of the keg is actually unfavorable, at least compared to cans, and maybe even bottles; they look like a really inefficient form factor, which has to count for a lot when you're hauling stuff across oceans. I wouldn't be surprised if the minikeg operation is more expensive to run than a bottling line, too.

Then again, it may just be a swizz by the distributor.

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[info]z_kungfu
2007-09-30 03:51 pm UTC (link)
A pony/cylinder keg install in your fridge would be rather easy. I can look I may have the necessary fittings. If not I know where to get them. There are plenty of great beers available in those form factors. My favorite Franzeskaner Heffeweissen is only available here in pony's....

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[info]theevilhalf
2007-09-30 04:57 pm UTC (link)
$14.50!? Why I can make 5 gallons of good homebrew for that.

I bet if they were both labeled in ounces you still wouldn't be able to compare them via the cost per on the tag. When I've been in HT comparing price per ounce on beers, one would be labeled in oz., one in qts and one in lbs. I've only been in one grocery chain, Shaw's, that is vigilant about price per labeling. All liquids are in $/gal and weights $/lb. Good beer was running at ~$13.xx/gal at the time.

Also the larger volume keg being more per ounce isn't just limited to beer. I constantly find some family size of other products are more per ounce than the single person size. I think some companies play on the belief that bigger is cheaper and most folks don't actually check to see if it's true.

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[info]trendywendy
2007-10-01 06:26 pm UTC (link)
Here you would make out better on the keg deal since there's a 5 cent deposit on each bottle. (yes, I know you'd get it back if you took the bottles back, but I never do. It's easier to go to the recycling bin than to Fred Meyer's bottle return and fight with the homeless people for a position in line.)

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