Galway Bay Breweries

ben.schlomo · 02-04-2014 10:33pm #1

So i've been a Salt House regular for four years, long before it became mainstream. 18 months ago you could get a pint of Stormy Port for €3.90, now they're €5. They've now also done away with the loyalty cards. Has pissed me off no end. Their costs cant have gone up considering sales are rising and they've moved to a larger brewing facility. Looking for peoples opinions, greed or just good business.

Geuze · 03-04-2014 12:46am

This is the second thread I recall over last year about GBB prices going up.

Geuze · 03-04-2014 12:48am

My last visit was maybe 8-10-12 weeks ago.

One or two house beers were 4.55.

Others were 5.00

The loyalty card was in use.

So I was paying 4.55 - 0.45 = 4.10 effective price per pint.

That's ok, in my mind.

In small town in rural Irl, Guinness is 4.00.

So 4.10 in a different style of pub, in a busy city, is ok.

thesandeman · 03-04-2014 2:30am

They are definitely taking advantage of their popularity. But that's business I suppose.
For I instance their DIPA can be up to €3 more expensive than O'Haras DIPA in off licenses (I know it's a bit stronger but I'm sure the costs aren't that much extra).
Buying through suppliers is more expensive also. We have been able to sell all our craft bottles for a fiver but have to charge €5.80 for the Galway Bay bottles in order to keep the margin.
However I do admire them for having the first Brew Pub in Galway. They certainly have got the locals interested in real beer.

ben.schlomo · 03-04-2014 7:56am

Geuze wrote: »

My last visit was maybe 8-10-12 weeks ago.

One or two house beers were 4.55.

Others were 5.00

The loyalty card was in use.

So I was paying 4.55 - 0.45 = 4.10 effective price per pint.

That's ok, in my mind.

In small town in rural Irl, Guinness is 4.00.

So 4.10 in a different style of pub, in a busy city, is ok.

Loyalty card is gone so you can add the 10% back on and the 4.55 is for their less desirable Full Sail and Bay Ale.

Hootanany · 03-04-2014 8:04am

It's pure greed

Lovely Bloke · 03-04-2014 8:07am

Are they still honouring full cards?

BeerNut · 03-04-2014 8:24am

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Are they still honouring full cards?

They said they would, yes.

Hootanany wrote: »

It's pure greed

A couple of new pubs each year; a continuous expansion of the brewery capacity and beer range: you can see where the money goes more than with any other Irish brewery, IMO.

ben.schlomo · 03-04-2014 9:29am

BeerNut wrote: »

They said they would, yes.

A couple of new pubs each year; a continuous expansion of the brewery capacity and beer range: you can see where the money goes more than with any other Irish brewery, IMO.

New pubs and bottle sales leads to increased sales and profits. New and bigger brewery leads to lower cost per unit so i just dont see how that excuse washes.

irish_goat · 03-04-2014 9:36am

Tax increases would cover a bit of a jump in price too. Arguably, quality has gone up, thus price should.

drumswan · 03-04-2014 9:42am

ben.schlomo wrote: »

New pubs and bottle sales leads to increased sales and profits. New and bigger brewery leads to lower cost per unit so i just dont see how that excuse washes.

Dont think they need an excuse? They'll charge what people are willing to pay, they are not operating a beer charity

ben.schlomo · 03-04-2014 9:47am

drumswan wrote: »

Dont think they need an excuse? They'll charge what people are willing to pay, they are not operating a beer charity

Hence why i raised the question of is it greed or just good business sense.

Did anyone suggest they were!!?

drumswan · 03-04-2014 9:50am

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Hence why i raised the question of is it greed or just good business sense.

Did anyone suggest they were!!?

Well charging what the market will bear is obviously good business sense...

ben.schlomo · 03-04-2014 9:51am

drumswan wrote: »

Well charging what the market will bear is obviously good business sense...

And a 25%+ increase in price in just 18 months could also be considered greed, added to the dropping of their loyalty scheme.

Lovely Bloke · 03-04-2014 9:57am

ben.schlomo wrote: »

And a 25%+ increase in price in just 18 months could also be considered greed, added to the dropping of their loyalty scheme.

Who cares if it's "greed" - I presume they went into commercial business with the express desire to make money. If you want to call that "greed" then so be it. I call it capitalism, and more power to them - if consumers are willing to pay X price for their wares, then they are well entitled to charge that price, that is not greed, that is the age old market of supply and demand. I've got a product, if you want it, you are going to have to pay for it - the price will be determined by what you, or others, are willing to pay.

They aren't under any obligation to supply beer at specific prices, or to run loyalty schemes, or to do anything other than run their business in a profitable way. It certainly doesn't seem to be hurting them so far.

I'll be in a GBB pub this evening, savouring their lovely pints.

drumswan · 03-04-2014 10:00am

ben.schlomo wrote: »

And a 25%+ increase in price in just 18 months could also be considered greed, added to the dropping of their loyalty scheme.

Greed? Im not sure you know how the real world works, they are a business and will look to maximise profit. If their product is too expensive for you as a consumer then seek an alternative.

Lovely Bloke · 03-04-2014 10:04am

Correct.

I as a consumer refuse to buy 330ml bottles of beer, I think they are a rip off compared to the 500ml

for that reason, 8 Degrees never get my business, outside of if I'm in a pub/festival which has their beer available from a tap.

drumswan · 03-04-2014 10:27am

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

for that reason, 8 Degrees never get my business, outside of if I'm in a pub/festival which has their beer available from a tap.

Um, Eight Degrees Howling Gale is cheaper per litre in drinkstore than O'Haras Pale Ale, Independent Pale Ale, Kinnegars Limeburner, Kinsale Pale Ale, McGraths Pale Ale and Bo Bristle. Only Galways Full Sail & Galway Hooker (marginally) and the Liberties Ale (considerably) are cheaper. Price per litre is the key.

Lovely Bloke · 03-04-2014 10:42am

drumswan wrote: »

Um, Eight Degrees Howling Gale is cheaper per litre in drinkstore than O'Haras Pale Ale, Independent Pale Ale, Kinnegars Limeburner, Kinsale Pale Ale, McGraths Pale Ale and Bo Bristle. Only Galways Full Sail & Galway Hooker (marginally) and the Liberties Ale (considerably) are cheaper. Price per litre is the key.

that's great, but I still don't like 330ml bottles.

it's a personal choice.

mayordenis · 03-04-2014 10:52am

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

that's great, but I still don't like 330ml bottles.

it's a personal choice.

Ok but dont change the goal posts, last post it was about the price now it's just a personal thing.

I assume you don't drink any american, belgian, scandinavian or Brewdog beers.

Anyway with regards Galway Bay I more or less won't go to their pubs by choice, you can say all you want about what the market will bear, but I think it's way too expensive, certainly for their own bars selling their own beers.

Some of their pubs are quite empty a lot of the time so I'm not sure how well the market is taking to their prices, The Black Sheep, Brew Dock and Against the Grain should be grand because they'll pick up huge weekend trade but it seems to me that The Dark Horse is always fairly empty.

ben.schlomo · 03-04-2014 10:55am

drumswan wrote: »

Greed? Im not sure you know how the real world works, they are a business and will look to maximise profit. If their product is too expensive for you as a consumer then seek an alternative.

No i live in a fantasy world of €1 imperial stouts so the thought of a fiver for a drink that a short while ago was 3.90 makes me want to remain where i am.

Im happy to pay €5 for a pint but not overly pushed if its for something that was considerably cheaper not long before. Hence why i have taken my business elsewhere in recent times. Just a matter of principle really.

GLaDOS · 03-04-2014 11:06am

I'm the same with 330 ml bottles tbh. Unless it's a stronger beer (8%+), then the smaller portion is grand.

I'm happy enough with GBB pricing, value for money as far as I'm concerned.

drumswan · 03-04-2014 11:13am

mayordenis wrote: »

Anyway with regards Galway Bay I more or less won't go to their pubs by choice, you can say all you want about what the market will bear, but I think it's way too expensive, certainly for their own bars selling their own beers.

They dont really have a competitor though, do they? Just looking at their twitter feed the last week or so, they are pouring Sierra Nevada Northern Harvest, Nogne O Two Captains and Alaskan Boont Amber on draught, as well as Of Foam and Fury, decent cask and a massive bottle selection in ATG.

ben.schlomo · 03-04-2014 11:21am

drumswan wrote: »

They dont really have a competitor though, do they? Just looking at their twitter feed the last week or so, they are pouring Sierra Nevada Northern Harvest, Nogne O Two Captains and Alaskan Boont Amber on draught, as well as Of Foam and Fury, decent cask and a massive bottle selection in ATG.

In Galway its only the Bierhaus that offers real competition, their stout/porter is very nice and around €4.50 i think, usually have a decent selection of different taps too and great bottled selection. Other than that its just small selections of random craft beers in other pubs. Porterhouse and Bull and Castle offer decent competition in Dublin id have thought.

drumswan · 03-04-2014 11:21am

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Porterhouse and Bull and Castle offer decent competition in Dublin id have thought.

Yeah good point.

snowblind · 03-04-2014 11:50am

I dunno why everyone would have to just agree with capitalism and all it's rules just like that. "It's the real world blah blah" yeah but maybe everyone doesn't agree with that. Maybe capitalism is a flawed system just like any other system we humans have tried before. Why would we just have to accept it and not be critical? It's a very poor argument to just say "it's capitalism stop complaining". If InBev buys my favourite tiny rural brewery, I am allowed to be pissed off, even though it's just capitalism working. If InBev buys all the breweries in the world and uses it's monopoly to sell literal piss in a bottle and nothing else, I am allowed to complain, even though it's just capitalism working.

That said, I don't think GBB's prices are egregious, as long as they keep doing high quality beers like their latest new offerings (OFAF & 200 Fathoms)

And Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout, an InBev beer, is my favourite beer (or at least favourite stout) in the world.

Shrugs.

upforit101 · 03-04-2014 11:52am

BeerNut wrote: »

They said they would, yes.

A couple of new pubs each year; a continuous expansion of the brewery capacity and beer range: you can see where the money goes more than with any other Irish brewery, IMO.

In the interests of transparency Beernut; Can you confirm or deny that you receive any inducements (in the form of free beer(s) from the cottage group/Galway bay brewery?

Lovely Bloke · 03-04-2014 11:53am

plenty of competition in Dublin - JWS, Porterhouse, WJK, LMJ, Cassidy's, O'Neills, B&C, Headline...

@Denis, yeah, my bad there, I did move the goalposts - and yes, I don't buy BrewDog bottles either - just pints when I see them.

I sometimes buy Sierra Nevada Rye when I see it, only because I think it's a super beer, and there's nothing approaching it available in 500ml bottles - also it's 6%+, so the smaller serving suits me better.

Lovely Bloke · 03-04-2014 11:55am

upforit101 wrote: »

In the interests of transparency Beernut; Can you confirm or deny that you receive any inducements (in the form of free beer(s) from the cottage group/Galway bay brewery?

lolwut?

A post above reminded me - is there any Fathoms in ATG at the moment?

upforit101 · 03-04-2014 11:59am

snowblind wrote: »

I dunno why everyone would have to just agree with capitalism and all it's rules just like that. "It's the real world blah blah" yeah but maybe everyone doesn't agree with that. Maybe capitalism is a flawed system just like any other system we humans have tried before.

It's the absence of Capitalism/competition that leads to high prices and price gouging.

Lovely Bloke · 03-04-2014 12:01pm

upforit101 wrote: »

It's the absence of Capitalism/competition that leads to high prices and price gouging.

why do you think BeerNut is receiving renumeration from GBB?

irish_goat · 03-04-2014 12:02pm

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

lolwut?

Just wait til Seaneh gets back! :pac:

Lovely Bloke · 03-04-2014 12:03pm

irish_goat wrote: »

Just wait til Seaneh gets back! :pac:

yeah but he makes it obvious

snowblind · 03-04-2014 12:04pm

upforit101 wrote: »

It's the absence of Capitalism/competition that leads to high prices and price gouging.

This isn't a politics thread, but I disagree that capitalism would be the only possible way to organize economics to accomplish that. It's a very specific set of rules, driven by a very specific ideology and we as a human race have not even tried enough different options to be able to say what you just said about "absence of capitalism". I guess what I mean is that absence of capitalism doesn't necessarily mean Soviet Union or North Korea you know...

Be as it may, there is no onus for an individual to "have to accept capitalism" as it is. If we are not allowed to air our disagreements with the prevailing system, we are not free.

upforit101 · 03-04-2014 12:04pm

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

why do you think BeerNut is receiving renumeration from GBB?

It's a simple question; He writes a blog and ALWAYS appears to staunchly defend GBB/cottage group practices. I'd like to know if he receives any inducements from them.

Lovely Bloke · 03-04-2014 12:12pm

upforit101 wrote: »

It's a simple question; He writes a blog and ALWAYS appears to staunchly defend GBB/cottage group practices. I'd like to know if he receives any inducements from them.

it's none of your business though - but it's well known that Boards.ie mods of various forums can and do accept "gifts" from suppliers of goods relating to the fora which they moderate.

It's a bit like Ray D'Arcy getting a few cupcakes from CupcakeWorld delivered into his studio on a friday morning - he might mention that the cupcakes from cupcake world are delicious or something.

upforit101 · 03-04-2014 12:17pm

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

it's none of your business though - but it's well known that Boards.ie mods of various forums can and do accept "gifts" from suppliers of goods relating to the fora which they moderate.

It's a bit like Ray D'Arcy getting a few cupcakes from CupcakeWorld delivered into his studio on a friday morning - he might mention that the cupcakes from cupcake world are delicious or something.

It's everybody's business, He writes a blog and defends certain businesses to the hilt. I'd like to know in the name of transparency whether the person's opinion is 100% independent or not

Lovely Bloke · 03-04-2014 12:20pm

upforit101 wrote: »

It's everybody's business, He writes a blog and defends certain businesses to the hilt. I'd like to know in the name of transparency whether the person's opinion is 100% independent or not

erm, he's not in any paid positions, so he's entitled to air his personal opinions in any way he likes, and not be answerable to the likes of you, with your scurrilous accusations.

why don't you start a blog with the opposite opinions?

upforit101 · 03-04-2014 12:27pm

snowblind wrote: »

This isn't a politics thread, but I disagree that capitalism would be the only possible way to organize economics to accomplish that. It's a very specific set of rules, driven by a very specific ideology and we as a human race have not even tried enough different options to be able to say what you just said about "absence of capitalism". I guess what I mean is that absence of capitalism doesn't necessarily mean Soviet Union or North Korea you know...

Be as it may, there is no onus for an individual to "have to accept capitalism" as it is. If we are not allowed to air our disagreements with the prevailing system, we are not free.

I don't want to derail the thread but Capitalism doesn't have any specific rules - it's more of a creed and an aspiration/end goal rather than anything else.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is still the best way for a civilized community to get along. The more you depart from it, the worse off you are.

The more you go away from true free enterprise the more cronies and parasites (90% of the Public sector) you have and the less well the system works.

upforit101 · 03-04-2014 12:30pm

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

erm, he's not in any paid positions, so he's entitled to air his personal opinions in any way he likes, and not be answerable to the likes of you, with your scurrilous accusations.

why don't you start a blog with the opposite opinions?

You misrepresent what I said.
No accusation -It's just a simple question!
I'd like to know if he gets any inducements in the form of free beer from GBB/cottage group and if he would like to make a statement on the matter.
If he doesn't want to - that's his choice.

snowblind · 03-04-2014 12:38pm

upforit101 wrote: »

I don't want to derail the thread but Capitalism doesn't have any specific rules - it's more of a creed and an aspiration/end goal rather than anything else.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is still the best way for a civilized community to get along. The more you depart from it, the worse off you are.

The more you go away from true free enterprise the more cronies and parasites (90% of the Public sector) you have and the less well the system works.

90%, really? That's an outrageous misrepresentation. And heavily loaded at it.

Social democracy worked really well in Scandinavia in the 80s. It would not have worked if that was true.

Capitalism has allowed greed to subvert local policies and lately this has caused a lot of problems in the financial sector, undermining small businesses and their chances of making it. It's an outrageous lie to claim that capitalism is self regulating and "just works". It's the same people that claim that everything else is "idealism" and capitalism isn't. It is, and it's only one type. But it's one in which greed is rewarded and modesty is ridiculed.

03-04-2014 12:43pm

I was in the Black Sheep last Friday, €5.50 for a pint of buried at sea & €5.75 for OFAF which I thought was reasonable enough for a pint in the city centre.

upforit101 · 03-04-2014 12:47pm

snowblind wrote: »

90%, really? That's an outrageous misrepresentation. And heavily loaded at it.

Imo if you got rid of 90% of what the Govt/state/public sector does - things would run the same if not better.

snowblind wrote: »

Social democracy worked really well in Scandinavia in the 80s. It would not have worked if that was true.

And countries like Sweden are now adopting more Libertarian/Capitalist policies e.g. School vouchers
Go figure.

snowblind wrote: »

Capitalism has allowed greed to subvert local policies and lately this has caused a lot of problems in the financial sector, undermining small businesses and their chances of making it. It's an outrageous lie to claim that capitalism is self regulating and "just works". It's the same people that claim that everything else is "idealism" and capitalism isn't. It is, and it's only one type. But it's one in which greed is rewarded and modesty is ridiculed.

Cronyism is the result of the abscence of Capitalism not because of it.
The more state involvement - the closer you get to North Korea.

snowblind · 03-04-2014 1:01pm

upforit101 wrote: »

Imo if you got rid of 90% of what the Govt/state/public sector does - things would run the same if not better.

Untrue. You cannot prove that, and you are obviously prejudiced against anything public. Again, things ran better in Nordics in the 80s than anywhere else I've ever been to. BEFORE all the massive privatizations. Proves your argument wrong.

upforit101 wrote: »

And countries like Sweden are now adopting more Libertarian/Capitalist policies e.g. School vouchers
Go figure.

You are discounting the fact that largely public economy can work. The 80s were a glorious time in the Nordic countries.
What you are describing is the greedy nature of capitalism. It will conquer all, until greed destroys civilization. The fact that it conquers, does not mean it is good. Getting rid of local schools, libraries, worsening healthcare, mass transport, widening income gaps. Is that good?

upforit101 wrote: »

Cronyism is the result of the abscence of Capitalism not because of it.
The more state involvement - the closer you get to North Korea.

There we go - the North Korea card. Everything that is not capitalism is fascist communism? You just made your argument totally void. That is like U.S. Republicans saying Sweden is some sort of a communist utopia.

upforit101 · 03-04-2014 1:15pm

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

It's a bit like Ray D'Arcy getting a few cupcakes from CupcakeWorld delivered into his studio on a friday morning - he might mention that the cupcakes from cupcake world are delicious or something.

And what about those Bank ads where they say the person in the ad was paid a gratuity for their involvement in the ad.

It's all in the name of transparency.

upforit101 · 03-04-2014 1:16pm

snowblind wrote: »

Untrue. You cannot prove that, and you are obviously prejudiced against anything public. Again, things ran better in Nordics in the 80s than anywhere else I've ever been to. BEFORE all the massive privatizations. Proves your argument wrong.

You are discounting the fact that largely public economy can work. The 80s were a glorious time in the Nordic countries.
What you are describing is the greedy nature of capitalism. It will conquer all, until greed destroys civilization. The fact that it conquers, does not mean it is good. Getting rid of local schools, libraries, worsening healthcare, mass transport, widening income gaps. Is that good?

There we go - the North Korea card. Everything that is not capitalism is fascist communism? You just made your argument totally void. That is like U.S. Republicans saying Sweden is some sort of a communist utopia.

Your argument is all over the place
It's clear your mind is made up and this isn't the forum for discussing this.
I don't want to derail the thread.

BaZmO* · 03-04-2014 1:47pm

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

and yes, I don't buy BrewDog bottles either - just pints when I see them.

I don't get that logic, your original point was about value for money, BrewDog beers are anything but value for money in pint form, delicious as they may be.

snowblind wrote: »

I dunno why everyone would have to just agree with capitalism and all it's rules just like that. "It's the real world blah blah" yeah but maybe everyone doesn't agree with that. Maybe capitalism is a flawed system just like any other system we humans have tried before. Why would we just have to accept it and not be critical? It's a very poor argument to just say "it's capitalism stop complaining".

But the great thing about capitalism is that you don't have to complain, you just vote with your feet. That's when those damn capitalist really sit up and pay attention!!

The main problem though is when you have a monopoly, but in the case we're talking about, Galway Bay, they are anything but a monopoly.

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

it's none of your business though - but it's well known that Boards.ie mods of various forums can and do accept "gifts" from suppliers of goods relating to the fora which they moderate.

Wait! What?!?? Why haven't I been informed about this?

upforit101 wrote: »

Your argument is all over the place
It's clear your mind is made up and this isn't the forum for discussing this.
I don't want to derail the thread.

You're doing a good job at it so far. You've asked BeerNut the question now, it's his choice if he wants to answer it or not. Either way, I'd be grateful if you just dropped the matter now.

drumswan · 03-04-2014 1:55pm

Deleted User wrote: »

€5.75 for OFAF which I thought was reasonable enough for a pint in the city centre.

Its €5.75 for 400ml

Lovely Bloke · 03-04-2014 2:15pm

BaZmO* wrote: »

I don't get that logic, your original point was about value for money, BrewDog beers are anything but value for money in pint form, delicious as they may be.

There is no logic, I'm an illogical human, not Mr Spock

I don't like 330ml bottles of craft beer. I perceive them to be a rip off (since proven wrong, but meh, that's beside the point).

I don't like the serving size (unless it's over an arbritary %, that can change, or unless I particularly enjoy that beer, also arbritary)

Thing is this, the 330 ml bottes appeal less to me, so I usually avoid them in favour of 500ml.

Am I missing out, probably, but I'm not losing sleep, there are plenty of beers available in 500ml bottles to keep me going.

Aaaaannnnyyywwwaaayyyy. you really need to get on the mod bandwagon of free stuff!

*************

also, I consider BD pints value for money, particularly 5am Saint, I'd drink that from a tap out of a wellie if I could.

drumswan · 03-04-2014 2:25pm

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Am I missing out, probably, but I'm not losing sleep, there are plenty of beers available in 500ml bottles to keep me going.

You are mad, there isnt a single beer in the ratebeer top 50 sold in 500ml bottles for example

BaZmO* · 03-04-2014 2:29pm

Oddly enough, I veer towards 330ml bottles rather than the 500ml.

Galway Bay Breweries

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