The Bar Towel

lister wrote:It makes sense to have the hefe as a seasonal but no sense on the format. I'm guessing they've made some good coin on the seasonal releases in that large bottle and want to continue that with the hefe. Meh, no $$$ from me. Keep it in the can format, slap a special label on it...

Well surely one way that the 750ml makes NO sense is that Hefeweizen beers are best packaged and drank fresh as possible. And at least 500ml cans or bottles have a good chance of being refrigerated at the LC - while 750's don't and may sell slower.

So in a way by not focusing on a fresh, high-turnover delivery format Muskoka just may end up hurting their own product. I really like the Hefe they make, and now this show-pony 750ml... hmmm well maybe they will sell well and prove us wrong. I sure plan on enjoying one for the heck of it.

I see it as Muskoka shooting themselves in the foot. The cans were such a bargain. The product is still quite good, but the price point would make the casual buyer think twice.

sprague11 wrote:I see it as Muskoka shooting themselves in the foot. The cans were such a bargain. The product is still quite good, but the price point would make the casual buyer think twice.

Since one of the reasons for switching to the big bottle is that they are selling very well for them, I'm not sure how likely this is.

If anything I suspect that this "classier" packaging will help with sales to non-beer geeks. You can show up to a fancier summer gathering with this and it feels at home with the wine. At least that is likely the perception.

I'm really disappointed they are dropping the can format, probably will buy only 1 or 2 of these for comparison purposes. Oh well, I have a few dozen 500ml bottles and a recipe, just need a weekend to brew my own weisse now.

agreed with above--very disappointed--when do I drink hefe-weisse's? usually in the summer--will 750ml be flat and warm by the time i get to the bottom yes...can I share it? sure but why do i have to when before 500ml was perfect in my glass? And now pay double for 250 mls more?
Disappointed in Gary and the boys...Still saw some of the summer weisse in 750ml bottle at Pickering LCBo..so that tells you how well that format sells...just my opinion

mgmoney wrote: Disappointed in Gary and the boys...Still saw some of the summer weisse in 750ml bottle at Pickering LCBo..so that tells you how well that format sells...just my opinion

Since this beer hasn't even been officially released yet, it doesn't say much.

JerCraigs wrote:If anything I suspect that this "classier" packaging will help with sales to non-beer geeks. You can show up to a fancier summer gathering with this and it feels at home with the wine. At least that is likely the perception.

Except nearly everyone is more likely to buy an armload of cans to DRINK (not show off) this type a beer... whereas who is going to buy a lot of flip-top 750's?

Yes 750's are great for 'novelty' or for showing off as you say, but would not the high cost of the packaging likely reduce the overall volume of sales & therefore profit? Maybe it doesn't matter to their bottom line, and they do well enough...

It's just weird Muskoka would package an 'everyday' beer in a Sunday-dinner suit. Wish 'em luck anyhow!

Belgian wrote:Except nearly everyone is more likely to buy an armload of cans to DRINK (not show off) this type a beer... whereas who is going to buy a lot of flip-top 750's?

I didn't realize you'd taken a poll... From my understanding there are a decent number of marketing studies that say that the average consumer likes to be able to share the big bottles, but the recent example of Unibroue pulling 750s out of the LCBO seems to indicate otherwise.

Look we can armchair quarterback and debate this all day long. I personally think they'd do well to have it available in both formats in different stores but for various reasons known only to them Muskoka disagrees and they are the ones with a real stake in it.

As someone else pointed out it has just barely been release so we are jumping the gun a bit talking about its success or lack thereof. I guess we will find out next summer which was the best answer, by seeing if they stick with the bottles or revert back to the cans!

Picked up four this afternoon and will give it a swing after work. I really enjoyed the Harvest Ale and the Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout, some hopefully this one possesses the same craft and quality.

Damned shame. Tallboys of their hefe are a staple in my fridge during the summer time. I feel like I just got the shaft as a customer. The only switch I'll be making is to German imports, since the canned version of Denisons has always disappointed me.

JerCraigs wrote:

Belgian wrote:Except nearly everyone is more likely to buy an armload of cans to DRINK (not show off) this type a beer... whereas who is going to buy a lot of flip-top 750's?

I didn't realize you'd taken a poll...

Ha ha, no Jeremy you caught me there. I am assuming this beer style is pretty much ALWAYS a 'beer drinker's beer' and not a 'bottle admirer's beer' based on my observation that nearly EVERY hefe I have ever seen is packaged in affordable 500ml or 341 ml formats. Again I hope they do well, but it's a very odd move simply based on the beer style. It's not like it's Brooklyner Hopfen Weisse or something "Imperialized."

I'd be no more impressed if Muskoka put their very nice Lager or Cream Ale in a 750ml, that's all I'm saying. Nobody's right or wrong here.

Does anybody know the specifics of what was changed between this and the canned version? Or is it actually the same beer? Has anyone done a side by side tasting? I'm trying this beer this weekend so maybe I'll know more once I taste it.

Other than a few Muskoka area LCBO's there are no more cans in the system so it would be hard to do a side by side unless someone's been holding onto one.

I notice the Summer Weiss is not yet listed in Drinkvine.

icemachine wrote:Other than a few Muskoka area LCBO's there are no more cans in the system so it would be hard to do a side by side unless someone's been holding onto one.

I notice the Summer Weiss is not yet listed in Drinkvine.

So are they phasing out the canned hefe completely? I thought it was just the light pils.