Actually I'm not drinking the Goose Island IPA, but I noticed the price as I was looking around for what was on sale. Ended up getting a case of Goose Island Summertime Kolsch for $23.99, and have drunk some of that, so I guess I am an Industrial beer drinking sellout to low price Bastard.
I agree we aren't seeing a price war yet, but if ABInbev can gain market share (and shelf space) with more reasonable prices, AND new brands continue to enter the market at the $10.95 price point, we could EVENTUALLY see some real price competition. Local ads in Today's food section has Sam Adams for $14.95/12 pack and some similar prices.
No, a real price war probably won't occur anytime soon, but if it ever does, there could be multiple big name bankrupt breweries.
Call me cheap, but if a price war comes, I would welcome it to some degree..I am seeing way too many craft breweries selling mediocre craft beer at far more than premium pricing and that really makes things worse for those small breweries that are making really great beer that I actually WOULD pay premium bucks for (provided I can get it fresh enough to actually enjoy).
I am also seeing bigger craft breweries getting more mediocre with their brews (which I am betting is them getting cheaper on the ingredients or process) but the price point staying the same or in most cases going higher (I.E. - Stone/SAdams). That same 12'er you quoted here was $13.99 NOT on sale last year ($11.99 on sale), but it now $16.99 regular price and $17.99 for the seasonal case (pumpkin/octoberfest).
I guess I am just a cheap beer snob when it comes to this type of deal, but of late here, its getting to be a problem...too much crappy craft for too high of a price.
This has not been mentioned either but some of this pricing blame I have to but on the beer distributors/wholesalers that AB/InBev/Etc. own or monopolize..I know some the local brewers at some of the smaller craft breweries here and the distribution chain is crooked as hell and does NOT favor the craft breweries in NC..NOT AT ALL.
The beer distributors/wholesalers are alot like a mini-mafia when it comes to the craft industry (Google the Self-Distribution Cap for NC which I think is still at 25,000 barrels before you have to turn your beer over to a wholesale/distributor to get to the masses which they take a HUGE cut of the $$$).