Sugar Prices On The Rise

[Bribie G]

Due to supply difficulties in India and Brazil the world price has gone up 80 % in six months. Much to the delight of QLD and NSW cane farmers of course. Pretty soon a kit n kilo will be a luxury item However I wonder what effect this will have on the megabreweries who allegedly use up to a third sugaz in their mainstream brews?

Disclaimer I often use sugaz myself depending on the style (e.g. wouldn't use it in a Bo Pils or Coopers Sparkling but of course sneak a bit into UK ales, Aussie style lagers etc)

 

[tcraig20]

Due to supply difficulties in India and Brazil the world price has gone up 80 % in six months. Much to the delight of QLD and NSW cane farmers of course. Pretty soon a kit n kilo will be a luxury item However I wonder what effect this will have on the megabreweries who allegedly use up to a third sugaz in their mainstream brews?

Disclaimer I often use sugaz myself depending on the style (e.g. wouldn't use it in a Bo Pils or Coopers Sparkling but of course sneak a bit into UK ales, Aussie style lagers etc)

Even if sugar goes from a buck a kilo to a buck eighty a kilo, its still going to be a very, very minor input cost for megabreweries (esp. considering the alternatives).

To go offtopic straight away, I would have thought that sugar was entirely appropriate for a sparkling ale.

 

[Bribie G]

Even if sugar goes from a buck a kilo to a buck eighty a kilo, its still going to be a very, very minor input cost for megabreweries (esp. considering the alternatives).

To go offtopic straight away, I would have thought that sugar was entirely appropriate for a sparkling ale.

I think it was either the good Doctor or Butters who posted an email from Coopers stating that the Sparkling is all grain but the Original Pale Ale contains a proportion of sugar.

 

[tcraig20]

I think it was either the good Doctor or Butters who posted an email from Coopers stating that the Sparkling is all grain but the Original Pale Ale contains a proportion of sugar.

I remember reading something about it too, but my memory is fuzzy. I think (and dont hold me to it) it was something along the lines of 'used to contain sugar, but doesnt any more'.

Whether or not the Coopers product contains sugar, I still think that using sugar would be well within the definition of the style. But, of course, you did say Coopers Sparkling ale specifically, so you are right.

 

[T.D.]

Wouldn't it be nice if it made the megaswill brewers decide to use 100% malt! Then again, I think they would rather boost the price than stoop to those levels!

I read something in the paper the other day about breweries increasing prices due to excise hikes. The reporter mentioned that the price increases were a lot higher than the excise dictated they should be and the brewery's response was that "other" costs had increased as well. Maybe this means the price rises are already factored in???

Anyway, why are we even talking about this! Does ANYBODY here even buy megaswill?!?!

 

[tcraig20]

Does ANYBODY here even buy megaswill?!?!

I do.

Old when there is nothing better on tap.

I'd say that Coopers counts are 'mega' these days, 'swill' is a matter of opinion.

 

[chappo1970]

Anyway, why are we even talking about this! Does ANYBODY here even buy megaswill?!?!

Good point TD!

Mind you I nearly had a heart attack buying a 30 can case of XXXX Gold for the FIL. $39.95 FFS! Daylight robbery I tells ya. I haven'y bought commercial megaswill for over 18 mths, in fact I never even look at 'em just go to the craft/import section and mind my business, but I was shocked at the general prices for megaswill. I doubt I could afford to drink it the way I used to any more.

Cheers

Chappo

 

[Adamt]

It's the CPA that contains no sugar, sparkling still does.

 

[bum]

The reporter mentioned that the price increases were a lot higher than the excise dictated they should be and the brewery's response was that "other" costs had increased as well. Maybe this means the price rises are already factored in???

I haven'y bought commercial megaswill for over 18 mths...I doubt I could afford to drink it the way I used to any more.

h34r:

 

[Bribie G]

It's the CPA that contains no sugar, sparkling still does.

Yee Har :beerbang:

Just restocked my malt store

 

[buttersd70]

Yee Har :beerbang:

Just restocked my malt store

View attachment 29649

Re the sugar: Original Pale Ale is an all-malt brew, apart from priming
sugar, which is liquid invert sugar (sucrose) and Sparkling Ale can have up
to 5% sugar in the wort at times, depending on the quality of the malt.
Nothing like the 30 - 40% sugar that goes into some of the mainstream lager
beers in Australia.

underline and increased font size for emphasis. h34r:

edit: from here

 

[Bribie G]

Aha
The Sparkling Ale I'm currently drinking from the left tap of my new triple font kegerator :icon_drunk: is totally AG and I'm thinking of whacking through a quick Pale for the QLD comp next month so I'll go AG for that as well.
Thanks for the clarification.

Malt store adjusted accordingly

 

[clean brewer]

Good point TD!

Mind you I nearly had a heart attack buying a 30 can case of XXXX Gold for the FIL. $39.95 FFS! Daylight robbery I tells ya. I haven'y bought commercial megaswill for over 18 mths, in fact I never even look at 'em just go to the craft/import section and mind my business, but I was shocked at the general prices for megaswill. I doubt I could afford to drink it the way I used to any more.

Cheers

Chappo

We still buy Megaswill for the Restaurant, had to buy a Carton of XXXX Gold today and a Carton of Pure Blonde, it was $30 for 24 stubbies of Gold and $44.00 for 24 stubbies of Blonde.. Made me realise even more why I will not give up on Home Brewing.....

Couple double batches ive done still come in under $44.00 and that gets about 5 cartons($220.00 worth of Blonde)..

:icon_cheers: CB

 

[Bribie G]

Why not grab a heap of Oettinger Pils from BWS at $30 or less for a slab and add them to your 'imports' section on the Menu? I was in the Caboolture RSL today, the draught beer system was down awaiting repairs and they were on bottles for the rest of the afternoon. I had a bluetongue lager... $4 not bad... then an Oettinger which blew the bluey away. (the RSL is right over the road from a major size BWS and I guess they source bottles there).

If you sell them for $4 that's probably what you charge for a XXXX gold I would imagine, so $96 return on a slab of Oett. = over 300% markup

 

[Online Brewing Supplies]

Why not grab a heap of Oettinger Pils from BWS at $30 or less for a slab and add them to your 'imports' section on the Menu? I was in the Caboolture RSL today, the draught beer system was down awaiting repairs and they were on bottles for the rest of the afternoon. I had a bluetongue lager... $4 not bad... then an Oettinger which blew the bluey away. (the RSL is right over the road from a major size BWS and I guess they source bottles there).

If you sell them for $4 that's probably what you charge for a XXXX gold I would imagine, so $96 return on a slab of Oett. = over 300% markup

$ 96 return, less the GST and you could just about pay for some ones wages for 2 hours.Then add all the running costs :-( They make their money off the kegs for sure.
GB

 

[manticle]

Wouldn't it be nice if it made the megaswill brewers decide to use 100% malt! Then again, I think they would rather boost the price than stoop to those levels!

I read something in the paper the other day about breweries increasing prices due to excise hikes. The reporter mentioned that the price increases were a lot higher than the excise dictated they should be and the brewery's response was that "other" costs had increased as well. Maybe this means the price rises are already factored in???

Anyway, why are we even talking about this! Does ANYBODY here even buy megaswill?!?!

I drank Carlton Draught the other day.

I have no issue with cheap beer being made from cheap ingredients. I'd never class it as good but not everyone has $9-20 to spend on a glass of whatever they fancy (and believe me I fancy them all) whenever they have after work drinks. I'll happily go to a mate's barbie and sink a Melbourne. I won't dissect the malt and hop profile nor spout on about it being wonderful because it's not. It does, however have a place.

What I do have an issue with is cheap or badly made beer trumped up and marketed as premium quality (and priced accordingly). See Crown Lager for a prime example.

I also have an issue with the same bland ingredients being remarketed as something new to boost sales. Carlton Draught is fine, light beers have a place (not on my tongue generally but anyway) but Carlton Mid? XXXX mid? VB mid? Carlton with a twist of lime? (mmmmmm one for the ladies..and supposedly a beer for the non beer drinkers. What a great idea).

Essentially the original megaswills are worker's beer at worker's prices. When marketed as such I think it's appropriate and when it's all I can afford, I'll buy it (assuming I've run out of my own HB or there's no Coopers around). When they try and appeal to the trend in beer appreciation, it's a ****. When they try and palm the same product off as a premium product, it's a ****.

Just to give this whole megaswill thingy a sense of perspective.

 

[manticle]

$ 96 return, less the GST and you could just about pay for some ones wages for 2 hours.Then add all the running costs :-( They make their money off the kegs for sure.
GB

Jesus - who in the hospitality industry gets $48 an hour?

I must have been getting ripped off big time. Most I ever got was just under $16

 

[Bribie G]

Workers Beer at Workers' prices

You can get it killing a cow, dragging a plough, my God I'm getting it now (staggers off to the kegerator) B) B)

 

[manticle]

Next time I go to a pub rock gig I'm going to demand they get Grimbergen on tap and served at appropriate temperatures.

Real Ale twats for real.

 

[clean brewer]

Why not grab a heap of Oettinger Pils from BWS at $30 or less for a slab and add them to your 'imports' section on the Menu? I was in the Caboolture RSL today, the draught beer system was down awaiting repairs and they were on bottles for the rest of the afternoon. I had a bluetongue lager... $4 not bad... then an Oettinger which blew the bluey away. (the RSL is right over the road from a major size BWS and I guess they source bottles there).

If you sell them for $4 that's probably what you charge for a XXXX gold I would imagine, so $96 return on a slab of Oett. = over 300% markup

Great idea Bribie(cost per carton), might sell a couple, problem is now, since we received our licence, it feels as if we dont sell any booze at all... We we didnt have our licence, it seemed that everyone wanted to drink booze, but we didnt have any to sell.....

$ 96 return, less the GST and you could just about pay for some ones wages for 2 hours.Then add all the running costs :-( They make their money off the kegs for sure.
GB

A man thats obviously in business himself..... We dont have beer on tap, all from stubbies.....

Jesus - who in the hospitality industry gets $48 an hour?

I must have been getting ripped off big time. Most I ever got was just under $16

No-one does Champ... $96 - GST - Overheads = No money left.....

$16 hr??? You did well mate....

CB