Chicagoist: Quick Bites

BWChicago

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:46:14 -0600

Is everyone not getting the reformulated to the old formula, not the Schlitz crap everyone's used to part? Jeez. Reading comprehension, people.

mepps

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:03:36 -0600

"At $4 a bottle, it's also priced perfectly" Apparently not

I_h8_toyota_and_BT

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:49:30 -0600

chuck - as you pointed out, the Schlitz was priced cheaply (for Green Mill), being priced lower than PBR. If, however, they try charging $4 at places that charge $2 for PBR, they won't succeed. If they charge $4 at Rainbo or some hipster joint like that, no one will buy it as PBR is cheaper (and most will assume better). After all, we have all experienced the horror that is canned Schlitz. If they charge $4 at some Wrigleyville or Rush and Division joint, no one will buy it because it's *yuck* Schlitz. Now, if they consistently price it below everything else, they could succeed in building up a following...and jack the prices later. But they need to shed the very negative public image that Schlitz carries.

louisdog

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:56:47 -0600

"Actually, as far as clean lagers go, we prefer it over Pabst Blue Ribbon (coincidentally, Pabst brews both)" Actually Pabst owns both brands and Miller brews it for them.

Pinko

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:45:11 -0600

I was just drinking Schlitz this past weekend at South Water Market with fellow groomsmen, prior to my buddy's wedding ceremony... Of course, I'm also old enough to remember the original "Go for the gusto!" television campaign of the late seventies/early eighties. Incidentally, Schlitz was first introduced to our city after the Great Chicago Fire when they donated thousands of barrels to the throngs of thirsty Chicagoans who had lost most of their breweries (in what was perhaps the greatest tragedy of all)...

Chuck Sudo

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:25:28 -0600

And yet the beer was flying from the bar Friday night. Like PBR, they're hoping that hipster irony will help it succeed. And it just might, even at $4-5 a bottle.

I_h8_toyota_and_BT

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:01:21 -0600

Positioning Schlitz as upmarket would be an unbelievable marketing stunt. It won't happen. People will laugh and say hell no. I'm not paying $5 for a freaking schlitz. Schlitz has a reputation for being just about the worst beer on earth. Now, if they positioned it along the same lines as High Life and PBR, they could find some success.

Chuck Sudo

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:57:18 -0600

Mixed drinks at the Mill aren't that cheap. They need to make up for the appearance fees and/or splits from their musical programming somehow. And I probably should have pointed out (again) that Pabst is positioning Schlitz to be an "upscale" premium bottle, hence the price. I liked it also comes in a bottle because it meant I wasn't spilling beer all over the myself or the person I was with.

UTV

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:11:05 -0600

Yeah, they'll make a stiff G&T for cheap. I enjoy the place, but that whole Amex thing keeps me from going very often. I'm not sure why Fed places the Mill in the "tourist trap" category in a city home to Navy Pier, Ed DeBevic's and the ESPN Zone. To each their own.

Margaret Lyons

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:04:46 -0600

There are lots of places where PBR is $2. Aren't mixed drinks pretty cheap at the Mill, though? I feel like I've bought a round for 4 for under $20.

fed up

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:48:43 -0600

It costs alot to be hip and drink a retro beer at a tourist trap.

Spook

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:38:02 -0600

"My monocle nearly dropped into my drink!" F*ck, wish I had thought of that first!

matilda

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:29:33 -0600

Uh, OK Chuck. Issues today? I get the feeling you lack the stomach for writing in public venues that attract large numbers of visitors, many of them certain to be assholes, but that is just an assumption and may well be wrong.

Zack

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:25:11 -0600

Yeah, $4.50 for PBR on draft is kinda sick. There are three bars in Ukie Village where it's less than $3 and one place that's $2. I get pissed when I have to spend $4 for the High Life.

UTV

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:24:04 -0600

The funniest part of the Green Mill is the combination of $4.50 PBR and the fact that they only accept American Express if you want to start a tab. My monocle nearly dropped into my drink!

Chuck Sudo

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:14:03 -0600

While you're at it, matilda, take matty with you. He could afford to use some fresh air and get away from the computer while waiting for us, the only source of news and information on the web, to post about last night's debate.

unclewu

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:03:32 -0600

$4 for a SCHLITZ?! $4.50 for a PBR?! WTF? Seriously? Isn't that the 12 pack price for that garbage at like CVS? That's like wine mark-up right there.

matilda

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:02:25 -0600

There are really places that charge $4.50 for a draft (pint?) of PBR? Nothing against PBR--it's a fine cheap beer--but wow. I guess I need to get out more to overpriced bars.