Changes are in the air at Taco Mac, and not
by design. For decades, their Brewniversity program provided rewards for
beer drinkers who are also loyal and regular customers. The best perk of all
has been that after you tally up 125 Credits (normally, one credit = one
beer) you get a special Bachelors status and a bachelors mug that entitles
you to 20 ounces of beer for the price of 16. Just a few years ago, reaching
Chancellor status (1000 credits) go you 23 ounces for the pint price.
Along comes the State of Georgia, and shuts down the fun. It seems that they
feel that customers have to be charged for larger size drinks portions. At
first, Taco mac tried to comply by adding a penny to the price of bachelors
mug fill, and 2 cents for a chancellor mug. Georgia didn’t like that either,
and now Taco mac has to charge proportionately by the ounce for larger
fills.
I found this out just the other night when I ordered a a New Belgium Voodoo
Ranger in my Chancellor mug, which was $6.50 in a pint glass. They took the
pint price and divide by 16, then multiply by the number of ounces ordered.
Here, that was 40.625 cents per ounce, multiplied out by 23 ounces for $9.34
(they charged me $9.30 on my receipt).
Ouch! Now, what Taco Mac can do for Brewniversity members is give them a
credit back for their next visit. And they do. I got a $1.50 credit for my
purchase, so my net price is $7.80 which is still $1.30 more than I would
have paid before. Not a lot, but still more. A bachelor by this formula
would pay $8.13 for 20 ounces less $1.50 credit for next visit for net price
of $6.63 for 20 ounces. Only 13 cents more.
Now, the second beer I had was a Harpoon UFO Cranbeery, which was
$4.25 a pint. I paid $6.08, again works out to the ounce price times 23,
less $1.50 credit for next time is $4.61, or 36 cents more than I would have
paid on the old system. A bachelor would pay $5.31 with the new system less
$1.50 credit is $3.81-even less than in the old system and again better than
the Chancellors get.
Seems to me the new pricing is leaving the Chancellors behind, which is not
really an incentive considering the number of credits needed to get there
(and pay more). I’ve let them know how I feel about this, and hopefully they
fix it soon.
In the meantime, though, I can’t complain too much about Harpoon UFO
Cranbeery at 4.61 for 23-ounces. Oddly enough, the Harpoon website says this
beer is retired, so I guess none next year. That’s a shame, because I really
enjoyed this beer.
Harpoon says:
This hefeweizen is infused with cranberries right from the bogs of
Massachusetts. A little tart, a little sweet, and a lot delicious, this
cranberry hefeweizen is a refreshing addition to leaf peepin’, hiking, or
just hanging out around a camp fire (s’mores encouraged).
Harpoon UFO Cranbeery has an alcohol content of 4.8% by volume. It runs
$9.99 a six-pack in bottles at total Wine (they still have it) or $15.99 a
12-pack in cans.
My mug of Harpoon UFO Cranbeery arrived a hazy pinkish orange color
with a frothy white head and tart cranberry fruit in the nose. Taking a sip,
there’s even more cranberry fruit in the palate with crisp tart wheat, too.
Very berry, very crisp and very refreshing. You better bring this one back
Harpoon! Or else!
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft