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Cost of Beer?

mrfatboy - 6-29-2009 at 02:36 PM

What's the approximate cost of a case of Pacifico/Corona (qty 20?) in San Felipe nowadays? Is it worth buying down there and dealing with all the deposit stuff or just buying in San Diego and having it ice cold in my cooler on arrival? :tumble:

capt. mike - 6-29-2009 at 02:44 PM

you're limited on what you can import if you're checked.
beer is cheap in mexico - way more so than in US i think.
i'd ice down what i would consume on the drive and once there re stock.
the returnables are easy to manage. get 2 cases and you'll always have a spare case to drink when you're cycling in a new round.
man it's hot out.....hmmmm....beer...... :bounce:

Cypress - 6-29-2009 at 02:48 PM

mrfatboy, Ice cold is good. :bounce:

DENNIS - 6-29-2009 at 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrfatboy
What's the approximate cost of a case of Pacifico/Corona (qty 20?)

The deposit cases are packed 24 now. Don't know the price because I quit messing with them long ago. Just a smelly hassle to have them hanging around.
Here, in Ensenada, a twelve pak of cans is around 115 pesos at the big grocery stores. That's roughly $8.25 including tax. Not bad.

Martyman - 6-29-2009 at 03:55 PM

I believe I bought a few 6 packs of Klostner for around $2.25 usd in Ensenada. Not bad. Keep it cold!

oxxo - 6-29-2009 at 04:06 PM

24 pack of Corona at Costco in Mexicali is about US$15. Try to get that deal in San Diego!

DENNIS - 6-29-2009 at 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oxxo
24 pack of Corona at Costco in Mexicali is about US$15. Try to get that deal in San Diego!

Those would be non-returnable, Sí? Can't imagine Costco dealing with the returns.

By the way, Corona for free is still not a "deal" IMO, of course.

oxxo - 6-29-2009 at 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Those would be non-returnable, Sí? Can't imagine Costco dealing with the returns.

That would be a case of cans. Costco does carry bottles but at a higher price. Costco also has Pacifico for about the same price as Corona. Friends don't let friends drink Corona! I buy a 24 pack of Tecate cans (reg. and lite) for around US$12/13 at Costco in Cabo.

mrfatboy - 6-29-2009 at 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oxxo
24 pack of Corona at Costco in Mexicali is about US$15. Try to get that deal in San Diego!

Bottles are $24 for 24.

So, I still have not heard what a case of bottles goes for in San Felipe.

losfrailes - 6-29-2009 at 05:10 PM

Probably a case of Pacifico, 24 bottles, will run 180 pesos. That seems to be the universal price in this part of Baja.

Current exchange rate means $13.65 US

mmmmmm good, mmmmmmm good,

mrfatboy - 6-29-2009 at 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by losfrailes
Probably a case of Pacifico, 24 bottles, will run 180 pesos. That seems to be the universal price in this part of Baja.

Current exchange rate means $13.65 US

mmmmmm good, mmmmmmm good,

so.. That is bottles and NET after you return them for the deposit?

Al G - 6-29-2009 at 05:34 PM

Pacifico 24 is 192 pesos and 12 Ballena is 202.00 pesos with bottles. buy bottles and leave them with a new friend. any other method of purchase is a waste of money and environmentlly unfriendly to Baja. No damn cans and no damn non-returnables...
yo lo siento mrfatboy...yo soy fatAlbert...mio Español sucks, but I try.

PS...open case at Costco and check for returnables...all have been returnables. do not buy if they are non-returnables.
u2u me if in Todos Santos...pacifico no problema.

k-rico - 6-29-2009 at 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrfatboy
What's the approximate cost of a case of Pacifico/Corona (qty 20?) in San Felipe nowadays? Is it worth buying down there and dealing with all the deposit stuff or just buying in San Diego and having it ice cold in my cooler on arrival? :tumble:

Um, er, I would do both. Get a 30 pack of your favorite American canned beer. If you're lucky you can find it for $15.99 (Rite Aid next to the pharmacy section, that's handy doncha know). Get it real cold and drink it and then when you get there buy some Mexican beer.

Stay away from the skunky stuff in clear bottles tho.

Dos Equis is good. I just inhaled one. Pretty green non-returnable bottle. Look it, running out of beer and having to go to the store is hassle enough, carrying back empties is just too much to deal with.

Al G - 6-29-2009 at 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico

Quote:

Shallow Americano....
Come to my place and I will carry the bottles back...if you buy Ballenas any...edit...(fumble fingers) ...3rd pacifico) Mexican will be happy to return...

[Edited on 6-30-2009 by Al G]

losfrailes - 6-29-2009 at 05:53 PM

Nope that price of 180 is with your bottles. Its been too long since I bought a case without bottles to quote you a price.

Price is obvious higher where the tourists hang out.

BajaWarrior - 6-29-2009 at 06:18 PM

mr.fatboy,

There is a reliable beer stop just below Mexicali. It's on the right side and literally 100' before the Highway 3 overpass. Next very reliable Pacifico stop is across from Miramar in San Felipe. Also, next to the bus station below town just before the last Pemex station.

Keep your bottles and you wont have to stop and play the return game.

Beer????

bajaguy - 6-29-2009 at 06:23 PM

Stop at a Soriana or Commercial Mexicana when you cross over and load up on different lables/brands....cans and bottles.....try em all... :bounce:

bajalou - 6-29-2009 at 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaWarrior
mr.fatboy,

There is a reliable beer stop just below Mexicali. It's on the right side and literally 100' before the Highway 3 overpass. Next very reliable Pacifico stop is across from Miramar in San Felipe. Also, next to the bus station below town just before the last Pemex station.

Keep your bottles and you wont have to stop and play the return game.

Think you mean the Highway 2 toll road overpass in the south side of Mexicali.

mrfatboy - 6-29-2009 at 06:29 PM

Quote:

Thanks for the info. I just didn't want to bother with going all the way back into town to return the empties on my way back home. I'm be coming up for Percebu.

Al G - 6-29-2009 at 06:40 PM

There is not a return policy unless you get a receipt for return to the same store...I wish there was as I have many cases from fun (barracho) events. If in Todos Santos, I will loan as many empty cases as you need.

Al G - 6-29-2009 at 06:47 PM

oops forgot you were only in the norte

mulegemichael - 6-29-2009 at 07:05 PM

i think a 24 piece case of pacificos are around 165 pesos here in mulege...that does not include the deposit...nuthin like an ice cold bottle of pacifico at 10am when it's blisterin' out..

mrfatboy - 6-29-2009 at 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mulegemichael
i think a 24 piece case of pacificos are around 165 pesos here in mulege...that does not include the deposit...nuthin like an ice cold bottle of pacifico at 10am when it's blisterin' out..

How much is the deposit?

Al G - 6-29-2009 at 07:43 PM

Few can tell you the cost of deposit...I am going to say 4-8 pesos per bottle...if you are a bottom liner, maybe drinking in Baja is out of your reach

bajalou - 6-29-2009 at 07:52 PM

Have bought a few cases over the years and as I recall, deposit was just about the same as the beer cost.

Hook - 6-29-2009 at 08:34 PM

Just bought a case of Pacifico light from the agencia right in front of the Guaymas corporate offices...................174 pesos for 24 bottles. This price includes exchanging bottles.

Tecate has a new promotion going on right now. There is a Tecate Rojo bottle (retornable) that is larger than a caguama and they are selling them at OXXO (of course) for 19 pesos. I think it is the equivalent of four 355ml sized beers. Pretty good price. I have no idea what the deposit is on the bottle.

The caguamas are 16 pesos over here, not counting deposit.

[Edited on 6-30-2009 by Hook]

mrfatboy - 6-29-2009 at 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Al G
Few can tell you the cost of deposit...I am going to say 4-8 pesos per bottle...if you are a bottom liner, maybe drinking in Baja is out of your reach

LOL, Well, I was just interested what a case of beer and deposit was. I didn't realize it was going to be such a difficult question.

BTW, so far there has been nowhere in the world for me that has been out of reach for drinking. :lol:

Last month in Egypt was close tho! $16 for a 1oz shot of Bacardi

DENNIS - 6-29-2009 at 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrfatboy
I'm be coming up for Percebu.

Well, why didn't you say so. While you're in Percebu, go over to MrBill's house and drink his beer. When you get ready to leave, load all remaining beer into your cooler and have a good trip.
See how easy that was?

BajaBruno - 6-29-2009 at 09:31 PM

I've often wondered about the price difference between the standard bottles and the ballenas. Crunching the numbers a bit, and using Al G's figures (Pacifico 24 is 192 pesos and 12 Ballena is 202.00 pesos), it looks like per 100 ml,

Standard bottle = 1.8 pesos
Ballena = 2.5 pesos

I seen why the frugal folks buy the big bottles.

Hook - 6-30-2009 at 06:03 AM

BajaBruno, how many milliliters are you figuring the standard bottles and the ballenas at? Standard bottles are now generally 355mls and the ballenas are 940ml, I believe. Most brands have gone away from the 325ml bottles for one that is closer to 12oz.

vandenberg - 6-30-2009 at 08:01 AM

Bruno, You have them reversed.
Cost per 100ml
Ballena 1.79
and
Regular 2,25

Typo error. :no:

[Edited on 6-30-2009 by vandenberg]

El Camote - 6-30-2009 at 09:26 AM

The Little beer store shaped like a six pack of Coronas south of Mexicali:
N 32 degrees 17.346'
W 115 degrees 19.378'

A good place to relieve yourself of used cerveza on the way to San Felipe:
N 32 degrees 01.820'
W 115 degrees 14.252'

:bounce:

BajaBruno - 6-30-2009 at 09:42 AM

Hook, I was using 325 ml. Using your volume (and getting the order correct, a la Sr. Vandenberg), the result is:

Standard bottle = 2.3 pesos
Ballena = 1.8 pesos

Thanks to both of you for the correction. (I rounded to tenths.)

El Camote - 6-30-2009 at 09:46 AM

Maybe it's me, but I prefer the taste of Pacifico in a ballena more than a medio bottle. Seems to taste closer to a true draft beer.

Al G - 6-30-2009 at 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrfatboy

Quote:

Originally posted by Al G
Few can tell you the cost of deposit...I am going to say 4-8 pesos per bottle...if you are a bottom liner, maybe drinking in Baja is out of your reach

Last month in Egypt was close tho! $16 for a 1oz shot of Bacardi

I apologize...I sometimes get carried away when a few dollars becomes an issue over non-returnables. I live here and buy a lot of Pacifico, but the deposit was never an issue, so not sure if all depositos charge the same. It also appears the purchase price differs. If you figure $12 one time per case...it will be close, maybe less. To me that is not a lot to donate to the environment and most likely a very, very low percentage of your over-all cost.

Al G - 6-30-2009 at 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by El Camote
Maybe it's me, but I prefer the taste of Pacifico in a ballena more than a medio bottle. Seems to taste closer to a true draft beer.

I had often thought there was a difference also...so I just opened a ballena and medio and poured them clear glass to see a color change. I could not see a difference, nor could I taste a difference. :rolleyes:

I did one time open a ballena bottle of corona and it poured the color of Indio...it tasted a little better then Indio and a hell of a lot better then Corona...the corona friend would not drink it :lol:

k-rico - 6-30-2009 at 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Al G

Quote:

Originally posted by mrfatboy

Quote:

Originally posted by Al G
Few can tell you the cost of deposit...I am going to say 4-8 pesos per bottle...if you are a bottom liner, maybe drinking in Baja is out of your reach

Last month in Egypt was close tho! $16 for a 1oz shot of Bacardi

To me that is not a lot to donate to the environment and most likely a very, very low percentage of your over-all cost.

I know this is off topic but are you sure returnables are more environmentally friendly than recycling? Just how much oil is burned shipping those heavy empty bottles full of air back to the brewery, taking up considerable cargo space that could be used for something besides glass containers containing nothing?

Crushing them up locally, dramatically reducing the volume, and shipping the crushed glass to the closest bottle maker may be the way to go.

Cypress - 6-30-2009 at 11:52 AM

Maybe it's just my unrefined taste buds, but beer has pretty much the same taste whether it comes in a can, bottle, or keg. Differences in taste from one brand to the other, nearly all of it's good.

After a few of this brand or another most folks can't tell them apart. Try this. Mix some Bloody Marys and some Screw Drivers. After a few of either a person can't tell one from the other. Must be the acidic tomatoe juice and the acidic orange juice? :?:

maspacifico - 6-30-2009 at 11:56 AM

I think Al is talking about how many non returnable bottles end up on the road, beach, etc. vs how many returnables you see left around. The Mexicans are getting better about picking up.........but nothing like an incentive!

Al G - 6-30-2009 at 12:07 PM

Quote:

1) How much recycling in Baja now??
2)Volume vs. weight??( a belief that all ships are loaded to weight not volume capacity )
3) Energy needed to crush, sort, melt, ship, and remanufacture?? (It must be cheaper or they would not do it)
Do you think this is right?
:no:

I feel they do it because they know 90% will not come back...we are not in California anymore...
The steps and cost required to remanufacture are greater then manufacturing new...that is my guess.
We have not discussed the Gringo wine bottle yet.

k-rico - 6-30-2009 at 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Al G

I'm not going to do the research for you. Believe what you want or spend some time and find out, your choice.

However, when it comes to glass, you're wrong here:

"The steps and cost required to remanufacture are greater then manufacturing new...that is my guess."

And if burning fossil fuel moving around heavy glass containers containing nothing and taking up space that could be used for things like food, fuel, and clothing and other details of life that will just have to be shipped on other vessels/trucks/railroad cars makes environmental sense to you, well, OK.

Strategic Materials, the largest glass recycler in North America has a plant in Mexicali on the railroad line that goes down to the mainland. They have 5 others in California recycling U.S. glass.

I know thinking returnables are not the best cost/environmental solution is counterintuitive but considering the cost of fuel these days and the accumulating environmental impact of burning it, perhaps shipping those empty quart (more or less) bottles made of heavy glass, it takes more glass to make a returnable than non-returnable so they can withstand the reuse, that you generate in Todos Santos back to the brewery is not a smart idea. Where is the closest Modelo brewery?

I know nothing of wine bottles.

[Edited on 6-30-2009 by k-rico]

Al G - 6-30-2009 at 01:29 PM

I am not sure what your agenda is and why you conveniently ignored the almost fact that ?90%? (I know it is very high) is not recycled! How many ranchos and pueblos like Todos Santos have recycling. Would you like to meet me here? I will give you a tour of our dump.
Todos Santos is trying to start a recycling plant, but the government shut us down. Now we try again...
BTW do you work for a glass Company or silica plant or something similar?

k-rico - 6-30-2009 at 02:49 PM

Come on Al, I'm just making a case for my laziness, I hate returnables. I've almost convinced myself. And I haven't seen Tecate Light in returnable bottles, what am I gonna do?

I'll work around that 90% figure of yours. My argument might work if not for that. Where did you get that number? Its gotta be wrong.

Let me get a canned T-Lite and think about it.

I'll put the empty in the recycle bin. :tumble:

P.S. In TJ there are 100 OXXOs selling cans and non-returnables for every old style deposito. I'm sure the same will happen in TS. Better give the local officials a bigger cut in the recycling plant.

Al G - 6-30-2009 at 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico
Come on Al, I'm just making a case for my laziness, I hate returnables. I've almost convinced myself. And I haven't seen Tecate Light in returnable bottles, what am I gonna do?

I'll work around that 90% figure of yours. My argument might work if not for that. Where did you get that number? Its gotta be wrong.

Let me get a canned T-Lite and think about it.

I'll put the empty in the recycle bin. :tumble:

P.S. In TJ there are 100 OXXOs selling cans and non-returnables for every old style deposito. I'm sure the same will happen in TS. Better give the local officials a bigger cut in the recycling plant.

No worries...I believe 90% of us (same 90% i am sure)
understand we as gringos do not need to be contributing to Baja's 1950's culture in a negative way. I am here to enjoy it.
There are so many things the US has lost that the Baja still has...(respect is #1) It is a true delight to live here.
Pass the Pacifico...stop by... I have free ones for fellow Nomads....mi palapa es su palapa. My espanol is still malo so correct at will :biggrin:

Bajajorge - 7-1-2009 at 07:39 AM

As of May 2009 beer prices in San Felipe with a case of exchange empties was:
Tecate,Dos Equis, 24 Bottles, 145 Pesos
Corona,Pacifico 24 Bottles, 175 Pesos
Modelo Especial, 24 Bottles, 210 Pesos

Hook - 7-1-2009 at 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajajorge
As of May 2009 beer prices in San Felipe with a case of exchange empties was:
Tecate,Dos Equis, 24 Bottles, 145 Pesos
Corona,Pacifico 24 Bottles, 175 Pesos
Modelo Especial, 24 Bottles, 210 Pesos

For some reason, Tecate is no longer handling the returnable 12oz/355ml bottles over here. If I want Tecate in a returnable bottle, it's caguamas or larger.

During a memorable ferry trip...

Mexray - 7-1-2009 at 10:03 PM

...from Guaymas over to Santa Rosalia in our VW van, about 10 years ago...all the vehicles had to back down the ramp into the bow opening on the ferry...

While waiting our turn a flatbed semi with Pacifico labels pulled into the cue...

The official loaded everyone else, saving an easy spot to back into, in front, for the 'beer wagon'...I noticed a couple of bright yellow cardboard cases being handed to the deck hands in exchange for the primo parking spot!!! :spingrin:

I'm all for that, you can 'pay' me in Pacificos, anytime!

I made a sign behind our battery shop counter at work several years ago that always seems to get a smile from customers that notice:

"Friday afternoon sales policy - No Beer, No Battery!"

It's actually worked a couple of times...and sure is welcome these hot, summer days we're having up here in Northern Calif...

bajadock - 7-1-2009 at 10:30 PM

U.S.$.45/12 oz when buying Pacifico ballenas at today's 12.85 xchng. Nómadas siempre la bienvenida a QUAFF!

Al G - 7-2-2009 at 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajadock
U.S.$.45/12 oz when buying Pacifico ballenas at today's 12.85 xchng. Nómadas siempre la bienvenida a QUAFF!

So from that we can say...we get paid about 2300 Pacificos a month from SSA :light: