I’m not usually one to speak in hyperbole, insisting that everything must be the ‘worst’ or ‘best’ thing I’ve ever witnessed.  There is such a thing as the middle ground, some in-between.  Today I will break that tradition and say that I think the mix-a-six section in a grocery or package store may be there greatest addition to the beer aisle in modern history.

An oasis of possibilities

If you’re not familiar with it, the concept is quite simple.  A grocery store or package store will have a wall of beers – not packaged, but hanging out individually – waiting for you to bundle them in a soon-to-not-be-empty six pack container with 5 other random beers.  Short of experimentation at your local watering hole, there is no better way to try a new flavor.  Have you ever thought, “I’d sure like to try that ‘Comrade Bill Bartrams Egalitarian Anti-Imperialist Soviet Stout’ but I’d prefer to not have to buy six of them.”  The mix-a-six concept was made for people like you.  And me.  Grab one.  And find five other random beers for a trip to your beer fridge.  

What’s the upside?  You get to try something new – even if you hate it, you’re only invested for those 12 ounces.  If you love it – congratulations!  You found a new favorite beer.  Now, go buy a keg.  I have recently had the great opportunity to try tons of new choices.  Through my 40 Days of Beer, I had some stuff delivered that I certainly had never heard of.  I can be quite adventurous, but there were even a few beers that showed up on my doorstep that I might normally never have purchased for myself.  And I would have been doing myself a disservice.  For example, you might recall that I’m not much of an IPA guy.  But someone brought me a great big bottle of Uinta Cahoots Double Rye IPA. (Thank you, WWK!)  If not for that delivery, I would have been missing out on an absolute winner.  More to come on that beer in a future BOTW post.

For now, go to the grocery store, grab that empty six-pack holder, and be creative.  Be wild, be daring, be adventurous!  It only costs you 12 ounces, but the potential to find greatness is completely worth it.

Comments?  Thoughts?  Topics you’d like to see covered here?  Let me know!

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October 24, 2013
Mike Pennington

Author: Mike Pennington

Mike Pennington, normal, 40-ish, father of three, living the suburban dream north of Atlanta.  

2 Replies to “Mix-a-Six”

  1. Avatar
    Unknown says: October 25, 2013 at 2:52 pm

    Agreed. It's also the cheap way to drink mixed beer drinks like Black & Tan or Black Velvet if they have the beer in a cold case 🙂 No need to buy a six and a four when you can buy three of each!

  2. Avatar
    Mike Pennington says: October 25, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    And bam! That's how it's done. Great pint! I mean, great point.

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