Ordering Craft Beer Online: Money-Saving Hacks

The number of craft breweries in the United States jumped to 9,000 in 2020, the New York Times reports. With craft beer more popular than ever, there’s never been a better time to order online and get your beer delivered right to your door. By using best shopping practices and smart money-saving hacks, you can ensure you get the best deals and don’t pay more than you need to. 

Getting a good price on your beer 

Always shop around different sellers and compare prices for craft beers before placing your order. If you find a website with a reward program, consider signing up — especially if you know you’ll be making future purchases from the same seller. A reward program will let you earn points on your purchases, so you can benefit from discounts on your beer in the future. And, if you don’t need your craft beer urgently, try leaving it in your shopping cart and refraining from checking out immediately. This trick may work to get you a cheaper deal. Many merchants have systems in place to encourage you to complete your purchase. So, you may be sent email reminders complete with discount codes to encourage you to complete the sale. 

Look for shipping deals 

Wherever you order your craft beer from, you’ll need to take the shipping cost into account to make sure you're still getting the best deal. Overnight shipping, in particular, is a fast shopping option that will deliver your order the next day. Overnight shipping cost varies depending on the particular service used. Regardless of the service you opt for, make sure to compare prices. Even if one seller is offering free shipping, you may find they’ve actually increased the prices of their products to make this offer viable. In some cases, low-cost flat rate shipping along with an overall lower cost can be cheaper than free shipping alone. 

Canned or bottled?

When ordering craft beer online, you may be faced with the choice between canned or bottled beer. Since bottled beer typically comes with a higher risk of breaking during transit, you may want to opt for canned beer for greater peace of mind. However, as long as you purchase from a reputable seller and read positive reviews from other happy international customers, you probably don’t need to worry about ordering glass bottles. Nevertheless, it helps to know canned craft beer isn’t actually an inferior product. In fact, it can actually be better quality than bottled. Unlike glass bottles (even brown ones), canned beer isn’t exposed to light and oxygen, while the inner plastic lining all around helps protect the liquid from the metal. You may also find it cheaper to order canned beer since they weigh less.

Ordering craft beer online is a great way to sample new types or have your old favorites delivered right to your door. By shopping around for the best price, looking for shipping deals, and choosing between canned or bottled beer, you can ensure your order is a success.