Costco has finally cracked the code to a low-cost, high-quality beer with its latest Kirkland Signature product: a German-style lager called Helles-Style Lager. The $13.99 12-pack is flying off shelves, and fans are raving about it. This marks a significant departure from Costco’s previous attempts at delivering affordable beer, which have historically fallen short.
The new partnership with Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon, has resulted in a product that is not only affordable but also highly rated by experts and customers alike. The beer is based on a recipe that won a gold medal at the 2023 Great American Beer Festival and is now sold in every state except Texas.
Costco’s decision to partner with Deschutes has provided the brewery with an unprecedented scale and brand loyalty, as CEO Peter Skrbek noted. “If we tried to tilt this up on our own, it would have taken us 20 years,” he said.
The partnership has also allowed Costco to share its Kirkland packaging with the brewery, putting its location on the label, which Skrbek believes will help validate the beer’s authenticity.
This latest success follows other expert-approved private label products from Costco, such as the award-winning Kirkland Signature Coastal Cheddar Cheese. The affordable options have provided consumers with a cheaper alternative during economic times, and breweries with limited resources can also benefit from these partnerships.
While this win for Costco is significant, the retailer has lost its crown as the nation’s favorite grocery store to southern chain H-E-B in the annual ranking by customer data science company dunnhumby.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/article-14622269/costco-kirkland-beer-helles-lager.html