It would seem that in todays social media world that percieved desirability is huge. When someone gets a hold of a Heady you know damn sure there is going to be a pic on FB to document it. If it were 1982 we would be buying Michelob or Heineken when we wanted a top shelf beer. Back then we didn't have the internet to tell us what beer we needed to buy, just the televsion and radio advertisements supplied the hype.
I think Founders is a good role model. They make beers that are readily available but also have KSB for snob/hype appeal.
The Alchemist has a good thing going as well. They stay small, produce top notch IPA and remain extremely successful.
Remember back in the 80s if you made the trip to canada, ya had to bring back some brador.
or going west meant getting some coors.
perhaps the actual Lowenbrau from germany would show up in the better stores. (miller was brewing it in the states)
but holy hell, bud was $2/6 mich was $2.50, and heini was $3.75.... or something like that. seems really expensive when you were 14...