How much is too much for a draft beer?

• Openwalls.com
• A cold frosty one can put a dent in your wallet.

It was nearly a decade ago that I had a gaggle of friends who had never been to Kansas City and at Tomfooleries (this was a proximity decision, rather than a question of showing the best this city has to offer). As each of the non-natives came back from the bar, they continually expressed their amazement at how little a draft beer cost in this city, slamming down a series of bottles and loudly boasting that they were moving here as soon as possible.

The shine of those drunken proclamations dulled in the morning, although the amazement over the amount of cash left after a night of copious drinking did not likewise ebb. Today, a drink at the bar tells a different story. In Brooklyn, I was irked to pay six-pack prices for a single beer, and lately I’ve felt a bit of sticker shock in Westport, Waldo and downtown. So, how much is too much for a draft beer?