How do you search for beers when they're released?

The local "big" store (read: Binny's) is pretty bad about doing lists and if you ask anyone that works there they'd probably prefer to not have to cater to the beer geek crowd since we call and ask about the same 10 beers 100 times a day.
I have a tiny bottle shop that buys a ton of crafts about a mile from my house. I usually bring the owner a beer anytime I homebrew and if I get something really rare, I'll invite him to whatever tasting I'm doing for it. I don't have a huge cellar, but 9 out of 10 times I get on the short list for any difficult to find beers.

 

Chase the distribution trucks with everyone else of course.

 

I either give my beer guy a heads up, or he gives me a heads up.

 

I don't bother chasing down rare beers. I have a couple stores that are convenient to me that get some rare beers that don't yet have people shopping for them. I make sure to visit these stores every couple weeks to see if there are any gems on the shelves while I pick up a six pack or two. If I happen to find some Bourbon County Coffee, Bramble, or GI Lolita on the shelf, I will buy a couple and keep a few on the shelf for the next lucky person.

No lists, no calling, no bullshit, no ass-kissing your beer guy. They put it on the shelf, I buy it.

If I have to jump through hoops to get a beer, its not worth it to me.

 

I just go to stores and if they have cool stuff then great but if not then no sweat.

 

I don't.

Life is to short to worry about chasing limited releases that I may try once and never see again. If I'm standing in the right place at the right time I'll take advantage of what comes my way, but there are so many beers I've never tried that I don't regret missing out those that are in short supply.

 

Gotta get yourself a good beer guy.

 

This is so true…

 

gotta kiss ass.

 

To be honest, pay attention to when things come out now so you'll he well prepped in the future. After one year in the beer cycle you'll have it down. It's the one offs that ruin everything.

 

^This

 

With the beers I'm most interested in, I've found that a proactive approach pays off. I watch for release dates, follow local twitter feeds when I think of it, regularly check local stores' "new arrivals" lists. Sometimes stores will offer in advance to hold a bottle or two for me, usually not. As soon as I learn of a solid lead I try to get over there ASAP. If I can't get to the store that I know has it, I at least check the stores in my radius. I've found that once a beer starts hitting the local market it's pretty much everywhere within a week or so and then, depending on various factors, it's gone within hours or days.

All of this said, now that I've tried or acquired most of the beers I'm most interested in for a full year's cycle (and built up a cellar of some 300 bottles), I'm starting to adopt this approach: http://beeradvocate.com/community/t...r-beers-when-theyre-released.4955/#post-53805 (EDIT: Is there a cleaner way to link back up to another post?)

 

I just do my normal shopping routine and occasionally i see something that i saw everyone freak out about on beeradvocate.com and i buy it

 

I go to my regular shop and talk to my beer guy. The more often I go, the more intel I get, and the more likely he is to save something for me. I love my beer guy.

 

I am on a few email lists around my way. I also ask well ahead of time if they know they are getting a certain beer in certain stores.

 

My wife used to work part time side job at Total Wine so I get insider tips from them. Other than that, I just show up on days they get their shipments in and ask what they have new. (the good stuff goes straight from the truck to lock up).