Is anyone else frustratingly beer isolated?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by MammaGoose, Jan 18, 2013.

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  1. MammaGoose

    MammaGoose Initiate (0) Jan 10, 2013 Wyoming

    I'm in Sheridan, WY. Amazing country...rolling prairie and gorgeous mountains. All the deer I could want to hunt and all the rivers and lakes I could want to fly fish. I left when I was young, and now I'm home. BUT, I am frustratingly and agonizingly beer isolated. We have our one brewery in town (Black Tooth Brewing Co) and a very new brewery about 45 minutes away in Buffalo, WY (Clear Creek Brewery). I love both places, don't get me wrong, but...they get old. Both are solid breweries, and lord knows we're lucky to have them. Black Tooth's IPA holds a place close to my heart and Clear Creek has my favorite chili beer (a porter) that I've ever tried. But, I want more! All the local bars carry the mass produced beers, a few of the local brews, and maybe one or two out-of-towners. The local liquor stores carry darn near the same stuff year round, and it amounts to about 8-10 shelves of craft beer. A few occasional seasonals. Needless to say, I've tried every beer that's available within an hour of me...at least 10 times.

    I looove going on brewery tours. Essentially road trips or motorcycle rides for the sole purpose of seeking out new breweries/craft beer bars/better stocked liquor stores. I've visited most breweries in Montana. I LOVE Crow Peak Brewery in Spearfish, SD. I've made a small, but reasonable, dent in some Colorado breweries. As far south as Durango/Silverton/Ouray to several in the Denver area.

    I try as many new beers as I can. But it's frankly...frustrating. I read about so many exciting brews, but it's just not realistic for me to go to the liquor store and pick up the latest and greatest. Not even referring to the "whales," but even to ANY variety at all. I feel bored and stifled.

    So to anyone that has a bottle shop, more than one, two, three breweries within an hour's drive, a craft beer bar, or even a well-stocked liquor store...be happy 'bout it. Because there are thirsty and bored little gals in Wyoming who have to drink the same beers over and over and over and over because there is nothing else available.

    /end rant.
     
  2. koopa

    koopa Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2008 New Jersey

    You should consider trading beers. You won't be able to pull any "whales" with the type of beers that are available to you, but you will find a bunch of "tickers" that are interested in trying ANY beers from the type of remote beer area that you live in. I'm sure they would be glad to trade you the "shelf beers" they have available to them for the beers you have available to you.
     
    ewright, acevenom and SatlyMalty like this.
  3. Nectar

    Nectar Initiate (0) Jan 17, 2013 New Jersey

    How are the shipping laws to your state? While not always cost-effective, you could bulk order online with new brews.

    I can't complain where I am at. Not a huge craft scene around me. While we don't get every rare limited, when we do I have good
    shot. Hell I got my 2nd bottle of Bolt Cutter 4 weeks after it hit shelves. This is after I bought my first in the same store on release day.
     
    Centennial likes this.
  4. anglagard1

    anglagard1 Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2010 Wisconsin

    Time for a road trip.
     
    devlishdamsel likes this.
  5. TheSaboteur

    TheSaboteur Initiate (0) Sep 20, 2010 Nebraska

    BM me... We can work something out. *ticker-*
     
    FosterJM and SatlyMalty like this.
  6. loafinaround

    loafinaround Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2011 New York

    I can imagine. I get all pent-up when I hear raves over some brews that aren't distributed to LI or NYC. that being said, I still do live/work in a place many would consider beervana.
    You know what I still periodically do? Once in a while, especially if I'm traveling for other purposes (say going to visit friends/family) I do a massive side trip to procure a giant pile of beers.
    Do you ever get the opportunity to travel? could probably ship stuff back if you were flying. Online shops haven't really excited me. Wonder if other posters can recommend a few good ones to you....
     
  7. alexipa

    alexipa Initiate (0) Oct 7, 2011 Colorado

    I was about to say Pinedale has an excellent brewery, the Wind River Brewing Company, but then I realized you're about 7 hours from Pinedale. Wyoming is huge.

    Sorry, that's all I got...
     
  8. koopa

    koopa Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2008 New Jersey

    Time to read the OP more carefully.
     
    boddhitree, Dizbro21 and cavedave like this.
  9. SToneyBrew

    SToneyBrew Initiate (0) Oct 2, 2009 Virginia

    i agree. look for trade opportunities. also, there are websites that ship beer (depending on state law). check them out (letspour, halftime, etc.). or just, every time you see a beer at the bottle shop you haven't tried... pick it up, even if you aren't sure about it.
     
  10. anglagard1

    anglagard1 Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2010 Wisconsin

    For me, it would be about a 5 minute walk to the nearest tavern where I could get a decent beer like Moon Man on tap. A 20 minute walk would get me to the one restaurant in town that brews its own. I'm lucky enough to live in a small town where I can find some fine Belgian ales as well as the occasional whale or near-whale at the local beer store. I'm also fortunate in being able to find some good deals, such as the SN Pale Ale that I'm drinking now that I found for $5.99 a 12er.
     
  11. mattsander

    mattsander Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2010 Canada (AB)

    Try finding a good IPA in Canada...

    We're in this together man.
     
    Weebay likes this.
  12. dujayhawk

    dujayhawk Initiate (0) Aug 8, 2011 Kansas

    Cantillon sits on shelves in Canada, I don't feel horrible for you.
     
  13. mattsander

    mattsander Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2010 Canada (AB)

    Would you trade access to the entire American IPA universe for access to $23 bottles of Cantillon?
     
    DSlim71 likes this.
  14. koopa

    koopa Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2008 New Jersey

    Not a fan of Red Racer?
     
    NWer and MasterCraft like this.
  15. shand

    shand Pooh-Bah (2,166) Jul 13, 2010 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    It looks like you can't get too much in Wyoming, as I expected and you surely know.

    However, you can use that information there to attempt to special order things from your nearby liquor stores that you'd like to try. You'll probably need to go in on a whole case at a time, but it still might be your most cost-effective option.
     
    AnotherImperial likes this.
  16. mattsander

    mattsander Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2010 Canada (AB)

    They pulled out of Alberta recently, but I hear they may be back soon. I love that beer.
     
  17. 1424IpA

    1424IpA Initiate (0) Nov 2, 2012 California

    I'll sack up and trade beers for mule deer hunts!
     
    AlphaMikeFoxtrot and match1112 like this.
  18. koopa

    koopa Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2008 New Jersey

    Wow it's crazy that I can get that beer in another country and you can't get it in a neighboring province!
     
  19. stealth

    stealth Pooh-Bah (1,819) Dec 16, 2011 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Society

    FT: Beer I can get ISO: Venison :slight_smile:
     
  20. harperman69

    harperman69 Initiate (0) Feb 11, 2009 Tennessee

    Yeah, I'm about 2 hours from the nearest brewery. I feel your pain.
     
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