Do you have a BEER GUY?

More like a beer friend ... I don't like to put labels on things. Let's just say it's complicated

 

Beer friend with benefits?

 

Which store does Rob own and where? I may need to take a road trip.

 

Roadtrip? I think you mean pilgrimage.

 

I do. I think you must. I give a lot of hard to get beer to them as well and I am rewarded when it comes to knowing delivery dates and an extra bottle or two when things are a bit more limited. Pay to play....

 

I go to a local shop by where I live usually every friday. I go there so much, I think the whole staff knows me. I even hooked up one of my beer guys with a black note just cuz he never had it. I never expect them to hold stuff for me, but they pretty awesome and they do anyways.

 

Yeah. But he's probably on BA so I won't get all hot and bothered about it.

 

I want Rob to move to Pittsburgh.

 

Som-body Rikes You.

I had a very similar experience when I started my beer cellar. I had two baskets of beer picked out and the guy comes over and asked if I needed any help finding anything, looked at the two baskets, looked at me and said, "That's some pretty good shit." We talked beer for a good half hour and I ended up with a third basket.

 

No. We used to have a beer gal who didn't know shit from Shinola, but she left the distributor's catalog out where we could look through it and she would order whatever we wanted. If we wanted a case of something one of her distributors could get she would buy 2 cases of it just to see if the second case would sell. And we paid her price on special orders.

 

My guy is a bit out of the way, but whenever I go in he always asks what I've been drinking and what not. He told me about a hole in the wall that had great prices plus didn't know what they had in a great backlog of Stone limiteds. Great store he has too.

 

Vinnie at Village Beer Merchant in Buffalo. Don't get better than him

 

I have a couple really great ones. I was out of town when KBS hit and they both me held me some, and I didn't even ask.

 

Rick the manager at Macadoodles in Branson...

(Nah just kidding im Rick from macadoodles in branson but am currently taking offers for anyone willing to bribe me with trades)

 

A good beer guy is as valuable as a good butcher, a good fishmonger, or deli manager. It is one of the biggest reasons for customer retention.

 

A good friend of mine is the beer purchaser at a major market, so I get texts when certain beers come in. This year I got Double Crooked Tree, KBS, Barrel Aged Cereal Killer, and Bolt Cutter before they even hit the shelves.

 

I know Rob

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3473/view=beerfly

 

I'd have to go with Kevin at Grape & Gourmet in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The man not only owns my favorite beer store (well wine store but we need not speak of that), but he is very knowledgeable and just an all around nice guy. He lets me know when new things comes in, hold stuff for me and has even attended tastings with my group.

 

Absolutely, at my local distributor I'm friends with the owners.

Gave them samples of Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier and asked if they could get it in...Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they will be able to (it's a small town distro and they have a decent selection of some imports and craft and do what they can). But they give me samples, and let us know of deals or what they have available/what's coming in.

 

Nope, I show up to the couple stores I frequent and see what they have on the shelves, I've never concerned myself with getting rare beers too much.