Dumb PA beer buying question

Yes, we do. Obviously depends on what you are looking for though.

 

Our distributors recently have been allowed to sell 12 packs, so you can pick up a case or half of one. Bottle shops are entirely different entities. Because you can purchase individual bottles, she could piece together any combination of individuals (though there is a per sale limit of 192 ounces in bottle shops). Top of my head, Troegs and Victory have samplers cases...maybe Weyerbacher, Full Pint, Yards and Sly Fox too (not year round tho); no smaller brewery will have something like this. PA Costcos do not sell alcohol.

If you want to avoid tracking down beers at small and local breweries, your best bet is to direct her to a Giant Eagle for individual bottles. Of the distributors, Vecenie's may have the best selection, because they are a wholesaler, but also have a distributor for non-business sales.

Where in Pittsburgh? There are a number of good distributors, but it'd be easier to suggest if you narrow it down geographically.

 

In Philly, at least in the city, the 192-ounce limit is largely ignored in my experience. Maybe Pittsburgh will be similar. If not, you'll just need to bring the beer to the car and go back in for round two.

 

Pittsburgh resident here. No, they take the 192 shit seriously.

 

Philadelphia suburbs resident here. They take the 192 shit seriously here (Wegmans, Whole Foods).

Cheers!

 

Yep. And no such thing as Costco or Trader Joes selling beer

 

Don't know where you're shopping, but the places I've been to in the city pay strict attention to the 192 oz limit. Also as mentioned by @JackHorzempa places in the suburbs around where I live are very attentive to the 192 oz limit.

 

@TambaTime, permit me to suggest that you do not post with specific names of retailers that ignore the 192 ounce limit.

Cheers!

 

No name-naming here.

I live in the city and work in the burbs. Multiple times at Wegmans I've looked like a total newb when the cashier had to remind me of the 192-ounce rule. It just never seems to be an issue in the city.

 

Distributors typically sell full cases only. You may be able to get 1/2 cases if it is something that is packaged as such but not very common and not just as simple as "I'll take 12 of these and 12 of those", they won't break full cases and you certainly can't make a mixed case (24 different beers). But there are plenty of bottle shops where you can buy singles, 4 packs and 6 packs and bottles and 6 packs are available to go in most bars though the prices will be a little higher.

 

Let us know what part of Pittsburgh she is staying in/shopping at. We can help make some suggestions on beer distributors in that area. A lot of beer distributors solely focus on selling bud/miller/coors and don't have much of a variety of craft beers.

 

Pittsburg-Fatheads.

Only wish we could get that in NEPA.

 

Save On Beer is the best place for cases in that area, havent been there in a while so not sure about the sampler packs. Best bet though is probably the Giant Eagle grocery store on rt 19. Good selection of six packs, pretty nice mix six section, and i think i did see a sampler 12 pack or two last time in there.

 

The Cranberry and Seven Fields Giant Eagle grocery stores will be her closest options for variety of singles and 6 packs. The Whole Foods Wexford is a bit further south(~10 min)on Route 19 but has a better selection. If you really want a case then the Save on Beer is right behind the Sheraton on 19 in Cranberry.

 

Worst blue laws ever

 

as far as the 192 ounces rule, you can go outside and place your goods in the car and come back in. a minor inconvenience.

 

If some one ordered a case when I was bartending I would get the case from the basement, walk to the front door, give the guy 2 6 packs then walk out of the bar with the other 2 6 packs and give to the person.