When you go "beer shopping"

I typically won't have a specific beer in mind when I go shopping. I always have a dozen or so in the back of my mind that I'd like to try, but even if the shop has none of them I'll just grab whatever looks interesting, or just get a six pack of Odells or New Belgium.

 

Ive been on a strict budget lately so ive been holding off and walking out empty handed if the beer im in search of is not on the shelf. But if i see something new to our distro or something i never heard of i might treat myself every now and again.

 

Given that I drive 2 hours each way from Toronto to Buffalo just to see what's in stock, and have no access to internet while over the border, the first option.

 

Ahh to live in an area where you can hit a few stores to find a release. My options are 3 private run stores (two are owned by the same company so share a warehouse) and the provincial run stores. Odds are if its sold out at one store i am out of luck.
I tend to try to find something new i haven't had before, so id look harder to find a decent replacement.

 

Can't leave empty handed.

 

If there's even a mediocre selection, chances are I'm leaving with something. Will definitely continue the search if I'm out for something particular though

 

I grab something else. The majority of people are missing out on so many beers because they aren't "rare" or a "special release". Plus I find my go to stores hook me up more as they know I am looking for certain releases or if I ask they will make the extra effort to put something aside.

I don't know how it is elsewhere, but Chicagoland is totally out of hand at this point, with people camping at stores throughout the whole day or truck chasing.

 

Me too for buy something at the first place because then I only have to go to one place.

 

If I'm on the hunt for something specific I think I keep moving with one eye on the lookout for anything that catches my eye. Which always happens so yeah I guess it ends up me buying a beer and the going to another store still.

 

I usually know what a shop will have or not, as they're so rare in France you can just ask your mates what's there and what's not. Nowadays I shop in stores for easily found beers such as German beers, trappist, and the occasional American one (mostly Sierra Nevada or Green Flash). For the rest, everything is done online on saveur-biere.com , biggest online beer store in Europe, and shipping is only 3.9 €.

 

I don't go unless the beer is on BM and shop confirms on the phone.

 

I can always find something that looks interesting at a good store. The staff get to know me, and I've had them 'reserve' a bottle or two of what I was looking for me when they become available.

 

When I look for something specific at a beer store it is because that is what I want. Many folks, judging by past discussions, think when you walk into a beer store you need to buy something. I disagreed then, I disagree now. I have enough beer at home that buying something else when the store doesn't have what I want, just to make the owner happy, isn't something I do.

 

If I'm somewhere big like a Bevmo I usually check if they have anything good and if they don't have anything fresh or interesting I just leave. If I'm somewhere smaller (even like a Whole Foods or something) and I really want to buy beer I usually end up buying something.

 

I don't necessarily have the mentality that I need to buy something when I go in to a beer store, nor do I feel obligated to anybody to buy anything. That being said, when I'm on my beer missions (for the harder to find releases), I typically will still find something worth buying while at the store.

My thought is this: if I'm already there, I owe it to myself to at least check out what the options are. Very rarely do I just walk out of a store empty handed. I'm guessing that many BA's have a collection of bottles/cans at home that they can drink. I will, however, continue my mission and stop in to other stores (until I find what I originally was on a mission for).

One example, I stopped in to a local shop around Black Friday last year, specifically looking for Bourbon County variants (Regal Rye, and BCBCS). As I was ready to leave (knowing the store is rather overpriced relative to other stores), one of the employees overhears my conversation and puts a Rare in my hands. Definitely bought that one (on impulse more than anything) - As I was telling my Wife earlier I wasn't about to shit off $65 for a bottle of beer. Still haven't heard the end of that hahaha.

 

I am in the lucky boat that both beer shops I go to will message me to tell me something I may be interested in has landed and if I want to they will keep me one over. I count myself lucky.

 

A couple of week ago, I went to a store to get some bourbon. They didn't have what I was looking for, but I did end up spending over $100. on some beers that they happened to have that are not always available. They were not whales, by far, but favorites of mine that I haven't seen for a while.
I left there and went to a smaller store and ended up spending over $300. on assorted spirits. Blanton's was one of them!

 

There are only 2 shops where I live if one don't have it the other won't either. My usual spot tells me what's coming and they just hold what I want, if I really want something they are not getting I have to drive 2 hours round trip.

 

Both. If it's around the release window for a beer, I'll go to one (or both) of the beer stores in the area looking for it. However, I'll leave with something regardless, as there is always something exciting to try.

 

Exactly this... And for anyone who said they would buy something and then keep looking, what do you do if you don't find what you're looking for at stop #2? Buy another obligatory sixer and make a third stop, continuing the cycle??