Hoping for some info So ive got family coming in for Christmas from the Oak Brook area and they know I like "weird beer". Im sure binny's has A LOT of choices and everyone's tastes and opinions are different. I'm really not looking for anything too crazy. I like all styles but to keep this easier let say stouts, barrel aged is ok. What might be some highlights that I could tell the them. Maybe a local seasonal, up and coming brewery, or a classic like Abyss, a Firestone. Or something that was surprising to see on the shelf. Thanks Jake
I'm assuming you want them to pick you up some stuff? One thought if you aren't looking to get anything too crazy - try doing the 1hr pickup at Oak Brook Binnys online and just have them pick it up for you: https://www.binnys.com/?binnysStore=32 You can select whatever you want from their online inventory and they'll have it ready to go. Otherwise, Binnys' has petty much everything. They should have several Firestone barrel aged beers on the shelves - last time I looked Stickee Monkee and Sucaba were still sitting around at my Binnys (so maybe at OB?).
I know willowbrook had plenty of Deths Tar and a few cases of Cafe Deth on the floor last weekend... Could still be the case for OB as well
I've found that the beer people at the OB Binny's are really great, helpful, and cooperative. They're happy to talk to you on the phone about what they have in stock and what they expect to get in stock, including the hard-to-find stuff. They do tend to keep some of the new limited release stuff in back, so it never hurts to ask.
I've had different experiences with different people there, so be wary of it. Had a guy tell me on the phone a couple weeks ago that they still had Benthic. Told him I'll be there in 5 mins as I was just leaving work for the day. Went there and told a guy I was grabbing a bottle of Benthic and I just talked to someone on the phone 5 mins before and he said they still had a few. He said "Benthic.... uhhhh no we don't have any." I said yeah you do, I talked to "guy's name" 5 mins ago and he said he had some still. He goes and finds that guy in the next aisle and I hear him telling the guy he shouldn't have told anyone... but then comes out of the back with a Benthic for me and reluctantly hands it over. Then I've also talked with a girl there and another guy that were super helpful and told me exactly when some stuff was coming in. It's hit or miss with who you talk to, IMO.
It happens at most Binny's unless you're a regular there, honestly. I made it a point to stop in my local one every other day(at least) for a month or two, and just wander around looking for a bit, and talking to the beer guys about different beers, breweries, etc. Got on a first name basis with them. Now when I stop in, they're friendly, and they're super transparent with me about what they have, what they're getting, when they're getting it, etc.
Of the half-dozen Binny's that I frequent I've always found Oakbrook to be the least transparent in terms of how they handle limited product, in part because they have some well-heeled customers who get preferential treatment. They used to put a lot of it on a small rack at the back of the beer section but now they don't even do that. Now I only go there if I'm heading to or from More and/or Mikerphone.
They do put some stuff on there still, just not the majority of the "limited" type of stuff. I work walking distance to it, and would walk there on lunch quite a bit just to wander around and see what they have and/or talk to them about when things are coming in. Like I said in my prior post, it's very hit or miss there. The one guy with the Benthic and that situation was an absolute clown. His actions(can't believe he was talking to the guy loud enough for me to hear lol) said to me that he was holding it in back for other customers rather than letting people who were there first buy it. Then there's a girl I talk to there who is always very cool and transparent about things, and super helpful.
I saw you post that you work close by, but to me if a store requires this much effort/greasing I will take my business elsewhere. It’s why I really don’t shop that location Signed, A Downers Grove resident
Oakbrook isn't my local. I live walking distance to another one. Oakbrook is simply the one I work close to, so it's convenient to walk in there on lunch and such. I haven't "greased" Oakbrook the same way I did my local.
I'll never forget the time I went to Oak Brook and approached a male (beer dept guy as I had talked to him before) and female employee to ask if they had any Sump. The male employee said no and the female employee chimed in and said she came across a case of it hiding behind some boxes in the back room and would grab me one. I took great joy in taking some of that male employees "stash" I haven't been back since.
My first "Oakbrook so shady" experience was back in the days when stores would still tweet about releases. Pipeworks had released four different BA bombers, but no store got all of them back in December 2015. Oakbrook tweeted that they had a case each of two of them and would be releasing them in like an hour. I'm 10-15 minutes from there and work from home so I jumped into my car and was like third in line or something. A beer department employee told us that they didn't have a full case of each, but something like 9 and 7 and we'd each have to choose one while supplies lasted. Then, just before the bottle handout, those numbers were cut further still because "someone dropped the cases and a bunch of bottles broke." #OakbrookSoShady
Must have been a regular occurrence that day. Your partner didn't even give it a second glance by this time of day.
I can see the Oak Brook Binny's from my house and walk there if I wanted to yet I give them as little business as I can. I end up driving about 15 minutes to get my beer. I've noticed it's always been hit or miss there and that small shelf hasn't had anything worthwhile on it for a few months now.
