Where do you buy your beer?

About 99% at "liquor stores" (in NJ = off-premise retailers licensed to sell beer, wine and spirits) - maybe 1% at one of the few grocery or big box clubs with licenses. I've always checked date codes (starting back when it was much more challenging) and I've never gone thirsty.

 

Unfortunately that is consistent with the majority of my visits to my 'local' Total Wine & More store.

But the wine selection is good there and they do hire helpful/knowledgeable staff for the wine section.

Fun fact: the first Total Wine & More store was the one in Claymont, DE (it was called Liquor World back in the day). A number of years ago they purchased a supermarket which was next to their location and expanded into that location. The Claymont store is the number one revenue generating store (despite all of that old beer there).

Cheers!

 

The short answer is I pretty much exclusively buy from wholesale liquor stores.

For me, in Nevada, it's usually Total Wine & More or Lee's Liquor's. In California, I usually use Bevmo, although I prefer Total Wine if I can use them.

When I was in Texas, it was pretty much exclusively Spec's or HEB. HEB is actually surprisingly good for beer.

I'm from the deep south, and basically you have to search for a specialty package store for the good stuff.

 

I have two local beer stores that get 95% of my business (90% of that goes to the one that is my favorite), and the other 5% is from two local breweries or from stores or breweries from out-of-town trips. I'm satisfied with that but it's always standard procedure to visit a store whenever I travel out of state by car.

 

Those are "wholesale" liquor stores, with state licenses to buy direct from breweries and to sell wholesale to retailers? There are a few Total Wine stores in NJ, and they have standard retail licneses.

 

I really want to get into it, but still have toddlers, so it'll probably be another year or so before I start.

I know there is at least one homebrew store called the Beer Nut.

 

Essentially since 2020 I haven't had the need to stray too far from home- more breweries seem to be in distribution since then. I have two chain liquor stores each a town over, with great selection and prices, so my days of running all over the place are probably over.

 

Grocery stores, liquor stores and Total Wine.

 

Maybe I used the word "wholesale" incorrectly. Lee's for sure carries Big Dog Brews, which is a Las Vegas local. Don't quote me about up in Reno.

For those interested in Big Dog's: https://www.bigdogsbrews.com/beer-line-up-and-tap-list/

 

I buy beer at bottle shops. Mostly in PA and MD, occasionally DE.

 

Mostly at the grocery store. Woodman’s on the west side of Madison.

 

I've been crossing the Delaware and buying beer in Pennsylvania bottle shops for 50 years, so I understand what they are. But do the bottle shops in Maryland and Delaware sell only beer, or do the sell wine and/or spirits, too? If yes, then how are they different than liquor stores? (I've bought beer in both states but can't remember much about the retailers)

 

I have family that lives in New Braunfels and while visiting the majority of the beer I purchase while there is from HEB. As you stated it is indeed a good selection of beers.

Specs is a very interesting store with lots of interesting stuff beyond beer.

Cheers!

 

In my area of SC, grocery stores are the go-to for beer. You'd be surprised at the interesting things you find in a random food store. The Food Lion in Pawleys Island can be good... or not. Checking date codes are an absolute must. The ABC stores are hit/miss. There is a Total Wine in Myrtle Beach, and it's as good as you'd expect.

Since the Piggly Wiggly in Market Common closed years ago there is no known great source...where have you gone @beerbyrd ?

 

Bottle shops in MD and DE are also liquor stores.

 

Wal mart (one near me has a good selection), Kroger, Publix, the brewery themselves. Our wal mart sells a whole lot of local product, including from a relatively new tiny brewery that’s up the street from it.

When I lived in the city I loved going to bottle shops. Having 3 kids now and the nearest one being 45 minutes away I don’t really go to it unless I happen to be in the area for something else

 

Beer for home consumption, beer stores and 1 local brewery. (Crowlers)

On draught, Old Chicago, The Office Bar and Grill...I've cut back on other sites that serve draught beer because of service being lacking, too expensive, not liking the venue in general.

 

https://www.khourysfinewine.com/

My brother told me the TW in Summerlin is transitioning out of selling single cans. They are mostly beyond fresh anyway. My favorite three places to buy packaged beer in Vegas are:

• Khoury’s in Henderson
• Speedee Mart - Link for their locations
• Beer Zombies - Three Locations

In Chicago, my limitations are the fact I typically don’t buy more than 12-18 beers at a time, because I need to carry them up to several miles or combo walk/train/bus when the weather sucks.

I do rent a car a few times a year, and typically stock up directly from breweries (Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana) and/or Woodman’s (regional grocery store).

My breakdown is as follows:

• New to me beers:
  • Draft onsite or to go direct from breweries
  • Single cans or bottles from The Beer Temple, Beer on the Wall or Bottles & Cans (Independent Craft Beer Stores)
• Four/six/twelve packs:
  • Direct from breweries
  • The Beer Temple, Trader Joe’s or the two stores noted above.
  • Sales at the grocery stores.

My one regret is we have a few Polish grocery stores with dozens of Polish and other Eastern European or Russian beers, but they are typically too old and all but a couple have no decipherable date code. Pilsner Urquell is the only import I can buy with confidence from these stores, typically $3.99-$4.99 for a four pack of I believe 500ml cans.

 

I just moved to LV. How's that Beer Zombie place? You got any recommendations? Looks amazing, but I'm kind of the opposite of a social drinker so all those beer nerds start bugging me out

 

75% from small local liquor stores and 25% from local breweries.