In Norfolk VA? What beer store? Oh wait, we do have a Total Wine, but I consider it the worst TW in SE VA (Va Beach is best, with Newport News and Chesapeake maybe double tied for 2nd). I monitor Wegmans in VA Beach in case they get something super-duper special in (hooray internet) bottleBOX (true tiny craft beer store) has been closed for 1-2+ years. Current options are: 1. Casual Pint in VA Beach: They don't put their beer wall on unTappd so its a crap shoot every time you go in but majority of the time, I walk out with beer. 2. Earlybirds in Poquoson: On unTappd, great shop, just have to deal with the f**king tunnel to get there. 3. Corks + Kegs in Richmond VA: S-tier bottle shop... unfortunately they're an 1.5 hour drive for me. I wouldn't do it every weekend, but there's been a couple weekends where I'm like screw it, lets go look at the awesome.
Kroger is the 800LB gorilla of grocery stores in my neck of the woods and they've definitely cut back on their craft beer inventory. The local gourmet grocer chain has maintained their inventory and just opened a new location with a huge craft beer section. Liquor stores have about the same inventory they've always had. I do notice beers sitting on shelves longer. Bourbon County Stouts are all still available weeks after they were delivered to stores. People used to stand in line for those.
Just Better Beer I think in Norfolk near Patriot Place closed. Nikki's in Providence did the cellar clearance - might still be dribbling some gems out and their general stock still pretty good. Yankee in Swansea has skidded downhill pretty fast and I'm not sure they even have a beer manager anymore - hope it's not the dope I talked to know my last visit - maybe unkind of me but...yikes...
I haven't noticed a significant difference, but the ownership is relatively homogeneous. I don't know their beer experience, but I would hope it's based on something more than market value.
I agree I’m seeing a lot more space dedicated to seltzers and ciders - neither of which I have any interest in.
I also have the problem with old beer. When Dogfish changed their labels for 90 minute IPA it took months for me to see these bottles.
My local beer store is mainly a convenience store so they're doing OK enough I suppose. But about a year ago the former owner sold the store and the new owner has been cutting back on the craft beer overall in favor of seltzers and CBD/THC drinks but still gets a lot of local brews in so I can't complain too much. Most of the places I buy my beers at aren't bottle shops (mainly convenience or smaller grocery stores with a good beer selection) so they probably don't have as many issues as places that only focus on craft beer sales.
I know the place you're referring to of course, but I think that's an anomaly. If they weren't the only game in town, I have to wonder if they'd even still be in business. Most places in Oregon and Washington are nothing like ES.
Luckily, there are other things to do in Richmond to justify the drive. "Hey honey, want to have a picnic at Maymont? Since we're up here anyway..."
Here in luvely LFK, we've only got the 2 Cork 'N' Barrels, On the Rocks, Micro Liquor and maybe a couple more liquor stores that have a decent selection of craft beers. All stores have cut back on their singles coolers, sometimes by half and have gone with the ree-dick-U-lush seltzers, CBDs, THCs, RTDs, non-alky, insert-whatever-the kids-are-going-for-this-minute crap. They're bringing in less new-to-us-breweries & one-offs than in previous years (& I can't blame them when I'm one of the only 'Beer Hunters' in town willing to $pend for almost every new brew/brewery that has appeared in the last 5-6-7 years and now even I'M cutting down) plus after having been bit for the last couple of years with product (even recently canned/bottled stuff!) that just sits on shelves & doesn't move until they have to put it on closeout after 7-8-10 months, I don't fault them for not even trying to bring in new breweries-to-Kansas offerings when it's a crapshoot to find out what sells & moves. And then even the good breweries we've gotten into KS in the last few years (Hop Butcher, Equilibrium, Drekker, Weldwerks, etc.) seem to have lost their luster & the new brews just languish on the shelves. Even across the state line over in MO. the few stores I frequent have done the same thing (Mike's, Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits, etc.). It is what it is, that, "market correction" we've been waiting to happen for a number of years now. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted......
All this canned wine, fake booze, ciders & NAs all cutting into fridge & shelf space. Regional breweries like Schlafly's. Coop Ale Works & American Solera getting frozen out. Singles all at room temperature along with a ton of other stuff that shouldn't be.
Yes, I have to force myself to be a strict date **** when there, and buy nothing that has no bottling/canning date on it. Too many things just sit on shelves for months or even years there.
It's getting harder to get a wide variety of beers in my area stores (North Central CT / Western MA). The one nearby store focusing almost exclusively on beer closed several years ago, this seems to be the fate of a few others further out (ex. Craft Beer Cellar). Liquor stores are carrying fewer brands, concentrating on just one or two of a brewery's best-sellers where in years past they might carry half dozen beers from a brewery. For instance, stores used to stock several North Coast beers, now Old Rasputin is the only one they want to carry. The seltzers & RTDs are also taking space away from beer, although it seems to have not gotten worse in the past few years. Also I have seen more local offerings being stocked, which is a good thing.
I have always visited two local shops. One has slowly reduced their beer selection, while the other has maintained the same area for beer. The latter is still doing well, but no longer posts new arrivals on social media. They used to have yearly events where people would line up to get special releases. Those days are gone. Overall, they are still doing well but it really hinges on one main person in charge. If that person ever left, I think beer would die in the store and the owners would simply focus on wine and bourbon.
I've noticed beers are hanging around a lot longer now. Other Half stuff used to fly off the shelf, but now, it's hard to find cans under a month or two old. There's lots of stuff creeping up on a year of age, too.
I have 2 bottle shops near me that do a good job and sell everything refrigerated. When I don't need something more exotic, I use Sprouts as they have a good refrigerated beer selection. Total Wine is mostly shelf turds...
I wish beer stores and distributors could work together to ensure the store has proper supply of various beer styles at least. Example: Store notices there are no Barleywine options in the store at the present . Contact distributor …”hey for next delivery, can you contact your brewery supply chain and find me 1-2 Barleywine options to stock my shelves”? Something like that. Ideally the store is the customer and should be able to place orders it wants. Not be blackmailed and controlled by the middle man distributors…none of the minimum order requirements or if you want X beer from a brewer you need to buy quantity of Y etc. I don’t know the system but just what I’ve read on here over the years.
All we've had from North Coast in recent years is Old Rasputin (& I hope that never disappears), Scrimshaw, Pranqster, Brother Thelonius and the very older, dust-covered Old Stock from years ago. Haven't seen any of the other,'year-round' NC beers in years. You mean, "Total-Old-Ass-Beers".
