Bars selling beers not distribute to the state

I believe it is illegal to bars and stores to purchase beer for resale from anything other than official distributors, though I am not an expert on this law. Would I try a bottle? Probably. Is it good thing to do all the time? Probably not. Also, 50 dollars for 120min is way overpriced, even for a bar. It's 23 dollars at the bar down the street from me. I would expect a $9 beer to be marked up to $30 max.

 

This also applies to stores. I have been to a few recently that had non-distributed offerings.

 

I would buy it as long as it's not marked up 500% and 6 months out of freshness. Legality might depend on the individual state but I remember when a bunch of Philly bars got raided for having brews that were not technically registered for sale in the state (or something like that). Hence Russian River Registration Ale.

http://mobile.philly.com/news/?wss=/philly/news&id=86796597

 

Bootlegging, not legal, but in Louisiana I'd be for it. Sometimes bars do it here, but it's Fat Tire or some crap that's not worth the trouble or risk, i.e. potentially losing their liquor license.

 

Interesting read. You'd think the Philly PD would have bigger fish to fry.

 

hmmm, a fish fry you say? I'm in!

I see this thread going away anywho so .....

 

I've certainly ordered a pint when a bar I like brings in a secret keg of beer that isn't distributed in our state, but the offerings have always been not listed on the menu and only certain customers (i.e. regulars) were told about the offering. Is that a little exclusive? Yes, but it certainly cuts down on the likelihood that a bar will get shut down or fined for illegal offerings. Therefore, I don't think I'd order a non-distributed bottle off of a menu, if only to encourage the bar to not risk something bad happening.

 

I have seen this before. Some places do it right and only add $5 or so on to the retail price. When people start tacking on 100-200% mark ups is when it gets a little egregious. Unfortunately, sometimes it's the only way to get a beer like that.

 

I don't care what bars do, as long as they aren't ripping people off.

 

I find it kinda cool to get something I cannot normally get. But in all cases it was offered to their best custoemrs and not made common knowledge because of the obvious trouble with such a practice.

 

whatever, the 3 tier system is messed up anyways.

 

Maybe so. However, bypassing it is still illegal.

 

they don't sell the beer, they sell the bottle as a collectors item, the contents are "not meant for consumption"....

 

This is not something that should really be taken lightly. A bar gets caught doing this there will be heavy fines and a possible loss of licenses. Let's hope it is not one of your favorite spots or else to may need to have a back up lined up just in case. The benefit is just not worth the risk.

Besides, if you cannot stay competitive by pulling in bottles and kegs of what is available and have to resort to illegal tactics to gain a competitive advantage I am not sure I would be interested in that bar anyways.

 

I can see how selling an illegal beer could harm a bar, but how can it harm a brewer?

 

I've definitely seen it around here. Sometimes it is tough to tell what got a "special license" though and what is just being tossed on tap because they have it.