I have a buddy driving through South Bend next week and was looking for some recommendations on bottle shops around South Bend. What 3 Floyds or TG beers are fairly easy to find right now? Also always open to other suggestions. Cheers BAs!
I assume that you mean TG to be Toppling Goliath, but that brewery does not distribute to Indiana (or IL or MI, to name the nearby states), so don't look for their stuff. Three Floyds is kind of unpredictable for what you'll find for their specialty beers, but there are a few good stores in South Bend, so you'll see something. I've been to a couple of the Belmont Stores and City-Wide Liquors only a couple of times, so they are the ones that I can validate for you. But my first goal when I shop in Indiana is to get some Fat Head's Head Hunter IPA. If you like juicy IPAs, then even if that is the only beer that you get out of this, it will be worth it. (Yes, it's even better than Three Floyd's stuff, except for maybe Zombie Dust.)
City Wide on jefferson is probably the best shop in the area. There is another City Wide on Grape Rd. as well. Belmont Beverage by the Linebacker close to ND campus is a good spot. And also Martins Grocery stores sometimes turn up a gem or two. Other than that there really aren't a ton of great options. Bare Hands is a great little brewery in Granger and they may have bottles/cans of their brews available for sale and Iechyd Da in elkhart does crowlers of their beers. Both of those places are must stops IMO. As for FFF you will probably find the regular things available but check bottle dates. TG does not distribute to south bend.
I second the Head Hunter recommendation....but check bottle dates for sure as it's not as well known up there as it is in Indy....so I've seen old bottles lying around at times.
An obscure bottle shop close to Niles, MI on US 31 called Michiana Mini Mart also has a huuuuuge selection.
That's good to know, but they won't have any FFF, TG or Fat Head's because none of those breweries come to Michigan. OP, crossing the border from SB is just a few miles, so this store sounds like it will give you access to Short's beers, as well as other Michigan breweries that put out some good stuff.
Oh boy!! I Can't help much with Indiana, but if you go to the Niles store mentioned above, the Michigan breweries that you don't get in CO will make the trip worth it too. Have you ever used this website? http://seekabrew.com/distro/index.html You can use the Comparison feature for a complete list, but Bell's and Founders would be the two biggies, followed by Dark Horse, Brewery Vivant (Belgian inspired), Greenbush, Arcadia and Tapistry as my favorites, and I'm probably overlooking someone. (I already mentioned Short's in the previous post.)
Honestly I can't recall if the place is north or south of the state line. i actually think it's on the Indiana side....so FFF and Fat Heads should be there.....
If this is the one I am thinking of it is right on the border (literally) but on the Indiana side. They have a large selection and carry 3 floyds. Gumballhead and ZD are limit 2 though, IF they have it in stock.
So I called the store where he'll be staying, Belmont Beverage, and they have alpha king and head Hunter. Was thinking of 2 packs of each but is there anything else I should consider? How is alpha king?
It's been a long time since I've had Alpha King, but I don't remember being 'WOWed' by it like I was with Head Hunter. I'd say that @zachpaschal used a very good descriptive word above with 'phenomenal.'
Michiana Mini Mart is right on the Indiana State Line (in Indiana) 3F is easy to come by, and even occasionally Zombie can be had here.
+1 to Greenbush and their brews they are really making a little push into the Indiana side as well (at least SB/Mish area).
