Bottle Shops Bloomington/Nashville IN

Best bet is go straight to the source: stop at the Upland brewery. Good food and take some beer to go.

 

Have you looked at the Places feature here on BA?

Here's a link to 'Stores' in your Bloomington destination: (No stores are in the BA database for Nashville, IN; however, there are other 'places' in the database.)
https://www.beeradvocate.com/place/...oomington&s_id=IN&c_id=&submit=Search&store=Y

https://www.beeradvocate.com/place/...e=&city=Nashville&s_id=IN&c_id=&submit=Search

 

Big Red Liquors pretty much owns Bloomington. Find one and ask which has the best beer selection. I've only been to the one on S College Mall and their selection is good. Upland has two locations. Check out the wood shop if you're into sours. Bloomington Brewing Co is kind of meh, but another option.

Big Woods in Nashville has good pizza and ok beer.

Columbus has several options as well if you head east. Cork Liquors has a good selection. Zwanzigz for pizza and OK beers. If you're into the juicy NEIPA thing then 450 North is one of the best in the state at the style.

If youre in for a little longer trek north, Taxman in Bargersville is my favorite brewery in the area. Great Belgian style beers.

Enjoy!

 

You have 2 real options in Bloomington: Big Red "Downtown," which sits on College and is right next to a Papa Johns, and Sahara Mart (across from a seperate and smaller Big Red, near downtown and by the IU campus and a Kroger).

Big red has a larger variety of craft, while Sahara has a wider selection of international. Sahara might even have a slightly better selection for international than the Wine and Cheese Place, since some of their supply just sits for years because there are so few people that buy some of it. (Not a bad thing always).

Big red is more expensive - anywhere from $0.30 a can up to $4 a can/bottle depending on what it is. As an example, 4 pack Backwoods bastard is around $2.50 more expensive at Big Red. Sometimes you have to buy from them. Both have a decent mead selection.

If you have any interest in liquor, you may find a coupler rarer things at the Big Red downtown (nothing like Weller 12, but Michter 10 sat for about 3 weeks, although at $20 over MSRP), as some of it does not move quickly. (Both of the Jefferson oceansides are on the shelf right now along with the Jefferson wine barrel Reserve). Their prices always seem higher.

To the best of my knowledge, they have nothing "in the back" right now (beer).

A note about Upland: they don't do samples (at least not at the wood shop) for free, no matter how small. They will sell small servings for several dollars. I can't recall the price. The wood shop is just their sour-only bar next door to the brewery where they brew their sour beer. Opens later - 4pm I think.

 

Big Red Downtown gets it every week or every other week on Thursday or Friday. Now adays it normally sticks around through the weekend for sure. I would not think you would have a problem.

Sahara usually has it also, but less consistency in terms of fresh ness. Double check dates and ask for where it is, because Sahara keeps it in 2 or 3 different places.

 

I saw bottles of Zombie Dust at the Cork in Columbus this morning (they sell singles at the counter). Also Columbus Bar (Powerhouse Brewing) has ZD on tap according to Untappd. Not too far from Nashville.

 

OP, how was your visit?

 

Sorry to hear that. If you give some of us enough notice, might be able to meet you for a handshake and a brew.

If you need any further advice, feel free to send me a PM or continue posting here.

 

Have found Zombie Dust in the past at the Hoosier Buddy liquor store in Nashville. Love that town. Also check out the Big Woods Brewery - the Busted Knuckles my fave - good food too.