Going to Abilene this weekend and wanted to get some info on any craft bottle shops around? Anyone know of any place I can pick up some good stuff??
Bottle shop seems to have this loose terminology going around these days. I think I can name less than 5 places in TX that I would refer to as a bottle shop. Maybe I am being too picky on that name? Because, I assure you, there is nothing like a bottle shop anywhere within 200 miles of Abilene (200 miles being a number I made up for the distance to DFW). Now, ignoring that whole part, you are looking for a place that has decent craft beer. Well, I would not get your hopes up. If you live in any major city in Texas, you already will have a better selection and likely get all the beers Abilene gets. There are not many breweries around Abilene (technically, there are 3 breweries/brewpubs, but none bottle/can, then Lubbock area has 2, one bottles, but I have seen them in cities in TX, and then there is Big Bend, which may go to Abilene, but I somewhat doubt it). Your best bet? Probably H&H off of Buffalo Gap Rd. It is nothing special, when I lived there, I had to blow dust off some bottles to tell what it was. So, do not buy any IPA unless it has a date on it. Granted, this was 8 years ago and it may have changed, but I hear that is still your best bet. Abi-Haus, Barley-Hoppers, and Taylor County Taphouse may be decent if you are grabbing a beer to drink there. Kahl and Pappy Slokum are the main two breweries.
Yeah, I agree that "bottle shop" is a loose term now-a-days. I was just asking for any liquor store that has a good/decent selection of craft beers. Like you said, "dusty shelf" beers is what I'll probably find anyways. I'm just going for a day anyways and wanted to stop somewhere to pick up something that I might not find in San Antonio. Granted the distro would be the same, but since some beers tend to pop up and be "gems" for others, thought I'd ask if anyone has found somewhere like this. Thanks for the info!
I would not get too many hopes up - they may get some DFW beers that you may not see in SA. I doubt it, but you never know. And then you may find some random Stone or bottles from large micros like that.
I'm in Abilene several days a month. So far there really isn't anything going on there except Taylor County Taphouse (not bad but nothing original either) Cypress Street Station, (has a couple of their own brews but the founder died a while back and his young son is trying to keep it afloat, not real good) and Pappy Slocum Brewery (open only Saturdays but with the visit. Usually has food trucks around for munchies but best hefe since I left Germany) Then there is Barleyhoppers. Another strictly beer location. Decent variety from around the world and I know food trucks at least on Tuesdays because I love going down and having a pizza with Vagabond Pizza. So far it's always crowded. Other than these, Abilene is pretty bare. Can't even find a growler for sale. Nearest supposedly is in Comanche or up to Lubbock at YellowHouseCanyon Brew Works. If you find some place down there is live to know since I'm there every month at least.
