I have a buddy driving up to Illinois later this year and I was hoping he might be able to bring back some beer that I can't get around here. I'm looking for a place in the Galesburg, Peoria, Bloomington, Springfield, Effingham, Champaign area... but not Chicago, St. Louis, or Indianapolis. He's nice enough to stop and pick some stuff up for me, but isn't going to drive around to several places and doesn't want to go far out of his way. Where would you suggest that would be accommodating to boxing up a $100-$200 order in advance so that he could just drop by and pick it up? He doesn't drink so I don't want to send him with a list or have him do any shopping! I'd like to be able to call ahead the day before he's supposed to pick them up or something along those lines. Another name for this thread might be, "Which Friar Tuck should I send my friend to?" I'm thinking about... Friar Tuck Beverage, Peoria, IL Super Liquors, Peoria, IL Binny's Beverage Depot, Bloomington, IL Friar Tuck Beverage, Bloomington, IL Friar Tuck Beverage, Springfield, IL Lions Liqiors, Effingham, IL
Galesburg sucks. The only store that's halfway decent is the HyVee Wine and Spirits on Henderson. Make sure if you send your friend there that he realizes the Wine and Spirits is not inside of the HyVee store on Henderson, but is a few blocks south on the west side of the road.
The Friar Tuck in Savoy is loaded. Beware bottle dates though. Saw a Boulevard White IPA best by 2/2012. Picked up some Ballast Point there this week. Tons of Hopslam, AleSmith, Schlafly, Boulevard (Rye-on-Rye/Saison-Brett), Jolly Pumpkin, and big Euro selection.
PHBoiler is right that Friar Tuck in Savoy can be a goldmine. Plus if you send him to Champaign-Urbana, there's also a Binny's to see if there's anything unique there that FT doesn't have.
My vote is for Champaign/Savoy. It has Friar Tucks and Binnys. And I believe Binnys does online ordering, so you might also be able to order online for in-store pick to have your beer boxed up and ready to go.
So the route is Huntsville, AL to Galesburg, IL, and any points in between? I'd recommend Liquor Barrell in Benton and Kindling in Carterville (also a good lunch/dinner stop). If he's got a cooler, get growlers from Destihl in Normal, and Scratch Brewing in Ava, IL (they are opening to the public tomorrow). Read the beerfly reviews for these stores to get an idea of what they carry. FFF will probably not be available now, or very limited. St. Louis is an option too, route seems about the same as going through Champaign. Wine & Cheese Place is a great 1-stop shop. Friar Tuck Savoy is pretty solid as mentioned, Peoria also. Skip Friar Tuck in Springfield & Bloomington (tons of old stock, xmas beers in the summer).
the champaign binny's is fucking awesome. follow them on twitter, they usually let you know whats hanging out in back on there.
There is a new microbrewery in Springfield that is pretty great that sells growlers. They have a decent restaurant as well and do brewery tours. Their lamb burgers is one of the few things that has made me miss moving from there. Called Obed and Issacs and is on the main road through town just a few blocks from the capitol. In terms of bottling, there is a great selection at the local Friar Tuck, they had were selling beer from a few local brewers and they had some good stuff that I haven't found elsewhere.
+1 on Obed & Isaac's (Black IPA is solid there, other beers have been a little inconsistent), also pick up Rolling Meadows if passing through Springfield.
Kindling in Carterville, IL went out of business last fall. Speakeasy Liquors off the interstate in Marion, IL has a solid bottle selection.
Hy-Vee in Peoria has stuff that Friar Tucks does not and is often cheaper. Binnys in Bloomington is legit. They have stuff that Peoria doesn't get, like Hopsickle and Double Jack.
