Bottle Shops near Crystal Lake, IL

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by JohnB311, Nov 15, 2012.

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  1. JohnB311

    JohnB311 Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2008 Massachusetts

    My girlfriend is heading out to Crystal Lake for Thanksgiving and I was hoping she could bring me back some beers that aren't available in the Boston area - Surly, Bell's, 3 Floyds etc. I saw Cardinals Liquors is the only shop reviewed on here (OK reviews). Any other recommendations?
     
  2. vic21234

    vic21234 Pundit (837) Jan 25, 2009 Illinois

    The Algonquin Binny's location. The McHenry Binny's also isn't too far but it's considerably smaller.
     
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  3. nucmedmario

    nucmedmario Initiate (0) Sep 1, 2010 Illinois

    we don't get surly in IL. not sure if revolution brewing, half acre or pipeworks are available in the algonquin binny's, but call and ask. you should try some of their stuff too.
     
  4. JohnB311

    JohnB311 Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2008 Massachusetts

    Thanks for the heads up on the Surly and for saving my girlfriend the aggravation of trying to find it.
     
  5. Nachos4two

    Nachos4two Pooh-Bah (1,944) Nov 26, 2011 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    No pipeworks, half acre or revolution make it to Algonquin Binnys yet!
     
  6. DruD

    DruD Devotee (380) Dec 7, 2010 New York

    Woodmans further up the road from Algonquin Binny's has Revolution and typically has slightly better prices.
    Pretty sure they have Daisy Cutter, not sure about other Half-Acre offerings.
     
  7. Mandark

    Mandark Zealot (587) Apr 8, 2008 Illinois

    No Half Acre this far North, alas, unless something drastically changed since I was last at Woodmans.

    Woodstock Armanetti--which is about as far as Algonquin Binnys from CL--has a much better selection then they used to and you'll definitely find more FFF bomber there then at Binny's. Their six packs have been scarce these past many months out this way. It's worth the trip, IMO.
     
  8. mychalg9

    mychalg9 Pooh-Bah (2,123) Apr 8, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    Cardinal in CL is worth stopping at. They have Revolution and Half Acre (at least I think i saw half acre) and a lot of stuff that Binnys doesnt carry. I was just there last weekend and was pleasantly surprised. Binnys is about 15 min south of there and Woodmans is another 5-10 south of that. J&L Liquors in Algonquin on the east side of the river might be worth stopping at, as well as Volume Liquors in Cary and Armanetti's on Rt 47 in Huntley.

    If you have any specific beers you want I might be able to tell you where to get the best deal on them.
     
  9. tjfilippo

    tjfilippo Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2008 Illinois
    Trader

    The Lake Zurich Binnys is prob 20-30 mins away (pending where you are at in CL) and has a great selection... and a very knowledgeable beer manager!
     
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  10. beergurujr

    beergurujr Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2003 Illinois

    Revolution and Half Acre should not be in McHenry County, period. If you see either, that retailer is muleing in from another county- a direct legal violation of state law and Illinois Liquor Control Commission rules. A brewery must have a licensed distributor to sell product. Half Acre does not have any distributor in McHenry County; Revolution is due to become distributed in McHenry County beginning in December, by Chas. Herdrich & Son (the Miller distro out here).
     
  11. JohnB311

    JohnB311 Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2008 Massachusetts


    Is Zombie Dust pretty easy to find?

    What are some under the radar local beers that would be easy to find?
     
  12. TMoney2591

    TMoney2591 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,139) Apr 21, 2009 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    Zombie Dust is a pipe dream out here, unfortunately. If you like some hops, Onion's got their Hop Slayer...it ain't amazing, but it'll give you a nice hop fix for relatively cheap...
     
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  13. mychalg9

    mychalg9 Pooh-Bah (2,123) Apr 8, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    I might have been wrong about Cardinal carrying Revolution and Half Acre since I had visited about 5 different stores right around the same time, though I do know for a fact that there is a store not a mile from Algonquin Binny's that is carrying at least one Revolution beer.
     
  14. thewimperoo

    thewimperoo Maven (1,358) Oct 1, 2006 Illinois
    Trader

    The Woodman's in Carpentersville is in Kane County so it wouldn't fall under the McHenry rules above.
     
  15. mychalg9

    mychalg9 Pooh-Bah (2,123) Apr 8, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    Good point and now that you mention it maybe the other store I was thinking of is also in Kane county. Barely...
     
  16. beergurujr

    beergurujr Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2003 Illinois

    See the difference a county line can make?
     
  17. Rihup

    Rihup Savant (1,028) Oct 7, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    I know someone already said Arminettis in Woodstock but I second their suggestion. I always find gems there that you won't get at Binnys. Also I know cardinal in crystal lake just got in their shipment of Firestone 16th anniversary if you or anyone else is looking for that.
     
  18. Rihup

    Rihup Savant (1,028) Oct 7, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    Also arminettis woodstock also has a handful of Founders Bolt Cutters left.
     
  19. mychalg9

    mychalg9 Pooh-Bah (2,123) Apr 8, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    Just got back from Cardinal and I did not see any Half Acre there like I had previously thought.
     
  20. beergurujr

    beergurujr Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2003 Illinois

    From what I understand, no Half Acre in McHenry County for the foreseeable future. But hey, plenty of Miller Lite!
     
    Mandark likes this.
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