Brewery, Retail Store, or Both?

None of the breweries around me sell direct (gotta love TABC laws), so I buy 100% retail. However, I almost always go to the brewery first (for locals) and try their lineup so I know what I like and don't like from them.

 

I have a question if you don't mind: Does the uKeg work for bottled beer too (i.e., if you dumped a bomber or two of beer into the uKeg)? I don't see a reason why it wouldn't, but I was wondering if you had tried it.

 

Questionable. It was insanely good, but it also cost me 2.5 hours on a Sunday morning and it was also cold and a little rainy.

I guess I'd say it was worth it, but I wouldn't do it again (for a second bottle). Now if the weather was nice, and I had brought a chair and my computer so I could get some work done in line and actually be productive while I was there, I might.

 

Sorry I haven’t been here in a few days.

I haven’t tried that. It’s crossed my mind, and I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t keep the beer fresh and corbonated. Obviously, you’d want to pour it in carefully, but once it’s in and you cap it, I’d imagine it would work fine.

 

I buy from both, however, living in a smaller city with only two local breweries, I primarily shop at retail. My two favorite shops have 10+ drafts for taste testing. Deciding what to fill your growler with can often be difficult, but FUN!!! Single bottle six packs also available at both locations which I love as I’m always trying different brews even though I’m an IPA LADY & Stouts!!

 

Honestly retail stores because I prefer to drink at home.

 

Isn't there a survey feature somewhere on here?

 

I've ended up shopping the majority of the time at my local breweries, mostly because the beers I want don't get distributed. With my work schedule I have to really focus on only buying beer I'm going to actually drink because if not I end up with a lot just going old. And that restriction also means I only want to drink amazing beer, thus sourcing it from those breweries.

Now, do I have a couple bottle shops I frequent? Of coarse. But I don't buy from them nearly as much as I used to.

 

Says the Scottish woodpecker!!

 

At this point in my beer career, I almost exclusively buy at the brewery. It’s been a practice of mine, unintentional at first, but fairly intentional now to only buy beer brewed within a few hours of wherever I am. I’m not some freshness freak. I just value supporting local businesses. Of course, this is very easy living in the Philly area. I realize this isn’t so practical for all.

 

Just the social aspect of drinking at a brewery or bar tends to get me visiting those places more often, especially on weekends. If I am going somewhere or just wanting to try a new ipa, that's when I hit up retail stores. So really it's dependent on my mood.