I live in Columbus Ohio. We occasionally are lucky enough to find bombers in our local bottle shops (Dreadnaught and Black Beard recently), but I want to try and find some Zombie Dust or Gumball Head. Does anyone have a line on a friendly shop on the Indiana or Kentucky border that doesn't mind people calling and asking about inventory?
I think you meant Blackheart, the English IPA. Zombie Dust is mostly sold through the brewpub and only distributed to stores in the city of Chicago, although a few BA's have mentioned they've seen it in the south suburbs of Chicago.
You are probably right, it is the English IPA I was talking about. I don't see their products that often so I could have the name wrong. 3 Floyds only sells its main products in Chicago, and the other four states listed (Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio) on their website get limited release beer only?
Bumping to top, there has got to be someone who has an idea of where I can go, that might be a bit closer than the brew pub or Chicago.
They're in the business to make money. None of them will mind people calling and asking about inventory.
Thanks for your input, but I was hoping for a suggestion. "I live in/by Columbus also, and have found this shop has a great inventory and friendly staff. They are only X hours away." "I live in (Indianapolis, Richmond, Northern Kentucky) and This Shop has what you need." That is the guidance I am looking for.
Try asking your local shop what they can get. I've had Gumball on tap and in bottle in Kent. I've also seen Arctic Panzer and Behemoth as well.
There are about six places around town that get it from time to time, I even e-mailed the distributor. There is no supply of their 12 ounce offerings in Columbus.
I have a buddy who travels through Indiana for work and I had him grab some Gumball head and Alpha King near Chicago, he had no problem finding those. Zombie Dust on the other hand, you will need to make the trip to the brewery itself or set up a trade.
When I was still in school at Miami in Oxford, there was a little town just up route 27 called College Corner, Indiana. As of about March of this year, I remember the local liquor store there having sixers of Gumballhead, Alpha King, and Pride and Joy. Its kind of tough to get to, but may be worth a call.
Awesome! I Googled College Corner, Indiana and found a North Side Carryout and a South Side Carry out. I will be calling in the next few days to see if these are the places. I realize that there is beer that is plenty good that I can just go down the street to get. Asking strangers for help on the internet, calling beer stores in towns I have never visited and driving a couple of hours will make the beer that much better. I might just call some random shops in Richmond to see what I find, also.
I remember making the drive to College Corner to buy liquor when I was in school. Those days it was liquor or the "beast", lol. I was class of 1993... back when we were the Redskins...not the Redhawks.
I've only only been their once, but Vintage Estate in Boardman had two 3 Floyds brews on tap and had landed two different types of bombers (I legitimately do not remember what they were though) when I did. I don't know if they get in 12 oz bottles or not but if you're willing to drive to the western border for their product it probably wouldn't hurt to call VE and go to the right side instead if they have anything in.