Do you have a BEER GUY?

I frequent a few stores, most of them don't know my name but definately recoginize my face and immediately want to show me what hoppy goodness they got in.

Also think it is pretty killer that if you call and ask about when or if a store is going to get a rare release (Enjoy By series for example) that they are more than willing to call you when it comes in and hold a few for you.

 

Go to their website and you will see Rob describe all the UV lighting he put in place. He even talks about a "if you build it they will come" moment. When I went there Rob, his son, and his wife were there and I spent a good 90 minutes yacking about beer and road trips for beer. Seriosuly - that's the guy. You did note the 100 score right?

 

I literally thought you were talking about me up until the Enjoy By part. Saterday night a couple came in and I shat the shit with them for a good half hour and recommended Live to them and gave em my card. Freaking weird.

Yes I have a beer guy (that store gets better beer than ours.) He hooks me up, I hook him up, it's a great thing. My friend came with me recently and I brought a flower power in and he had an odd look on his face. "why are you bringing beer IN the store?"

I walked out with three lunches from the two bottle limit, thats why. He also only got one bottle of kbs so i traded it to him for a stone mint choco stout among plenty of other favors both ways.

 

That guy sounds great. What is his name?

 

Good stuff. SRL's have been getting much better...my local Caldwell even got a case of KBS. They're one of my 4 stores I primarily shop at.

Liquor Outlet Booton (go to)
Bottle King Morris Plains (my beer guy works here)
Bottle King Livingston
Shop Rite Liquors Caldwell

 

Rob. And he's the man in Wichita, KS.

 

Thank you for the kind words!

 

Shinola... what a great name for a brew. Easily distinguishable from shit, even for the novice palate. But I digress...

 

Start talking to managers and employees at your local store and ask for recc's. Even if you don't always take them, they appreciate being able to talk beer for the most part. Eventually they'll save you some cool stuff.

 

If you live in the Metro Detroit area, do yourself a favor and stop into a small place called Fairway Sav-Mor Drugs in Eastpointe. The "beer guy"'s name is Brandon & he is one of the friendliest & most helpful you'll find anywhere.

 

You are too kind!

 

Why? What have you heard?

 

I got a beer bitc.......er.......guy at my local Whole Foods. He has helped me score on a few obscure finds but lately? Time to find a new &%$#@.

Sorry to all my my BA sisters. No offense to ya'll.

 

For sure, I used to be the "beer guy" back in the day and I still have a few connections. I know the owners of a local liquor store and they hook me up and give me all the intel. I intern give them multiples of anything I get through trading. I also know a rep for one company and the sup for another company and they both give me info on who got the kegs and let me know when the cool releases are going to happen. Trying to make an introduction to the only other rep in town I need to know and then I will be set. Like any business all about the relationships.

 

I wish i had a rob lol.

 

yeup, I'm the beer guy at the store. Many perks, one of them being that I know several other beer guys/gals at different stores. Many bases covered

 

Sort of. We know each other on a first name basis. He owns the store but it's not a beer-specific store. It's more of a convenience store that also does a pizza/sub business so sometimes I go in and talk beer, but other times he is out back making pizzas and whatnot. One of his newer employees is enthusiastic about getting out there and chatting so thats good but I'm not quite sure I trust his recommendations yet. That being said, they will always let me know whats new and when the occasional rare/limited beer makes it his way I usually know.

Still, I don't want them to not sell a beer to someone else because they were holding it for me. I don't like the whole idea of needing to know the special handshake just to get a certain beer so if I lose out it's no big deal. I've had more than my fair share of world class beers and I'm certainly not losing any sleep over what I don't get to drink.

 

Absolutely. Over the last two years, I've built some pretty solid relationships with some shop owners here in Maine. The two that come to mind first are Shane and Greg @ State Street Wine Cellar. Top notch dudes that really know their stuff and have kindly ordered and reserved many, many beers for me. It's great to have store owners who not only go out of their way for their customers but also have a passion for what they are doing too. No snobbery or pretentiousness, just down to earth people and good beer.