Finding that hidden gem at your local bottle shop

Some nice finds of old stuff in that shop, so it's no wonder they are changing their marketing thrust. I've heard that Devil Dancer can be a good beer with age, so I hope you get what you hope to get.

Your question is a regular thread topic in this forum, so you will be able to find other stories. Seems like there was one thread just 2 months ago. Here is a link to a search that I did that will get you some stories about store finds. http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/search/32597773/?q=lucky&o=date&c[title_only]=1&c[node]=39

 

Found a shop in Indiana (thanks Kev) that had a Bruery Bois just sitting on the shelf.

 

The local shop cellars FBS so they always have 1+ yr old FBS

 

Bell's Expedition. I can get it any time of the year and it's usually got 6-12 months on it.

 

Year old FBS is not a gem, by any means......it is much better fresh.

 

I have found old fantome in Kentucky.

 

found a 2013 double dba at one of my bottle shops. Price was pretty in line with when you get it fresh.
I was a happy man that day.

 

I work at a liquor store that has a pretty solid selection of craft beer, and it's not that it's turning into a macro beer shop, it's just that all the crappy beer pays for overhead space. It's the bloodline of most stores. And yeah we occasionally bring stuff out of the cellar and "hide" them around the shop.

 

Found a store with 2014 Palo Santo Marron 4 packs....have picked up two in the last few months....that reminds me....I need to get back over there tomorrow.

 

Last year I stopped at a random bottle shop (not my usual spot) walked in and towards the back on the shelf they had 5 bottles of 2012 Dogfish World Wide Stout. Needless to say I was taken back and purchased all 5 bottles, which they were only $8.99 per bottle as well which was an even bigger bonus.

 

Last year I wanted to try Orval since I had read good things about it, and got one at a World Market. When I got home, I researched further and found that you should cellar these and was happy to find that it was already 22mo old. As World Market is not primarily a liquor/beer store, their beer stock tends to be older. Would not buy an IPA there if I drank them, but it came out good with the Orval.

 

Lmao

 

Stein's Market & Deli in New Orleans has 2013 & 2014 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot on the shelf. The 2013 is drinking excellent!

 

My local place has several bottles of J.W. Lees Vintage Harvest Ale, from the years 2006, 2008, and 2011. I buy 1 or 2 every time I visit.

 

I found '13 Victory Old Horizontal for like $2.99 a bomber in MI. I guess someone forgot to tell the store that barleywines usually age well. Drank one, it was a little more "thin" than I'd expect from a BW, but at $3 a pop I can't complain. I'll revisit one in a year or two.

 

Hmm, just swung by grocery store by work and took a look at their beer section. Ended up finding three bottles of 2013 Goose Island Matilda covered in dust. Not the most impressive of finds, but I got two bottles. If I like it, I might go back for the third. Not going anywhere soon I figure.

 

2012 Peres Jacques back in 2015. Fantastic double especially with the age. Actually it wasn't hard to find "aged" sisters around me.

Brooklyn Mi

 

I found the same on my last trip to Illinois, haven't had it fresh in a while, but damn was it good with 2 1/2 years on it.