How often do you purchase packaged beer at retailers?

I have noticed several of the more reputable "boutique" style craft bottle shops have been greatly consolidating the variety of beers offered and noticing alot more vacant shelf space now vs. a year or so ago. Probably just over-estimated the true demand for high-end craft beer during the boom years, and now the inventory is becoming more based on sales/reality with trend data? Not sure. One thing is alot of the consolidation I'm seeing is in the reduction of imports on the shelves. Hopefully there will be a contraction of the plethora of high priced NEIPA 4 packs lined up in stores.

 

I have asked, and no-go, but that's at least partially just because the computer/register system is not set up for it - a bartender can't by-pass the system.

There are no PA regulations that I am aware of but you might be on to something... @jesskidden probably has an answer. Regardless, I'm pretty sure that a mixed 4 or 6-pack would meet the criteria but I can see how that could start to get a little bit messy as busy bartenders don't want to deal with that.

 

Another note, that I should have included earlier. I used to buy growlers but I rarely do anymore. Originally there were problems with breweries being unwilling to fill someone else's glass (Iron Hill for example), and then there's just the hassle of it. I used to drive around with 16 growlers in my trunk - no more. If they don't have crowlers I'm not buying unless I've planned ahead and am sure they'll fill the glass I have.

 

So does Yards and Roy Pitz Barrel House. I wonder if those footprints will pay off though. Roy Pitz has always seemed slow, but when I've been at Yards there was a line to buy stuff. Of course Yards has more merchandise on offer, and they're much better known.

 

As to the Wegmans/Giant/Weis/ShopRite and basically all of the other PA grocery stores - yes, there must be something going on that we don't know about because they're all toning down all at once. That just means more money for the other more expensive beer shops, and less money left in my pocket.

 

Our Wegman's has slightly expanded the beer area by moving seasonals to their own location and better utilizing the end caps. I don't believe they added more brands, but they do have more offerings from the better selling breweries.
Of course it helps that grocery stores can't sell wine in NY, there have been times I've picked up a 6 pack just because I didn't feel like stopping at a liquor store.

The Giant Eagle my son shops at started off with a lot of different beers, but has now reduced the number of beers in their “cafe” to just a few big sellers while increasing the number of wines. That where the money seems to be for grocery stores with limited space.

 

My debit card says too damn often.

Otherwise, I drink a lot of draught beer at Old Chicago, Frontier Brewing and Taproom, Skull Tree Brewing, Wyoming Ale Works.

 

Since it has now been at least 5 years since I home brewed (I keep telling myself that I'll start again someday), so most of my beer purchases are from stores. I frequently drink at breweries, restaurants or bars too, but most is bottles or cans at home.

 

California makes it easy. They are trying to compete with the likes of BevMo. They don't get the rare stuff but stuff like Lagunitas they certainly do.

 

Hi Jack. numbers are up this year, although a big factor in that is hard seltzer sales, which are classified in the beer category for sales purposes at TWM.

 

With Tree House only a 10 minute detour on my way home from work (hops), having a couple brewery memberships (wilds & stouts) and a bit of trading, I seldom visit a store. I voted not often but could almost be never.

 

The vast majority of my to-go beer purchases are done at a brewery. I'm still very much on that NEIPA kick, and here in NYC the markup for decent stuff in the style is ridiculous at retail. There are some solid deals to be had, but a lot of the rotational NEIPA from local/local-ish places comes out to $7-$8/can, sometimes even before tax, making the $18-$20 4 pack price at the breweries seem downright reasonable.

 

And a lot of Growlers, Howlers and Prowlers that I get from Liquor Shed.

 

As someone who works the job I have, as sales manager I travel to breweries often for business as well as personal and I never leave empty handed if it's good and do well to return. As Southern California is in the midst of a craft beer renaissance so to speak. But, I always shop from my own store and as well make sure to support the other independent stores in my area and support their success.