Northeastern PA Poconos region and the beer scene is particularly horrible. There are only 2-3 second tier distributors that service the region and the 2-3 local bottle shops that know what they are doing really only chase IPA’s. We have one good brewery (Lake Wallenpaipack Brewery), and if I even want to find their latest release at a third tier distributor I have to drive 45 minutes south to Northampton County. I generally find myself traveling to Bucks County (Human Robot, Forest and Main), and North Jersey to find fresh quality beer that isn’t a shelf turd. It didn’t used to be like this. 10 years ago I could buy Victory Lager and Stoudts Gold very locally. I did manage to find a pack of Augustiner Helles back in September at Tanczo’s in Bethlehem. Been on the lookout for Trauger but haven’t seen it yet.
I am disheartened to read your post about limited availability and the fact that beers from Victory (Stoudts is now no longer in operation) are not available to you is a damn shame. As you already know things are much better in the Philly area but why you can no longer buy beers like you could 10 years ago is a bad thing. I suppose an artifact of "IPA is King" nowadays in the craft beer scene? Cheers!
I'm aware of the Stoudt's shutdown. Victory just stopped brewing quality lagers. I've never seen Classic Lager on the shelf anywhere, and Prima Pils is very average. Their focus is on all the Monkey Sours which to me sit in in the same category as macro Chelada/Micheleda cocktails. I even stopped at Susquehanna once to buy a case of their Gold Helles bottles and it wasn't as good as previous years, not to mention it's not even available in my county. The issue, as many others in thread have also stated is the IPA shelf turd epidemic, and second tier distributors who don't care to balance out their clients portfolios. Other Half and New Trail control all of the shelf space here, and nobody is buying it, so it just sits at room temperature for months on end. Garage beer seems to sell really well in this region too, but the few times I've had it, it was watered down and basically flavorless.
I have seen it many times in the past and I have purchased many 15 packs but Victory stopped canning this beer a couple of years ago. I discussed my last 15 pack purchase in a 2022 thread: "My last purchase of a 15-pack of Classic Lager was at Total Wine & More (Claymont, DE). Victory will be losing my business here. I suppose I will send my dollars to Yuengling (and others) instead." The 'half-full' way of looking at Classic Lager is that Victory still brews this beer but it is draft only. It is on tap at the Victory Brewpub (Downingtown). Yeah, I speculated on this in my above post. You have my sympathies here. Cheers!
Boise has a good beer scene here but 40 miles one way is a bit much more local we get some deschutes and Washington beers in stores. Local bars are mostly light lagers.
3-4 hours. Yes, I do enjoy Suarez. I actually really like Wrench but for some reason it’s not selling around my area. It’s on the shelf but canned in July, can’t do that.
All the local breweries have beers on the shelves, and though I don't often buy them, they do seem to move. I'd rate the local-beer market strong, though several of them sell mostly in their taprooms. There are a couple of locals that I wonder how they're staying in business. From stores, I buy maybe 4% local, 1% foreign, 70% regional, and 25% national.
Western Mass beer scene, is a mix of solid/excellent breweries and brewpubs. Local focus does not take away from quality of the craft A few beer stores are outstanding, Cooper Corner/ Atkins Market/Provisions We are occasionally gifted drops from afar. That said this part of the state is 40 minues from VT/CT so the distribution stranglehold can be endrun for VT or Ct offerings Best all
The traffic in Boise/Treasure Valley is unbelievable these days. I-84 is usually pretty decent but all the little two lane state highways seem like they’re permanently congested. Too many CA transplants.
I was just in boise and the home construction going on was absolutely insane. We drove through non stop suburban construction for like 30 minutes after we had any business being "in boise". Absolutely insane
There isn’t any separation between Boise, Eagle, Starr, Caldwell, Meridian, etc. They all just grew into each other in the past 15-20 years. I still consider Boise overall to be a really nice place, it’s still super clean and low crime. I just cannot fathom how/why all these people decided to move there of all places?
Nothing more that I could ask for. Great distribution, great local breweries and taprooms. Lots of high quality festivals. Lots of collaboration brews with my local breweries (Other Half etc.) Tons of people opening bottles and sharing great beers at the bars/breweries I go to often. Easy, safe and affordable public transportation.
Actually that answers the question of where they came from, not how or why they chose Boise. Seems like there are quite a few cities of similar size and climate to Boise, not to mention political climate. Maybe they all had dreams of becoming spud farmers?
I'm in the same area as Jack (SEPA) and we are indeed spoiled. Doesn't matter what style of beer I'm in the mood for, there's a brewery in the area that produces a very good if not great version of it. As examples: for real ale, Forest & Main. For lagers, Human Robot. For stouts and sours, Free Will. For IPAs, Warwick Farm. All are within 20-25 minutes of my house. If I'm in the mood for something I can't find anywhere else I'll just head to the city and go to Monk's.
And some of those breweries can & distribute their beers. For example, I can buy Forest & Main four-packs at my local Retail Beer Distributor. I am a fan of Forest & Main beers and I have had some of those four-packs in my hands while beer shopping but I have always placed them back on the shelf due to the high prices charged. Very good beer but too pricey for me. Cheers! P.S. The leave on a positive note: we are indeed spoiled in our area for the selection of various beer styles, locally produced craft beer and non-local craft beer. And even some fresh(er) imports from time to time.
If I had those places and styles available I would have a tough time deciding what I'm in the mood to drink. I'd probably put them in a round-robin rotation.
