Just when I had written off Total Wine....

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by NoLeafClover44, Feb 27, 2013.

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  1. NoLeafClover44

    NoLeafClover44 Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2011 Delaware

    ...They go and TOTALLY REDEEM themselves.

    I know that Total Wine gets some flak on this site, and for good reason. The beer staff is less than useless (I say "less than" because I have heard them give myself and others totally made up information several times) and big beer stores like this can be detrimental to the little shops. Despite some of the cheapest prices in town, I have found myself going there less recently. It can be very hit or miss with what is in stock and with more misses lately, it has become a pain to drive the 15-20 minutes just to find nothing I am looking for. They are the only spot I have found in the area to sell Clown Shoes beers, though, so I go every once in a while for my Blaecorn/Porcine/Vampire fix. Well, today I was floored when I walked in. Sitting on the "limited release/seasonal" shelf were two bottles of BA Bigfoot priced at $14/bottle. I had already given up hope on this beer reaching the area and apparently it just came in a day or two ago. I almost walked out of the store right there with those two bottles in hand when I saw 4-packs of the inaugural bottling of Evolution Rise Up Stout staring me right in the face. I continued on. They had finally gotten Palate Wrecker bottled less than three weeks ago. The first I have seen this beer in my area this year (and I have been looking). My beer run was pricier than I anticipated, but for just under $50 (with a $1 off per four/six pack coupon) I walked out of there a happy man. Mostly I just wanted to tell my cool story (bro?) but does anyone else have any Total Wine diamond in the rough or horror stories?
     
    #1 NoLeafClover44, Feb 27, 2013
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  2. Pecan

    Pecan Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2012 Arizona

    Two bottles Utopias, Drie Fonteinen, Ivan the Terrible, Porcine, Luchador en Fuego, a Westy box, and Victory at Sea on tap.

    I wrote TW a while ago, but stopped by looking for Utopias after nobody else had them in stock. Was pleasantly surprised and made a point of stopping by this location more often. The above list is from only three visits. I do get the feeling that the staff have a huge impact on some of these and the stores vary substantially. Some are great, most are still awful.
     
    #2 Pecan, Feb 27, 2013
  3. NoLeafClover44

    NoLeafClover44 Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2011 Delaware

    On tap? Stupid Delaware growler laws :slight_frown:
     
    #3 NoLeafClover44, Feb 27, 2013
  4. digita7693

    digita7693 Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2010 Germany

    TW in jax Florida is quite good, helps that the beer guy is a ba who knows his stuff!
     
    #4 digita7693, Feb 27, 2013
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  5. willbm3

    willbm3 Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2010 Massachusetts

    I love Total Wine and unfortunately haven't been able to shop there since college. Living in Boston, I really miss the large beer stores. All the shops here are too small to be able to carry much variety. Although I suppose that's good because when I used to go to Total Wine I would browse for hours
     
    #5 willbm3, Feb 27, 2013
  6. willbm3

    willbm3 Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2010 Massachusetts

    I've been to that Total Wine and it was incredible. I think I spent close to 2 hours in there!
     
    #6 willbm3, Feb 27, 2013
  7. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    I have no problem with Total Wine as long as you know what you want, but start talking to them.....and it is all downhill.
     
    #7 Hanzo, Feb 27, 2013
    whiskey, JulianB, Wolfpack2005 and 5 others like this.
  8. CellarGimp

    CellarGimp Initiate (0) Sep 14, 2011 Missouri

    I'm a big fan when I am in FL. Huge selection and sick prices. Freshness is biggest concern when there. Some stuff is just too damn old to be on the shelf still.
     
    #8 CellarGimp, Feb 27, 2013
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  9. NoLeafClover44

    NoLeafClover44 Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2011 Delaware

    I find the local (Troegs, Victory, Flying Fish, Sly Fox, Evolution) IPAs to be good on dates because their turnover is pretty quick. Then again, I don't think I've ever seen a Ruination there that wasn't past the best by date. You definitely have to check.
     
    #9 NoLeafClover44, Feb 27, 2013
  10. Cvescalante

    Cvescalante Initiate (0) Dec 24, 2012 Texas

    Best selection and price (typically) here in Fort Worth (that I've seen.) I really haven't any conversations with the staff, but they don't seem to be bursting with in depth product knowledge around here either lol. But luckily, they have pretty good customer service, and I always get my hands on the limited release beer that's available to our distribution area.. Another liquor store nearby is stepping their game up though and they did hire a bright fellow beer geek, and they're on track to surpass TW in quality and quantity beer selection!
     
    #10 Cvescalante, Feb 27, 2013
  11. DonDonLongJohn

    DonDonLongJohn Initiate (0) Nov 4, 2012 Florida

    I always enjoy going to the one in Tampa. It's not far and I've spent hours at a time trying to decide what to get. Plus, the prices are much nicer for a poor college student on a tight budget than some of the other places around here.
     
    #11 DonDonLongJohn, Feb 27, 2013
  12. NoLeafClover44

    NoLeafClover44 Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2011 Delaware

    The employees in the "beer" section are clueless about release dates and usually haven't heard of the beers I am asking about (nothing out of the ordinary, I've been looked at like I have three heads when asking about Bourbon County, Enjoy By, etc.). The website doesn't keep stock up to date either. I have not had any luck with timing limited releases at my TW, but sometimes I will just happen upon the beer I am looking for a few weeks after I expected it.
     
    #12 NoLeafClover44, Feb 27, 2013
  13. williamjbauer

    williamjbauer Initiate (0) Jan 17, 2012 Colorado

    i had a nice haul and scored some limited Terrapin releases recently in FL.
     
    #13 williamjbauer, Feb 27, 2013
  14. NoLeafClover44

    NoLeafClover44 Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2011 Delaware

    The selection/service varies greatly from location to location, but it sounds like FL has some of the best.
     
    #14 NoLeafClover44, Feb 27, 2013
  15. Prh27

    Prh27 Initiate (0) Apr 24, 2012 Virginia

    No problems with Total Wine, I just prefer to give the locally owned shops my business. I'll go to TW when my usual places are sold out of, or didn't pick up a certain release.
     
    #15 Prh27, Feb 28, 2013
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  16. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    Total Wine is my go-to store. It's nice working about a mile away from it. Lunch break beer runs.
     
    #16 UCLABrewN84, Feb 28, 2013
  17. TheBeerShop

    TheBeerShop Initiate (0) Jul 23, 2012 Massachusetts


    There's the Craft Beer Cellar over in Belmont. It's not a mega store size, but its easy to spend a few hours in there.
     
    #17 TheBeerShop, Feb 28, 2013
  18. Cvescalante

    Cvescalante Initiate (0) Dec 24, 2012 Texas

    I feel like the ONLY reason I get an idea of when release dates are and what I can get here is cuz I look into it, and helpful info on this site. Staying on top of the staff regarding beer that they need to get is a damn chore, but I'm kinda limited on options out here and getting the stuff I want makes it worth it.
     
    #18 Cvescalante, Feb 28, 2013
  19. RobertColianni

    RobertColianni Pooh-Bah (1,789) Nov 4, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sorry, but I call bullshit on two Utopias shelf sitting in San Diego.
     
    #19 RobertColianni, Feb 28, 2013
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  20. Pecan

    Pecan Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2012 Arizona

    Behind the counter and in Arizona. Just moved to SD, although I did find a Utopias behind the counter at a bottle shop here recently too....
     
    #20 Pecan, Feb 28, 2013
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