I live up in Maine, and a business associate is coming up from the Lowell area and wants to bring up some beers for my co-workers and me. Last time around, he brought up some Stone IPA and some random AB-Inbev crafty pseudo Belgian. There are a few beer geeks in the office, so this time he's hoping to bring something a little more special, but I don't really know what distribution's like in that area. We're lucky enough to have pretty great distribution around here, but we don't see stuff like Firestone Walker, and Ithaca (I'm a big fan of Flower Power). I've given him a couple of suggestions, but anything else that's somewhat limited distro that you guys get down there?
If he heads over to stadium liquor and this other little spot by shed park right down the street by shed park... You can usually find some boulevard, bruery shelf stuff and maybe some Firestone walker... There's always a couple things worth ibuying but a small selection. Also Enlightenment brews some nice Belgian style brews from Lowell but I've only ever found their stuff at Redstones... But I can't imagine they don't distro to somewhere in Lowell. If they have any boulevard love child , saison brett, bourbon quad or imperial stout get them! But even the regular offerings like tank 7, sixth glass and dark truth are worth mulling to Maine.
Send have to Harrington's in Chelmsford. They will have your Flower Power and all the Firestone Walker stuff. They still may have some Double DBA around which is excellent if you have not had it yet. Have him grab Wormtown Be Hoppy and/or Hopulence. Very good local hoppy offerings. Then there is all the Jack's Abby stuff if you don't get it up there. The Mass Rising and Hoponius Union are excellent. List some styles you are looking for and you'll get some more detailed advice on good local offerings.
Great stuff - thanks guys. If I wind up with anything on this list, I'll be psyched. I'll try to remember to check back in when he comes up with the final inventory. Thanks again.
May want to see if there's any enlightenment stuff around the lowell stores. Only things you'll find at harringtons are various outdated beers, surly attitudes from everyone who isn't a cashier, and prices that are consistently 25% higher across the board than literally every other store in a 5 mile radius. They haven't had anything cool like double Dba on the shelf in I dont know how long.
Live in Chelmsford, frequent Harringtons, talk to Beer Mgr all the time. Never seen Wormtown there... Is it there now?
Live in Southern Maine and work in Lowell. Was in Harrington's today and agree with Bleep. Selection is fair and pricing is definitely high. Would suggest they grab some local Mass Brewery beers. Jack's Abby, Backlash, Wormtown, etc. If co-workers are adventurous, have them reach out to Ben at Enlightenment. Chance he would let them go to brewery to buy beer. Let me know if you have any specific beers you are looking for. I hit several spots heading North in Mass on my way home to Maine. Happy to help.
I'm really looking forward to that. Finally a place that will sell Brekle's brown other than Harrington's. Hope their pricing is cheaper.
I just went to CBC Westford this morning. Definitely a good selection of Mass brewers. I didn't see Wormtown but was very pleased to find Enlightenment, which is great! He brews in Lowell, but before now I could only find bottles in Boston.
you can definitely find enlightenment at Redstone's in Stoneham. It is our reliable place to find it and I think I have seen it in Gordon's Waltham.
Fixed that for ya Really, Andover Liquors pricing is way off the charts expensive, even for overpriced MA stores. I'd recommend going further south of Lowell to Georgio' s Liquor in Billerica center. Nice selection at reasonable prices.
