We make the drive from Virginia to Wildwood several times a summer via the Delaware Memorial Bridge and 40 to 55. I'm aware of State Line (and stop there often) and I've been to Collier's in Cape May and Joe Canal's in Rio Grande but are there any other craft beer stores along this route in south Jersey I may be unaware of? I usually have some combination of kids/dogs with me so I don't want to go too far out of the way, 15-20 minutes max. I'm especially looking for places that might have some stuff I can't get in the DMV area.
I think you have the good ones in Cape May County. Not sure of any near the bridge on either side. Good luck.
Great. Thanks for the replay. Any idea how the Canal's in Vineland compares to the one in Rio Grande? The one in Rio Grande has a lot of beer but nothing that really excites me (as of last week anyway).
Rio Grande Canals gets raided every Memorial Day Weekend. What might have been left by the locals is gone with the 1st wave of tourist. Canals even in the winter time, isn't have some beers sit like they use to, some beers would last a week or two on the shelf, this past year, gone the day after they get their shipments. Also in the summer its more about moving volumes of non craft beer to tourist. A couple places in CMC don't keep the "chase" or "rare" stuff on the shelfs until their local year round clients have had their chance at it. Which means a rarer beer will or might hit the shelf, it'll be a couple weeks after delivery.
Similar as I recall, but I haven't been to the one in Rio Grande in almost 2 years. It's right in @jawas backyard, so he'll know where they are sitting currently.
I don't like saying stuff like that, but it's true. When they got called out on FB for price gouging KBS, they got very defensive and said too bad, they will sell out of it even at that price. And I pers have see. Year old IPAs on the shelf. And if someone isn't pay attention, they might grab one. The Rio Grande one is great. Fresh beer and a helpful staff. No price gouging either. KBS was $24 a 4pk. Sometimes I make the 40 minute drive just to see what they have.
Rio Grande Canals is great, good people working there, no BS, great pricing. Just that this time of year, nothing is left as far as rarity, pretty much just the standard beers you'll see anywhere in SJ. In the winter you find gems from time to time, but mostly they put all beers on the shelf. Very few beers are held in the back (only stuff like KBS or BCBS which they hold limits on are kept in the back), so when something is on the shelf anyone could just buy them all.
Another store in Cape May that has a nice selection of craft beer is Sunset Liquors: http://sunsetliquorsnj.com/ Cheers!
