Stumbling Upon Hidden Treasures

A sixer of last year's Bell's Left Coast at a gas station for $9.99

Two bottles of 2007 Orval where I used to work that had been kept at cellar temperature

 

Bought a 5 year old bottle of Victory V-12 off the shelf a month ago.

At my local store there are 3 BBA Schlafly Barleywines for sale. In boxes. At retail price. Should I bite?

 

There is a grocery store near my work that I have been going to for years for when I need snacks or soda/tea or something to stock my desk with. Everytime I'm there, I poke my head into the beer aisle, just to see if they got anything special, because the area of the city its in is more likely to have the kind of customer to buy a tall boy and get a paper bag to put it in than a craft beer drinker. Most of the time, the answer is no, but last week I was finally rewarded with a case of both DDBA and Velvet Merkin hanging out on the shelf, no limits, over a month after they were released around here, which I missed out on. I grabbed two of each, and might go back on Friday to see if there is any left.

 

I stopped off at a bottle shop while on a business trip in Chicago a couple weeks ago and they had a display of Maine beers on an end cap. Mixed in with a bunch of the more common ones was a single bottle of Another One. Wow... one of the best IPAs I've ever tasted! Wish I could find more! Although, at $7/500mL, it's pricey..

 

I know its pricey, but that flavor and aroma has got my wallet by the balls! I agree, its a damn near perfect IPA.

 

the 5 2014 Le Terroir's just sitting on the counter right by the checkout. But at $18.99 per bottle, only grabbed one.

 

There's still a place in Smithfield that has about 5 Eclipse bottles sitting on the shelf. Along with some 2012 Matilda and Sofie and Madame Rose.

 

Just last week saw a 2012 Utopias for $249.99, guy said they've been sitting on it for the entire 2 years. They also had some 2012 Matilda and Sofie collecting dust.

Most of the gems I've found, tend to be these mom and pop liquor stores, that also happen to be on, or very near Interstates, and far from major cities.

 

If you're near Marion, Speakeasy liquors is a good place to checkout. I've found plenty of good beers there, and my Van Winkle Bourbon.

 

I was in New York City last month, just walking around exploring on a day off. I happened to walk past a store in Hell's Kitchen that had a line of bottles in their window, showcasing the various craft beers they carried inside. As I walked by the window display, I saw BCBS. I went inside and lo and behold they had some! The cashier had a little stash behind the counter. I drank it with a friend who was putting me up during my stay in town. That was his very first taste. He enjoyed it quite a bit, I must say.

 

There are a couple of stores in my area with this lineup along with BCS on the shelf, even the below par stores have BCS on the shelf now. I believe Eclipse is heavily discounted and still not moving at 2 stores I frequent.

 

I was driving down rt 100 with my son that at the times was much more into beer than me. We saw a sign. It was little more than a cardboard sign saying brewery. This was weeks after it opened. When we walked in the hop smell was unbelievable. We thought the short drive from 100 went right to heaven. I love the fact that I fell in love with Heady before the hype hit. I know my love is for real and not the power of suggestion.

 

I found a place about half an hour from where i work, that was selling 2013 BCBS on tap for growler fills. Really good shit

 

Found stone xocoveza and zombie dust in a random convenient store in Chicago
Found bcbs outside of Chicago in July
1 year old sofie, lakefront holiday in clearance mix 6 (I think they were $4 per 6)
$5 brunch weasel in a random bar
$7 uinta Labyrinth

 

Randomly walk into a small store in VT and found 12 cans of Second Fiddle...best day ever!!!

 

Top Hops still has about 7 cases of BCBS left (and that's probably a conservative guess).

 

Not the best but got a 2010 and 2011 Double Bastard from a store. Surprised it was sitting on their shelf for this long.

 

Found a 4 pack of Sofie at a Harris Teeter last week for $5.99.
Figured it was old as hell but it was well within freshness date.
Have 3 left!

 

No! i had spent all my money at the bar that day! didnt see it until i was walking out

 

I have a few eclipses still sitting at the biggest bottle shop in Buffalo