Total Wine Online Orders

Discussion in 'South Atlantic' started by Josbor11, Jun 11, 2015.

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  1. Josbor11

    Josbor11 Initiate (0) Dec 21, 2013 Ohio

    Thinking about placing an online order at a Total Wine or two for pickup during my trip to OBX. Anyone know how reliable this process is as far as freshness on IPAs? I was thinking about ordering some Terrapin Hi-5, FW Easy Jack, Hardywood Great Return, etc. to name a few. Don't want to run in and grab my order only to find out that they are all several months old. I would be stopping at probably Chesapeake or Virginia Beach locations, maybe Fredericksburg.
     
  2. KidIcarus1945

    KidIcarus1945 Initiate (0) Mar 10, 2015 Florida

    I can promise you they will not look at the bottle dates. If you want to make sure you only get fresh IPAs you have to do it yourself.
     
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  3. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    I have seen some really old IPAs at TW stores. My suggestion is you either do it in person or get those beers through a trade. Order high ABV dark beers from TW, to avoid the freshness issue.
     
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  4. Josbor11

    Josbor11 Initiate (0) Dec 21, 2013 Ohio

    That's kind of what I figured. So I'm likely better off just finding them myself once I get there I take it? Maybe I'll just order some of the stuff where bottle dates don't play a factor to at least cut some time down in the store. Thanks for the tip!
     
  5. montman

    montman Maven (1,444) Mar 10, 2009 Virginia
    Trader

    Yeah second the above, I would not do this specifically because of the reasons you mentioned. You never know, there may be Easy Jack or Great Return with multiple dates there that I would want to see myself.

    *edit beat me to it.
     
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  6. Josbor11

    Josbor11 Initiate (0) Dec 21, 2013 Ohio

    Aside from old product sitting a bit too long, is it also easy (if you look yourself) to find fresh offerings of any of what I mentioned?
     
  7. DammitMike

    DammitMike Devotee (387) Nov 28, 2014 Virginia

    Odds are that those will all be in stock when you get to VA beach. I would wait and check the dates yourself.
     
  8. montman

    montman Maven (1,444) Mar 10, 2009 Virginia
    Trader

    I know they can potentially have all three of those at Chesapeake or VB TW, it just depends on when they got it in, the dates are all clearly marked for those.
     
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  9. DammitMike

    DammitMike Devotee (387) Nov 28, 2014 Virginia

    Speaking from experience at TW in Northern VA, the Hardywood should be easy to find pretty fresh. I believe they just started carrying Easy Jack in the past two months, so it should be decently fresh as well. Terrapin could be hit or miss. I'd also recommend checking out some DC Brau beers. Their Public pale ale has quickly become a summer staple in my fridge.
     
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  10. Josbor11

    Josbor11 Initiate (0) Dec 21, 2013 Ohio

    What is likely to have a better selection between VA Beach and Chesapeake? Or is it a wash? Would like to find some Allagash sours too, not sure how available those are. Not familiar with DC Brau, will have to look them up. I'm really looking for any good IPAs, DIPAs, stouts, pale ales, and ours that I cannot get in OH that won't require much effort to hunt down.
     
  11. gopens44

    gopens44 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,560) Aug 9, 2010 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader


    Take a look at Missile from Champion, Jade from Foothills (if it's in...), Drift from (Three) Brothers and Freedom Isn't Free from Heritage. All pretty decent. My only concern with getting excited about Great Return is that it's priced a bit higher than your average 16 oz. can and therefore it doesn't move as quickly. You may very well see them with old dates. TW's down here have growler filling stations now so you may end up seeing a nice beer on tap. Finally, if you go to the Virginia Beach TW, there is a Whole Foods right down the same road (access road off interstate) that will offer freshies and growler fills as well.
     
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  12. mbbransc

    mbbransc Initiate (0) Mar 24, 2009 North Carolina

    Many times, the inventory of TW online is not accurate. When Allagash Farm-to-Face came out, I purchased one online from TW. I called to make sure they got the order and held the bottle; I didn't want someone walking out with my bottle. Manager told me the inventory was an error and they didn't have the beer. Of course, he could have just kept it for himself.

    ETA: I guess that doesn't technically qualify for 'many times', but beware, nevertheless.
     
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  13. Maltytasker

    Maltytasker Initiate (0) Oct 7, 2007 Virginia

    The Va. Beach TW probably gets more limited stuff . Haven't seen any of the Allagash sours here but have seen some of the Avery sours here lately . For Hardywood I've seen Hoplar , BA Raspberry Stout and some others recently .

    If you go to Va.Beach definitely hit the Whole Foods near TW and Grape and Gourmet is worth stopping at also .
     
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  14. Dil_thebeerdrinking_do

    Dil_thebeerdrinking_do Savant (1,192) Jan 21, 2014 Georgia
    Trader

    Just drink stuff on draft... simple.
     
  15. Josbor11

    Josbor11 Initiate (0) Dec 21, 2013 Ohio

    I've heard G&G is fantastic but unfortunately they are closed Sundays and that makes up both of our travel days.
     
  16. Josbor11

    Josbor11 Initiate (0) Dec 21, 2013 Ohio

    Does anyone know if individual TW's have facebook or twitter feeds for release posts? I tried finding some for VA Beach and Chesapeake but came up empty handed.
     
  17. msscott1973

    msscott1973 Pooh-Bah (1,739) Dec 28, 2013 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    The one in my area has a FB account, but they rarely update it, so it is not useful. Also, I second the inventory inaccuracies online, can't trust it.
     
  18. montman

    montman Maven (1,444) Mar 10, 2009 Virginia
    Trader

    Don't think so, If there is I'm not aware of it. Grape & gourmet is good about posting things on FB & Instagram.
     
  19. Maltytasker

    Maltytasker Initiate (0) Oct 7, 2007 Virginia

    You could call TW and ask what limited stuff they have behind the counter .

    Like montman said , G&G is good about posting new and limited stuff . I usually can't make it there on time but it lets me know what's in the area . TW and WF get a lot of the same stuff .
    http://www.grapeandgourmet.com/social-media/
     
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  20. stickboy1125

    stickboy1125 Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2012 Virginia

    OP, you can return the beer (and get a fresher batch, if available) if you go to pick it up and it's older than you'd prefer. You aren't going to be stuck with 'old' beer that you don't want.

    If you like session IPAs, I highly recommend Brothers Drift if it's available.
     
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