Gonna be driving up towards Bethlehem, PA next Friday and was hoping to stop in the Philly area at a good bottle shop (possibly that carries RR). Will have my wife and kid with me so I'm looking for a place that is pretty easy to get to off 476. I've heard Whole Foods in Plymouth Meeting is pretty good - any truth to that? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Whole Foods is decent and convenient to 476, but you'd be better off heading a couple of miles further up Germantown Pike to Capone's. Also, in Bethlehem, hit Abe's.
Don't think you'll be finding much Russian River. It's been a year or so since I've seen very much of anything in bottles except Damnation. And if its Pliny you're looking for don't bother. It only comes into PA in kegs. Coming up 476 from 95 there's Pinocchios in Media which isn't too far off of 476 and they sometimes have a few RR in stock. The Whole Foods in Plymouth Meeting has a pretty good selection but probably won't have RR. However, they often have Tilquin Gueuze and Hanssens in stock and they may well have the best prices. They also typically have a few things from the Bruery. As noted, Capones has a really good bottle shop and Abe's in Bethlehem is a great stop as well. But don't know about RR at either place. If you haven't shopped in PA before, expect a bit of sticker shock on individual bottles. PA has a case law (most retailers sell beer by the case) and only a few places can meet the conditions required before they can get a license to sell single bottles (e.g., they have to serve food for consumption on the premises so they have a variety of other expenses that have to be factored into the price of bottles.) Also there's a few other hidden costs they have to contend with.
Thanks guys, I appreciate it! RR would be a nice surprise, but definitely not the focus. Just looking for things I can't get in NC distro. Is there an ABV % cap in PA?
Can always hit Tired Hands, it's not that far away. Abe's in Bethlehem is the best place to go honestly. Philly prices are astronomically high (the highest I've ever seen in the country). Abe's is a little cheaper, but it's going to be more than NC for sure.