Went to a beer tasting at a Whole Foods Market in Paramus, NJ last week. I understand they do these twice a year. I enjoyed it more than any festival that I've been to for a number of reasons: 1. There were roughly 10 of us huddled around the table the host was behind, so it was a more one-on-one experience and no lines to stand in. Lengthy discussion was encouraged and the guy was pretty knowledgable. Got to meet some pretty cool local beer geeks, as well. 2. There were less beers, 10 if my memory serves me right, but they were some real interesting and hard finds - less fluff. To name a few: Founders KBS, Founders Curmudgeon's Better Half, DFH 75minute and 120minute, Unibroue 17, Firestone Walker 15 Anniv, Firestone Sucaba(Abacus), a DFH/Sierra Nevada collaboration... the guy pulled out a bottle of Tactical Nuclear Penguin and seemed so tempted to open it, if only to serve his own curiosity. 3. IT WAS FREE. Unlimited tastings for the group of us until the bottles were kicked... yeah. Bought some pricey Belgians on my way out to show my thanks. If there is a whole foods in your area, I would find out if they do these tastings, too.
I work at Whole Foods and we used to do beer tastings every Thursday.....until some dumbass cashier sold alcohol to a minor working undercover for the liquor board. We can still sell beer and wine, but no more tastings, and now every time I buy beer at work the zombies up front id me, even though they've sold to me plenty of times.
Is there such a thing as minors working undercover for the liquor board? I can't believe they'd have all that trouble. Ridiculous.
Not sure if my WF does tastings, but they keep a killer selection of beer. I bought 2 4 packs of Terrapin Hopzilla the other day across the street from WF.. Walked into WF, and they were 3 dollars cheaper. Doh!! Did score a growler fill of Hoptimum though, which wasn't a great deal at all, but I wanted it on draft and it's not something common around here.
