Your thoughts on Trader Joe's brews

The beers are cheap, and you can buy singles with no markup for removing from the six-pack. Perfect for trying different beers, or to buy just enough to cook with. For me, the quality varies (largely by contract brewer).

The Unibroue beers are not the best, but they're very good and the ratio of quality/price IS the best.

 

Ugh, Simpler Times made me think twice about even being a beer drinker. That being said, a lot of the other offerings are quite good, or at least a good value.

The brown, the vintage, Fat Weasel, the Anniversary, the Mission St IPA, stand out from the rest.

 

As others have posted, Stockyard Oatmeal Stout is definitely a bargain for the price.
The Plznr is not great, but decent, especially at a buck a bottle. Great lawnmower beer.
Forgive me, but I like the Boatswain HLV. Reminds me of a baltic porter, not a strong ale as described, but very fruity and a good deal for $2.50/bomber.

 

A buddy that is not into beer always brings me mixed 6ers from TJs. Usually not too bad, but this last six has been 3 drain pours out of 4 so far.

 

OK value if you just want to pick up something for a grill out etc.
Up here they also have a small but nice selection of Oregon beers.
I liked the Mission Street Hefe the best

 

That Boastswain stout was a drainpour.

Mission Street pale was a GABF Gold winner - makes sense thanks to Firestone Walker. Too bad that's going/gone away. Loved that beer.

Really enjoy the vintage ales with 1-2 years on them. Thanks Unibroue. The provencial golden ale was very nice too.

Of all the Gordon Biersch contract brews, my favorite by far is the Josephbrau Pilzner [sic].

I have enjoyed the new Golden Road contract IPA - Tap 79. Again, with the price caveat.

I love buying beer from TJ's - I keep plenty of easy session beers around thanks to the great prices and ability to split up the packs with no mark-ups.

 

They're pretty good value for the money and you can buy singles. Can't beat that - it' fair all around.

 

Don't forget if it's made in the Northeast it will probably suck.

 

Their Dunkelweizen is one of the worst beers I've ever had

 

I used to drink stockyard stout a lot when it was contract brewed with goose island. It's texture and flavor changed a little when it went to GD, while still good it was a noticeable change. When the change happened I did clean out a few tjs of their stockyard gi stout tho drink thru it way too fast

 

I enjoy their 2 Unibroue beers. Aside from that, have only tried the boatswain choc stout, which I thought was ok. Not the best but certainly not horrible (especially considering the price).

 

Stockyard stout is decent...what Trader Jose gets no border crossing love?

 

I agree with the consensus that Stockyard was a nice surprise. Mission Street beers are pretty good and Anniversary ale was great. Those Boatswain beers were a hot mess. Then I started thinking that "boatswain" seems like a more polite term for "drain pour".
Friend: "What did you think of that Wild Blue I picked up for you? I know you like craft beer."
You: "I poured it in a pint glass,took one sniff, and I knew it was pure boatswain".

 

I wish we had a Trader Joe's closer than Atlanta

 

I've got to drink down some those "back of the fridge" beers and, when I do, I think I'll make a Trader Joe's run ... y'all have talked me into it!

 

No thanks.

 

Boatswain is one of the worst beers I've had in quite some time.

 

Some locations already have switched, but I asked my local store and they hadn't heard about it. One of the guys jokingly said I wasn't even supposed to know the Mission St. beers were from FW, as though it were some inside knowledge, so maybe they're not the best informed group...

 

My thoughts-- I wish the Trader Joe's here sold beer. I'm in SWPA, and at least around here, they're not permitted to sell alcohol. PA just started allowing beer in grocery stores about a year ago, but nothing in TJ's around here yet.

 

Trader Joe's is starting to get Modern Times in the SD area

thumbs up to that. hope they start selling in LA soon