My basic trip to the grocery store liquor dept (That is huge FWIW) goes like this: Walk in grab a cart and check the bargin cart with wines and booze for a deal. (I seldom buy from here but I have found some great deals in there!)
Next I head down the isle past the chamagne and fruity malt beverages to the import beers and 5L mini kegs. I always check the mini kegs to see if they have a %l of fresh Bell's Two Hearted (I ask for it all the time and have not seen one.
)
Then I quickly scan the imports, singles and 22oz. bombers. I have recently been finding Victory Helios and a few other interesting bombers. This is also where I buy my singles of fliptops that are a Swartz beer, I almost always buy one or 2 of these.
Then it is on to the 4/6/8 packs of craft beer. I always look for beers that I know have had decent reviews or that I just want to try. Examples: Bell's 2H, SN Bigfoot/Ruthless Rye, New Glarus and a few other favorite breweries.
Then I look to see if there is something else special. I seldom will buy anything that I have not tried before. (I go to a craft bottle bar and try LOTS of new stuff there 1st. )
Then I have to pass the BMC 22oz cans and 40oz bottles to get to the bargain beer cart. I have found some things in here but mostly it has old stuff I wouldn't have bought when it was fresh.
Then there is a small rack that the Founder's brews are on and I ALWAYS check that for good beers. Then it is past another few islands of craft beers finally ending at the checkout. There are many times that I have walked through the Liquor store and bought nothing.
I am a hard sale. I really want to try the beer I just do not want to pay to do so. I tend to have a fridge full of "home brews past" that got bottled and I also have a keggerator with 2 taps.
I did recently break my mold and tried a Point Brewery - Cascade Pale Ale and was pleasantly surprised. It was a nice light pale ale with huge cascade aroma and a little cascade flavor. IMO this would be a GREAT summer fishing/camping beer.