Maybe it's just me, maybe it's this State

[landis]

I guess things for a beer lover are different in a state that makes it terribly difficult for someone to purchase a 6pack or single. And on those occasions when you find six packs you'll most likely end up with some BMC (not that there is anything wrong with BMC - I don't want to rekindle that debate).

Because of those regulations most beer purchases are by the case from a distributor, and with that being said I take my beer purchases very seriously. Last night was another one of those nights. It was a half an hour dance of up and down the isles thinking about different breweries and beers. Tossing back and forth the idea of a sampler case of something new, a full case of something new, or an old staple. I wanted terribly to try the Weyerbacher Double Simcoe, but was floored by the $67 price tag.

To cut this story short I ended up with a case of Sierra Nevada Anniversary ale. Their Pale Ale is a staple, so I thought I would try out the Anniversary. Plus it was "On Sale" for $30.99.

When I was leaving I realized that I was in that store about 15x longer than most people. Since I homebrew now my commercial purchases are down, and since I'm usually buying a case I take it very seriously. Maybe it's just me.

I need to make some friends who are willing to do parking lot mixed cases.

/end ramble

 

[david_42]

I remember some of the crazy regulations in New Jersey were I "came of age". Fortunately, I went to college in NY, where the drinking age was 18 in the '70s. Not that there was anything good to drink then.

Yesterday, I was in my favorite brewpub & this classical nice-little-old-lady orders a gift box (two GVB pint glasses, a 750 of Black Panther and two 22s of the IPA). While she is waiting, she was complaining about what she had to go through to ship it to Jersey. She must have been over 90.

 

[brewt00l]

It's you.

Srsly, you need to look around you a bit more...this area (Phila metro) is ripe with craft beer, killer beer bars and places to purchase 6 & singles. When I travel out of the area, in this state or to other states, few places can stack up to what we have available. (BTW, there are regional case splitting clubs across the state on BA if you're interested.) The price increases do suck with everything taking a couple buck hike. Weyerbacher OTOH seems to have substantially raised prices. If you want the double simcoe on the cheap in a case format, buy the big beers mixed case (waaay cheaper).

How many other states have had Russian River kegs drop through-out their region? Where was the first keg of Duvel draft tapped in the states? The list goes on...

If you need suggestions on where to go for good brew, let me know!

 

[jmulligan]

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe = awesome, awesome beer. YUM. I don't know if I'd pay $67, but we might if that was the only way we could get it.

 

[brewt00l]

Singles in my fridge right now:

Voodoo Brewing Black Magick
Troegs Scratch 13
Sam Adams Hallertau Imperial Pilsner
Great Lakes Nostreau

I just recently went though these singles:
Moylans Hopsickle
Weyerbacher Autumn
Weyerbacher Slam Dunkle
Oskar Blues Gordon
Southern Tier Creme Brullee
Elysian Brewing Company The Immortal IPA
Bells Special Double Cream Stout
General Lafayette Chocolate Thunder Porter
Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
Kasteel Rogue
Orval
Brasserie Caracole Nostradamus
DFH Palo Santo Marron
Old Speckled Hen
Green Flash Hop Head Red

 

[landis]

If you need suggestions on where to go for good brew, let me know!

I guess I'm still lamenting the loss of Vidalias - I used to go there to buy singles and six packs. Within a 10 mile radius of my house all bars seem to have the usual Bud Miller Coors and probably Heineken as their import. There is a restaurant called "The Wing Walker" that has an amazing beer selection.

I was in NY the other week for a business trip, and I was able to go to the grocery store and guy a 6 of anything I wanted.

Does the "Blue Dog" have a good single / 6 take out?

 

[brewt00l]

I guess I'm still lamenting the loss of Vidalias - I used to go there to buy singles and six packs. Within a 10 mile radius of my house all bars seem to have the usual Bud Miller Coors and probably Heineken as their import. There is a restaurant called "The Wing Walker" that has an amazing beer selection.

I was in NY the other week for a business trip, and I was able to go to the grocery store and guy a 6 of anything I wanted.

Does the "Blue Dog" have a good single / 6 take out?

1. if you haven't been to Capones, you might as well just walk out of work and go there for lunch and cancel the rest of your plans for the day. Amazing hardly scratches the surface between his bottle shop and a constantly rotating draft list.

Current drafts:
Erdinger Octoberfest
Long Trail Triple Bag "A limited one off beer"
Blue Moon Harvest Moon
Arcadia Jaw Jacker Pumpkin Ale
Wolavers Organic Pumpkin Ale
Dog Fish Head Punkin
Sly Fox Octoberfest
Otter Creek Octoberfest
Bear Republic Racer 5
Oskar Blues Gordon
Weyerbacher Simcoe IPA
Roy Pitz Watermelon Lager
East End Black Strap Stout
Brooklyn Octoberfest

...October 16th is going to be a fresh hop draft promo

You'll dam near faint with the great selection in his bottle shop.

Blue Dog? Chalfont - They have a limited but generally well thought out take out selection. Just about everything is in the cooler but if you're not looking to cellar or trade, not too big a deal. Their draft selection is usually pretty decent but again, limited to a handful of selections. Nice bottle selection at the bar too. I've not been to the Lansdale location in a while

 

[CBBaron]

PA does make it more difficult to buy a 6 of a beer at a reasonable price. There does seem to be a nice selection available in the state but the laws are not consumer friendly for someone who doesn't drink cases.
In OH it is easier to try a six of some new beer and 22ozs are quite common also. However the selection regularly available is often quite poor. I am lucky that the local grocery has a pretty good selection and a beer store nearby has a great selection. Still make your own 6packs are rare.

Craig

 

[lamarguy]

There are a number of places in TX that sell make-your-own six packs. However, I don't normally buy them because (1) I've tried 98% of the beers and (2) they're $1.50 - $2.00 a piece.

The one exception is the HEB down the street from me. They'll occasionally sell rare individual beers, like St. Arnold's Divine Reserve. Since Divine Reserve sells for $12 a six pack, at least it's not costing me any more.

 

[goodbyebluesky82]

I live in NC, and unless you are in a big city that has specialty beer stores- you are out of luck and just have to head for the best grocery store you can to get beer, because the liquor stores are state run and don't sell beer.

I go different places depending on what I know they sell and what I want. Getting anything good in 12 packs is hard.

 

[zoebisch01]

Yeah there's also a master list you can find on the PCLB site. Basically anything you buy in a store that isn't on that list, shouldn't legally be sold iirc. That all being said, you can find some really good places, depending on where you live. Our Wegman's grocery recently started selling 6'ers and I must say their selection is pretty darned good.