Stone at Costco

[verbhertz]

Sams in Woodbury doesn't have an amazing selection but the prices are decent. I think it was under $6 for a sixer of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. They had Bells Amber. Don't remember much else unfortunately.

 

[knotquiteawake]

I wish mine had Sierra Nevada. I would prefer it to the Fat Tire. Otherwise its a spread of Sam Adams, Fat Tire, Dos Eqius, Corona, Bud, and (of all things) Mendocino Brewing Company's Pale Ale (can't remember the same).

 

[knotquiteawake]

oh, and they don't even have the Kirkland brand.

 

[TBaGZ]

Hmmm... Don't recall ever seeing Stone in the one here.

 

[Indianhead_Brewer]

Sams in Woodbury doesn't have an amazing selection but the prices are decent. I think it was under $6 for a sixer of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. They had Bells Amber. Don't remember much else unfortunately.

Been meaning to poke my head in the liquor section of the Sam's in Maplewood, but it seems like everytime I have a chance to get down that way it is Sunday which always makes it a bust for buying beer in Minnesota. They really need to update the liquor laws in MN.

 

[theblaster]

On the marketing angle:

Yes, it is good for out of towners. You are having guests from out of town. You go to Costco and buy groceries for the unwashed masses about to descend on your home. Inevitably there is a party as many people haven't seen "uncle jimbo" in years. In an attempt to salvage something out of the horrific event you decide that you will at least drink good beer. After all, you drink beer to make other people more interesting...

On costs:

Costco buys in such massive volumes that they can grind you down into making next to nothing. Next to nothing on massive volumes is still something. More importantly, costco will guarantee that they will buy for a certain period of time so now you have the guaranteed cash flow to expand your business. Stone wants to expand? Then they need somewhere to dump all of that beer where it will at least cover its full costs. They can make margins elsewhere, particularly since they have much greater capacity.

 

[audmer]

Costco in San Marcos, CA is about 2 miles from the Stone Brewery. Obviously, they carry Stone, but they also carry an 8 count variety pack of Ballast Point which includes 2 bottles of Sculpin for less than $30 and they have single 22 oz bottles from Green Flash. So if you ever visit Stone on vacation, you should also stop by the Costco for cheap bottles of other local craft beer.

 

[ktblunden]

Costco in San Marcos, CA is about 2 miles from the Stone Brewery. Obviously, they carry Stone, but they also carry an 8 count variety pack of Ballast Point which includes 2 bottles of Sculpin for less than $30 and they have single 22 oz bottles from Green Flash. So if you ever visit Stone on vacation, you should also stop by the Costco for cheap bottles of other local craft beer.

I'll have to make a side trip to the Costco next time I'm down there. I really like Ballast Point's stuff.

 

[Justintoxicated]

I'll have to make a side trip to the Costco next time I'm down there. I really like Ballast Point's stuff.

Yes I just got a case of ballast point from there 2 weeks ago, I put back the stone beer since the brewery is only a few miles away. I prefer growler fills there.

BTW you don't need a membership to buy alcohol in California. (That tip came form a Stone brewing tour). State law requires them to sell alcohol without a membership. Just tell the person checking for membership that you just there for the booze and they will let you in. They might require cash though I'm not sure, since I'm a member.

on the Big Island in Hawaii the Costco in Kona Carries Kona