Where do you buy your beer?

[theBryon]

Where do you buy your beer? Do you shop at your favorite package store exclusively, or do you pick up the occasional 12 pack at your local grocery as well? For me, its a matter of selection versus convenience and affordability.

How about you?

[The Beer Babe]

I have two local places where I get 90% of my beer from:

Tully's Beverage Center in Wells ME
and Smiley's Discount Beverage in Dover, NH

When I'm visiting my Dad in Albany, I have to stop at Oliver's Beverage. They seriously just have the most beer I've ever seen in one place.

Although, if I'm out elsewhere, see something interesting, I will pick it up. But if I am going out with the purpose of buying beer, those are the ones I head for.

[Corbin Choate]

If I'm on a mission to buy beer, then I head to Spec's in Austin. You walk in, the clouds part and heavenly music fills the air. They have hundreds of selections.

I also head to Whole Foods and/or World Market if I'm in the area. The only time I buy anything at the grocery store is if I happen upon a six pack of something seasonal.

Overall, the selection and availability in Austin is excellent and consistent.

[Chipper Dave]

I have a local store just 4 blocks down the street that I use for old reliables, but when I really want to go to a place with selection, there's no better place than the world's largest liquor store - DaveCo Liquors in Thornton. Their selection is HUGE and they have a nice single bottle section. It's the Super Walmart of liquor stores.

[Reuben]

I pretty much shop at Market Street here in McKinney, TX. They have a great selection of beers and it's fairly convenient (read: a bike ride away). However, they do not carry spirits.

[theBryon]

Bike ride with a 12 or 6 pack sounds dangerous (for the beer)...

Reuben said:

I pretty much shop at Market Street here in McKinney, TX. They have a great selection of beers and it's fairly convenient (read: a bike ride away). However, they do not carry spirits.

[theBryon]

I would be interested in what you consider to be "old reliables" Dave...

Chipper Dave said:

I have a local store just 4 blocks down the street that I use for old reliables, but when I really want to go to a place with selection, there's no better place than the world's largest liquor store - DaveCo Liquors in Thornton. Their selection is HUGE and they have a nice single bottle section. It's the Super Walmart of liquor stores.

[Virgil G]

Friar Tucks in Savoy, is where I get locally; although I do most of my stocking up on stuff elsewhere.

Parti-pak in Indianapolis is where I go to get beers that aren't at tucks.

When I go to asheville, NC, i go to Bruisin' Ales. When I go to Georgia, I go to Highland Beverage. When I go to Chicago, I go to Archer Liquors (but that's gonna change and i'll be going to West Lakeview Liquors). When I go to St. Louis, I go to Lukas Liquors. When I go to Columbus Ohio, I go to From the Vine.

I needa liquor store to go to, for when I go to madison, as I've been there twice recently.

[Christina Perozzi - The Beer Chick]

I drive past the entrance to the 405 (one of the worst intersections in Los Angeles - some defininte inconvenience there) to go to a place called The Wine House. It has a great selection of craft beer! I also go to another specialty wine and champagne shop called Wine Expo in Santa Monica.

[Rob DeNunzio]

I have the wallet-cleansing tendency to purchase beer wherever I find it, but most commonly I trade in my paycheck at Healthy Spirits (the closest truly beer-focused market), Whole Foods, and the local hippiedepot. I used to go to BevMo, but found more often than not I was ending up with really poorly handled stock, and I avoid World Market (aka Cost Plus) for the same reason.

But if there's a beer section to peruse, it doesn't matter if I'm on a diaper run or picking up cold medication - I generally check it out.

[theBryon]

LOL! My thoughts exactly! I only wish they carried more local brews next to the diapers...

Rob DeNunzio said:

But if there's a beer section to peruse, it doesn't matter if I'm on a diaper run or picking up cold medication - I generally check it out.

[theBryon]

Sounds like most of you avoid the beer selection at the local grocery... I remember visiting a couple groceries when I was visiting family in the Carolinas that had a much more extensive selection of local brews... I guess it must be a Southern thing...

[Chipper Dave]

Grocery stores in Colorado mostly only sell 3.2 beer and the liquor stores sell full strength brew. Now that liquor stores can sell on Sundays now there's little need to buy beer at grocery stores here anymore.