Good beer doesn’t grow on trees…thank God; otherwise I am sure Adam and Eve would have fallen prey to the serpents’ temptation much sooner than they did in the case of the apple.  But good beer doesn’t grow on the shelves of your typical grocery store either, and for many, this is a problem.

We have received several emails/comments here at Thank Heaven for Beer from folks who want to try the beers we sample every Friday, but they don’t know where to find them.  That is why we tried Sierra Nevada a short time ago, since it is a far more common ‘craft’ beer.

First, since it is easier, let me tell you where NOT to go looking for the type of beer we sample here:

  1. Walmart
  2. Any massive grocery conglomerate like Walmart (For the most part…Dillons, Kroger, Meijer, etc.)
  3. Gas stations
  4. At small in-&-ou type marts
  5. Magic Stores

These are great locations to find your typical beers…Budwesier, Guiness, Heineken, etc…, but you won’t find last Weeks Linderman’s Lambic.

I’ll admit, these email complaints are valid.  In fact, I have a hard time finding some of our beers here in Toledo, OH where the liquor stores are very few and far between.  In fact, back when we drank Celebrator I was on the phone for twetny minutes calling around until I found a store that stocked it, and even then I had to drive about 20 miles out.  But it is worth it.  So here are my suggestions on where to find good brew, and please, feel free to chime in with more suggestions.

  1. Liquor stores.  Not all liquor stores.  If the liquor store has a sign on the front door saying, “No backpacks.  Only one student at a time,” you are in the wrong neighborhood.  Look for liquor stores that have a high end asthetic appeal.
  2. Locally owned grocery/grains & produce stores.  Sounds weird, but this is where I go.  For all you Northwest Ohio readers, I go to the Anderson’s to quench my thirst.  The selection is outstanding.  Also, there is a small feed store called Titgemeier’s where you can find brewing ingredients and equipment.
  3. Cigar stores.  Again, Cigars and Beer are as natural as Whitehouse Cabinet Positions and Tax fraud.
  4. The Yellow Pages/Google.  Just like beer doesn’t grow on trees–it’s a labor of love–you may have to do a little research for our Friday beers.

So here’s the bottom line.  Take your time.  Research your area.  Once the work is done you’ll have a purveyor you can count on time and time again.  Because we are so passionate about the opportunity to have a beer with you every Friday, if you are having trouble finding the brew of the week, give me an email, and I’ll help you out!