Or, “where to buy beer in the city.” This is the first in a small series of posts tacking where to get all that yummy craft beer we’re always talking about on Beer-O-Vision around town. Sure, avid beer-o-philes are familiar with Premier (and it’s high prices but impressive selection) and the many locations of Consumers (lately selling growlers, if you hadn’t heard), but neither of these stores (or their many locations, to be precise) fall within the city limits proper. It’s really sort of hard to talk about buying good beer in WNY without mentioning them, but I have noticed a few less-well-known stores where I can always count on getting something I like to drink, and, well… sharing is caring, I hear!
In this post, if the picture doesn’t make it fully obvious, we’ll be discussing the Holly Farms on Allen St. It’s a pretty unassuming store in the heart of Allentown, and like any convenience, stocks all sorts of foods and sundries, lotto tix and cigarettes. However, after walking back to the coolers, the craft-beer enthusiast will find some pretty surprising choices lurking among the malternatives and Big Three pilsners. I stopped in the other day (WNYMedia offices are located nearby) and had a quick chat with Shaq behind the counter, and complemented him on his selections: Let’s have a look…
We’ll start with the case on the right, labeled “10.” The top shelf has a bunch o’ Saranac from Utica- not bad at all. Below that, our first unusual selections appear- Samuel Smiths, from England (insultingly, perhaps, next to Mike’s Hard malternative lemonade and Smirnoff’s malternative whatever-they’re-calling-it). You wouldn’t typically find as fine a beer as Samuel Smiths in just any ol’ convenience store, and wait: they have more, too! On the shelf below, nothing much stands out- Stella and Sam Adams are all over the place- though carrying the seasonal Summer Ale (next case over) is a good call. On the shelf below that, we find a couple of ringers from Southern Tier (did you see the BOV interview?) and finally, below that, Saranac’s root beer (not in fact alcoholic, but hey) and as well, some of Saranac’s growlers.
Case 9 is similarly eclectic- nestled among the standards like Guinness, Heinnekin, and Rolling Rock we find treats such as a couple selections from Cleveland’s Great Lakes brewery and yet more Samuel Smiths on the bottom, and of course, happily, Buffalo’s own Flying Bison- the lager, specifically. By the way, Steinlager… I know, you thought it was from New Zealand, right? nope: RaChaCha; High Falls brewery. That’s ok, that Bass probably wasn’t brewed in England nor the Guinness in Ireland, either.
Admittedly, the next case is a little thin–the top two shelves are both malternative nonsense–but then something strange happens. Sure, more Samuel Smiths, now in 22 oz. bombers, but what’s really unusual is what’s sitting just to the left of them on the same shelf- is that Lindemans lambic? Yes, yes it is. Definitely not something you usually see.
So, there you go, a quick stroll through the selection at Holly Farms on Allen. There are at least a few other good beers hiding in the next case left (No. 7), if I recall, some selections from Southern Tier and Ithaca as well. And while not around right now, I know I’ve seen things like Ommegang and Chimay there over the last year or so, too. So, go on in there and buy some of the good stuff, encourage these guys keep stocking it! In fact, why not make requests? It can only help!
Next post in he series: All Wilson Farms are not created equal, not when it comes to beer anyway!
8 users commented in " Who Are Your Urban Purveyors of Beer? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI had a hard time remembering where to buy beer (well, up to “your level”, anyway) on our visit this past Friday - thank goodness I remembered that Pearl Street sells growlers.
my level… hell, I was drinking Labatt Blue just last night.
But that’s not to say it’s what I would have wanted for a wee present, true enough. And it’s true also that many people don’t realize Pearl Street sells growlers to-go. Frankly, it’s well past time BOV went on down to the brewery there and did a little something.
I had contemplated picking up some Labatt’s whilst doing some duty-free shopping after the Falls, but… didn’t happen. By your level I suggest only that a 12-pack of Bud picked up at the gas station probably wasn’t going to cut it.
Having an uncanny ability to detect and order the biggest heart attack appetizers on any menu, we enjoyed a plate of loaded fries with our beers at Pearl. They went quite well with both my Lake Effect and… uh… whatever that other one was called. Not sure if the combo is officially sanctioned by the BOV test kitchens, but I was sure enjoying it.
In no particular order:
1. Wegmans - I’ve found that Wegman’s on Amherst Street has an okay selection but not cheap. Convenient when shopping.
2. Dash’s Supermarket on Hertel - Dash’s has a decent selection and frequently has great specials and some of the best prices I’ve found.
3. Washington Market - Nothing to rock your world, but convenient on my way home to North Buffalo.
4. Frontier Beverage - Although I haven’t been there in a year, Frontier Beverage on Grant St. also had a great assortment of beers. Last time I found a newly released unfiltered hefeweizen (I think it was Magic Hat Circus Boy) and Buffalo Lager before they were widely available.
5. Delta Sonic - At one time the newly rebuilt Delta Sonic on Main St. had a surprising selection of beers (nothing crazy just surprised that they carried more than Canadian and US Big 3) but it was warm and not cheap. I can’t say that I’ve ever bought there since craft beers are kept warm.
Unfortunately, my favorite store is the new Consumers location in Eggertsville. Nice store, good selection, better than average prices and a few deals. 3-4 weeks ago they had 12 packs of Rogue Dead Guy Ale for $11.99 (very drinkable beer). I wish they would open a location in North Buffalo so that I could go more often.
Hope to make one of the Goodbar or Hassenpfeffer events one of these days.
Cheers!
Rox- nice to see you; I’ve jumped ship, as you see… I was sort of wondering when or if any of my old readers might check in here.
Washington Mkt. and Amherst Weggies were on my list, as was Frontier. Though, the last time I was there, I thought things were a bit, well… dusty, shall we say. Nonetheless, I plan to hit them soon, see what the story is.
Dash’s was only mentioned to me hours before I read your comment, so, also on the list.
Delta on Main? Really? That’s absolutely worth investigating!
There is the Consumer’s in Kenmore… that is close to North Buffalo. (and they do have growlers and a decent beer selection)
Beth-
sure- that’s the Consumers I hit most often- great selection, great prices, growler filling station which rotates frequently- nothing not to like.
But all I’m trying to do here is point out some places that are definitely w/in the city limits and have good beer. If you lived downtown, for example, you might be glad to know that Washington St. Market, or Holly on Allen, will hook you up with at least some of the essentials.
[…] there you go- another way you can spend your beer dollars in the city (well, in some sense; in another, not so much) and contribute to the micro-economy: Drink Beer; […]
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