Late-Night Beer Runs: Where To Buy After Hours

The availability of beer at 3 a.m. depends on the state you're in. For instance, in California, you can buy alcohol, on- or off-premises, from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. any day of the year. In Texas, on the other hand, on-premise sale of alcohol is allowed from 7 a.m. to midnight or 2 a.m., while off-premise sales are allowed from 7 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays, and noon to midnight on Sundays.

Online retailers

• FreshDirect: While most sites charge a delivery fee, FreshDirect offers a fair deal with a $5.99 delivery fee for pretty much any beer you'd find at a well-stocked grocery store.
• Craft City: Craft City is on the opposite end of the spectrum from FreshDirect. While there's some overlap between the two sites when it comes to more popular craft beers, smaller brewery labels make up the bulk of Craft City's impressive inventory (which includes over 100 different brews). You'll have to pay FedEx ground shipping fees and a $3 "Adult Signature Delivery Fee."
• Craft Shack: Craft Shack always carries craft breweries' latest launches and has an impressive core craft beer inventory, with over 75 labels. Shipping ranges from $19.99 to $29.99, depending on your location in the continental US and the size of your order.
• Beer of the Month Club: A Beer of the Month Club membership will cost you $29.95 per month (plus $15 for shipping and handling), and you'll get four different beers from two different "lightly distributed" US microbreweries. Each box includes three of each beer, which might help you decide whether you like them or not. There's no automatic renewal when you sign up for anywhere between two and 12 deliveries.
• Tavour: Tavour is a slightly different take on craft brew subscriptions. The app-based service releases two new beers per day, but you claim the ones you want, build custom boxes, and control the frequency of delivery. Shipping is $15 no matter how many beers you buy.
• Craft Beer Kings: Craft Beer Kings lets you choose your favorite style of beer (Hazy IPAs, Stouts, Sours, and more) and sends you a case of 12 pint-sized cans for $99 a month. That's $8.25 a pint, which is on the pricey side, but for a quality case of beer tailored to your taste, that's not bad. If your taste in beer defies categorization, Craft Beer Kings also offers mixed-style cases.
• Untappd Shop: The world's largest social media craft beer networking app, with over 11 million fans worldwide, just launched its own e-commerce platform: the Untappd Shop! Now, you can go from checking in a beer to checking out a beer in just a couple of clicks. With over 250 beers, the Untappd Shop collaborates with some of the best breweries in the country, often putting together exclusive bundles in small quantities.
• Oznr: Oznr is a quick caveat as they don't ship beer directly. However, select breweries are now shipping on Oznr, where legal. In years past, beer fans may have lined up for hours waiting for a brand-new beer release at their favorite brewery. With the Oznr app, breweries can release new offerings digitally and build excitement through pre-sales, waitlists, and raffles.
• Half Time: Half Time is the ultimate virtual bottleshop, offering one of the largest selections of beer and cider around. After browsing through their options, you can order as little as a single can of beer or as much as a case right at your door. The platform easily checks to see if shipping is available to your zip code before placing an order.

Local delivery

Drizly

Drizly will pick up and deliver your order, usually within an hour, and the surcharge is typically $5.

Saucey

Saucey works similarly to Drizly and promises quick, zero-fee delivery. However, you may find that the beer selection in specific areas can be limited at times.

Minibar

Minibar offers everything from beer to ice, liquor, and mixers. Their fees are included in the price; for example, a six-pack of Lagunitas may be a few dollars more than at your local corner store, and there is no delivery fee, but tipping is encouraged.

Subscription-based clubs

Craft Beer Club

The Craft Beer Club is one of the most popular beer subscription boxes out there for craft beer enthusiasts. For $48 per month, you'll receive monthly shipments of new and interesting craft beers from around the country, with an emphasis on fresh beer. Each box features 12 beers: three of each beer in four different styles from two different breweries.

Beer Drop

Beer Drop is a beer delivery box startup that offers different plans, allowing you to select your favourite type of beer and specific beer styles for your monthly craft beer subscription box shipments. Monthly drops of microbrewery offerings start at $50 per month, plus $8 for shipping and handling, and you'll receive five beers. Beer Drop brews are all canned, so you don't have to worry about broken bottles.

Brewvana by City Brew Tours

If you're looking for outside-the-box brewing, Brewvana is the beer club for you. This club, now known as City Brew Tours, offers interesting beers from a single beer-brewing region, highlighting one new "undiscovered" beer city each month. Each shipment includes eight different beers: two beers from four breweries in the featured city. The cost is $70 per month for eight beers with a six-month prepaid subscription, $75 per month for a three-month subscription, or $80 per month for a standard monthly plan. Shipping is a flat rate of $5 across all plans.

The Hop-Heads Beer Club

The Hop-Heads Beer Club is perfect for those who love their hops. This club sends three different hop-centric beers, four of each, every month. While it mainly features IPAs of various styles, it also includes hoppy pale ale and red ales. Pricing starts at $42, plus $16 shipping, per month.

The Rare Beer Club

The Rare Beer Club is the most selective of the bunch, featuring only two 750ml bottles of beer a month from the world's hottest microbreweries. You have three buying options: two 750ml bottles per month ($44 plus $15 shipping), four 750ml bottles per month ($66 plus $19 shipping), or six 750ml bottles per month ($88 plus $24 shipping).

Beer of the Month Club

The Beer of the Month Club offers five distinctive beer club subscriptions, including The U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club, The U.S. and International Variety Beer Club, The Hop-Heads Beer Club, The International Beer Club, and The Rare Beer Club. Each club features different beer styles, craft breweries, and shipment inclusions. You can choose the perfect beer club type to match your taste and budget, with options for both personal and gift memberships.

Local liquor store

If you're looking to buy beer at 3 a.m., your best bet is to check the opening hours of your local liquor store. While the specific laws and regulations regarding alcohol sales vary from state to state, and even between counties, local liquor stores typically have more flexible hours than grocery or convenience stores.

In some states, like California, Florida, and Washington, liquor stores are allowed to operate from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day, which means they'll be open at 3 a.m. In other states, like Utah, liquor stores generally operate from 11 a.m. to anywhere between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and are closed on Sundays.

However, it's important to note that these hours may be further restricted by local laws and may vary from one store to another, so it's always a good idea to check the website or give them a call to confirm their opening hours before heading out.

Additionally, keep in mind that some states, like South Carolina, have laws prohibiting the sale of certain types of alcohol with a higher ABV during specific times, so the availability of your preferred beer may be limited, even if the store is open.

Supermarket

Buying beer at a supermarket at 3 a.m. depends on the local liquor laws of your state or jurisdiction. While some states allow alcohol sales at grocery stores between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m., others have more restrictive timings. For instance, in Alabama, grocery stores can sell alcohol from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., while in Arizona, you can buy alcohol any time between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. every day of the year.

If your local supermarket is open 24 hours or happens to be open at 3 a.m., you should be able to buy beer if the local laws permit it. However, do note that some supermarkets may not sell alcohol around the clock, even if they are open 24 hours, so it is always good to check with your local store.

When buying beer at a supermarket, you can take advantage of loyalty programmes and discounts. For example, Tesco Clubcard and Sainsbury's Nectar programmes offer consistent discounts throughout the year. Additionally, keep an eye out for seasonal bargains and limited-time offers, as these can help you save money on your favourite brews.

When it comes to choosing the right beer, here are some tips:

• If you are a beginner, buy whatever looks interesting to develop your taste.
• Watch out for 'value' beers, as they are often weak and may not offer the best value for money.
• Be aware of funny bottle or can sizes—for instance, a 275ml lager bottle may be hard to distinguish from a standard 330ml bottle.
• Look at the ingredients. Some beers use only hop extract, and maize (corn) in lager can be a sign of cost-cutting.
• Avoid beers in clear and green bottles as they can more easily become 'skunked', developing unpleasant aromas.
• Go for stronger beers in multi-buy offers (e.g., 3 for £5, 4 for £6) as they often provide good value based on their usual retail price.
• Some supermarkets have a genuine Czech lager at a bargain price, which can be a good and affordable option.

Frequently asked questions