The Best Beer Buying Guide For Connoisseurs

Whether you're a beer enthusiast or just looking for a casual drink, finding a good place to buy beer can be a challenge. With the rise of craft breweries and the growing popularity of microbrews, there are now more options than ever before. From local bottle shops to online retailers and subscription services, here is a guide to help you navigate the world of beer and find your new favorite brew.

Local delivery services

Tavour

Tavour is a craft beer delivery service that brings unique and highly-rated beers directly to your doorstep. With over 7,000 beers from 47 states, you're sure to find something to your taste. The subscription-based service allows you to pick the beers you want, so you only get the brews you love. Tavour currently delivers to select zip codes in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, and several other states listed on their website.

Drizly

Drizly is another popular alcohol delivery service that offers a wide range of beer, wine, spirits, and extras. With its user-friendly interface, you can simply enter your address, browse their selection, and have your order delivered in under 60 minutes. Drizly serves several major US markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and more.

Saucey

If you're looking for speedy delivery, Saucey has you covered with 30-minute delivery in select markets. They offer a wide selection of beer, wine, and spirits, including local seasonal favorites and rare finds. Saucey is currently available in Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and several other locations, with 2-day and ground shipping options in California and New York.

Craftshack

Craftshack is a West Coast alcohol delivery service known for its proximity to some of the most sought-after California craft brewers. However, they also feature high-quality beers from around the world. In addition to beer, Craftshack offers a wide range of spirits, ciders, and seltzers. Their website provides filters to make it easy to browse and find your favorite styles and breweries. Please check their website for specific delivery locations, as they are dependent on local shipping laws.

The Good Hop

The Good Hop is your local craft beer bar and bottle shop located in Oakland, California. They offer 16 rotating taps featuring California-focused beers and over 400 bottles and cans from independent breweries. While they encourage you to visit their bar, they also offer an online store that is open 24 hours a day for your convenience.

Online retailers

There are many online retailers that sell beer, and some even offer delivery services. Some of the more popular virtual beer stores include beergeek.biz, which has a massive worldwide selection, and bottletrek.com, which has a smaller but carefully curated selection of special brews from the West Coast and Northwest regions. For those looking for a wide variety of beers from around the world, hitimewine.net offers over 1,000 beers from over 25 countries, while johnsgrocery.com boasts over 700 beers from 30-plus countries. liquidsolutions.biz features "The Wall of Beer", with nearly 800 offerings, and thebelgianbeershop.com is a great source for Belgian beers, with most offerings including detailed descriptions.

If you're looking for speedy local delivery, sites like Drizly, Saucey, and Minibar will pick up your order from the neighborhood shop of your choice and deliver it for a surcharge and/or sales commission. Online retailers like FreshDirect and Craft City offer a wide range of domestic and craft beers, while Craft Shack is known for carrying the latest launches from craft breweries. For those looking to try something new each month, subscription-based clubs like Beer of the Month Club, Tavour, and Craft Beer Kings offer a variety of craft beers and microbrews delivered straight to your door.

Subscription-based clubs

The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club

The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club has been offering hand-crafted beers from US and international microbreweries since 1994. Their panel of brewmasters and beer judges curates a selection of quality, exciting, and innovative craft beers each month. You can choose from five different beer clubs, including The US Microbrewed Beer Club, The International Beer Club, and The Rare Beer Club. The subscription starts at $39.95 per month plus shipping, and you can choose the duration of your membership.

Beer of the Month Club by Amazing Clubs

Amazing Clubs is America's largest and top-rated beer club, featuring premium and award-winning craft beers from boutique breweries across the country. Each month, you'll receive 12 full-sized bottles of hard-to-find, specialty microbrews, carefully selected by their experts. They offer 3, 6, and 12-month clubs, as well as a Beer of the Season Club with new selections each spring, summer, fall, and winter. The subscription starts at $37.95 per month with free shipping, and you can expect exceptional quality and service.

Craft Beer Kings Monthly Beer Club

Craft Beer Kings offers an exclusive Monthly Beer Club that curates a handpicked selection of new and exciting beers from top breweries. They prioritise freshness and quality, guaranteeing that every beer you receive is at its peak of flavour and craftsmanship. You can choose from various subscription boxes, including IPA, Sour, Dark Beer, and Mixed Style options. Their subscriptions are billed continuously every term of your choosing until cancellation.

Joining a beer subscription club is a fantastic way to discover new beers, explore different styles, and support independent breweries. Whether you're a casual drinker or a connoisseur, these clubs offer a convenient and exciting way to elevate your beer-drinking experience.

Craft beer bars

The Good Hop, Oakland, California

The Good Hop is a craft beer bar and bottle shop located in Oakland, California, just north of Uptown. With 16 constantly rotating beers on draft, all from California, and 400+ bottles and cans from independent breweries, The Good Hop is a great place to try a wide range of craft beers. It combines the feel of a neighbourhood bar with the offering of a world-class bottle shop.

Best Damn Beer Shop

Best Damn Beer Shop offers a wide range of craft beers, including Beachwood Sadie Dark Ale, Bottle Logic Darkstar November Imperial Rye Stout, and Burgeon Dutchman's Pipe Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. They also have a newsletter that you can subscribe to, to stay up to date with the latest craft beer styles and vintage beers.

Go Brewing, Chicago

Go Brewing is a small-batch, craft, non-alcoholic brewery based in Chicago. They have 11-12 rotating non-alcoholic brews, including their Gold Medal Award-Winning Pilsner and the New School Sour. Their beers are highly rated by customers, with one describing their Love Letter to Hops Hazy IPA as " [t]he best tasting Hazy NA I have ever had".

BeerMenus

BeerMenus is an app that helps over 7.3 million beer lovers find great beer. It is available on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Beer of the Month Club

Beer of the Month Club is a subscription service that costs $29.95 per month, plus $15 for shipping and handling. Each month, you'll receive four different beers from two different US microbreweries, with each box containing three of each beer. This is a great option if you want to discover new breweries and expand your palate.

Local liquor stores

If you're after a more immediate fix, or you're simply looking to save on delivery fees, heading to your local liquor store or supermarket is a great option for picking up some good beer.

The Good Hop in Oakland, California, is a local craft beer bar and bottle shop that offers 16 constantly rotating, California-focused beers on draft, and 400+ bottles and cans from independent breweries. It's a great spot to explore new beers and enjoy the atmosphere of a neighbourhood bar.

For those looking to buy in bulk or seeking a specific craft beer, online retailers like Best Damn Beer Shop and Craft City offer a wide range of options, from popular craft beers to smaller brewery labels. However, keep in mind that shipping fees and wait times may apply.

If you're unable to leave the house or prefer the convenience of delivery, local delivery services like Drizly, Saucey, and Minibar can bring beer straight to your door. These services are especially useful when you need a quick beer delivery, although they may charge a delivery surcharge and sales commission.

So, whether you're exploring local liquor stores or taking advantage of delivery services, there are plenty of options to find good beer that suits your preferences and needs.

Frequently asked questions