Beer Store Recommendation
Does the PDD community have a recommendation as to which liquor store has the best craft beer selection? I went to Cash Wise and while it does have a lot of beer and a big “single” selection for $8.99 a six pack, the variety isn’t that great. Warehouse had some different brews but the prices were outrageous. $3.99 for a Big Eddy Baltic Porter? I live close to Woodland Liquor but the people there actually get annoyed and snippy if you ask them a question about anything above Budweiser or Miller. Who has had the best luck and where?
I like Mount Royal. Fair prices and they get props for being the first local store to carry Chimay back in the mid 1980s.
I am by no means an expert, but we went into Warehouse yesterday. I had never been there. But I was astounded by their selection. They have a whole wall with selections from different states, another wall with different countries and another two or three big shelves with individual bottles you could mix and match. Not sure how prices compare.
If you aren’t one of the individuals who refuses to cross the bridges, I’d hit up Keyport if I were you. Good selection, cheap prices, and sales tax is only 5.5% instead of 7.5%. The people there are friendly, and pretty knowledgeable.
I hit up Mt. Royal, their beer selection is excellent since they built the beer cave. When we’re looking for New Glarus, it’s off to Keyport. Keyport is also really great about community involvement, I know they donate products to local arts nonprofits all the time.
Warehouse. He lets you mix and match. I’ve bought two, three and four instead of a full six. Mt Royal’s bottle shop is good for cold brew right. Now. I’ll give them that.
Beer Advocate gives Warehouse Liquor a 91 score — “exceptional.”
I never go to Warehouse because I never go to Duluth Heights, but people have been saying for years it’s the best liquor store in Duluth.
My favorite liquor store is generally the closest one. I like Wild West Liquor because whenever I go in there something weird happens. I also like Last Chance Liquor for the cheap wine.
I love the Warehouse. Incredible selection and the staff are beer fans and generally very knowledgeable. I don’t have the time to go very often, since I end up spending an hour chatting with the staff and Googling beer reviews.
Warehouse isn’t the best for liquor, but for beer it’s great.
…Of course, you could also pop into Lake Superior Brewing and fill up a growler of one of their local brews that they’ve been crafting since 1994.
(27th Avenue West & Superior St.)
lakesuperiorbrewing.com | facebook.com/LakeSuperiorBrewing
It was a human tragedy on parr with Hurricane Susan, that no one told me about the co-op discount given by Last Chance to micro purchases, four years ago.
I really like the folks at Last Chance, the owner has always been super helpful, and he’s stayed the course on selling the homebrew stuff, in spite of the cold odds in this godforsaken town.
Keyport gets a runners up. I’ve seen them taking on some real community good causes too, like having disabled people help out. I would say relatively, Warehouse, Royal, and Cash Wise have great selections and normal to high prices. When a friend from Madison was here, he asked what was wrong with the beer prices here. I couldn’t answer him.
Warehouse is usually the last in line: Cub>Old World (milk and brats)>Warehouse>home.
It’s a ritual.
Tamara wants me to point out that, if you’re into that kind of thing, Warehouse Liquor is unionized, whereas none of the others are.
Knowing that the warehouse is a union shop makes the price hike a sweeter pill to swallow. +1 on their selection.
I’ve been impressed with Mount Royal’s selection recently. Unlike the Cash Wise beer cave, Mount Royal’s contains TONS of micro brews or otherwise unique finds.
Also, the owner or manager of Warehouse is a comic book reader. Awe yea, Perfect Duluth Drunkeness!
I think that Mt. Royal has a great (and improving) selection and takes care of their beers. While Warehouse has a large selection, oft times they spend the majority of their life w/o refrigeration and under flourescent lights. Both no-no’s for beer.
I like Mount Royal, for sure.
Last Chance is good as well, but the selection is not near those at Warehouse or Mount Royal.
My favorite? Warehouse by a long shot. But the prices are high.
As an aside, does anyone know how Warehouse does with their cider selection, compared with CashWise? Or, for that matter, if anyone in the area beats the variety of ciders (good but not great) at CashWise?
I don’t drink much, but when I neeed help picking out a new beer or wine, I go to Keyport. If you need help, just ask.
I’ve also had lots of good wine selection assistance at Belknap Liquor.
Freakin’ Sconnies.
Stay on your side of the bridge. 😉
Hey Lundgren, do you still have that article that breaks down if it’s worth it or not to travel to Superior for beer on a Sunday or between 10-12?
These are more than three years old now — from back when gas was priced at about $2.25 per gallon — but the basic principles are still true today.
Liquor Store Math
Liquor Store Math Revisited
Not to be biased, but, you know, the Fitger’s Beer Store.