I’m not a patient person, and I don’t travel a whole lot, so I can deal with the shipping costs. It’s a small price to pay for out-of-market craft beer. Here are a few of our favorite online vendors.
Don’t get me wrong. I love local craft beer. In fact, the nearest tap of Heavy Seas Loose Cannon to my office is less than a block away and if they are out, the next one after that is four blocks the other direction. I know this not by accident. At the end of the day, or even on occasion during a lunch break, fresh and local is what I’m looking for.
The DC Metro market is indeed a great place to be for the emerging craft beer fan. We have every reason in the world to be ecstatic about both the current state and the future of craft beer in the District.
Ok, so enough with making excuses about why I order beer online. I’m always looking to try new beer from breweries who are elevating the craft and are out of our market. I’m not a patient person, and I don’t travel a whole lot, so I can deal with the shipping costs. It’s a small price to pay for out-of-market craft beer. Here are a few of our favorite online vednors and why we like each of them.
South Bay Drugs – San Diego, CA
What to Buy: The Lost Abbey, Deschutes, Port, Russian River, New Belgium, Karl Strauss, and other west coast breweries
Why to Buy: Three words: Pliny the Elder
What to Buy: Cigar City, Saint Somewhere
Why to buy: Ordered on Monday and shipped to DC before the weekend? Yes, Please!
What to Buy: Mostly the same stuff as South Bay. Gets a good amount of stuff from Firestone, Deschutes, Alpine, Russian River, Lost Abbey, Port, AleSmith
Why to Buy: More great west coast beer. Freddie is ridiculously friendly and always really helpful.
What to Buy: Three Floyds, Tyranena, Dark Horse, Two Brothers
Why to Buy: Three Floyds alone makes this an obvious choice.
Don’t forget that these retailers require proof of age and adult signature for obvious reasons. I have had good interactions with each of the retailers.
The shipping costs can get expensive, but on occasion buying beer online is a nice way to treat yourself and friends to some great out of market craft beer.
Have you purchased craft beer online? From where? What did you buy? How did it work out for you? Let us know in the comments!
UPDATE:
Unfortunately you cannot ship beer to Maryland but apparently that may change. Checking out this post form our friends over at BeerinBaltimore.com
photo credit: LugoLounge
