This is where I get to share with you what I think I know or at least my opinions on buying beer.  Choosing which beer to buy is another process altogether and an ongoing topic of discussion for another day.

In general I look to three types of places for beer: grocery stores, warehouses, and locals.  Each has strengths and weaknesses and each has a purpose in my beer world.  Searching around is a good way to find what available options are out there in your area.  My bullpen consists primarily of one warehouse, one local, and two different grocery stores depending on what I am looking for.

Good selection

The grocery stores are convenient for me since there are 6 or 7 within a 5 mile radius of my house.  I could leave during halftime of the game and be back with cold beer in time for the second half kickoff.  They provide the standard fare (with a few gems now and again) at a decent price.  Sometimes I just need a cold Labatt Blue after mowing the lawn to make things right.

The warehouses (wine, liquor, beer mega stores) bring a large selection at usually low prices.  If you have family or friends coming into town for a stay or are throwing a party, this is where you go.  The selection provides something for everyone and if you need more than just beer, it’s great for one stop shopping.  Not too long ago, I stopped in to such a place with Cousin Adam and Melissa just after picking them up at the airport to be sure that they (and I) would be comfortable during their stay.

The local places are my favorite and I happen to have a pretty good one close by (though not as close as the grocery stores).  Each place tends to have something that the others do not and there can be a level of knowledge with those who work there that other places can’t match.  The service is often fantastic, especially if you make yourself somewhat of a regular.  If you find a good local, keep going and good beer recommendations will come your way.

The Internet can also be an option for your buying needs.  Though not my thing, online buying is an option for those who are looking for something they just cant find near where they live.  Even beer-of-the-month clubs can be a way to try new beer since the decisions are often made for you.

Tough decisions to be made

There is no way to leave price out of this discussion.  Volume and quantity of beer can be a deciding factor at times, but don’t scoff at the idea of paying a little extra for beer once and a while.  I have a few points that may make you think differently about what you are willing to pay for your brew.

If you are a person that buys and enjoys wine at home (which I do), take a moment to compare what you are willing to pay for wine versus what you spend on your beer.  For this argument we will use a standard 750ml wine bottle for the comparison.

If you typically spend $10-$15 on a bottle of wine, I ask you to consider what you could pay for an equivalent bottle of really good beer.  A 22oz bottle of beer is quite common and can/will run you $4-$9 or so.  That volume is equal to roughly 650ml.  I recently purchased a 25.4oz Jolly Pumpkin La Roja for about $13.  That may seem high for a beer, but that volume is almost exactly the equivalent of the 750ml that you get in a bottle of wine.

I believe this comparison is valid because many of the beers I am talking about have complex flavors and aromas and are consumed in a similar way to wine (at a more relaxing pace for example).  In fact, the La Roja’s suggested glassware (via Beeradvocate) is a flute or an oversized wine glass.  Paying wine-like prices for equivalent volumes of good beer that you will enjoy doesn’t seem crazy to me.

My second point to consider regarding the price of beer involves what you pay for drinks when you are out at a bar, restaurant, etc.  I am not at all suggesting that you stay at home all the time drinking beer alone in the dark.  However, sometimes you don’t feel like going out and relaxing at home with a good beer sounds appealing.

I am fairly confident that you will pay $3 or $4 or $5 plus tip at a bar for just a domestic beer (it may be less at some places).  If that is true, why would you not consider paying $8-$10 for a six-pack or $6-$8 for a 22oz beer?  If alcohol content is your thing, you can even end up with a two for one there as well.  You know what you will end up spending during a night out at the bar so there is no reason not to consider spending a fraction of that for a relaxing evening at home (with or without friends).

I suppose this has all been a somewhat long-winded way of saying that it necessary to shop around to get good beer and do not let price be the thing that scares you away from giving new brews a try.  Price is always a factor, but should rarely be the ultimate decision maker.