The great Colorado full strength beer in grocery store debate (Denver: 2014, to buy)

[Eddyline]

Originally Posted by hawkbill

Honestly, most grocery stores would probably look something like the Glendale Target. Smallish selection of craft beer, wine and spirits. All the big names most like represented (Oskar Blues, Breck, Avery, Gread Divide, New Belgium, Odell, Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada) which is going to be good enough for the average person. Yes you'll still have to go somewhere else for your specialty bombers, hot new releases and less widely distributed beers. I don't see that as a bad thing.

The only stores this will greatly affect are the crappy liquor stores that have high prices and not very good selection. Those shops are everywhere.

Also, the Cherry Creek King Soopers liquor store blows away the average Colorado liquor store when it comes to selection. Let's be real. Argonaut, DaveCo, Grapevine, etc aren't the 'average' Colorado liquor store.

The liquor stores that will be hurt the most are the ones in the same strip mall as the grocery store.

One thing not mentioned is that my local grocery store does not have room to add even a medium sized liquor department without greatly cutting down on selection of other items.

Are the craft brewers for this or against it?

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by Eddyline

The liquor stores that will be hurt the most are the ones in the same strip mall as the grocery store.

One thing not mentioned is that my local grocery store does not have room to add even a medium sized liquor department without greatly cutting down on selection of other items.

Are the craft brewers for this or against it?

Against. They feel like it will be much harder for them to get shelf space when fighting against the big guys who have contacts at the corporate level.

[Eddyline]

Originally Posted by SkyDog77

Against. They feel like it will be much harder for them to get shelf space when fighting against the big guys who have contacts at the corporate level.

That makes sense. Also wonder how they would do the hours.
Could a 24 hour grocery sell beer 24/7? Seems like that would not be fair to the liquor stores.

BTW: These recent storms have pushed the Clear Creek drainage to 100%.
Was worried we would have a short, low season.
And there are 3 brew pubs within walking distance to the takeout!

[brown_dog_us]

I'd like to see full strength beer in grocery stores only if it is brewed in Colorado.

[Eddyline]

Originally Posted by brown_dog_us

I'd like to see full strength beer in grocery stores only if it is brewed in Colorado.

Does that include Coors & Bud?

[CosmicWizard]

Eddyline wrote: Seems like that would not be fair to the liquor stores.

Personally, I think that would be GREAT. We owe absolutely no allegiance to the liguor stores.

[headingtoDenver]

Originally Posted by Eddyline

Does that include Coors & Bud?

It should since both are brewed in Colorado.

I personally am against this because of the reason some have touched on. Shelf space in a grocery store is expensive and your big 3 do whatever they can to buy it all and will have no problems squeezing the little people out completely.

There was (I say was because I watched it a while ago and I don't know if it is still there) a documentary on Netflix called Beer Wars and it goes into what small breweries have to go through to get their beer on the shelves of stores and what the big 3 do to prevent this. It really is a crazy market.

[headingtoDenver]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

Eddyline wrote: Seems like that would not be fair to the liquor stores.

Personally, I think that would be GREAT. We owe absolutely no allegiance to the liguor stores.

I have more of an allegiance to the mom and pop owned liquor stores then I do the corporation owed grocery stores.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by Eddyline

That makes sense. Also wonder how they would do the hours.
Could a 24 hour grocery sell beer 24/7? Seems like that would not be fair to the liquor stores.

BTW: These recent storms have pushed the Clear Creek drainage to 100%.
Was worried we would have a short, low season.
And there are 3 brew pubs within walking distance to the takeout!

Yeah Clear Creek!!!

Originally Posted by headingtoDenver

I have more of an allegiance to the mom and pop owned liquor stores then I do the corporation owed grocery stores.

that's my thought as well.

[CosmicWizard]

headingtoDenver wrote: I have more of an allegiance to the mom and pop owned liquor stores then I do the corporation owed grocery stores.

Generally, I also prefer to do business with a local mom and pop operation rather than with a national monopoly. In the case of liquor store dives however, the grocery store chains ( my experience is in Virginia & Oregon ) provide a more pleasant beer buying experience than most liguor stores. VERY few liguor stores provide a pleasant environment. Those that do will continue to thrive, even with some genuine competition from the grocery stores. The dives will hopefully go out of business.