Micro-Brew Store
 

Hi Forum friends.

I find myself at a loss for a good micro-brew store. I have been to the Case-n-Kegs in Meredith and union ave in Laconia, but a lot of what I find has a boat load of dust on it so I shy away, also prices aren't the greatest.
Also Tried the Smoke and Barley in Tilton which is not dusty but a small selection

Does anyone have any suggestions for Gilford, Laconia, Meredith, Tilton area??

Thank you

Biederman's
 

I have seen a large selection at Biederman's in Plymouth. Their pub/deli downstairs has many craft beers on tap, but the store upstairs has many hard to find craft brews in bottles.

I would suggest you check the dates on the beer in these stores, most of them have fresh dates stamped on the product these days....that should give you an idea of freshness.

they do, and I do check them, but just the look of all the dust and what not, and not knowing whether skunked or not has been a big turn off for me. who Spending $12-$20 on a 6 pack and it not being good, I don't like the risk, nor hassle of bringing it back

Brew your own.

Midwestsupplies.com have been using them since 2011 when I found the same thing you found, there is no good stores around

Sounds like a business opportunity! :look:

I could be wrong but I think this areas majority demographic does not fit into that clientele. Feel like I see more people buying pabts, BL or whatever else is cheap.

Wonder what the start up costs would be for a place like that considering the licenses you'd need

I saw a display at Shaw's in Belmont near the front of the store. It caught my attention because it was being sold as single bottles instead of 6-packs etc. It looked like quite a selection.

North Conway is way too far for a special trip but next time up that way this place has a good selection

http://www.discountbeveragesnh.com/#!beers/os8ds

Try Beveridge
 

My craft beer-loving husband really likes Beveridge in Wolfeboro. I know it isn't one of the towns you listed, but I thought I'd throw it in in case you were passing through one day. http://www.beveridgecraftbeerandsoap.com

Very close by (a quick walk around the corner) is the Lone Wolfe Brewing Co., where you can get a flight, pint, or growler. http://thelonewolfe.com/#home

Also, if you're ever in the Alton Bay area, Johnson's Marketplace (it's actually in New Durham, but about 5 mins from the Alton circle) is good, as well. http://www.eatatjohnsons.com/marketplace

Cheers!

I've noticed some of the larger Walmarts actually have pretty big beer selections. I don't recall if Gilford or Tilton have beer or a variety of brands but it might be worth checking if you are in that area.

Micro
 

It seems to me that, by definition, a micro-brewer does not have wide distribution. Discussions with the brewers at Abel Ebenezer (Merrimack, NH) indicated that bottling was way down the road in their initial business plan at start up i.e. years. Flights, pints and growlers to build local interest and kegs to local bars. The appearance to me is that when you can do enough volume to bottle and ship to stores out of area, you're no longer a micro-brewer.

I was at a (open to the public, free beer) ribbon cutting for the Biergarten at Anheuser-Busch today. They had 6-8 beers on tap. I bet they bottle and distribute on a low scale where the name is strange and retail customers think it's from a micro-brewer. Big wineries do this with the same wine and different labels, just to get shelf space and let you buy something that is "just as good as" at a sale price.

I recall going the the grand opening of the brewery at the castle in Moultonborough.
Free samples of the locally brewed beer.
Sampled all (little white cups) and well, not very good. Some were tossing full cups after one sip.
Maybe all of this is an acquired taste.
Sticht ended the beer part and went into water business.

LINK

Down here in MA, bout one of the only good things, is the liquor stores are turning to more and more micro brew distribution instead of the big dogs, they still have them, and I still purchase for large groups, but having different flavors at your disposal is like being at the ice cream stand.
I know there are many great brewers in NH, just wish I could get my hands on them instead of driving to each brew houses to get them.

Microbrew
 

Case n Keg in Meredith is the best you will find around Winnipesaukee, very good selection, better than the Case n Keg in Laconia I think. I did not see dust when I was there last. Any microbrew will be expensive and you will need to take a chance if you have never tried it, goes with the territory.

If using 93 North from MA and Southern NH try Berts Better Beers at exit 9 North in Hooksett, right off the highway. Excellent selection, make your own six pack with large cooler of singles, try Birch Beer Brewing in Hooksett on route 3, its a microbrew on site and you can buy and sample there. They also sell in local grocers around Hooksett and Berts. In Concord try Barbs Emporium on 106, never been there but I am told its very good and it sounded like Berts in Hooksett to me. Enjoy!

Use this link to find stores around NH.
http://www.nhmagazine.com/NH-Beer-Stores/

Not to go too far off topic, but we're bringing some folks from Pac NW to the lake this summer, their first time, and they are "into" microbrews / brew pubs / gastro pubs.

Any suggestions for finding some good microbrew to quaff in the Gilford / Laconia area?

really all depends on their tastes
ipa's
pilsner
ale
brown ale
stout

would have to ask them what they are into

really all depends on their tastes
ipa's
pilsner
ale
brown ale
stout

would have to ask them what they are into

http://lazydogbeer.com/ in Londonderry, NH. Good selection, great owners, dog is there, too!

If they are true beer geeks they will want to try local stuff.

Grab some stuff from 603 Brewery, White Peaks IPA, Winni Ale, or anything else from them.
Stoneface IPA is one of the best IPA's from NH, being from PNW I would bet they like IPA's, they have it at Case n Keg.
MOAT Mt - nice pilsners and IPA.
Smuttynose would be a good brewery to grab stuff from - Finest Kind IPA, Old Brown Dog, Summer Beer.

Anything from Longtrail is a good option too.

All but Stoneface should probably be available in Hannafords or any grocery store.

And I will shamelessly plug 2 goods friends breweries.Miilys(Stark Mill Brewery) in Manchester and the wonderfull Woodstock Station Brewery in North Woodstock(a must go to visit for them if you have the time).