Best Beer Retailers

The Quest for the Holy Grain - Best Beer Retailers

Pennsylvania

Bethel Park

East Street Distributing
807 East St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(412) 321-0257

East Street Beer has been providing classic and craft beer in Pittsburgh's North Side since 1954.
From single cans to cases, they carry a huge selection.
Pick up your favorite brewage from the convenient cooler at the front of the store, or browse around and find new varieties to take home, to your tail gate, or anywhere else.
East Street is the closest beer distributor to Heinz Field, PNC Park, and all the North Shore attractions of Pittsburgh.

Giant Eagle
7000 Oxford Drive
Bethel Park, PA
(412) 831-1480

Giant Eagle is a grocery store and beer venue in Bethel Park, Pa,
Giant Eagle has two locations in Bethel Park, a Pittsburgh suburb.
This retailer is unusual in that it allows sales of both individual beers as well as draft beer in it's very large deli section.
But, to buy a draft beer, one is required to purchase food. However, a small, snack size bag of chips fills that requirement.
They have 6 beers on tap as well as several hundred other beers to choose from.
There are several booths as well as a patio seating area.

Friendly Greek
549 New Holland Avenue
Lancaster, PA
717-393-6669

Friendly Greek looks just like another 6-pack shop from the outside, but the inside is a Questor's Eden.
Teddy, the second-generation proprietor, stocks over 600 different beers with the vast majority of them being microbrews.
The store consists of two rooms housing 4 long, glass coolers, offering 6-packs, bombers, and singles.
Friendly Greek also offers 11 taps for draft beers and growler fills, and a number of tables at which you can drink them.
A food menu is also available.

I found a number of beers here which I had not encountered at any other location.
I will return to Friendly Greek the next time I am in Lancaster.

Brewers' Outlet
111 Butler Ave
Lancaster , PA 17601
(717) 392-6882

Though there are several Brewer's Outlet distributor outlets in the Lancaster area, I prefer this one, as we can jump off of Rt. 30 East and easily exit to Rt. 222 North to Adamstown.
It is also convenient entering or leaving Lancaster.
Brewer's Outlet has great beer, great prices, and great variety.
Remember, though, they are a distributor and you must buy a case.

Krugel's Georgetown Deli and Beer
720 Wilkes-Barre Township Blvd
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
570-829-2337

With between 1100 and 1500 beers to choose from, Krugel's Georgetown Deli is not your typical Pennsylvania beer store. The store is very well organized with all of the 6-packs laid out by style. There is a wall dedicated to bombers and another wall dedicated to mix and match 6-packs. The mix & match 6-packs are a constant $11.99, no matter which 6 beers you choose. The staff was very friendly and somewhat knowledgeable about what was on hand and what was "good". Two things to be aware of...1. There have been reports of outdated beer here, so check dates if possible and 2. The prices are pretty high. That being said, the selection was amazing and being so close to Interstate 81, its worth the 30 second drive, even if it is out of the way.

Krugel's Georgetown
Deli & Beer
720 Wilkes Barre Township Blvd.
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(570) 829-2337

Krugel's Georgetown Deli is a bottle shop that serves deli sandwiches and craft beer...about 2,500 different kinds from all over the world.
It's convenient for travelers as it is right at the exit of the Interstate.
Krugel's has six taps of craft beer in the back, so a Questor can have a beer in his hand as he shops.
Their mix-a-six selection is rather disappointing in that it is only one shelf about 10 feet long.
The parking lot is large and well-lit, so it's convenient to get in, out, and on your way.
They do have a vast selection of beer from all over.
It's a little pricey there, but they do have some unusual beers to offer.
Krugel's is so great, we had to write it up twice!

Capone's Restaurant & Beer
224 W Germantown Pike
Norristown, PA 19401
(610) 279-4748

Capone's has been voted the #1 Beer Store in Pennsylvania, probably due to the reason that they have tucked 600 different brands into a very small outlet attached to the restaurant.
They weren't cheap, as evidenced by the fact that I walked out with two boxes of beers for about $150, but there were some hard-to-find ones here.
In the bar, Capone's has 30 draft beers on tap, and their website gives you the current draft list.
Any beer can also be purchased in the bottle shop and consumed in the bar...or you can take them home as I did.
It's worth the effort if you're in Norristown.

Beer Mart
301 Morgantown Rd
Reading, PA 19611
(610) 376-7341

The Beer Mart!
A place to stop for cases when you're in Reading.
Only five minutes from Canal Street Pub!
Excellent array of imports, macros, and micros.
I've never seen so many microbrew variety cases...never bought so many, either.

Spry Beer & Soda
2426 S. Queen St.
York, PA 17402
717-741-6886

The first thing you need to know about a Pennsylvania Beer Distributor is that you have to buy a whole case. Having said that, Spry has hundreds of different beers to choose from, including many locals, micros, and imports. The prices are good, and the crowd is friendly. Stop in on your way up or down I-83.

Pletcher's Beer Distributor
330 West Aaron Drive
State College, PA 16803
Phone: 814.235.0899

Pletcher's offers the largest selection of beers in State College. Regionals, macros, micros, and imports, you won't be disappointed. They probably stock about 350 brands. The staff was friendly, numerous, and eager to help.

Giant Beer Garden & Eatery
2300 Linglestown Rd
Harrisburg , PA 17110-9534
phone: (717) 545-0489

The Giant Food Beer Garden & Eatery at Linglestown is located in a shopping center several miles north of downtown Harrisburg.
The Beer Garden is located at the extreme left-hand side of the store, just around the corner from a large food bar.
The guest can purchase food and carry it in, finding a seat at one of the many tables.
The eatery can seat 75 people.
There are even a few couches and a fireplace.
Beer can be purchased singly in 6-packs, or in bombers; a real convenience for this part of the state where the beer distributor (cases only) still holds sway.
The Beer Garden offers about 400-500 different brands, with an ample mix-a-six-pack cooler.
The customer can purchase some beer, sit down in the Beer Garden, and consume a maximum of two 12-ounce bottles per visit.
Hold it!
Put that camera away!
You are not allowed to take photos without written corporate permission.
While the Linglestown Giant is a 24-hour store, the Beer Garden closes at 10 PM.

The Beer Centre
19 N. Progress Ave.
Harrisburg, PA
717-671-1119

I stumbled across this gem whilst searching for another distributor which must have closed. I'm glad the
Beer Centre was open. Hundreds of beers available...some great Pennsylvania micros, imports, U.S. micros, and offbeat brews at great prices. Remember out-of-staters...you have to buy it by the case.
Wait! Read this recent post from the Beer Centre:
NOW SELLING SINGLES, 4,6,8,12,15,18 PACKS AND CASES NO LIMITS........ COLD COLD BEER WE GOT IT....