Category Archives: Beer

Pennsylvania Beer Sale Laws Confound and Confuse

Today, a Sunday, I was looking to buy a six pack of beer before watching football.  Of course, here in Pennsylvania, it’s not as simple as just going to the neighborhood supermarket.

As is well known, most regular grocery stores, such as SuperFresh, Acme and Genuardi’s, in Pennsylvania are not permitted to sell beer or other alcohol.  The majority of beer is, of course, sold in cases through beer distributors.  Many of these beer distributors now are permitted to sell beer on Sundays, but only after 12 p.m.   Beer can also be purchased in smaller quantities and with more expensive prices at convenience stores and delis.   On Sundays, these stores, like restaurants, are permitted by the state to sell beer only after 11 a.m.

Needless to say, the state’s alcohol laws are unnecessarily confusing.  It’s tough to keep track of the restrictions.  Take a trip sometime though other states to see how much simpler  it is to purchase beer.

Some Beers Are Best Served Less Than Cold

Currently, my favorite beers to drink are India pale ales and stouts.  Both types bring tend tohave more taste and flavor that other beers.  In particular, many stouts have that rich, creamy chocolate flavor and are just more satisfying than plain lagers or pilsners.  Certain stouts I’ve enjoyed at bars include Lancaster Milk Stout, Founders KBS and Left Hand Milk Stout.

So it’s been some surprise that when I’ve had some stouts, including many of the same ones I’ve previously enjoyed, at home, I have not always enjoyed them as much.  At first, I thought that I was just not properly remembering the amount of enjoyment I had while drinking the beers at bars.  Then, I figured it out: the temperature.

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Selling Beer in Grocery Stores

Last week, I was on holiday in rural West Virginia.  On a grocery shopping trip, at a relatively small chain store named Shop ‘n Save, I stopped to check out the beer selection.  Readily available at this small grocery store in the middle of nowhere were terrific beers such as Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Flying Dog Doggie Style Pale Ale and Saranac. 

In most states, the sight of good craft beer in a grocery store would be welcome but not exactly earth shattering.  For Pennsylvania residents, however, the mere thought of good beer being available in grocery stores would be cause for a major celebration.  Pennsylvania has one of the most restrictive and limiting set of laws when it comes to availability of alcohol.  While there are some avenues that allow grocery stores to sell beer if there is a cafe or restaurant at site, most grocery stores do not sell beer.  The vast majority of Pennsylvania beers are sold in beer distributors or from delis and bars. 

Now is the time for Pennsylvania to emerge from the dark ages and permit the widespread sale of beers in stores.  Consumers would benefit from increased choices and selection, and grocer stores would benefit from the sales.  The only ones who wouldn’t be in favor of it would be beer distributors who have had a monopoly for far too long.