The $400 beer run – Vintage Estate Wine & Beer
Upon reading an article in the Post Gazette we found out that Vintage Estate in Boardman, Ohio was ranked as the number 1 beer store in the world. You read that correctly, THE WORLD… in Boardman, Ohio! If you’ve never been to Boardman its basically strip mall heaven. Take Upper Peach in Erie or say 19 in Cranberry and multiply that by 10.
We’ve always heard about this place but never traveled. I guess we thought it was farther than it really is plus we think “Ohio? that’s another goddamn state!” (see, I’m a geography whiz). Turns out that it’s only 30 minutes from Cranberry TWP where we have SIDT Studio A. That’s right, it’s faster for us to get to Boardman than it is to Monroeville, Murrysville or anything in the South Hills.
We arrive shortly before 7pm at a store front that looks the size of Bocktown. Walking in the clouds parted and angels sang from the heavens. Immediately to our right were shelves of beers that we have never seen in PA; most importantly The Bruery.
That gives you a rough layout of the store. Its wall to wall beer and even more wine in the middle. There is a tasting table in the back and also a bar in a side room that serves drafts and incredible flatbread. You can purchase a bottle and drink it in store but someone at the bar has to open it for you plus there is a small corking fee. Even with that the prices were considerably cheaper than PA. Keep in mind PA’s bullshit system for selling beer and the incredibly high tax (Johnstown flood was 74 years ago and we still pay on it). Hopslam in Pgh – $4.75/bottle | at Vintage Estate $2.99.
Vintage Estate is beer heaven and you need to visit. They have roughly 748 different beers and I would say 80% are ones we can’t get in PA. Its a short drive and if your significant other is giving you grief there are strip malls galore to keep them occupied. Downside, your beer wont be stronger than 12%abv. You’re not getting DFH 120 Minute here.
Here you go… The Beer List (some were doubles and triples):
- Alesmith Horny Devil
- Alesmith Speedway Stout
- Alesmith Wee Heavy
- Avery Hog Heaven
- Avery Salvation
- Avery The Reverend
- Allagash Curieux
- Birrificio Le Baladin Super Baladin Ale
- Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel ! Rigor Mortis Abt Abbey Style Brown Ale
- Brew Kettle Dark Helmet Imperial Schwarzbier
- Cantillon Classic Gueuze Ale (aged in oak barrels)
- Dark Horse Amber Ale
- Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA
- Dark Horse Raspberry,
- Dark Horse Scotty Karate Scotch Ale
- Dark Horse Too Cream Stout
- Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti
- Kiuchi Brewery Espresso Stout
- Kiuchi Brewery Japanese Classic Ale
- Kiuchi Brewery Red Rice Ale
- Kiuchi Brewery Sweet Stout
- Kiuchi Brewery XH (matured in sake casks)
- Left Hand Brewing Company Fade to Black
- Mikkeller It’s Alive Wild Ale
- New Holland Charkoota Rye Smoked Doppelbock Lager
- Ommegang Biere de Mars (Batch 2, October 2008)
- Rust Belt Brewing Coke Oven Stout
- Rust Belt Brewing Old Man Hoppers IPA
- Rust Belt Brewing Rusted River Irish Red Ale
- Stone Brewing/Brew Dog Collaboration Bashah
- The Bruery Hottenroth
- The Bruery Orchard White
- The Bruery Saison Rue
- The Bruery Rugbrod
- Troegs Javahead Stout
