Suppose I'm going out for an 18-pack or a suitcase of your normal domestic lites Has anyone done a comparison of who regularly has the best prices in Northern Virginia? How does 7-11 stack up against Total Wine? Are off-brand groceries or big box stores regularly better deals?

Just trying to be a wise shopper!

BJs or Costco are my go-tos when my fridge needs stocking, but if they don't have it, it's off to Total Wine I go. You'll sometimes get lucky at Giant or Safeway, but since I get my water from a tap, I don't know what "normal domestic lites" go for these days.

I can tell you, however, that if you're in the mood for some Guinness Foreign Export and don't feel like paying $9 for a four pack, head over to Bloom where you can build your own sixer for the same price. Easiest decision I've ever made.

Trader Joes usually has good deals on the boooooze though never noticed anything on my typical go to Hefeweisen which is 7.99 there, 7.99 7-11 and 7.99 at all the grocery stores Im seeing.

I dont usually notice much variability in price for beers except for when one is on sale

dbs Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...since I get my water from a tap, I don't know what
> "normal domestic lites" go for these days...

Lol!

Perfectly said.

I picked up 2 36 packs of Coors Light for $21.99 a piece at total wine and beverage last week. And yes they are all for me :(

total wine for sure. costco-type stores would be a decent bet for a few kinds of beer.
63+deposit for 1/2 keg of natty at total wine!

TarBender Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Suppose I'm going out for an 18-pack or a suitcase
> of your normal domestic lites Has anyone done a
> comparison of who regularly has the best prices in
> Northern Virginia?

If you're just looking for regular ol' American swill, Safeway or Giant is your best bet. They'll always have something cheap like Coors or MGD on sale for around 16 bucks. You might be able to save a buck or two at Total Wine but it's not really worth the time searching for the absolute best deal.

If you are going cheap hit giant and load up on a 36 or 24 of whatever is on sale; you can easily get a 12 of PBR for $8 or less there.

If you are looking for the "best" place to buy beer, hit the Whole Foods in Fair Lakes - they have a great selection of imports in bottles and micros both in bottles and on tap. The guy who runs the beer market over there keeps a facebook page and updates what's on tap daily as well as special bottle selections that come in.

Yeah Whole Foods Fair Lakes is good. I like Total Wine because of variety and can pick up single bottles and try a new beer out.

Dogfish has the best beer at a bar.


Buffalo Wing University in Fairfax City has an interesting selection of imports on draft. Unfortunately, I always found the beers too taste nasty, like vinegar. Have they improved ?

Foster Brooks Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yeah Whole Foods Fair Lakes is good. I like Total
> Wine because of variety and can pick up single
> bottles and try a new beer out.
>
> Dogfish has the best beer at a bar.
>
>
> Buffalo Wing University in Fairfax City has an
> interesting selection of imports on draft.
> Unfortunately, I always found the beers too taste
> nasty, like vinegar. Have they improved ?

Agreed on Whole Food Fair Lakes; the beer manager there also updates their draft selections (10 taps with growlers) on FB.

If the beers at BWU are good beers, but taste bad, that's just dirty lines. And that's just management that doesn't give a damn.

Give Norm's in Vienna a try for hard to find microbrews and international beer.

Laaaaughing Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Agreed on Whole Food Fair Lakes; the beer manager
> there also updates their draft selections (10 taps
> with growlers) on FB.

So glad you mentioned that ... I don't think anyone knew about that before ...

Random Dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you are looking for the "best" place to buy
> beer, hit the Whole Foods in Fair Lakes - they
> have a great selection of imports in bottles and
> micros both in bottles and on tap. The guy who
> runs the beer market over there keeps a facebook
> page and updates what's on tap daily as well as
> special bottle selections that come in.