Closing time for bars (as opposed to private clubs) is
2am, 7 days a week. You can buy wine and spirits only in state stores,
which are usually open Monday through Wednesday from 9am to 5pm and Thursday
through Saturday from 9am to 10pm. Most are closed Sunday and all
on holidays! Beer is available at a beverage distributor and sold by the
case. Tax is added into the price. Beer can also be purchased
by the 6-pack at bars at ludicrous prices, individual bottles and six-packs
at select delicatessens.
State stores in Philly are not like liquor stores in other parts of the
country such as NJ, NY, VA, AZ, CA. The shelves are far apart, the selection
is sparse, the prices are high, the help isn't helpful and the emphasis
is on quart bottles, liters and magnums of name brands. I wanted a pint
or ½ pint of Scotch. They had two brands of whisky to offer, neither
Scotch whiskey. There were No sampler bottles in the store I visited.
I guess theft is a problem in the Center City stores.
Wine can be purchased from a wine store carrying only wines made in PA.
Blue Mountain is one. They are allowed to be open Sunday. But judging
from what I've tasted, it's not an advantage.
Draft beers at bars can vary from greatly in price from around $2.00 for
the local swill -Yuengling Lager to $13.50 for a Belgian Chimay. I felt
sheepish asking the prices of the taps, but after paying $8.50 tab for
a single draft beer, I have overcome my shyness. I don’t bother
with domestic piss-water as Budweiser and Miller and I have not seen much
of either in this town
.
PA
Wine & Spirit store locator:
My favorite place in CC for carry-out beer is The Foodery on 10th &
Pine Streets, and the 800 block of North 2nd, with hundreds to chose from.
Looking for a brew in Philly? http://foobooz.com/
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