While some states are more open, and hopefully everyone is safely enjoying the nice weather and baseball, other states are still pretty restricted. I live in Chicago and we are yet to see many of the limits on public excursions lifted. I really miss being able to walk into a taproom or brewery, and trying various craft beers while staying home. Some of the breweries here have started offering home delivery and a few lucky ones are able to be open inside if they serve food, as they try to survive this difficult time. Very few breweries in Chicago are fortunate enough to have outside seating, due to the weather, space, and expense. So, unless they are able to can their beers and sell curbside or through distribution, they are probably still closed. A few breweries have also been offering delivery. This is especially helpful for people like me that don’t own a car. The downside is that you end up getting the same beer almost every time.
To branch out, I decided to try an online craft beer home delivery service. There are several of them including ones that are a subscription type service. I ordered from CraftShack.com. They offer a variety of beers & spirits from a range of breweries and distillers; however, they seem to focus on West Coast businesses. The selection is pretty good with a little bit for everyone. Being able to try beers that you might not be able to find in your area is awesome! Their customer service is very helpful and responsive also. The big downside is the price. With shipping, my order was almost $80 for 5 beers, and the packing was questionable. Luckily everything arrived safely, but honestly, I was kind of surprised…
All in all, I would probably order from them again, if for no other reason than the selection. Be sure to watch My Beer Life Ratings for the new beers, as I try them.
My Beer Life 