The Beer Store

Pretty much average as far as Beer Stores go. This location hasn’t had a major renovation unlike quite a few other ones, so you’re still stuck looking at the wall and ordering off of that, while the staff grab what you want from the back. The exceptions are the single cans and the few popular brands. I’m not a massive fan of this, seeing as how I’m an indecisive beer drinker (and indecisive everything for that matter). I’m not one to stick to one or even a handful of brands… I like to try something new or something I haven’t had in a while or something that randomly strikes my fancy… the dreaded wall of beer labels doesn’t really help!
The aforementioned staff is pretty nice here, something that can really be hit or miss when it comes to Beer Stores… I’ve come across more than a few surly locations. But no, they’re all pretty nice here and even though I’m not a regular who comes in every day, they seem to remember me, at least well enough to constantly card me like the guy at the LCBO did for the first five times! Geez. I’m old… I don’t need the further aggravation of having to reach into my wallet for my driver’s licence.
Shockingly it’s also never much of a zoo, despite being in bustling Port Credit. The line (when there is one) moves quickly and is nothing like some of the nightmare Beer Stores I can remember… the one in Cooksville? Yikes. Bad memories.
Finally, I can’t really speak as to the selection because of the dreaded wall of beer… it’s sort of hard to see what’s in stock and what they carry, so I just sort of have to do the best I can with what I’ve got. But it’s near me and I have to return my empties somewhere and I might as well pick up something to go while I’m there, right?
Oh and although this has nothing to do with this location whatsoever, isn’t it time to do away with the Beer Store model? Most Ontarians seem to be completely unaware that it’s a private, non-​government owned monopoly. It’s owned by the three major Canadian brewers (Molson, Labatt and Sleeman) none of which is now Canadian owned. Does that seem right to you? If more people knew this, I have a feeling there’d be more than a bit of rumbling to change the status quo. Just food (and beer) for though.