A Beer Selection that Doesn't Suck at a Jewel

I ran into the new Jewel at the southwest corner of Kinzie and Desplaines (just a half-block from the Paramount Room) last night to get a few last-minute things before a party and was pleasantly surprised at their beer selection. For the most part if I have to stop into a Jewel or Dominick's type grocery store for beer, I just resign myself to the fact that the best I will be able to do is some sort of Goose Island (for local stores -- and usually limited to Honkers and perhaps 312 or Summertime) or Sierra Nevada (for other chain grocery stores in Chicago and beyond).

This may sound like damning with faint praise, but the Jewel at Kinzie and Desplaines has the best selection of beer I've seen at a Jewel or Dominick's. Here's what was on offer (in addition to the typical grocery store options): several varieties of Dogfishhead (60 Minute and Raison d'Etre for sure, maybe others); Goose Matilda and Pere Jacques; several varieties of Bells; several Two Brothers options; at least one Three Floyds offering (Alpha King); a couple of Rogues; several Unibroue varieties; some of the more widely-available Belgians (Chimay, Delirium, etc.); and a number of other choices. Prices were in line with what you see at liquor stores and Whole Foods.

Are any of these great limited edition finds or things you can't find at a half-decent liquor store? No. But are there some drinkable beers in there? For sure. And it's nice to know there is a relatively convenient place in the neighborhood to purchase beer that doesn't suck. Keep it in mind if you are in the area and need to pick up some beer. (For what it's worth, the store itself is actually quite nice as far as those chains go.)

The other day I was at the Western/Roscoe Jewel and as I grabbed a case of Oberon a clerk or manager said "If you like it, you might want to stock up, that's the last of it and we're getting the winter beer in next." I have to say I was pretty impressed by a Jewel that 1) carries Bell's and 2) speaks knowledgeably about it.

Is it possible that the SuperValu acquisition was beneficial?

I know on the Two Brothers website, they mentioned a while back that they were going start showing up in select Jewel's with the hope that they would then expand more widely. I know the Jewel near me on Roosevelt in Oak Park has not improved its selection like the Kinzie & Des Plaines store, but it would be great if they did. The more places selling good beer, the more people drinking good beer.

Although Jewel's "sale" prices in the Wednesday newspaper flyer are still always higher than those in the Dominick's flyer, I must admit I'm impressed with the big new liquor sections in the two Jewel stores near me. They have the largest wine selection now of any grocery store around here (Mundelein).