Bigfoot Dock Sales

A while ago, I found out that Bigfoot, one of the major beer distributors in Oregon, has weekly dock sales. After having some decent experiences there, I think it's worth sharing and checking out, if you live in the Eugene area. (I'm told this also applies to Bigfoot's warehouses elsewhere in the state - check here for more details).

Here's how it works. Friday, starting at 11am, you go to the Bigfoot warehouse/distribution center off of the freeway, a couple exits south of town. Drive around back, and there's a loading dock with tons of cases of beer for sale. The beer's all remaindered stuff or things that haven't sold well - sometimes undeservedly so. Beer is sold in cases of 12 bombers or 24 longnecks, and there's a minimum purchase of 3 cases to participate. 

Last time I went, I picked up a case of Southern Tier's Robust Porter, a case of Eel River's Amber, and a case of Southern Tier's Compass (a strong, hoppy pale made with rose hips). Cases were $12 each, so I paid basically $0.50 per bottle and $1 per bomber, and I'm pretty happy with the beer, especially for the price.

There are a couple of downsides here - first, since the beer's remaindered or returned, it's often old. The cases I got were several months old, and the porter especially suffered a bit, flavor-wise. Stronger, maltier styles are more likely to have survived mostly intact. Second, and perhaps more importantly, the available beer changes from week to week, and there's no guarantee Bigfoot'll be offering anything in particular. So come prepared to walk away if nothing strikes your fancy.

It really feels like hitting a thrift store, essentially. You might not find the style or size you're looking for, but the prices are guaranteed to be unbeatable. It's a great opportunity for those looking to stock up on decent/good craft beer for a ridiculous price - especially now that the temperature's dropping and staying indoors is seeming like a better idea with the passing of each day.