Bottoms up: Distributors start selling six packs

More options: Outlets can also sell 32-ounce bottles, growlers Change starts today: Customers have been asking, distributors say

Chester County beer distributors see their cups as half full with changes that will start at their businesses today, so they will be able to sell suds in ever smaller quantities.

The looser regulations enacted by the state lets them sell any quantity of beer, including individual 32-ounce bottles, sixpacks and growlers.

“It’s allowing the customers what they’ve been asking for for years,” said Greg Ramirez, owner of Exton Beverage in West Whiteland. “Overall, I think it’s going to be a good thing (although) its a lot more work on our part. This should allow us to grow our business.”

At Spaz Beverage in West Goshen, owner Bobby Spaziani said his distributorship has 150 brands in single bottles, which customers will be able to mix and match into their own six packs. In addition, Spaz’s is stocking larger bottles that it can now sell individually.

“So we’re really looking forward to it,” Spaziani said.

The state’s 1,200 distributors were once largely limited to selling cases and kegs, one reason Pennsylvania’s alcohol rules were widely considered among the nation’s most restrictive.

The new law is literally transforming many of the retailers, who have been making physical changes to their stores to accommodate the changes and the expected demand.

Spaziani said he is expecting delivery of a new cooler in the next few weeks, while Ramirez

said Exton was setting up new coolers and shelving on Monday in preparation of the new law.

And the investment to sell in smaller quantities is substantial for a small business, said Ramirez, estimating he has spent more than $30,000 in new refrigeration, $6,000 in new shelving and about that much in changes to the point-of-sale process.

In March 2015, the distributors were able to start selling 12-packs while supermarkets have been given increased access to selling beer in their stores.

“There’s been more changes in the last two years than there were in the 25 years before that,” said Ramirez, who has been in he distributorship business for a quarter of a century. “We’re finding our way with the 12 packs, they’re doing very well for us. When you’re talking about spending $40 for a case of beer (for craft brews), people would rather get a smaller amount first to try it out.”

Spaziani, 75, a lifelong West Chester resident, noted that when his parents started Spaz’s in 1948, they carried about 20 brands with names like Black Label, Ballantine and Schmidt’s.

“In the old days, people bought a case of returnables – 12- or 16-ounces – and brought the empties back. Now, there are hundreds of micros and people want to sample them” before spending lots of money on a case of beer, which typically contain 24 bottles each, Spaziani said.

“We’re so happy to be selling in the smaller quantities,” he added. “As things have changed, you have to change with the times. It’s an exciting time for us.”

Mark Tanczos, owner of Tanczos Beverages in Bethlehem, told the Associated Press he has spent thousands to install a growler station, put in new racks and add a cooler.

“Consumers used to be happy with one or two selections,” Tanczos said. “Now, if you’re going to have an event at home, you don’t have one or two selections, you have six or more.”

Tanczos said he expects

“As things have changed, you have to change with the times. It’s an exciting time for us.” Bobby Spaziani

to see customers picking up one or two bottles of craft beer — a cheaper way to try something new.

“If you have a location that sells a lot of craft beer now, you probably could do pretty well with growlers, but if you’re more of a bread-and-butter domestic (beer) location, you probably won’t do as well,” he said.

The law signed by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in November 2016 also lets bars start selling booze at 9 a.m. on Sundays, without a requirement they also serve food.

State residents may now join “beer-of-the-month” clubs that ship to their homes directly. And sporting venues may sell mixed drinks.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Exton Beverage owner Greg Ramirez moves cases of beer ahead of the law allowing beer distributors to sell six packs starting today.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Alex Jenkins and Lukas McMahom build shelves at Exton Beverage following the change in law that allows beer distributors to sell six packs.