Take A Peek Inside Super Market Beer Garden

The Fairless Hills ShopRite’s Beer Garden has continued to innovate since it’s introduction in August 2014.

The beer garden, located next to the entrance of the Fairless Hills ShopRite in Bristol Township, has a selection of 750 types of beer in all styles including classic names such as Miller Lite and Coors Lite, and many craft brewery offerings.

The manager of the garden, Dan Berlin, is a beer expert and is always willing to answer questions that customers might have, be it in a pairing suggestion, or for a standalone beer.

“I definitely love managing the beer department. I like curating my own selection of beer, and I always listen to the customers,” explained Berlin.

The savings do not stop with regular six packs, however. Customers are allowed, and encouraged to make their own six packs. Customers  can pick from a range of pre-selected beers to combine into a six pack with a flat cost of $11.99.

By listening to customers, Berlin means that he looks into requests and gives each customer the time they deserve as his customers. “It’s a personal collection as well as a customer collection.” The management of the beer garden comes to Berlin as something he has put some thought into. Berlin explained that he as put a lot of thought into owning a bottle shop of his own. While this isn’t quite that, he notes: “I’ve had a lot of professional goals, one of which is owning a bottle shop, and this is great for that stuff.”

Part of the same ShopRite houses a caterer and a wok, which allows people to cater events at the beer garden or take food out of the store. The catering events that the market provides vary greatly and the whole operation is versatile,” Rachel Fullan, a representative of ShopRite, said.

Fullan stressed the versatility of the market. “[The catering event] could be fancy, or it could be something more casual like a book club.” Fullan added that the area has been used, and can be used, for other things such as corporate meetings and even friends just wanting to get together.

Fullan and Berlin also explained that families have come in and had a dinner from the catering markets. “I think it’s really unique, especially for a grocery store,” said Fullan.

The garden is open seven days a week and every day the garden offers a happy hour between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. During Happy Hour,  a different beer is being offered for sampling each day and customers get a minor discount on the sampled beer.

Wednesday and Thursday nights’ happy hours are the most lively nights during the regular week, and feature cheese pairings as well as live music throughout the duration of the happy hour. The store also features signs throughout that suggest different food and beer pairings for people to try.

Berlin explained that, while the sales are largely predictable, certain seasons and events, such as summer, fall and the Super Bowl, generally seem to be better for business than other times of the year.

According to Berlin and Fullan, people comment that they forget they are in a grocery store while perusing the garden.

The Bensalem ShopRite is slated to next receive a beer garden addition.