Where to buy Hefeweiser in the Los Angeles area? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

CityOfAngels · 09-09-2005, 01:11 PM

So I turned 21 last month, and I've been taste-testing beers to find my favorite. So far my two favorites are Heineken and Hefeweiser, with the latter being my ultimate favorite. But I have no idea where to buy it! I live in the Venice/Mar Vista/Culver City/Marina Del Rey/Santa Monica/Playa Del Rey/Westchester/LAX area (Los Angeles, CA), and so far I've seen it sold at the Olive Garden in Westwood by UCLA, and then I had some at my uncle's house, but he lives all the way in Santa Clarita. I've gone to three different liquor stores around my small area of Venice and can't find the stuff. I've gone to about four supermarkets, still to no avail.

Where can I buy my favorite beer? Please help!

RickB · 09-09-2005, 01:35 PM

Assuming that you mean this Hefe Weizen, a good place to start would be to look at the local Los Angeles distributor, which is found here:

MISSION BEVERAGE CO.
550 S. Mission Road
LOS ANGELES, CA 90033
Phone: (323) 266-6238
Fax: (323) 266-6559

Charlatan · 09-09-2005, 02:26 PM

There has to be a few places in Venice Beach and Santa Monica that have this type of beer...

If you like Hefe Wiezen you should also try some Belgian trappist beers like Chimay and Leffe or some Witbier's like Hoegaarten they are very tasty.

martinguerre · 09-09-2005, 02:30 PM

this isn't LA advice, but most larger liquor stores will order in if you're willing to buy in some quanity.

if you were in No Cal, i'd strongly reccomend New Belgium's wheat beer.

Uncle Pony · 09-09-2005, 02:31 PM

Any beer distributor should be able to order it if you don't mind waiting to get it.

FngKestrel · 09-09-2005, 05:03 PM

Bevmo is my personal salvation:

http://www.bevmo.com/homefind-Bevmo.asp?area=storeloc

jorgelito · 09-09-2005, 05:13 PM

They sell it at Ralphs, Pavilions on the Westside. I drink it regularly at the bars around here on tap. It is rather common.

kutulu · 09-18-2005, 11:52 AM

Try Windmer's hefewizen. It's the best

ironchefkorea · 09-18-2005, 12:00 PM

beverages & more should carry it. they carry practically every alcohol beverage available for retail.

Mister Coaster · 09-18-2005, 08:00 PM

I work at Whole Foods Market, we have several stores in that/ those areas. We have numerous hefes that are worth a look, some imported.

ratbastid · 09-19-2005, 05:41 AM

It wasn't clear from the OP that you know this: Hefeweissen is a style of beer, not a brand. It's like asking, "Where to buy lager in the Los Angeles area?" Man, where CAN'T you?

I'll bet your local grocery store carries a Hefe or two.

As is so often the case, I agree with Charlatan: Hoegaarten is very very very good.

snowy · 09-19-2005, 09:03 AM

Well, technically there is a Hefeweiser...sort of. Anheuser-Busch owns Widmer, who of course are known for their Hefeweizen.

Personally, I like Pyramid Ale's Hefe, and their Apricot Weizen. Mmm. Tasty.

But those beers still don't equal a local craft brewer's Wit.

http://oregontrailbrewery.com/

cj2112 · 09-19-2005, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Affiliation brings change to Widmer distribution
Michael Rose
Business Journal Staff Writer

While Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. toasts its recent deal with the world's largest beer company, it could mean a shake-up for some of Widmer's distributors.

Recent Company News
» Widmer Brothers
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Portland-based Widmer Brothers, one of the Northwest's microbrewing kings, signed a deal with Anheuser-Busch Inc. on April 17. The agreement calls for Anheuser-Busch to own a minority interest in Widmer and helps clear the way for Widmer to have its beers distributed by Anheuser-Busch wholesalers. But 44 of Widmer's existing distributors in 16 states--who aren't affiliated with Anheuser-Busch--may lose Widmer beers from their lineup.

President and co-founder Kurt Widmer confirmed that the company wants to shift its existing distribution operations to Anheuser-Busch-affiliated distributors. Independently owned Anheuser-Busch distributors are not obligated to push Widmer's beers. But the deal with Anheuser-Busch puts Widmer on the same side as the almighty Budweiser brand. In the past, Anheuser-Busch had discouraged its distributors from carrying competing beers.

"Some Anheuser-Busch distributors listen very closely to urgings from the top to carry Anheuser-Busch-approved products," Widmer said. All of the Anheuser-Busch distributors Widmer has talked with are eager to distribute Widmer Brothers beers.

Founded in 1984, Widmer Brothers opened a $24 million brewery and bottling plant in Portland in the spring of 1996. The company's best-known product is its hefeweizen, a golden, cloudy wheat beer. This year Widmer expects to brew about 140,000-barrels.

In the Portland area, Widmer Brothers has used Anheuser-Busch distributors and Columbia Distributing Co., whose major account is Miller Brewing Co.

"Our intent and desire is to move to Anheuser-Busch," Widmer said. As far as Columbia Distributing is concerned, he said the company had no specific timetable to switch its products to an Anheuser-Busch distributor. He also cautioned that the company could change its plans.

Ed Maletis, president of Columbia Distributing, described the Widmer account as "a very lucrative franchise" and said he still has a chance to keep the business.

"What's going to happen in distribution has not been determined at this point," Maletis said. Columbia Distributing, which also distributes beer for Portland Brewing Co., Full Sail Brewing Co., Nor'Wester Brewery and Deschutes Brewery in the Portland metropolitan area, was one of the first local distributors to handle microbrews. It started carrying microbrewed beers 10 years ago.

"We were there at the inception, paying the dues, when the category was nonexistent and the profitability was extremely hard to come buy," Maletis said.

Although Widmer represents less than 5 percent of Columbia Distributing's business, Maletis said it's still an important piece of his operation. High fixed costs in the distribution business make each bit of marketshare vital, he said.

"I look forward to continuing to do business with them," Maletis said of Kurt and Rob Widmer, the founders of the brewing company. He declined to disclose details of his distribution contract with Widmer. Besides portions of the Portland area, Columbia Distributing also distributes Widmer's products in Southern Oregon.

Maletis Beverage, a competitor of Columbia Distributing that's operated by members of Ed Maletis' family, is affiliated with Anheuser-Busch and currently distributes a portion of Widmer's product in the Portland metropolitan area. If Widmer Brothers moved its business out of Columbia Distributing, Maletis Beverage would probably get an additional share.

"How things develop are between Widmer and Columbia," said Chris Maletis, an owner of Maletis Beverage. The company also distributes other microbrews in the Portland market, including Nor'Wester and Pyramid Ale. With the microbrew craze in full swing, all distributors need to have some craft beers in their portfolios, he said.

© 1997 American City Business Journals Inc.

LINK
Yes Anheuser-Busch does own a portion of Widmer, however they do not have a controlling interest. This move appears to be intended to widen their distribution base.

09-09-2005, 01:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
CityOfAngels Oh shit it's Wayne Brady! Location: Passenger seat of Wayne Brady's car.	Where to buy Hefeweiser in the Los Angeles area? So I turned 21 last month, and I've been taste-testing beers to find my favorite. So far my two favorites are Heineken and Hefeweiser, with the latter being my ultimate favorite. But I have no idea where to buy it! I live in the Venice/Mar Vista/Culver City/Marina Del Rey/Santa Monica/Playa Del Rey/Westchester/LAX area (Los Angeles, CA), and so far I've seen it sold at the Olive Garden in Westwood by UCLA, and then I had some at my uncle's house, but he lives all the way in Santa Clarita. I've gone to three different liquor stores around my small area of Venice and can't find the stuff. I've gone to about four supermarkets, still to no avail. Where can I buy my favorite beer? Please help!

09-09-2005, 02:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	There has to be a few places in Venice Beach and Santa Monica that have this type of beer... If you like Hefe Wiezen you should also try some Belgian trappist beers like Chimay and Leffe or some Witbier's like Hoegaarten they are very tasty. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

09-09-2005, 02:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
martinguerre whosoever Location: New England	this isn't LA advice, but most larger liquor stores will order in if you're willing to buy in some quanity. if you were in No Cal, i'd strongly reccomend New Belgium's wheat beer. __________________ For God so loved creation, that God sent God's only Son that whosoever believed should not perish, but have everlasting life. -John 3:16

09-09-2005, 05:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	They sell it at Ralphs, Pavilions on the Westside. I drink it regularly at the bars around here on tap. It is rather common. __________________ "The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end." "Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!" - My recruiter

09-18-2005, 12:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
ironchefkorea Insane	beverages & more should carry it. they carry practically every alcohol beverage available for retail. __________________ If it wasn't for microsoft, if we lived in the middle east? Y'all wouldn't have no hands....

09-09-2005, 01:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
RickB Tired Location: Beverly Hills	Assuming that you mean this Hefe Weizen, a good place to start would be to look at the local Los Angeles distributor, which is found here: MISSION BEVERAGE CO. 550 S. Mission Road LOS ANGELES, CA 90033 Phone: (323) 266-6238 Fax: (323) 266-6559

09-09-2005, 02:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
Uncle Pony Crazy	Any beer distributor should be able to order it if you don't mind waiting to get it.

09-09-2005, 05:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
FngKestrel Junkie	Bevmo is my personal salvation: http://www.bevmo.com/homefind-Bevmo.asp?area=storeloc

09-18-2005, 11:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	Try Windmer's hefewizen. It's the best

09-18-2005, 08:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mister Coaster Big & Brassy Location: The "Canyon"	I work at Whole Foods Market, we have several stores in that/ those areas. We have numerous hefes that are worth a look, some imported. __________________ If you have any poo... fling it NOW!

09-19-2005, 05:41 AM	#11 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	It wasn't clear from the OP that you know this: Hefeweissen is a style of beer, not a brand. It's like asking, "Where to buy lager in the Los Angeles area?" Man, where CAN'T you? I'll bet your local grocery store carries a Hefe or two. As is so often the case, I agree with Charlatan: Hoegaarten is very very very good.

09-19-2005, 09:03 AM	#12 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	Well, technically there is a Hefeweiser...sort of. Anheuser-Busch owns Widmer, who of course are known for their Hefeweizen. Personally, I like Pyramid Ale's Hefe, and their Apricot Weizen. Mmm. Tasty. But those beers still don't equal a local craft brewer's Wit. http://oregontrailbrewery.com/ __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau