I live in the hills and work south of the city, so I drive past Belair Fine Wines each day on the…read moreway to and from work. This was never a problem for me in the past as I was unaware of the famed "wall of beer" that was tucked away in the back corner.
This all changed about two years ago when my love of local and imported craft beer stepped up a notch. My online search for the best beer retailer led me to the wall of beer where I stood for probably half an hour to 45 minutes, staring at over 1001 beers, trying to decide what to buy.
Sure, the staff are very friendly and helpful, but I always seem to want to pick up and put back at least 5 or 6 bottles before I decide what to purchase. There's just too much choice (if that's even a thing).
Belair Fine Wines stock all the standard beers (coopers, corona, bla bla bla) that a Dan Murphy's or Liquorland would stock; however, do you think you're going to find Rogue brewery's Beard Beer (brewed with yeast from the brewers beard) or their Maple Bacon Doughnut Beer at one of those shops? No. I didn't think so.
They also have every craft beer made in South Australia (Brew Boys, Lobethal Bierhaus, Smiling Samoyed, Prancing Pony, Vale), Other Aussie and New Zealand breweries (Feral Brewery, Little Creatures, Moo Brew, Stone and Wood, Croucher, Epic) as well as their own creations in collaboration with Bierhaus such as their "Belair Menace" Saison.
Then there are the international beers: Belgian, Bavarian, USA, UK, Mexican, and everywhere else you can think of. They have obscure beers from tiny little breweries that the big players don't deal with.
I could go on for weeks, but unlike the wall of beer, my review must have a limit. The wall of beer must be experienced, but here's my warning - give yourself some time or get help from the staff. The Great Wall of Beer does not relent, forgive or go easy on you. If you like hops, you'll get so much hops that you're head will spin. If you like milder beers, ask the staff, because there are some beers there which are not for the beginner beer drinker (names like "Heretic Torment" and "Seeing Double" are given with good reason).
Futhermore, I should note that on Sundays, they have a beer tasting from 2-6pm and regularly update their facebook and tumblr with images of new beers in store.
Oh yeah, They also have heaps of wine and a selection of cheeses, snacks and other beer and wine accompaniments... Like more beer. Did I mention the beer? They have lots of beer. Now I'm going to go beer a beer and then go to beer and sleep.
