The Legend of Sam's Quik Shop

I first heard the legend of Sam's Quik Shop 10 years ago, when I moved to Raleigh and attended my first World Beer Fest in Durham.  "Where's the best selection of beer in the Triangle?", I wanted to know. "That's easy", replied Julie Johnson Bradford of All About Beer magazine.  "Sam's Quik Shop in Durham.  It's by far the best selection anywhere and it's in a little gas station convenience store."

What?  The best selection of beer in a gas station?  Mind you, this was before North Carolina's "Pop the Cap" law in 2005 that raised the permitted alcohol percentage in beer past a measly 6%.  Imperial Stouts? Double IPAs??  Not in this state at that time.

The legend of Sam's grew larger after the law was passed, craft beers moved in the market, and breweries popped up around the Tar Heel State like nail salons in a strip mall.  Yet, although I live in Raleigh and have been to Durham countless times over the past decade, I still had not been to Sam's Quik Shop - which apparently was a sin for a beer lover like myself.

So last night, after a Radio 96.1 Craft Beer Club event at Doolin's Irish Pub in Durham, I opened up Google Maps to see just how far I was from Sam's.  10 minutes.  Done deal.  Sure enough, Sam's on the outside looks like any convenience store next to a gas station, but when you step in....

There's beer where the milk should be.  Beer where the eggs should be.  Beer glorious beer! Not just beer to buy - beer to drink! Sam's has taps of delicious craft beer for around $5-6 that you can consume in the store and keep the glass.  Heck, people had cracked open bottles of beer.

The real secret?  Amongst the sea of beer are always a few amazing deals. My wife had been pining for a fall beer, but every brewery had moved on to winter brews.  But here was a 6-pack of the Abita fall brew for $3.99!! (still a month from reaching its "best by" date).  There was a 22 oz. beer with a cork (so you know it's fancy) normally $9.99 for $1.99.  A 4-pack of a Terrapin pumpkin beer for a few bucks.  I got out of there for a little over 10 bucks and an appreciation for the legend of Sam's. A trip to the Bull City will never again NOT include this "quik" stop.

Foster
Radio 96.1