If you‘re a savvy Costco shopper, you already know that the warehouse club is one of the best places to stock up on everything from gourmet cheeses to gigantic teddy bears. But did you know that Costco is also one of the top retailers of beer in the U.S.? In fact, Costco is the country‘s biggest seller of wine overall, with estimated annual wine sales of $1.8 billion.
While Costco may be best known for its Kirkland Signature wines, the store‘s beer selection is just as impressive – and affordable. Whether you‘re looking to try a new-to-you craft beer, find the best price on your go-to domestic lager, or discover a perfect pairing for your next cookout, Costco likely has a beer that will fit the bill.
Intrigued? Read on to learn 15 essential things to know before your next Costco beer run, from the history of the Kirkland Signature brand to insider tips for scoring the best deals.
1. Costco has been selling its Kirkland Signature beers since the late 2000s
While Costco has carried beer since its early days as a wholesale club, the company didn‘t start selling its own private label brews until relatively recently. In 2008, beer blogs first reported that Costco had partnered with Gordon Biersch Brewing Company to develop three Kirkland Signature Beers: a pale ale, amber ale, and hefeweizen.
Those first beers were a hit, and Costco has continued to expand its Kirkland Signature beer offerings in the years since. Today, you can find over a dozen varieties ranging from a light lager to barrel-aged stouts.
2. Kirkland Signature is Costco‘s private label brand
If you‘re not familiar with Kirkland Signature, it‘s the private label brand that Costco uses for many of the food, beverage, and household products sold in its stores. Just like Trader Joe‘s "Joe‘s" products or Aldi‘s "Specially Selected" line, Kirkland Signature items are typically manufactured by existing companies and sold exclusively at Costco.
In the case of beer, Gordon Biersch and a few other partner breweries handle the brewing and packaging of the beers, while Costco controls the final recipes, branding, and pricing. This allows Costco to offer unique, high-quality products at a lower cost than many name brands.
3. You can find an impressive variety of beer styles under the Kirkland Signature label
No matter what your beer preferences are, Costco likely has a Kirkland Signature option to suit your tastes. The core line-up includes:
- Light Lager
- Kolsch German-Style Ale
- Session IPA
- APA (American Pale Ale)
- IPA (India Pale Ale)
- Stout
- Brown Ale
- Porter
- Blonde Ale
- Belgian White Ale
Costco also regularly releases seasonal and limited edition brews, such as Oktoberfest lagers in the fall, chocolate stouts in the winter, and citrusy IPAs in the summer. Keep an eye out for variety packs that let you sample several styles.
4. Name brand favorites are well-stocked at Costco, too
In addition to Kirkland Signature beers, Costco also carries a wide selection of other popular brews in various pack sizes. Depending on your store, you might see:
- 24-packs of Budweiser, Coors Light, Miller Lite, etc.
- 12-packs of Corona, Heineken, Stella Artois, Guinness, and other imports
- 6-packs of craft beer brands like Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, and Lagunitas
- Local craft beers from breweries in your region
- Hard ciders and spiked seltzers
The selection can vary between stores and may be more limited in some states due to alcohol laws. But most Costcos have an extensive beer aisle or walk-in cooler where you can mix and match your favorite brands.
5. Costco‘s beer prices are extremely competitive
One of the biggest draws of buying beer at Costco is the savings compared to other stores. Kirkland Signature 24-packs are especially affordable – most varieties sell for around $22, which works out to less than $1 per beer.
To compare, a 12-pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale at Target costs around $15 (or $1.25 per beer), while a 24-pack of Bud Light at Walmart goes for about $23 (or 96 cents each). If you like Costco‘s house brand brews, you can save a significant amount of money over time by buying in bulk.
Prices on name brand beers tend to be very competitive at Costco as well, although the per-bottle cost may not be quite as low as Kirkland Signature. Watch for occasional discounts that can make these an even better deal.
6. A few different breweries produce beers for the Kirkland Signature line
As mentioned, Gordon Biersch was one of the first breweries to develop beers for Costco under the Kirkland Signature label. Based in San Jose, CA, the brewery has produced several core offerings for Costco including the German-style kolsch ale and various lagers.
Another Kirkland Signature partner is Bricks and Barley Brewing Company in Steven‘s Point, Wisconsin. This brewery makes beers for Costco stores on the East Coast, including the ever-popular IPA and pale ale.
Hopfen und Malz, a brewery in San Jose, is behind some of Costco‘s darker offerings like the stout and brown ale. And the beloved variety packs are brewed in Utica, NY by the Matt Brewing Company.
7. These Kirkland Signature beers are among the top-rated
If you‘re new to Costco‘s Kirkland Signature beers, a few varieties are a great place to start based on ratings from customers and beer enthusiasts:
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The Kolsch German-style Ale has an average rating of 3.71/5 on beer review site Untappd. Tasters describe it as light, crisp, and refreshing with a subtle fruitiness.
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The IPA scores an average of 3.49/5 and is characterized as well-balanced and highly drinkable with citrusy hops and a dry finish. Many compare it favorably to other grocery store-brand IPAs.
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The Stout variety has a 3.44/5 rating and notes of rich chocolate, coffee, and caramel. It‘s full-bodied but not too heavy.
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The APA is also a favorite at 3.43/5, offering a robust, hoppy flavor profile with hints of grapefruit and pine. Fans call it a solid, affordable representation of the style.
Of course, taste is subjective, so it‘s best to try a few and decide which Kirkland Signature beers you prefer. You really can‘t go wrong at this price point.
8. Seasonal releases are worth seeking out
In addition to its year-round brews, Kirkland Signature releases several seasonal beers that are worth adding to your cart if you spot them. The most popular is the Oktoberfest Lager, a Märzen-style amber lager that Costco typically starts stocking in August.
With a rich malt character and crisp, dry finish, it‘s a great representation of the traditional German style. At around $20 for 24 bottles, it‘s also much more affordable than most other Oktoberfest-style sixers on the market.
Other seasonal offerings to watch for include the Kirkland Signature Hard Cider in the fall, Spiced Ale in the winter, Blonde Ale in the spring, and Session IPA in the summer. Selection varies by location, so ask your local beer manager what‘s available.
9. You can sometimes find beer on sale
Like most items at Costco, beer rarely goes on sale. But a few times per year, you might come across discounts that can save you even more money on your favorite brews. The most common are instant rebates on name brands, which usually range from $2-12 off per case.
Costco occasionally marks down seasonal beers after the holiday has passed, so you might score Oktoberfest varieties for a great price in late September or pumpkin ales for a steal in November.
End caps are a good place to look for markdowns, although you can also ask employees if there are any beers on special. Discounted cases may be dented or otherwise imperfect, but the beer inside is still perfectly good.
10. Selection varies by store, so browse your local warehouse
While there are many consistencies between Costco locations, the exact selection of beers (both Kirkland Signature and other brands) can vary quite a bit from one store to the next. This is due to differences in state alcohol laws, regional distributors, and customer demand.
For the widest variety, head to a Costco in a state with relatively relaxed laws around beer sales, like California, New York, or Missouri. Stores in these areas tend to have extensive walk-in beer coolers with a diverse array of craft brews from nearby breweries. If you‘re not sure what‘s available near you, it‘s worth taking a few minutes to browse your local store‘s selection. You might be surprised at the unique finds!
11. You can skip the membership and still buy beer in some states
One little-known secret is that you don‘t always need a Costco membership to take advantage of the store‘s great beer prices. In a dozen or so states, laws prohibit the warehouse club from requiring a membership for alcohol purchases. This means that you can walk right in and head to the liquor department to stock up on booze – no card required!
States that allow non-members to buy alcohol at Costco include:
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Indiana
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New York
- Texas
- Vermont
Costco gets around this rule by having a separate entrance that leads directly to the alcohol section. Just show your ID to the employee at the door and you can start shopping. Note that you may still need a membership to purchase other items in the main part of the store.
12. Keep an eye out for beer-themed gift sets and advent calendars during the holidays
Your Costco‘s beer aisle is an especially fun place to shop around Christmastime thanks to the variety of themed items that hit shelves. In recent years, the store has sold a very popular Beer Advent Calendar featuring 24 German brews in 16 oz cans. Priced at $59.99, it‘s an affordable way to count down the days until Christmas (and makes an excellent gift for the beer lover in your life).
Other boozy holiday items to look for include a 12 Days of Brews gift set, Craft BeerFest packages with tasting glasses, and winter variety packs from various breweries. Of course, Costco also carries plenty of wine, hard cider, and spirits for all your holiday party needs.
13. You can order certain beers for delivery through Instacart
Like many major retailers, Costco has partnered with Instacart to offer same-day delivery on grocery items – including beer and wine in some markets. Availability depends on your local alcohol laws, but generally, if you live in a state where liquor stores are permitted to deliver, you should be able to add beer to your Costco Instacart order.
Some of the states where Costco beer delivery is currently an option include:
- California
- Florida
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
To see if the service is available near you, create an Instacart account and search for beer from Costco in your area. You‘ll be able to browse the selection and add items to your virtual cart for delivery in as little as an hour.
14. Kirkland Signature beers can be a great choice for big events
If you‘re hosting a cookout, tailgate, wedding, or any other gathering where you‘ll need to serve a crowd, consider springing for a few cases of Kirkland Signature beer. The affordable price point and approachable styles make it a smart choice for large-scale entertaining.
A 24-pack of the Costco 2005 Amber Ale is a versatile, easy-drinking option that even non-craft drinkers will likely enjoy. The Kolsch is great for summer parties, while the Stout works well in cool weather.
You can also set up a build-your-own six-pack station with an assortment of Kirkland Signature brews to let guests sample several varieties. Just remember to consider your demographics as well when stocking your bar – it‘s always a good idea to offer a few name brand light lagers for the more mainstream crowd along with craft options.
15. When in doubt, start with a variety pack
Still not sure which Kirkland Signature beer to try first? One of the best ways to sample the range is by picking up one of Costco‘s variety packs, which contain 24 bottles or cans of four different styles.The most common variety pack features the IPA, Session IPA, APA, and German Style Kolsch, giving you the chance to try some of the line‘s most popular brews in one convenient box.
Seasonal variety packs also hit shelves throughout the year with options like a Summer Sampler, Lager Lover‘s Pack, and Fall Craft Collection. No matter which one you choose, it‘s an easy, affordable way to taste your way through the Kirkland Signature offerings and find your new favorite.
The bottom line on buying beer at Costco
As you can see, Costco is a veritable wonderland for beer lovers thanks to its wide selection and hard-to-beat prices. Whether you‘re keen on trying the latest Kirkland Signature release or stocking up on your standby favorite brand, it‘s well worth adding the beer aisle to your Costco shopping list.
Just remember a few key tips next time you‘re cruising the store:
- Compare prices to grocery stores
- Check for sales and discounts
- Explore the Kirkland Signature variety
- Start with top-rated styles
- Ask about seasonal offerings
- Consider your purchase for parties
- See if delivery is available
With savvy shopping strategies and an adventurous spirit, you‘ll have a blast discovering the best Costco beers for your taste and budget. Cheers!
