Review: First Costco in Pa. with beer, wine
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The wine section at Costco in Cranberry has Steelers-themed wines. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios
Pittsburghers can finally buy bulk packs of toilet paper and a bottle of wine at the same time.
Why it matters: Look, we know it's not that big of a deal for most Americans, but Pennsylvanians have been dealing with the state's archaic alcohol laws for decades, and so it feels special to buy booze in Costco.
Driving the news: The Costco in Cranberry recently became the first Costco in the state to sell beer, wine and hard seltzers.
- Axios visited the store recently to assess the selection, prices and vibe.
The verdict: It's probably not worth traveling far for since the selection is small, the price savings vary, you can't purchase in bulk, and you need a $65 annual membership.
Zoom in: There are 14 brands of beers, about 50 different wines, and a handful of hard seltzers and hard teas.
- Beers come in 12- and 15-packs, with several staples on offer — like Yuengling ($12.49 for 12 16-ounce cans) and Modelo ($15.79 for a dozen 12-ounce cans) — and some large craft brands like Sam Adams Summer Ale ($17.99 for 12 12-ounce cans).
- Stateside vodka sodas are $25.99 for a 12-pack of 12-ounce cans.
- Wine varieties range from cheaper options like Woodbridge Cabernet ($12.99 for 1.5 liters) to premium bottles like Antinori Tignanello ($199.99 for 750 ML).
The vibe: Located just past the clothing section in the middle of the warehouse, the alcohol is easy to find.
Pros: Beer and hard seltzer prices are about 10%-15% cheaper than grocery stores.
- Alcohol is purchased with the rest of your items at the checkout, but you can't use the self-checkout kiosks.
Cons: You can't really take advantage of the savings by stocking up since state law limits you to 192 ounces of beer and hard seltzer per visit, which equals only one 12- or 15-pack. For wine, you can only buy 3,000 milliliters at a time, the equivalent of four regular wine bottles.
- Wine prices vary, with some bottles offering mild savings compared to state stores and others being more expensive.
- The selection is much smaller than beer distributors, state stores and large grocers, and don't expect much local craft beer: just Brew Gentlemen General Braddock's IPA four-packs ($9.99) and Southern Tier 15-beer variety pack ($18.99).
Pro tip: Grab the Costco exclusive Kirkland Signature Helles-Style Lager ($12.99 for a 12-pack of 12-ounce cans) while you still can. The fan-favorite beer brewed in partnership with Oregon-based Deschutes Brewery is ending its run, Costco announced last month.
The bottom line: It's a nice convenience for North Hills shoppers, but to really save on prices, Pittsburghers are better off hitting up beer distributors — where there is no quantity limit — and/or taking advantage of wine sales at state stores.
If you go: 1050 Cranberry Square Drive, Cranberry.
- Open Monday-Friday 10am-8:30pm, Saturday 9:30am-7pm, Sunday 10am-6pm