It's no secret that gas station / convenience stores don't just want to see you pull up, swipe a card, fill your tank and drive off... They like it when you walk inside their store and pick up a few things too.

Some just do a better job of making it worth your while. Back in October you may recall we told you about Chef Sal Rubio cooking up gourmet food at the Dodge City BP in Shallotte, NC...

Now, Sunoco offers consumers in Western New York a chance to bring home a selection of exceptional, regionally produced, freshly tapped craft beers. The concept was first tested last June at 12 A-Plus Sunoco stores in Buffalo and now is being added to 30 more locations in Syracuse, Albany, Allegany, Essex, Monroe, Livingston, Lewis, Onondaiga, Oneida and St. Lawrence Counties.

Sunoco spokesman Thomas Golembeski said they chose the greater
Buffalo area specifically because the market has a local customer base that enjoys craft beer. "They're sophisticated consumers and they like the authenticity and freshness of these products."

The A-Plus stores sell 'growlers" (half-gallon, refillable sealed containers) and also offer a "pick your own" bottled six-pack offer, which gives customers the option of trying a variety of brews without committing to a larger purchase.

The growler concept may be new to gas stations in the U.S. but it harkens back to a time-honored European tradition when workers could bring their own pitcher or pail to the local pub and bring home their beer of choice.

"The customer response has been very positive and we're optimistic about expanding it, but, we want to make sure we get it right," Golembeski added. The company-owned retail outlets offering the Craft Beer Exchange are all retrofitted with the counter space, taps and refrigeration and staff undergo classroom and practical training at local breweries to better understand the product and how to manage it and pour it.

What's on tap? At the Sunoco A-Plus store (2731 Delaware at Kenmore)in Buffalo, NY I think you'll find a compelling assortment:

1. Middle Ages Wailing Wench

2. Magic Hat #9

3. Customer BrewCrafters Caged Alpha Monkey

4. Ellicottville Blueberry

5. Long Trail Double Bag

6. Stone Arrogant Bastard

7. Flying Bison Rusty Chain

8. Dogfish Head Chicory Stout

9. Sam Adams Winter Ale

10. Wolaver Oatmeal Stout

11. Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald

12. Saranac Carmel Porter

(You have to admit, that's one way to take the sting out of high gas prices!)