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Full-strength beer comes to Colorado grocery and convenience stores today

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DENVER — Today marks the first time that Coloradans will be able to purchase full-strength beer at grocery and convenience stores.

This change stems from a 2016 Colorado General assembly bill, which stipulated that 3.2 beer be phased out on Jan. 1, 2019.

Most grocery chains will have full-strength beer on stock Tuesday. However, smaller convenience stores may have empty shelves due to shipping delays.

The beer available for purchase is expected to favor the mega-brewers, such as Anheuser Busch and Coors, and larger craft breweries, including Boston Beer, New Belgium and Sierra Nevada.

The specialty liquor stores and boutique shops — ranging from Molly’s Spirits to boutique shops like Small Batch Liquors — will remain the prime places to find beer from smaller craft brewers.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.