Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods MarketWhole Foods Market
Whole Foods MarketWhole Foods Market
Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

4501 Market Commons Dr
Fairfax, Virginia, 22033-6003
United States

(703) 222-2058 | map
wholefoodsmarket.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.44
Reviews:
33
Ratings:
43
pDev:
7.21%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by Rootdog316:
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Reviewed by Rootdog316 from Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%
This Whole Foods is certainly one of the best I've seen. The selection of beer there is unbelievable. Just by walking down the aisle, I noticed hundreds of different micro-brews available. The range from Abita Purple Haze, Breckenridge Summerbright Ale, Wolaver's Nut Brown Ale. I'm certainly going to be stopping by here a lot more often. It is right down the street from my office. , so I will be certainly be spending quite a bit more time there. Oh and by the way, the food there is beyond amazing. Recommended to anybody who lives in the Fair Lakes area.
Mar 14, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.09 by Boone757 from Virginia

Jul 21, 2019
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Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

4.33/5  rDev -2.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I have been to Whole Foods markets up and dow the East Coast and I think this was the most impressive I have seen, both beerwise and otherwise. I stopped by today on a whim while returning to Maryland from hiking in the commonwealth.

The store is enormous, maybe twice the size of the smaller one in Gaithersburg. It has an enormous meat and seafood section, with multiple counters and displays for both take out and in house consumption. The whole store was big and impressive, but the beer was very well done. Huge wine section, but more than enough beer to keep you interested. Also, their singles were very reasonably priced, with plenty of two dollar and even a few one dollar options.
Apr 22, 2019
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Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

4.08/5  rDev -8.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
A nice grocery store with a good selection of beers, including a few good Belgian beers. One also also has the option of getting a decent mixed six- pack for a good price
Jun 22, 2016
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Reviewed by captaincoffee from Virginia

4.05/5  rDev -8.8%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
Vibe? It's a Whole Foods. Very good beers on tap, decent selection in cans/bottles. However, much of what's there is not particularly fresh. As "supermarkets" go, it's great. Pretty good food available around the store.
Jun 01, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by Cpmitchno1 from Virginia

Dec 03, 2015
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Reviewed by John_M from Washington

4.1/5  rDev -7.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
Stopped by the other day in hopes of finding some KBS on tap. Was SOL on the KBS, but it was fun checking out this "new to me" WF's store.

This is a good size WF store, and the layout is interesting. If you're a craft beer geek, then it appears the place to go is in the back over by the cheese display. Here, you'll find 6 or 7 beers on tap, which the day I was here, included the chocolate mint stout from Perrrenial (Perennial 17?). The selection was pretty decent otherwise (aslo got a glass of green flash imperial IPA, and Belgian style IPA from Otter Creek), and prices were decent as well. They were doing growler fills of everything, and prices for a fill were very reasonable I thought (generally in the $11 or $12 range). Up by the registers, but off to the right (as your facing the store outside), is something I've never seen before. It's a fair size sport bar located inside WF's, with some 12 or so tap offerings (mostly craft), and flat screen TV's plastered everywhere. WF's also has a couple different counter side eateries inside as well, and they all had a couple of different craft offerings as well. Otherwise...

Out back behind the cheese display is a fairly sizeable bottled beer area. The focus is mostly on regional and local beers, though they had a strong Stone selection as well. Decent selection of Bells and Founders stuff as well, but alas, no bottles of KBS (was told it came and went the day it arrived, despite the two bottle per customer restriction). The import selection is OK as well, though it not a place where this store seems to shine. This WF's gets KBS, so I assume you can sometimes find some limited release, hard to find stuff... but I didn't see anything like that the day I was here (SN hophunter and Stone Enjoy by was about as "rare" as it got).

Service at the cheese bar was OK. It took a while to get service initially (the servers also work in the cheese section), but once I got my first beer, things came more swiftly, and service was good. There's also a small, but interesting looking food menu at the cheese bar as well (didn't order anything, but what I saw looked pretty good).

Shrug. This was a very solid store that I'll keep in mind any time I'm back in the area.
Apr 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.75 by MattXT from Virginia

Sep 24, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by ProstMasterson from Virginia

Sep 06, 2014
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Reviewed by MaddestHatter from Virginia

4.44/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4
This is one of my friend's favorite stores and it is quickly becoming mine as it has all the food selection of a large grocery store (which it is) plus 21 different beer taps (2 of them nitro taps) which are constantly rotating. The prices of everything are very reasonable and I've had a chance here to try a good number of truly excellent beers. Additionally, the selection of bottle beers (not quite as large as my local total wine, though it's pretty close) has a very unique mix of things that I have not found anywhere else. All in all this is a great place to come if you live anywhere near Fairfax. I'm fortunate enough to live only about 15 minutes up 66 from it, so I will certainly be coming back in the future.
Aug 10, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by angryogre from Virginia

Jul 12, 2014
 
 
Rated: 3.75 by duceswild from Heard & McDonald Islands

May 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Iamjeff6 from Virginia

Apr 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Jan 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Gatordaddy from Maryland

Dec 05, 2013
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Reviewed by bcgeiman from Maryland

4.01/5  rDev -9.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.25 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Work took me to Fairfax yesterday. I stopped into this Whole foods for lunch. What a great layout. Five different places to eat. I had the Brisket. Melts in your month. The Founders Porter was my drink of choice. Very nice.

The selection of craft beer is great at each of the places to eat. Then I visited the beer area. The selection is better then most beer stores. If you are having trouble finding a beer this would be a place to try.

I will be returning for both the food and beer.
Sep 11, 2013
Photo of Roland45s
Reviewed by Roland45s from Virginia

4.81/5  rDev +8.3%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.75
My hometown check-in, WholeFoods Beer Market is the top place for finding beer in the Northern VA area. Red White and Bleu and Norms are nothing short of awesome. But Lee does the best damn job bringing in something for everyone and rareities that are hard to get in the area with the VA ABC regulating brews.

all in all the beer will be flowing if lee can find a way to bring it in and the food prices and quality doesn't dissapoint.
Aug 27, 2013
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Reviewed by neorunner from Virginia

4.72/5  rDev +6.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I love this place. Its my go-to bar, which is funny because its a supermarket. $3.99 a 10-16oz. pour depending on ABV. Super expensive kegs will carry a $7.99 per pour tag. The double charge kegs are things like KBS, Parabola, DuPont Avec Les Bon Voieux. Yes, DuPont on draft at a supermarket.

Lee, the beer manager, does an amazing job keeping the draft and shelves filled with delicious goodies. He also maintains a facebook page where he posts new bottle arrivals and a continually updated stream of draft status as kegs change out.

Food wise you can grab anything from the shelves, or grab a bite at any of the 4 venues. Personally I do not recommend the Sushi restraunt (they are not affiliated with WF but lease their space in the store). Cheese Town will have the best beers, but you are welcome to enjoy your pour at any of the other venues.

If your significant other is a wine fan they have 10+ different wines at cheese town and a wine room upstairs that is very nice to relax in.

Stop by and say "Hi", odds are I'll be sitting at the end of the bar enjoying a pint.
Jan 03, 2012
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Reviewed by MRN from Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 5
The Fair Lakes Whole Foods in Fairfax, Virginia is exceptional. I've been told it's one of the largest Whole Foods on the East Coast. Certainly it's the first supermarket I've encountered where a live Jazz trio may be playing in the seafood section on weekends.

They have ten craft beer taps -- two at the "Seafood Shak" food station, two at the "Smoke Haus" BBQ food station, and six at "Cheez Town." You can also pick up food at the other food stations like sushi, pizza, salad buffet, sandwiches, etc. and have a meal with your beer. Lee, their beer guy, keeps the Whole Foods Beer Market Facebook page regularly updated with the current selections and hosts frequent tastings. They will fill any growler and sell their own glass half-gallon jug for around $6. My only peeve is that I wish the Seafood Shak and Smoke Haus also had blackboards listing the current beer selections like Cheez Town.
Aug 05, 2011
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Stopped by this place during a recent stop in Fairfax. This ISA supermarket with a very large beer section in the back right corner along with a cool bar that offers a great selection of beers on draft and for growler fills.

The bar had fie or six taps including three rare beers and a few locals. They had Allagash Victor, Allagash Curieux and New Holland Oak Aged Hatter all on tap plus a DIPA from Starr Hill and another local.

The selection of bottles is really impressive carrying lots of imports, locals and other craft. They carry pretty much everything that is distributed to the state including Cantillon, 3 Fontinen, Firestone Walker, Brooklyn, New Holland, Epic, Clown Shoes, DuClaw and a bunch more.

The service here was excellent and better than at most beer establishments. The buyer was there and he was very knowledgeable about beer, answering all of my questions. Nhe was also pouring samples of 6-8 different beers that he chose including Avery 18, Brooklyn Sorachi Ace, FW Union Jack and a few more.

Overall I was shocked at the quality of this place. A huge selection of really good and often rare beers along with great service make this place worthy of repeat visits. Highly recommended if you are in he area.
Jun 30, 2011
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Reviewed by Tripphop from Virginia

4.05/5  rDev -8.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Wholefoods in Fair Lakes is a kick ass place to grab a pint. The beer market there is small but has a great selection. The beer manager, Lee, is very knowlegeable and gets in some great stuff. There are three sets of taps in the store at the various restaurants, but all of the high gravity stuff is in the small cheese shop. Lee does a good job of putting quality, food friendly beers at the Seafood Shack and the Smokehouse, which each have two rotating taps. You can get growlers at any station for a pretty reasonable price, and their pints are all around $4, no matter what beer it is. The vibe is a bit odd, beacuse you are drinking in the middle of the grocery store. The service is good depending on who is working. Some people are dicks who ignore you, and some are very friendly and happy to hang out. Very reasonable, and always a good selection.
May 16, 2011
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Reviewed by sympleesmshn from Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
So Whole Foods is one of my favorite places. Being a vegetarian, it is one of the best places for me to shop. Food there is good, but a bit expensive. Since this is not a food review, lets move on to the beer! They have a nice selection of bottles. If I need a special bottle of beer, it is one of my first two stops. Whether it is first or second depends on where I am and what day of the week it is (they have great specials on food based on the day of the week). They also have great specials on game days in the sports bar. The one thing that I had to dock them on is that in the beer area it is hard to find someone to help you. It hasn't mattered for me so far, but it is nice to know someone is there just in case. They also do beer tasting classes, which I haven't been able to make, but look interesting.
Dec 31, 2010
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Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois

4.3/5  rDev -3.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
I've been to most of the Whole Foods locations in the area, and this one is near the top of the heap for sure. To begin with, it's one of the biggest I've been to in my day. The beer area is tucked back in the far right corner, but there's plenty to be had. Many singles and sixers, both in the cooler and on displays. In addition, they now have growler fills, occasionally offering some treats like Flying Dog's Coffee Stout and Oskar Blues GUBNA. And the prices on the growler fills are pretty solid, if you ask me. The bottle prices are iffy, but not much higher (if at all) than anywhere else around here. The service was friendly and willing to help, but, as per usual, I rebuffed them. I need no service! If you're in the area, make it a point to stop in and see what they've got to offer!
Jun 25, 2010
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Reviewed by BurkeBeerGuy from Virginia

4.18/5  rDev -5.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Guys:

Whole Foods Fair Lakes is now filling growlers. Yes, you read that correctly. Ten taps -- two at the seafood bar, two at the BBQ bar, and six at the cheese bar. All high-end craft beers; a couple of weekends ago, they had (sigh) Oskar Blues Gubna! Had Hemp Ale Organic Brown Ale last weekend; the beers switch VERY frequently (the Gubna was gone in three days; word must have gotten out), so you know it'll be fresh, even if your chances of finding the same thing twice aren't that great. For the Fairfax beerheads, the world is now a brighter and shinier place.

A new center of the universe; go early and often.
May 16, 2010
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Reviewed by qchic from Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Stopped off of I66 when I remembered that I'd heard incredible things about this place that is visible from the highway (actually I had passed the exit already so I got off at the next exit and went back). Whole Foods Markets tend to have at least decent beer sections, but this one is clearly well thought out and respectfully displayed. On a sunday night, I didn't expect any of the resident gurus to be present, but their efforts were obvious. One could find bigger selections, but I'll take quality over quantity. With many seasonal offerings and a few growlers, I'm assuming there is quick turnover. Since I was continuing my drive I also couldn't take advantage of the reasonably priced beers on tap, but the fact that they're available is amazing. I could see making a field day out of a trip to this whole foods and I'll at least make this a regular stop when passing through.
Jan 02, 2010
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Reviewed by BierRobvocate from Virginia

4.33/5  rDev -2.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
A must visit for the beer lover in Fairfax.

The selection... while not all inclusive of the beers I love... is immense and beautiful. I frequently find all the beers I want to buy for a 2 week period with one stop to Whole Foods, where as a trip to Total Wine usually leaves me in need of another stop (usually by Whole Foods). The prices can be a tad higher than what I would pay at Total Wine or other local beer/wine stores, but I have found some good bargains (especially on the displays throughout the store). I don't tend toward imports very often, preferring to live my beer-life amongst American Craft Brews... but when I do decide to venture abroad, Lee (the beer buyer/guru) has excellent recommendations.

Overall... one of my favorite places to buy beer in Fairfax County (including anything I've found in Loudoun County)
Dec 11, 2009
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Reviewed by PortendingEnnui from Virginia

4.72/5  rDev +6.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
I originally stopped by because I had a beer on hold, but it wasn't there when I went to pick it up. This may be resolved in the near future (they couldn't find it in the back at the time) so I won't let it negatively impact my rating.

I spoke with the wine guru Kyle, because the beer guru Lee wasn't in. He was very, very nice and helpful.

The store is massive, and well designed. Their wine tasting room is awesome. Kyle informed me that this store is in fact the MID-ATLANTIC FLAGSHIP (capped for visibility) and that is the reason for all the experimental designs, setup, etc.

As mentioned by others, the restaurant with the craft beer on draft looked amazing, though I didn't stop by. It's completely open air, along with the other little restaurants. I get the feeling people are making the place a habitual hangout for dinner, etc.

There is maybe 40 feet of chilled beer cases, and a pod with about 15 feet per side with single bottles in cubby holes. I rated the selection a 4 because of the lacking number of individual bottles, though there were some VERY rare (compared locally) brews. Lee, the beer guru, probably orders beer based on BA ratings...

I snagged an empty wine box (of course) for my selections no problem, along with a handful of Unibroue table coasters that were sitting by a register. They also have a selection of beer chalices and glasses, of which I bought one.

Overall - besides the few super-specialty alcohol stores we have in NoVa, this place is probably the best overall in my opinion.
Nov 23, 2009
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Reviewed by BeerSingh from India

4.15/5  rDev -6.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
One of the good places to go for beer shopping in case you're in and around Fairfax. Beers available on tap to go with all kinds of food - pizza, bbq and seafood. Great atmosphere and people to help you choose. Good selection of international beers as well as both East Coast and West Coast craft beers available.
It is a place where you can go for a haul with your family, lots of stuff there to keep them busy. I had visited the store about a week back when they were just about to host the German beer festival - German beer, food and music, voila !!
Sep 26, 2009
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Reviewed by bernardus from Virginia

4.95/5  rDev +11.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
This place is probably the best regular food store that carries beer I've ever been to. It's a pretty new location, and one with built in resaurants in the back. There are 4 taps total which serve up full pints for $3.66 each (has to be the lowest prices in the DC area for craft beer pints) of a wide variety of beers. Last time I was there was Duck-Rabbit Schwarzbier, Terrapin Rye Pale, Terrapin Indian Brown, and Weyerbacher Merry Monks.

The selection is outstanding with the US craft brews being well represented (Southern Tier, Founders, Bell's, Green Flash, Smuttynose, countless others), but also some great Belgians, and even Mikeller and Dieu du Ciel for good measure. Every Saturday and Sunday, the beer dude Lee, sets up a free tasting of around 6-10 beers that are regularly all outstanding with some seasonals usually mixed in. The prices are right on par with what you would expect in the area.

Every other Thursday, in the restaurant area to the front of the store, from 7-830, Lee hosts a beer class in which around a dozen beers are selected depending on the night's theme. My wife and I went last time when ales were showcased which had everything from Fullers ESB and Founders Porter to Piraat Ale and Terrapin Rye Pale. Food is served as well.

For the selection, prices, taps, and the events, this place is not to be missed. Check it out if you're in the Northern Virginia area.
Sep 02, 2009
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Reviewed by BierAdvoNikk from Virginia

4.63/5  rDev +4.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
My husband and I love this Whole Foods (which is actually in the "East Market" shopping center in Fairfax). We used to frequent Total Wine but find that Whole Foods carries all of our favorites. The service is great...the beer guru of the store, Lee, knows his brews...from experience. He hosts tastings on most Saturday afternoons. Many beer lovers in the are must frequent the store because keeping items in stock can be a bit of an issue at times. On the flip side though, Lee can always tell you when more beers are coming in, when new beers are being released, and even about beer events in the area. The store is full of foods that are great with the beers they sell and the prices are comparable to Total Wine.

Enjoy but leave some for me!!
Aug 07, 2009
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Reviewed by Pencible from Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
There are several Whole Foods in NoVA including Reston, Vienna, and Fair Lakes. (Those are the three that I've been to personally.) Vienna probably has the best selection, but Fair Lakes is definitely the better overall location.

They offer free beer samples every Sunday afternoon. And their samples aren't just generic lagers or pale ales. They dish out the really good stuff like IPAs, Imperial Stouts, Belgians, etc. They also have a number of craft beers on tap, at a couple different food stations throughout the grocery store. It's a bit strange to me to buy a pint on draft while grocery shopping - but I'm certainly not complaining!

Their selection is pretty good, and includes a wide variety of seasonals. The employees are wonderful to talk to, and really care about the craft beer scene. I've never had a problem with any of the beers I've bought there, and the prices seem reasonably fair.
Jun 30, 2009
Photo of dirtylou
Reviewed by dirtylou from Oklahoma

4/5  rDev -9.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
pretty great whole foods, a number of internal restaurants (bbq, seafood, pizza, sushi)

had a big bbq sampler with blackie - everything could be a bit more tender but its nice to have all that selection

beerwise - there were 4 taps in the house that i saw...founders porter, oskar blues pils, the new lagunitas ipa release, and something from penn

the beer selection was large and primarily chilled - not much different than other places in the area...a fair amount of legend, alewerks and other regionals. some stone standards, legacy and a bunch of other stuff

i'll be honest - coming from the midwest and walking in these stores leads to the same immediate thought, "Overrated"
Jun 23, 2009
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Reviewed by Beervis from Canada (ON)

4.9/5  rDev +10.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
With all the great stores that I have to choose from within a short drive, this one has become my staple. Over the past year alone, I have watched the selection grow bigger and bigger, and the quality and price is the best in the area.

One visit to this store, and just seeing the selection, you can instantly tell that the beer guy (Lee) is a passionate BA. Talking to him further cements the fact, as he's very knowledgable as well. I visit the store almost weekly, and my poor wife ends up standing there listening to me go on and on about all things beer with him. As far as I'm concerned, this is the most BA friendly store I've shopped at, even though it's in a large grocery store. Also worthy of note, they give 10% case discounts if you ask, and this is huge seeing as I regularly spend alot of money on a given trip.

When the store first opened, there was merely a small refridgerated area. Then it started to grow, with stacks of cases on the floor, and alot of stock in the back that you had to ask for to know about. Now, it has grown out to cover a huge area, with nice display cases, and still many stacks of cases. You have to actually walk around the store a bit to see it all, as there are stacks of cases in many different areas. If you cannot find something in the main area, chances are it's there, it's just elsewhere in the store. This isn't to say it's a pain to find anything, quite contrary as it seems that Lee is always around to ask. He just literally does not have enough room to display all the selection that he has.

I can't possibly say enough about how great the selection is...pretty much all of the best beer available in the area is stocked. When I am in search of something new and exciting that I hear is coming out, I always find it here.

They also have tastings all the time, and when I was in there this past weekend, Lee wasn't even doing a tasting and he opened one for me to try when I asked about it! This shows he cares about his customers. There is amazing beer on tap in the 3 "restaurants" within the store as well. The price cannot be beat, I got a 16oz (full, no short pour here) pint of HopSlam for $3.50!

Awesome all around, this is an absolute must if you are in the area.
Jun 17, 2009
Photo of jnn4v
Reviewed by jnn4v from Virginia

4.53/5  rDev +2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Warning: If it sounds like I'm gushing in this review, it's because I am. This has become my new favorite location to sample and purchase beer. Partly because they happen to have some of the best beers to sample, partly because of the price (can you say $3.50 for a 16oz pint of Bell's Hopslam!?!), and partly because of the quality and convenience of the location (brand new store about 20 minutes from my house).

They have food stations in several locations throughout the store. When I say "food station" it's basically like a mini-restaurant / bar that serves a specific genre of food or cuisine. Last week, at the seafood bar, they had New Holland's Cabin Fever Brown Ale and Bell's Hopslam on tap. Then, at the other side of the store, they had a barbeque bar that had Oskar Blues' Gordon and Bell's Kalamazoo Stout on tap (I think... it was either Kalamazoo or Expedition). All of these beers were only $3.50 for a 16oz portion. That's a steal.

They also have one of the best bomber / 750ml bottle selections I've seen in the area, and they have a top-notch selection of 4/6-packs of everything from mass-market beers to rare craft brews. I'll be back again this Sunday.
Feb 21, 2009
Photo of smanders
Reviewed by smanders from Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
This is the place where if you didn't have kids, the wife and you would live...eat, drink, shop, socialize, etc. It has everything from eat-in dining (Asian, BBQ, and seafood) to carry-out (I won't even begin to list the selections). Oh, and at the eat-in shops, pints are less than $3! Find a better deal in FFX Cnty. You won't.

Every Thursday there is a "Beer Class" where you can educate yourself on the wonderful selection available at the store. Prices are hit-or-miss but with GORDON for only $9.99, I am a frequent/repeat shopper. Oh, and did I mention free samples throughout the store? You won't be hungry when you leave.

I must admit I feel a bit odd recommending that one buy quality beer from a grocer, but hey, the times they are a-changin'.
Jan 02, 2009
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Reviewed by BeerSox from Virginia

4.47/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Located in the Fair Lakes area next to some condos, along with a Dick's Sporting Goods and a Kohl's.

Probably one of the nicer Whole Foods in the country. A large store with all the standard Whole Foods amenities - restaurants in the back, plenty of organic and specialty foods, plus a large wine and beer section in the back right corner.

The store offers both six packs and singles, all available on refrigerated shelves. Mixed six packs don't appear to be available. There are singles, but they are all 750ml/22oz size bottles. Nevertheless, there is a great selection of beers, including some that I haven't seen at other stores.

There is a beer guy there that seems to know his stuff. He knew what was coming in when I asked and also holds beer tastings (not sure of the schedule for these). Never caught his name.

Apparently there are some taps available at this location, although I never looked for them.

A great Whole Foods store, recommended for a visit.
Nov 23, 2008
Photo of naniis1
Reviewed by naniis1 from Virginia

5/5  rDev +12.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
This Whole Foods store is definitely their flagship. The store is very well maintained and stocked to the tee. The food selection is only rivaled by Wegmans. The beer selection is the most well rounded I've found in the area. Sure, Norm's and Total Wine may have a few hard to find Ales but Whole Foods is always getting in new things while keeping around the timeless. There are two things that set this place apart from any other store in the area.
One, the majority of the beer is kept in a favorable environment. I can't speak for anyone else but I get nervous walking into a place and seeing the beer selection exposed to bright light and its location is nowhere near a cooler. Whole foods does this for me. It reassures me that the money I'm about to spend wont be for a skunked beer.
Second, they have a gentlemen that tends to the beer section and is a dictionary of information on any kind of brew. His name is Lee Hitchins, and he has schooled me on countless occasions. I recommend getting his card and shooting him an E-Mail when your looking for something out of the ordinary. There's been a couple of occasions where he has gotten me some rare nectar. Also he has informed me that if you buy by the case you will get a 10% discount. He is very meticulous about his beer and you get the feeling that he has handpicked every selection. No matter how many people he has there he will always take the time to help you with any questions you may have. Sometimes, I go their just to talk to him about beer.
With these two things going for it, Whole Foods has always been my old faithful. I may venture out and buy from other places but when I need something in particular or just want to get schooled a bit more I know exactly where to go!
Sep 21, 2008
Photo of pinotboy007
Reviewed by pinotboy007 from Virginia

4.95/5  rDev +11.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
A - Wide open, modern and airy with Emeril Lagasse there to film his green network series of cooking shows. Multiple places within to dine includes seafood, BBQ, and Japanese, all wiht a range of beers on tap. Crowded and a bit loud but it's easy to see why.

Q - World Class, period. Amazing to the point that in some respects it trumps Wegmans and certainly every other Whole Foods I've visited.

S - Great service - lots of eager but polite staff who seem enthusiastic about their jobs. It really makes the place pretty special.

S - Amazing selection of micro, macro, and imported beers -- both chilled and not chilled -- located along with their equally impressive wine selection.

F - Their food selection is extraordinary with many, many prepared foods one can enjoy on premises or for take-home. Great meat and seafood sections.

V - Hey, it's Northern Virginia so expect to pay money for this level of service and quality. No more expensive than Wegmans.
Sep 08, 2008
Photo of ahalloin
Reviewed by ahalloin from Virginia

4.2/5  rDev -5.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
This is perhaps the most impressive Whole Foods in the DC metro area, if not the entire country. I will get to the beer in a second, but first everyone needs to know about the two bars of food they serve. One bar is in the back left corner of the store and has some amazing selections of entree seafood to eat. The other bar is in the back right and has incredible bar-be-que in more of a lunch entree format. Both are of great quality and both have two taps of usually great beers for $2.66 a pint!! I don't think you can get cheaper taps anywhere in the area, even during happy hour! These two bars are in addition to the typical self-serve cold and soup bars of most Whole Foods. The beer selection is quite good with full compliments of Troegs, Stone, Green Flash, Dogfish, Rogue, Legends, Bells, etc. with a healthy dose of Belgians. The beer guy, whose name escapes me at the moment, keeps a few special items in the back and would probably share said items if you told him how great his selection is! He is also quite knowledgeable and a genuinely nice person.
Jun 07, 2008
Whole Foods Market in Fairfax, VA
Place rating: 4.44 out of 5 with 43 ratings