The World of Beer

Store

2809 Gulf to Bay Blvd
Clearwater, Florida, 33759-4014
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.21
Reviews:
29
Ratings:
36
pDev:
18.53%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by JoninVT:
Photo of JoninVT
Rated by JoninVT from North Carolina

1/5  rDev -76.2%
vibe: 1 | quality: 1 | service: 1 | selection: 1
I stopped in here last week and they were out of business.
Mar 05, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of gulfscuba
Reviewed by gulfscuba from Florida

1.5/5  rDev -64.4%
I stopped in yesterday and was very disappointed in the selection of beers. There were many doors to the cooler but there was hardly nothing in them. The selection of domestic beers was lame as well. Publix has more beers than this place. The clerk said he gets shipments on Friday but I am not sure if I will bother going back.
Nov 19, 2014
Photo of Alexincj7
Reviewed by Alexincj7 from Michigan

1.25/5  rDev -70.3%
This place is not just tiny in space but the beer selection is just awful i visited while i was in town last week and there was maybe 15 6packs total. Shelves were all empty looked like they were going out to business i walked in and out within 1 minute. Not worth a stop as a out of town person. I'm sure owner is knowledgeable and can order requests if you are a local. Giving this place a 1.25 instead of a 1 for single reason that it only sells beer which is cool.
Oct 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by TX-Badger from Texas

Jun 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by KVNBGRY from Florida

May 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by greenspointexas from Texas

Apr 30, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by tfsimpkins from Florida

Apr 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Lare453 from Florida

Oct 21, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by BeerBucks from New York

Oct 09, 2013
Photo of Billolick
Reviewed by Billolick from New York

4.07/5  rDev -3.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
As noted by several others this place is TINY. Small room filled with a lot of tasty beer. Friendly and knowledgable guy behind the counter. Beer everywhere, on shelves to the right and in coolers towards the rear. You will find Bells, Cigar City, Terrapin (this is what interested me anyway, being from NY state) as well as a healthy helping of the available craft beer in the area. Decent spot thats worth a visit. But I was a bit underwhelmed by the selection
Apr 06, 2013
Photo of RTrain12
Reviewed by RTrain12 from Illinois

4.14/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Stopped in this place on my road trip vation to Clearwater. I wish I would of taken a picture of this place for the profile! Found this place thanks to BA. Actually passed it up the first time I drove pass it. Very nice little bottle shop with plenty of selections. A lot of FL. locals including CCB. With some CCB beers that have come and gone. When I stopped in the owner was behind the counter and was very helpful and knowledgeable. Tons of bottles to pick from in this clean enviroment. The best bottle shop in Clearwater!
Jan 26, 2012
Photo of Dogbrick
Reviewed by Dogbrick from Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -10.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5
(Visited 06/2011): World of Beer in Clearwater is located on Gulf To Bay (Rte 60) not too far from where the bridge begins. The plaza has plentiful parking.

Not much to look at from the outside. The interior is small with the beer selection primarily on the right side in coolers.

Pretty fair selection including Florida breweries like Ybor City and Dunedin. Other domestic craft breweries like Rogue, Dogfish Head, and Ommegang are present too. As for imports there are options from Belgium, Germany, the UK etc. Customers can also purchase singles.

Service was knowledgeable and friendly on my quick visit. There were a couple gents behind the counter and they were both clearly beer fans.

Overall this is a good spot to check out not too far from the airport.
Dec 06, 2011
Photo of TheFightfan1
Reviewed by TheFightfan1 from Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 3.5
Our first stop for our new home. A nice little cozy store with a decent selection. Maybe I was a little spoiled being in the Philadelphia area with the massive selection you get there but this did have some very good offering's. Alot from Cigar City which is always a plus and I am finding out it seems to be a bit tougher to get St.Somewhere around the area though it is just up the road a bit.Odd. The man said it wasn't selling as much so I guess they stopped getting it. I didn't get the man's name but he was very friendly and helpful.He seemed to enjoy his job and how couldn't you when you work with something oh so beautiful. I found the selection to be good but not to some that I have found in my hometown but a very nice place to find some local finds and a few hidden gems
Aug 22, 2011
Photo of olimpia84
Reviewed by olimpia84 from Florida

3.65/5  rDev -13.3%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5
Not to be confused with the chain beer place "WOB". This is a small store that specializes in selling beer. It's located right across the original Hooters on Gulf to Bay in Clearwater.
The place doesn't really have a great atmosphere, it pretty much looks like a regular liquor store.

The guy that works there (could be the owner, I'm not sure, but he's always there) is very knowledgeable and can give recommendations and discuss beer at any time. You can request beers that are not available in the store and they'll do the effort of ordering them which is a good thing because the selection is not great, at least compared to the bigger stores like Total Wine.
Aug 20, 2011
Photo of ktrillionaire
Reviewed by ktrillionaire from Florida

4.3/5  rDev +2.1%
This place should be called "the Original World of Beer" because it long pre-dates the eponymous corporate-jock-ish bar.

Incidentally, it is located directly across the street from the world's first-ever Hooters restaurant. It is a shame that you can't bring beers from WOB into Hooters, or that over the decades they haven't found some way to work together. It would be nice to kill two fowls with one projectile.

The place used to be unrivaled in selection, but intervening years have seen many good venues pop up, and tastes have evolved, etc. But the original beer shop is still good; it doesn't have the glut of exotic beers that it once did, it has been pared down to high quality stuff at reasonable prices.

It is a small place, with nothing but beer, and the guys that work there are old school, for real.

Check it out if you are passing by. And if you are in Clearwater, chances are you'll be passing by, as it is very centrally located.
Feb 21, 2010
Photo of nick76
Reviewed by nick76 from Florida

3.8/5  rDev -9.7%
This was the first real "beer" store I discovered in the Tampa Bay area years ago and had what I thought of as a world class selection. This place has reduced the exotic nature of there beer inventory as of late but they have fresher stock now so it's really a good thing. It's not that they have fewer beers they just don't have the off the wall never seen it before stuff like they used to have. If your traveling in the area I suggest you make a trip here to fond some good stuff as it's still one of the best beer selections around. The pries range from very reasonable to pushing pricey.
Nov 26, 2008
Photo of ViveLaChouffe
Reviewed by ViveLaChouffe from Georgia

4.3/5  rDev +2.1%
A smallish looking place from the outside but they pack quite a collection into what space they have.

Certainly the best selection I saw in Clearwater. Lots of Mikkeller and I found the Saint Somewhere I was looking for. A lot of their stock in refrigerated which didn't work well for me since I was just passing through. The clerk got up on his ladder and found me all the room temp bottles I needed though.

The guy seemed pretty knowledgeable about his beer. All stock seemed fresh and he seems to get a good turnover. The prices were a bit high but that would be my only significant complaint. Worth the drive.
Sep 10, 2008
Photo of francisweizen
Reviewed by francisweizen from Washington

4/5  rDev -5%
A solid selection for the Tampa Bay area, but you pay for what you get. Local FL brews well represented and a nice array of imports. Service is good, but they do not sem *too* well versed in what they are selling and new releases, etc. It's a pretty solid spot for shopping in the Tampa Bay Area, but watch outbecause the church of scientologys' headquarters looms over you as you shop, which is certainly harrowing for many people including myself! I wonder if L. ron hubbard liked imperial stouts or witbeers. The world may never now.
Apr 03, 2008
Photo of DrummerDan
Reviewed by DrummerDan from Florida

3.85/5  rDev -8.6%
Okay selection of beer at good prices. Not worth my trip compared to what I could find at Total Wine and Beverage Castle. I did not see anything that I haven't seen before. There are a lot of regular beers right up front. They probably keep them there to keep the bus station visitors from walking all the way to the back of the store. Nice selection of glassware available for purchase. They do know their beers and are willing to talk beer. I'm hunting vintage stuff and they either keep if for themselves, which is not a bad thing or don't stock it. I'll stick with Total Wine at this point.
Jan 18, 2008
Photo of Jerzdevil1116
Reviewed by Jerzdevil1116 from New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -16.9%
Stopped in on a recent trip to Florida. After reading good reviews on the BA website, I made a special trip from Brandon to check this place out. I found the selection decent, but not overly impressive. I was able to pick up some items I have not yet found in my home state of New Jersey, including selections from Abita, Terrapin, and local Florida brews. There were beers from all corners of the globe.

The employee was friendly and asked if I needed help locating anything partiulcar. I was able to fill a mixed 6 pack for about $20.00.

I was disappointd that a majority of there beer was refrigerated. While it would be good for locals or someone buying beer they are drinking in the near future, I couldn't stock up with stuff for the trip home.

Overall I would say I had a good experience with World of Beer and would return If I were in the area, but not sure I'd make another special trip to get there.
Nov 14, 2007
Photo of kwakwhore
Reviewed by kwakwhore from North Carolina

4.65/5  rDev +10.5%
I visit this place whenever I go to Florida and the least I've ever spent is about sixty dollars. They have beers I am almost never able to find anywhere in NC and some beers that I have never seen anyplace else. A great selection of Belgian beers. They know their products and they are helpful when you need help, otherwise they leave you alone. A great selection of glassware too. They even gave me a couple of glasses once because I spent so much money, but only once. While they have an amazing amount of cooler space, what impresses me is how much of their beer is not chilled, a real plus when you have to drive back to North Carolina with it. All of this next door to a bus station and across from the original Hooters. What more could you ask for?
Mar 10, 2007
Photo of Byeast
Reviewed by Byeast from Florida

4.8/5  rDev +14%
I was recently in Dunedin , Fl ( very near clearwater) for their " Walk the Line on Barleywine" festival ; the largest b-wine fest in the world! A couple of participants , and a fellow BA told me to check this place out , so i did. Im glad i did because as far as florida goes , this guy has the best selection iv'e seen so far. The store is tucked away in a regular old, small strip mall location. Some neon signs in the window and their sign don't look impressive- but enter and you'll find a treat. When you walk in, there is a bunch of empty six packs for your use , all refridgerated beers on the right , room temp on the left , and a bunch of 750s ,more belgians , and others in the back of the store. They had a very nice selection of gift packs and packs that include glassware. They also had a fair amount of glassware up above the coolers , and some in a case. Standard price for a glass is 5$ , specialties are 8$. I picked up a Sam Smith Impy Stout snifter , and a Reissdorf Kolsch glass. If you live in a more southern Fl location, you will appreciate the beers that they get, that don't make it further down south. Prices for beer are standard , if a tad bit high here and there , but who cares! Very knowledgable and freindly staff as well. Check it out! P.S. I was told they are opening up a beer bar in the very near future , and they mentioned all approriate glassware. These guys know and love beer.
Dec 04, 2006
Photo of DieselSnorter
Reviewed by DieselSnorter from Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +5.7%
I've seen this place every day for 6 years and never gave it a 2nd thought until I read some of the reviews on Beer Advocate. Then a few buddies and I made a lunch time trip from work to do some shopping.

It was exactly as advertisted, it's basically a large hallway with a counter on one side and a cooler on the left. The selection was amazing, but keep in mind that beer selection in this area pretty much sucks. They had a lot of stuff though.

I asked the guy working there if they had anything from New Belgium Brewery and he said that they couldnt' get them to distribute here, which is what I expected (I came here from out west), and my buddy asked if they had any Alaskan Amber. This brought a laugh from the guy at the counter followed by a "no". I found this to be hilarious.

The service was exceptional. The guy had answers to all our questions and was very professional. When I asked where something was, he knew exactly where it was, without even looking. He was able to make some recommendations for me that were spot on.

The selection was good, but again, most stores around here only carry beers that you find advertisted during NASCAR events. It was a treat to see some things there that I've never heard of. One thing of note, their website listed Guinness Export Stout, which they didn't have in stock.

the value wasn't bad, you get a discount if you build your own 6 pack. I still managed to put together a 6 pack that was 27 bucks...which was less than I thought it would be, but about floored my wife.

All in all, I will be back to World of Beer, probably about every payday.
Oct 15, 2006
Photo of Derek
Reviewed by Derek from Canada (BC)

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
Almost everything is refridgerated, which is a huge plus. There was some stuff on a couple of shelves, but most of it could also be found in the fridge. I was on my way to the airport, so this ensured my yeasty friends didn't get too warm on the flight home.

The owner is enthusiastic and eager to help. Very knowledgable as well.

Great selection. I've only been to a couple of places with more stuff... but they hardly refridgerated any of it.

There aren't any prices on anything, which I find kind of irritating, but everything seemed to be reasonably priced. He warned me on the price of the Allagash Musette before he rung it in.

Highly recommend it!
Aug 12, 2006
Photo of blitheringidiot
Reviewed by blitheringidiot from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
*Easy to find straight across from Hooters*

World of Beer appears to be "just another store" in the small strip mall, but once inside, grab a six pack holder or two and fill 'er up! All of the beers are inside a ~50' or so wall of cold boxes containg the darn neatest selection that I have ever seen. All beers are pulled to the front and all of the beers are organized by countries of origin. This makes it quite easy to navigate.

A few tall shelves do contain some other beers, but the cold boxes are where it's at! Domestic offering standouts: DogFish Head, Great Divide, ShipYard, Avery big bottles.

World of Beer is big with the Belgians: Konings Hoeven, Chimay, jeepers, I can't ven remember the selection.

Also there us a decent selection of glassware. Prices are reasonable, too. A 6 pack of Tommy Knocker DoppelBock and a 6 pack of top-tier singles was $28. Thant's pretty reasonable!

If you are going here, try to squeeze Dunedin brewery/brewpub in you travels. It's only 15-20 minutes away and also easy to find!
Apr 10, 2006
Photo of Jredner
Reviewed by Jredner from Florida

4/5  rDev -5%
Ok they have a fantastic selection and I visit often, but they tend to not carry some of the more expensive oddities that I know become availible from time to time and they never special order some things they could if they wanted to. I understand they have a fine line to walk with inventory/profit, but I'd like to see more new stuff when I visit. As big as the selection is there is precious little they stock, except crappy import lagers, I haven't had.

That is why I sometimes prefer Beer World of Largo and Beverage Castle because while you might get a skunky bottle you also might find some hidden gem rarity!

Still WoB is the gold standard of beer stores in the Bay Area and worth a trip.
Jan 18, 2006
Photo of surfadelic23
Reviewed by surfadelic23 from Florida

4.65/5  rDev +10.5%
Wow, what a shop! I just discovered I work about 10 minutes from here thanks to BA!! I stopped by and picked up some of the wonderful brews I've been reading about here and they had nearly everything on my list. The staff was incredible and helped me find exactly what I wanted, and seeing what I had bought made addl. suggestions. I ended up walking out with about $150 worth of BEER! What a fun b-day weekend this will be. To sum up, great selection, great staff, and a fun experience. Heck, they even hooked me up w/a glass.(had a lot of them too)
Oct 27, 2005
Photo of scooter231
Reviewed by scooter231 from New York

4/5  rDev -5%
Flew in from NY to visit home for a while, and thought I'd check this place out while I was there. It's a lovely hidden gem in an otherwise beer-lacking area.

The store itself is small, but they pack hundreds of beer goodies- that is, big bottles, small bottles, 6 packs, and an impressive selection of glassware. While the selection is vast and I was in complete awe and it took me a long while to feel finished perusing... there were several things that annoyed me and frustrated me.

First, lack of organization. I was searching for a 4 pack of an Ommegang Brewery beer, and it was way up on a high shelf. However, another Ommegang 4 pack was on the bottom shelf. What's going on here?! When things are not grouped properly, they are difficult to find. This was frustrating. And while we're on that note, some beers are soooo high up it's impossible to reach. I know there's a lack of space in here, but come on- expand, or stick all the extra stuff on top, so people can get to what they need without a ladder.

Second, no prices. Anywhere. Now, I wish this weren't a factor in my beer buying decision, because I want to try everything, but it is. I'm not made of money. And I feel really silly continually asking the owner how much something is. LABEL PRICES.

Overall, I enjoyed the place. Tons of stuff to choose from, many things already nice and cold. A bit on the pricey side- compared to NY, at least- but not horrible. And the owner suggested a few things I really liked. A good place.
Jul 28, 2005
Photo of lackenhauser
Reviewed by lackenhauser from Maryland

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
Amazing selection-they must have practically everything sold in Florida. Narrow store but the presentation is much better then the other 2 stores nearby. Service was very knowledgeable and left me alone while shopping. It seemed as if he had tried most of what I was buying. Everything looked fresh and within the sell by dates. A lot of beers from the former Soviet states as well as Asia. Killer Belgian selection. Get here when in the area. Between this store and the 2 in the Largo area you could do some serious damage to your wallet. I need to drive to Florida next time so I can get more home with me.
Mar 18, 2005
Photo of poundboy
Reviewed by poundboy from Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
Without a doubt my favorite store period. For me and my fiance, a trip to World of Beers is always a special treat. Even though Beverage Castle down the Street actually has a better selection, we always make the half hour trip across the bay to visit World of beers. Why? several reasons:
1. They have over 600 beers. All the trappists, plus an amazing selection of quality imports, american micros and crafts, and even what I term "ethnic beers"-beers that aren't necessarily that great but may be the most popular beer in the domican republic, India, etc.
2. No expired/skunked/otherwise bad beer. They sell alot of beer here, so you are pretty much guaranteed than anything you buy will be of good quality. Not so at Beverage Castle or some of the other beer destinations around the bay.
3. Excellent friendly service. Everybody that works there knows beer. And if you lucky, you might get a sample or two. The male owner of the store will talk your ear off, and has a bit of an ego problem IMHO, but he and everybody else there knows their beer.
4. Price. Better than Beverage Castle, Grand Cru or Dunderbak's. Might not be better than the place just down the road, I haven't been there. but here your beer is unlikely to be turned.

Yes, its true that you will sometimes find something in the other stores around the bay that is not availble here. And the constant smoking on the nights that either of the owners is working probably bugs some people. But this is a store run by beer lovers for beer lovers. They stock budwieser (Their distributor makes them in order to get some other products they want to stock) but they put it the cooler next to the water and soda. That about sums the place up to me.
p.s visit around christmas time. They stock up on glassware, christmas brews and gift packs.
Nov 26, 2004
Photo of RockyTopHeel
Reviewed by RockyTopHeel from North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
I finally made the trip out SR 60 to Clearwater to check this place out, and it was well worth the 20 minute drive. As others have said, the store is narrow, but it's clean and very well organized, making scanning the hundreds of single bottles quite easy.

The staff is helpful (if a touch beer snob-ish) and good for conversation, and the selection is among the best I've ever seen, with everything offered as a single bottle.

I only have one more week down in Tampa this summer, but a return trip is pretty high on the priority list. Maybe the best beer selection per square inch I've seen.

Bonus points for being across the street from the original Hooter's restaurant.
Aug 01, 2004
Photo of SigEp
Reviewed by SigEp from Florida

4.8/5  rDev +14%
This place is small--real small. But it makes up for it in an awesome selection. You can buy singles or mixed six packs (which recieve a deduction in price). The staff is cool, and knowledgable, always willing to shoot the shit about beer. The guy told me that they rotate their stock constantly, call distributors, and respond to customer complaints if ever an old one gets past them. Highly responsible about keeping their stock new. Also, told me that they are venturing out to get Victory down in Florida, that would be a welcome first!

Just to give a brief listing of the difficult to find brews they have there on my last trip (last weekend) I got: Westverlvern (yellow and blus) Trappistes Rochefert (both of the popular ones) Celebrator Dopplebach and a rogue Imperial Pilsner! Their import selection is the best (I've seen) in Florida and their American Micros are limited only by those stubborn companies that won'd ship to South Florida (Stone, Victory, Bells, to name a few. The only reason this didn't get a perfect 5 is because it is a little small; certainly, however, a don't miss if you're in the area. Probably the only Westy in florida.
Mar 31, 2004
Photo of AtLagerHeads
Reviewed by AtLagerHeads from Ohio

5/5  rDev +18.8%
I rarely give fives in any category and especially to beer stores. Everybody can improve. I'm sure there are things that this store can do better. Here's the difference: I'm sure if they think of something that they can do better, they will.

From the huge selection, to the helpful and knowledgeable staff, to the quality of the offerings, this small, but impressive store, does it right. Upon entering I overheard the owner explaing some choices to two young women. The advice was good and delivered in an unassuming and courteous manner. I was on my way to the Dunedin Brewery. Not only did I get great driving directions, I was treated to some insights as to food and beer at that great brewpub. Again, it was right on.

I remarked about the smell of ionization when I couldn't place the location of the cleanser. The owner pointed out the filter location and spoke of how he uses it because customers ocassionally drop beers while making their selections and he doesn't want others bothered by the smell of stale beer from the spill.

This place has a huge selection of singles. The quality of the selection is outstanding on both imports and American microbrews. Easy parking in a strip shopping center. Incredible cooler wall and shelf storage wall. This would be my top choice in the Tampa Bay area. Possibly Florida and the region.
Jan 18, 2004
Photo of dpend
Reviewed by dpend from Florida

5/5  rDev +18.8%
Florida is a difficult state to get beer, but this place is great. They say that they have over 600 beers and they aren't lying.I live 45 minutes away and it's worth every minute of the drive.Very friendly owners and knowledgeable as well.Wall to wall beers and an impressive amount of glassware and gift sets available as well. It's a very small store but it's packed with beer and can be pretty overwhelming. I will frequent this place as much as I'm able.Directly across the street from Hooters, so it's not hard to miss.Say hello to Bill.
Dec 14, 2003
Photo of BierReise
Reviewed by BierReise from Florida

4.8/5  rDev +14%
This store has become a regular trek for me because of the 600+ different beers available. The store is small and doesn't look like much from the outside but once inside-nothing but beer. Great selection of imports and domestics. The staff and owner are quite knowledgeble on products and very helpful. I bought some Berliner Weisse for my wife recently and although they didn't have the syrup to go with it, they got it for me no charge and even shipped it to me for free. It can't get any better.
May 04, 2003
Photo of StevieW
Reviewed by StevieW from Florida

5/5  rDev +18.8%
This is a tiny little place full of wonderful beers. It's on the way to Clearwater, FL from Tampa. It's right across the causeway, in a strip mall across the street from Hooters. The beer selection was great for Florida or the Southeast for that matter. Lot's a hard to find imports, chilled or celler temp. Also lots of American products, Rogue, Hennepin, Ommegang. Only thing lacking was maybe some NE or western micros. I got 48 different bottles in one trip. Look for the local Dunedin brewery while their. If in Tampa it's definetly worth the trip. The owner was there that day, and talked about the work he does for the Beer Hunter books, trips to Belgium, and even sampled a few with us. Top Notch place, compared to other places in Florida.
Aug 20, 2002
The World of Beer in Clearwater, FL
Place rating: 4.21 out of 5 with 36 ratings