Flanagan's Stop & Shop

Flanagan's Stop & ShopFlanagan's Stop & Shop
Flanagan's Stop & ShopFlanagan's Stop & Shop
Store

522 W College Ave
Appleton, Wisconsin, 54911-5802
United States

(920) 733-6689 | map
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.57
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
24
pDev:
17.65%
View: Place Reviews
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Photo of Winston0101
Reviewed by Winston0101 from Wisconsin

2.2/5  rDev -38.4%
vibe: 1 | quality: 3 | service: 1 | selection: 3
The staff acts inconvenienced by th customers. Numerous attempts without fail...they are always miserable. Will never give them another dollar and will gladly head to Niemuth’s where the staff is always super friendly with a better craft beer selection. Flanagan’s must just stay in business due to their convenient location.
Apr 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.84 by Dharmelink from Wisconsin

Mar 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.08 by Angerhaus from Rhode Island

May 21, 2016
Photo of brewmudgeon
Reviewed by brewmudgeon from Wisconsin

2.24/5  rDev -37.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 1.5 | service: 2 | selection: 3
Selection is okay but not exceptional. I would echo the comments about old beer--you need to be really careful here, even with seasonals, as the beer may not be from the current year's season. Service has never been very helpful or knowledgeable in my experience, although at least one person was pretty friendly.
Jan 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4.19 by Zatch90 from Wisconsin

Oct 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.61 by WI-Beer-Man from Wisconsin

Jan 08, 2015
 
Rated: 5 by Duder_Jables880 from Wisconsin

Nov 06, 2014
Photo of pritzlb
Reviewed by pritzlb from Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -16%
The selection is not bad although not much better than a few of the area groceries -- and the freshness is not to be assumed. They will leave product on the shelves until it sells. I have returned beer which had gone bad and they looked at me as if I was crazy (and this was a manager not just a cashier). I would suggest you buy beer here only if you know it is a label which turns fast or it is a new seasonal, etc.
Aug 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Drew26 from Wisconsin

Aug 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Jflynt from Wisconsin

Aug 04, 2014
Photo of derkfromwi
Reviewed by derkfromwi from Wisconsin

3.58/5  rDev +0.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
Lots of beers for northeast WI, but you don't know how long most of them have been sitting around unless it's popular, if they're on sale then the beer has probably collected a good amount of dust.
I stop by a few times a month, but no one remembers me and multiple questions about beer coming in are answered, "We should be getting it in."
The wine and liquor selection is decent, but I wonder if maybe Flanagan's lets their beer distributors take care of their beer supply and section in their store?
Feb 06, 2012
Photo of MilwaukeeCrusher
Reviewed by MilwaukeeCrusher from Wisconsin

3.3/5  rDev -7.6%
This was where I got into craft beers, and is very, very good for that. For singles selection, this place is extremely extensive, however... they never seem to get most of the high end releases and service in regards to beer is lacking. I also wonder how long some of the product sits on the shelves. Don't get me wrong, this is a good store but if you're looking for some special hot release, maybe look elsewhere.... but if you want to build some sixers of year round or seasonal brews, this is your place. On a side note, the wine selection appears fantastic.
Jan 13, 2011
Photo of ByTor2112
Reviewed by ByTor2112 from North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -0.6%
Finally made my way into downtown Appleton. Passed the front coming down College and turned the corner to find the rear entrance.
A decent walled cooler area is on the left kind of behind a counter. This plus another walled cooler section has a great selsction of regional brews from all around the upper great lakes breweries-NG, Leine's,Tyranena, Dark Horse, Founders. Found the area that had all the singles, Belgians, other imports. West Coast was only slightly bountiful but Moylan's and Reaper Ales earn points for being there. I was hoping to find big bottles of Tyranena, Short's, Dark Horse, New Glarus and some other upper great lakes brews, only a few singles here and there of those. I did find big bottles of Central Waters and Lakefront so I scored one from each. $4.99 for a big bottle is cheap compared to NC prices. Lots of Founders, Goose Island Christmas 2009 still around. The only NG seasonal was the Raspberry and I have had that before! Got some NG singles to go with my big bottles. I gave the selsction a 3.5 only becuase I was hoping for more big bottles of stuff I can't get back home. One of the best bets in Appleton. I will go back
Nov 12, 2010
Photo of crossovert
Reviewed by crossovert from Illinois

2.95/5  rDev -17.4%
I walked in through the back where there is a row of beer filled coolers.

The beer is scattered round the place, with a beer cooler as well. Practically the entire import section was old beer. The domestics were fresher and more abundant but overall it was an average selection. the did have a few rare beers but many were simply really old. It all was also a bit pricey from what I am used to. They had a few minikegs in cold storage for a decent price. They did not stock the local brewpub's beers.

Overall if you are in Appleton like I was it is not bad but it insn't anything amazing.
Mar 10, 2010
Photo of minnunderground
Reviewed by minnunderground from Wisconsin

3.2/5  rDev -10.4%
Flanagan's is a pretty good place to get beer. The best selection of singles in the area. If you are waiting for a beer to come out (EX. GI BCS) they will probably be the first place in the area to have it. The singles are not very cheap and either are the belgians or anything else like that. Seems like everything has about a $1 markup from the other places around. But has a solid selection, can be hit or miss on certain things. They sell some glassware also. Have never been asked for help before but I never ask either so the service wasn't good or bad I suppose.
Jan 11, 2010
Photo of harpus
Reviewed by harpus from Alabama

3.7/5  rDev +3.6%
The entrance to Flanagan’s Stop and Shop is not on College, it is actually on the back side if they building where they have a parking lot. The first room that you walk into has some wine and beers in six-packs to the left behind the counter. In the second room which is bigger and room to spend your time and where the good stuff is. In this room are where all the single bottles are located. They have two aisles of single. They have some New Glarus, Lakefront, Victory, Rouge, Belgians, British, Canadian, German and some random Breweries and Countries. The whole time I was at the store I was never asked if I needed any help. If in Appleton, this place is worth the stop if you know what you are looking for. The prices are not bad.
Nov 28, 2007
Photo of BeerBelcher
Reviewed by BeerBelcher from Ohio

3.35/5  rDev -6.2%
I stopped by Flanagan's last weekend on my way to the northwoods. Beforehand I was advised by a friend of mine from Neenah that this place probably wasn't worth going out of my way given the bottle shops we have available to us in Milwaukee, and I will say that I disagree, but only slightly. While their selection of imports or microbrews from the west coast was not too special, for the beer-buyer from Milwaukee (a shopper like myself), this place offers a pretty good selection of micros that are unavailable (or in very limited availability) in Milwaukee like Falls, Golden Leaf, South Shore, etc. However, I was a bit disappointed to not find Central Waters or Lake Louie in this store, as that was what I was really looking for (but they didn't know I was coming to visit).

I picked up eight single serves which were all pretty mediocre WI micros...which came to almost $15 despite a 6-pack discount, which I thought was a bit much.

The store was very clean and appeared pretty well organized. However, it definitely struck me as a store more oriented toward wine than beer.

Service didn't approach me or help me in any way, but the distributor sales guy and delivery truck were in the store, so they were a bit distracted and I didn't really need any help anyways. The store is located in Appleton's surprisingly scenic downtown area (I'd never stopped in Appleton before), and the store had ample free parking behind it. The store was also only about a 3 mile detour off of US41, so it didn't really put me off-track much, although I did need to take a smaller road (US15) to New London to catch back up with US45, which was a bit confusing for me.
Jun 11, 2007
Photo of brdc
Reviewed by brdc from Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev +7.8%
This is an easy to find store in the middle of Appleton, with a good free parking in the back, with a better than average selection, but nothing spectacular.
Service can be sketchy, I waited there for a long time, but when someone showed up, the service was actually quite nice.
The selection is reasonably good in americans, plus some canadians, belgians and english - you can find almost every "reasonable" beer, but no treasures here. At least I was not lucky as some of the previous reviewers; I did not find anything I never had before.
Prices are unfortunately a lot higher than I expected, which is the main reason I do not think I will be going back soon.
May 21, 2007
Photo of nflmvp
Reviewed by nflmvp from Wisconsin

3.95/5  rDev +10.6%
If you want a good selection of beers in Appleton, Flanagan's is the place. Until recently, the selection has been behind what you can find in larger markets but that's currently changing. Over the past couple of weeks, the selection has begun to grow and judging by the newly created shelf space, I can only assume that this is just the beginning.

During a conversation with the owner a couple of weeks ago, I discovered that they are planning for an ADDITIONAL 300 beers to add to their, already VERY respectable, inventory. I'm looking forward to being able to get beers I could only dream about, or travel great distances for, in the past.

Service is typically knowledgeable and friendly. I've read other reviews (NOT on BA) complain about parking but I don't see what's wrong with having a full, FREE parking lot in the back of the store, considering that there is also a checkout at the back of the store. Parking on College Ave can be hit or miss and even if you DO find a space, you have to plug a meter. I'm not sure why ANYONE would park in front.

It's hard for me to say this, considering I REALLY like the place and the people who run it but I do think that value is "a bit pricey". I go their frequently and I while I spend plenty, I'd likely spend much more if I felt I couldn't get some things for less at other places. On the bright side, someone recently told me that Flanagan's will PRICE MATCH. Sadly, that doesn't work for so much of their inventory since they are the only store in town to offer it.

Not wanting to end this review on a sour note, I'm looking forward to the growth and being able to find beers I tyically have to travel to Madison, Milwaukee or Chicago to find. If you're in Appleton, Flanagan's is the only "MUST STOP" in town.
Apr 02, 2006
Photo of strattor
Reviewed by strattor from Idaho

4.15/5  rDev +16.2%
This place has a huge wine selection and a very good beer selection, with liquor taking a distant third. You can find a wide variety of beers from all over the US and the world, including Rogue, Duvel, Hacker-Pschorr, as well as Midwestern favorites like New Glarus and Goose Island. Prices are a bit on the high side, maybe a buck or two more than I would like to see. There is also a build-your-own-six-pack option, but this will run you about $12 per sixer. Staff is helpful and knowledgable, and there is a large refridgerated section.
Mar 27, 2006
Photo of jimbotrost
Reviewed by jimbotrost from Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +16.2%
THis is a big place with a big beer (micro and import and swill) and wine selection. They have all the right things going for them. You can put together your own six from a big selection of singles. I purchased New Glarus, Lakefront, Tyranena, etc. They also had a big refrigerated section for quantities of the same beer, it is a college town. The clincher for me was the Slab City beer, available in growlers, what a great find. There is also a back entrance and a parking lot in the back for convienence.
Jul 20, 2005
Photo of cokes
Reviewed by cokes from Wisconsin

3.8/5  rDev +6.4%
Let's cut right to the chase, the beer selection here is huge. A big selection of WI and Midwest brews, along with good representation from both coasts, and a smattering of Rockies offerings just for balance. Some of the beer (mostly the Midwestern stuff) in a cooler in the back near the cash register, everything else is displayed on uncooled shelves in the adjacent room.
The import selection is even more impressive, with oodles of impressive brews from the UK, Belgium, and Germany, with representation from most other points in Europe, India, South America, and Japan.
Everything they have is available in singles, and that is very cool. I might wish for some more rare/limited edition/specialty brews, but it's hard to issue a realistic gripe about selection. The cast majority of what's available here I can also get in Madison, but it probably would take three stops to do so.
The store was packed when I was there, but they were well staffed, and had people on the floor asking to assist.
Prices were a bit on the high side, at least compared to those I'm familiar with in Madison. Actually, prices were sort of all over the map, with some decent deals to be had, as well as some that seemed absurdly high ($12 for a 12 ounce bottle of 120 Minute, $17 for a De Dolle Dulle Teve). It averages to higher than I am used to paying, but not repulsively so.
The only other concern I would have is the potential for old bottles, as the single selection is massive, and some might sit for a while. Nothing I bought was off, but I'd keep a keen on dates here.

All in all, it's a very good store. A "must stop", for sure.
Jun 07, 2005
Photo of Bierman9
Reviewed by Bierman9 from New Hampshire

4.24/5  rDev +18.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
After hitting the local Houdini exhibit with my daughter, she allowed me to stop here to check things out. In addition to loads of wine, they have a remarkably good bier selection. Loads of local stuff (Bells, Summit, Capitol, New Glarus, etc) plus other top-shelf micros from points across the midwest. Add to this a plethora of German, Belgian and British stuff, and it's a must-see location while in Appleton. In addition to some Bells Two Hearted I scored a 750ml bottle of St Bernardus Abt 12 for only $7.39. Nice! If you're in the area, give Flanagans a shot. You won't be disappointed.

Prosit!!

overall: 4.24
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

106
Dec 21, 2004
Photo of brakspear
Reviewed by brakspear from Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +20.4%
This is one of the premier spots for finding unique beers in central Wisconsin; it probably has the best variety outside of Milwaukee or Madison. A huge selection of wines and spirits in front is impressive by itself, but the beer selection in back is pretty amazing. Both micros and hard to locate imports are shelved both in six packs, some mini-kegs, and mix-and-match single bottles -- which is perfect for beeradvocate reviewing. There are also many local micro beers in the wall coolers. The only possible bad thing is that some of the more unique beers could become dated and past their prime if the turnover is not high enough, particularly the beers not stored in the coolers. All in all, if you are looking for the best selection in beers in central Wisconsin...you must stop at Flanagan's.
Sep 21, 2002
Flanagan's Stop & Shop in Appleton, WI
Place rating: 3.57 out of 5 with 24 ratings