Coaltrain Wine and Spirits

Coaltrain Wine and SpiritsCoaltrain Wine and Spirits
Coaltrain Wine and SpiritsCoaltrain Wine and Spirits
Store

330 W Uintah St
Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-1045
United States

(719) 475-9700 | map
coaltrainwine.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.35
Reviews:
33
Ratings:
53
pDev:
8.97%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.75 by Phoodcritic from Michigan

Oct 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.22 by cbcrunch from Wyoming

Mar 29, 2023
Photo of beerssteersqueers
Reviewed by beerssteersqueers

3.07/5  rDev -29.4%
vibe: 1.5 | quality: 4 | service: 1.25 | selection: 4.5
Acknowledging your customers goes a long way. Been coming here for 20+ years. The nearby East coast colorado college has bought the place and everybody not driving a mercedes or bmw is treated like a towny. Snobs with rich kids to validate their attitudes. Fuck this place, go to queens west on Unitah or downtown spirits on Wasatch/Colorado, Greg and crew will treat you like a rockstar 24/7 .
Dec 03, 2019
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Reviewed by youngJsampson from Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +14.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Coaltrain rules. My in-laws live in The Springs and this is my go to for it all when in town. Great staff, awesome selection & some really cool verticals made up at fair prices!
Nov 23, 2018
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Reviewed by TheGent from New Jersey

4.32/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5
Vibe: A nice looking liquor store with spirits, wine and most importantly, beer. Dark wood, softly lit. Comfortable store feeling. Not like a warehouse. Not messy and well organized beer section.

Quality: Neat and clean store. Fresh beer.

Service: Folks were very nice, knowledgeable and steered me in the perfect direction for local offerings of certain styles.

Selection: Absolutely amazing selection of domestic and foreign beers. Something for everyone, and then some. One of the better bottle shop I’ve been to.
Oct 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4.4 by msumike89 from Colorado

Oct 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4.61 by TooGood from Minnesota

Aug 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4.26 by Squire from Mississippi

Jun 27, 2016
 
Rated: 4.65 by mecmd from Tennessee

Jun 08, 2016
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Reviewed by SStein from Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Nice selection of beers from the world, across the US, and Colorado. The staff was knowledgable and helpful. The prices were the same as some of the other stores I have been too in the Springs.
Nov 10, 2015
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Reviewed by DesMoinesMike from Iowa

4.12/5  rDev -5.3%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
Was here mid-September. The beer selection is impressive but I was expecting more CO selections than I found. The beer cave had lots of bombers and seasonal picks. The build a six pack section had about 50 options, including some non-craft ones. Staff was decent. It's easy to miss getting onto the interstate with trees in the way.
Sep 28, 2015
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Rated by randomgnarkill from New Mexico

4.75/5  rDev +9.2%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75
Tons to pick from, Really Awesome
Aug 29, 2015
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Rated by kansas2slim from Kansas

4.37/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75
Great sour beers!
Aug 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.52 by Benjhilmer from California

Apr 28, 2015
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Reviewed by tony2beers from Texas

4.24/5  rDev -2.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
They were under construction so maybe not best review regarding vibe. The staff was very friendly and the selection was awesome for an out of towner from Texas. Will definitely stop by every time I'm in the area.
Apr 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4.48 by jedgarlloyd from Virginia

Mar 26, 2015
 
Rated: 4.44 by gradergator from Ohio

Feb 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4.32 by Texasfan549 from Texas

Feb 12, 2015
Photo of bound4er
Reviewed by bound4er from Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev -3.4%
Stopped in here during a vacation in early October. Great selection, friendly staff, fair prices - if I lived in CO Springs this would be my go-to bottle shop.
Dec 07, 2014
Photo of timontheroad
Reviewed by timontheroad from Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%
Great little store with a huge selection. Their store is not in the easiest location to get to, but once you're there - outstanding. Their only knock is the organization of the store - rather haphazard at best, but if you have the time to search one-by-one through all their shelves and displays - they always have some gems!
Sep 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.84 by jmculak from North Carolina

Aug 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by leroybrown10 from Missouri

Jul 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Domvan from Texas

Jul 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by appetiteforparis from Colorado

Jun 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by mtbdonn from Colorado

Apr 22, 2014
Photo of crazyjoedivola
Reviewed by crazyjoedivola from Colorado

4.78/5  rDev +9.9%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5
Can't believe I'm about to say this but this place has too much beer. Or maybe not enough building. Either way they have an amazing selection. You could do a full Belgian tasting just from what they have on the shelf. The six packs selection is just good but the single bottle selection is staggering. They have all the mikeller, eclipse of every color and evil twin you could ever want and the most comprehensive selection of Colorado beers I've seen. Prices can be a tad high but, they have what you want!
Mar 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by jfcaa193 from Canada (QC)

Feb 09, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by flipdog0 from North Carolina

Dec 18, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by BillRoth from Maryland

Dec 14, 2013
Photo of Dan_K
Reviewed by Dan_K from Colorado

4.33/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
(updated 11/2015)
In the last 6 months Coaltrain has completed a large expansion / remodeling effort that has greatly increased the size and the quality of the atmosphere. It is cleaner, better organized, and less crowded now. This has caused me to re-evaluate the store. However recent discoveries of price gouging have hurt this store in my eyes.

They have a friendly and knowledgeble staff. I've used them every time for recommendations. They seem to have a connection to the local brewers like Bristol, and there are plenty of them around that know beer. The problem is they do hide some beers from the general public, you have to know what just hit distribution to ask for it.

They have a lot of craft beers, interesting and unique beers that can be harder to find. They have a small walk-in cooler area, and a bunch of shelves for craft beer. Their mix-6 section is woefully inadequate still and seems to be a dumping ground for old/expired / slow moving beers.

Prices are generally reasonable, but I've never got a bargain shopping there. They do discount some stuff that is really old, but I try to stay away from older beers of unknown storage. I have really started to notice that Coaltrain does price gouge on some stuff. A classic example is them selling Venetucci pumpkin for $17 last year, it was $10-12 elsewhere.They can be $1-3 more on some of the more limited stuff. They are also weird about handling limited release beers. They don't announce it and sometimes they even hide them in the back.

Overall, I recommend any beer enthusiast check this place out that happens to be in the area with qualifications. The remodel has given them a cleaner space and larger selection. However, they have been price-gouging their customers on Venetucci for the last couple years, according to my shopping around they are marking the bottles up much higher than they should be because they can get away with it.
Nov 08, 2013
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Reviewed by JamLand from District of Columbia

4.49/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75
Coaltrain is a great bottle shop to visit if you are in the Colorado Springs area. If you are simply traveling through, like my wife and I, it is also very convenient, just off the highway. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but there is plenty to choose from once you get inside.

S - Service was great. Not only was he very helpful with what was in the store, but he shared with me some of the rarer stuff, they had just received. I love it when stores do this without prompting.

Sel. - Selection was awesome. There was more local stuff than any of the other Colorado stores we visited during our trip. Also, had several non-local beers that the other shops did not have.

I would recommend this shop to any one visiting or just driving through Colorado Springs.
Sep 08, 2013
Photo of coloradobeer12345678
Reviewed by coloradobeer12345678 from Colorado

3.91/5  rDev -10.1%
vibe: 3.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
This is a great store close to CC and the old northend... a little cramped but great selection.. prices are a touch on the higher end but they nearly have it all.

they have as well a great wine and spirit selection.. so if you look for convience and a large selection with knowlegble staff and do not mind to pay for that that is the shop for you
Feb 17, 2013
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Reviewed by Jambarino from South Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -12.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
I took a vacation and was in the springs for a few days and stopped by here twice to browse and try some local stuff.The store is mainly a liquor store so the atmosphere is bland,but the beer selection was good with an aisle dedicated to craft beer bombers and singles and various displays around and a large cold section with 4 and six packs.All of the Colorado breweries are well represented and I bought a few Bristol offerings and a few imports I have never found before.There wasn't much Russian River or Firestone Walker offerings which was dissapointing as I have never gone this far west before and was hoping to score some.Most of the Colorado breweries I can get back home so I didn't find much that I hadn't already had before.I have heard they keep rarer stuff in the back but none was offered to me.

The staff was okay,they didn't seem very talkative and when I said I was from South Carolina and was looking for some beer exclusive to the west they didn't seem too knowledgeable about what to recommend and only pointed me towards some Oskar Blues stuff that I had already tried,however they did try to help.Maybe I didn't look hard enough but I wasn't blown away like I expected to be after hearing this was the place to go for craft beer in this area.Prices were decent and fairly reasonable.

Maybe I am jaded with stores like GBX near me back home but I wasn't too impressed.I figured for Colorado,one of the kings of craft beer breweries that there would be a a better selection and I had heard this was the store to visit,but I have 4 craft beer specific stores withing 20 miles of me back home that all top this place in selection.I am not bashing this place in anyway,it is a very solid store and I would go back again if in the area and refer anyone to if visiting Colorado Springs.
Oct 12, 2012
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Reviewed by cell10

4.8/5  rDev +10.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3
Everyone told me to go and see for myself and I can say I was not disappointed. They have stuff I can not get back home and the guys helped my brother in law and I out gave us some info and got us going for the next day or 2. I will def be going back before i go home. If you are in town stop by and look for yourself. The selection when i walked in was OMG! they still had single holiday bottles and overseas singles as well. Austin was a great guy and got us hooked up with an Avery brew that man looks good.
May 04, 2012
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
One of the finest little beer places I've ever visited.

Their beer selection is topnotch, focusing on many western state breweries, big and small. They also have an extensive collection of Belgium-styled beers plus other foreign offerings not found elsewhere.

The staff is very helpful and willing to special order things for you. They also don't overcharge you for some rarities and limited run beers that other local, big box beer stores do.

Small in square footage, but bursting at the seams with an awesome beer selection and enthusiastic staff.
Dec 17, 2011
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.16/5  rDev -4.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
stopped here while I was in town for a conference, to pick up some stuff I can't get back in PA. I went with the highest rated store, and it didn't disapoint.

Pretty small place, and as the name implies, much of the store is dedicated to wine and liquor. But they make up quantity for quality. They have a cooler of six packs in the back, and up front by the register they have six packs and large bottle of local stuff. then they have an aisle of the rarer stuff in the corner. Good selection of limited release stuff from Colorado breweries like Great Divide, Avery, Ska, Left Hand, etc. Plus other West Coast stuff, including Russian River, and European imports.

Staff was friendly and pointed me in the right direction. Prices were about average.
Oct 24, 2011
Photo of d4radio
Reviewed by d4radio from Colorado

4.03/5  rDev -7.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
Best beer selection in town.

A lot on the shelves you can't find anywhere but even more tucked away in the back if you ask the right person. I have never been able to leave this store with out multiple bottles even if they didn't have what I came in for.

Cooler selection contains the six packs, good stuff from all over the state and some of the big ones not from Colorado as well.

The bomber shelf is almost the highlight, it is well stocked with plenty of "wants". No bottle limit on most of the stuff out there. Restocked regularly.

The real gem is the back room and the cellar. You probably won't get anything out of the cellar but if you talk to the right person and come at the right time you may get some goodies from the back room (Pliny and Cantillon for example).

Sometimes the staff aren't the friendliest but they usually are very knowledgeable and loosen up over time.

Fun place to go overall.
Sep 02, 2011
Photo of DelMontiac
Reviewed by DelMontiac from Oklahoma

4.04/5  rDev -7.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Had to check out Coaltrain while I was town before heading home. Found plenty that I can't get at home.

Coaltrain is next to some railroad tracks and it appears to be just on the wrong side of them, but that doesn't seem to be stopping anyone. I knew I was in for a treat when I saw some sugar mamma with a cart containing a variety of Belgians, Stone Ruination, and a 12 pack of Laughing Lab.

The place is...semi-organized and really tight. The aisles are only wide enough for one person. They simply need more space. I found myslef having to wait my turn as it was a busy time as folks were getting off work. The ones that don't work or don't care what they drink were lined up with their foeties and fifs which made me thankful for my job.

This little place packs a punch! It's a lean machine - not very much crap and fluff. They put mostly quality brews in the little space they have. Lots of great domestic and import bombers and bigs on one short room temp aisle which I didn't even see until I had a cart with two cases on it already. I checked out the small single cooler in the corner with a mishmash of unorganized bottles of all types. There were a lot of old dates in there so I stayed clear of them. The main row of coolers is mostly full of desirable sixers and hop bombs.

Service is good. Asked a guy about the Upslope in cans he was stocking. He said they're pretty new self distributors from Boulder and he really likes their Brown Ale. The guy who rang me up helped me out with my two well packed boxes. I let several people go ahead of me since they had single items and he thanked me for that.

I think most beer in Colorado is pricey and Coaltrain is no different, albeit a little cheaper than it's warehouse style competitors in the area. I was a bit shocked when I rang up although I was trying to keep track in my head. I figure it's for a good cause - me!

I left with:
Upslope Brown Ale 6pk
Russian River Sanctification single
Russian River Consecration single
Russian River Salvation single
Russian River Redemption single
Delirium Nocturnum single
Oskar Blues Ten-Fidy 4pk
Oskar Blues Gubna 4pk
Oskar Blues Mammas Little Yella Pils 6pk
Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale 6pk
Victory Storm King 6pk
Stone Ruination 6pk
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard 6pk
Nogne O Pale Ale single

Coaltrain is a must stop if you're in the area. If a crazy dude in the parking lot starts yelling at you waving his shirt around, just ignore him and get in the car. He'll look for someone else to bother. If not, then just run over his crazy ass.
Jul 24, 2011
Photo of codewarrior
Reviewed by codewarrior from New York

4.3/5  rDev -1.1%
I was recommended this liquor store by a regular at Bristol Brewery, as they had just run out of 4-packs of Old No. 23 Barleywine, and the distribution of that beer is extremely limited.

Man was I glad to have hauled myself across town mid-day to check this spot out.

First of all, as another poster mentioned, the store is located right off a set of train tracks, and as I rolled up to the parking lot, a huge train was rolling by. Authenticity indeed.

Secondly, the beer selection is imposing, it's not huge, but the selection is extremely well picked. They have one 16' shelf filled with large-format beers (half domestic, half imports), a whole bunch of cases on the floor, and 10 - 12 doors for small-format beers. The big question mark here is the bomber cooler, a small cooler wedged in the back corner with seemingly no organization, and a very small, and very odd collection of beers to chill (they were cooling RR sours in there?!).

The beer guy was very nice there, and seeked out to help me search through the Boulevard display for a possibly left-over Saison Brett (no such luck).

I ended up going home with:

Fantome Printemps
2009 Old No 23
2009 Nefarious Ten Pin
Smokebrush Porter

And left on the floor:

The Bruary Coton
Fantome Saison
Avery 16
Avery 17
Sarafijn Tripel
Odell Mountain Standard Reserve Batch #1
Odell Saboteur Batch #1

And far too many imports/lambics to count.
Oct 24, 2010
Photo of allforbetterbeer
Reviewed by allforbetterbeer from Colorado

4.3/5  rDev -1.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
I went looking around Colorado Springs for some rare/unique beers, and every major liquor store told me to come here if I wanted an obscure beer. I wasn't disappointed. From what I can tell, this store has an additional 15-30 beers on top of what any other store in Colorado Springs can offer. It doesn't have the "warehouse" feel in any way, its prices are fairly good for a smaller store, and it also has a decent selection of wine. All that adds up to a nice spot to shop for beer. The clerks I have talked to have always been helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. If you are looking for hard to find imports (especially if they are single bottle types) I recommend this as the best place to look in Colorado Springs. As a store that advocates for beer, this is as good as it gets. This store often holds tastings of international and local beers in collaboration with The Warehouse restaurant.
Oct 08, 2009
Coaltrain Wine and Spirits in Colorado Springs, CO
Place rating: 4.35 out of 5 with 53 ratings