Wine Gallery

Wine GalleryWine Gallery
Wine GalleryWine Gallery
Store

516 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215-2606
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.19
Reviews:
22
Ratings:
24
pDev:
7.4%
View: Place Reviews
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Rated: 4.25 by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts

Dec 19, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by harsley from Massachusetts

Sep 30, 2014
Photo of ZackRothman
Reviewed by ZackRothman from Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
This is my go-to store for any time I want to go out and buy some craft beer. Though it's called the Wine Gallery, they have a large selection of beers from right here in Massachusetts and from around the world. The staff here is knowledgeable, friendly, and very helpful. As someone who has been introduced to the craft beer scene in New England relatively recently, this store has helped me to expand my tastes and learn about the many wonderful micro-breweries that make this state so great.

One of my favorite things about the Wine Gallery is the beer tastings that they have every Thursday. The reps that show up for different breweries really know their stuff and will not only let you try all of the beers in their selection, but they'll tell you about each one while you're tasting it. It's this kind of event that keeps me coming back to the Wine Gallery each week.

If you're in the area and you're looking to buy any sort of alcohol, I'd suggest you stop in here. It's got a light, welcoming atmosphere and you will most likely find something you like. If not, the staff will help you to discover something that you do. Three cheers for the Wine Gallery!
Mar 12, 2013
Photo of busterthecat
Reviewed by busterthecat from Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
This store hasn't been reviewed for over a year, so it might be time for an update.

The Wine Gallery @ Kenmore is very easy to get to if using the T or a bus. Its a very small place that gives at least 70% of the space to wine and liquor. The staff is pleasant and helpful if asked. There is an 8 foot section of cooler for beer & about a 4 foot section of room temp bombers and such. It takes about 5 min to check out the selections.

The prices are quite fair. The selection is pretty varied for the space allotted for brews. A good selection of UK and european offerings. Most the cooler space is for 6 or 4 pks. The usual brands: Stone, SN, Lagunitas, Long Trail, Smuttynose, bear republic, sam adams, etc.

Worth a stop if in the area or need a quick sixer. Might find something special or rare.
Nov 07, 2010
Photo of SpeedwayJim
Reviewed by SpeedwayJim from New York

3.9/5  rDev -6.9%
Mainly a wine store as the name suggests but they have a decent selection of beer. With a fridge dedicated to 6 packs and two whole shelves full of 750ml, bombers, and 12oz singles.

Quality of the beer here is very good. More mainstream micros like Sam Adams and Macros are kept in the fridge along with a decent selection of 4 packs from Founders, Flying Dog, etc. There are also 2 shelves with all the usual Belgian suspects along with Lost Abbey, Brooklyn Brewery, etc. All bottles were kept at a good temperature and seemed up to date.

There was no real service here. Again, this is a wine place and presents itself as such. If you need help getting something, they can usually provide and they'll even offer to order you something if they don't currently stock it. However, if they're beer guy isn't there, it becomes harder to get a beer suggestion or the like.

Selection here, as said before is rather good. At least comparing to Bauer. They have more in general and seem to dedicated a larger proportion of their space to beer.

Prices here are a bit high but not excessively so. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.
Oct 18, 2009
Photo of nopucophop
Reviewed by nopucophop from New York

4/5  rDev -4.5%
I was thrilled to find this place next to our hotel. After getting off the Kenmore stop on the T it was there Chimay sign that I noticed. Otherwise this place can be easily missed being it is in the basement.

The people working where very friendly and knowledgeable. The thing that got me was they had Southern Tier Mokah and Choklat. I live in upstate NY and have not been able to locate Choklat. The fact I drive 3 hours in the opposite direction and find it was funny to me. There selection of Belgium beers was pretty extensive as well. They even had some run of the mill stuff to accommodate the every day drinker.

All in all this made the evening in the hotel much more enjoyable. I am sure there are better places in Boston but when from out of town and staying by Fenway this is a Little gem
Jun 29, 2009
Photo of TrevorGW
Reviewed by TrevorGW from Massachusetts

4.7/5  rDev +12.2%
Great bomber selection from all corners of the globe. The beer geek will be happy in this store. All the unibroue, dogfish and rogue that you want are here.

The refrigerated six-pack selection is quite diverse, containing the usual local beers (harpoon, sam, wachusset) and imports (Red Stripe, Heineken) and then there is the rare west coast stuff as well (Green Flash, Lagunitas). The sixers are a bit pricey - no "deals" to be found at Wine Gallery. However, I am willing to pay a tiny bit of extra cash for a place that really knows their stuff and keeps up an interesting rotation of brew.

I've never bought wine here, but have bought hard alcohol. Prices for the hard booze are actually quite reasonable.

A great place to have in the neighborhood.
Dec 18, 2008
Photo of deanhead
Reviewed by deanhead from Vermont

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
Stumbled into this place on our way back form the Belgian Beerfest on Saturday evening. The man and woman working behind the counter were extremely helpful.

The selection was decent. Nice assortment of Domestic, Micros, Belgian, and other fine Euro offerings. Delicous selection of Bombers.

They were quite familiar with BA's and the impending beer fest going on this past weekend.

Overall I was pleased with the selection available in this metro area. I'm happy that I was able to locate this gem on the way back to our hotel.

It is also relly close to Fenway which is a plus.Check this place out if you can, it's worth it.
Sep 29, 2008
Photo of IBUnit63
Reviewed by IBUnit63 from Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
Little cousion to the Brookline behemoth. Right off the Kenmore T. How convenient!

They have an eclectic mix for the small space there. Good place to find offerings such as Peche Mortel, People's Pint and stuff you may not see at the usual suspects. The space they do dedicate to craft beer is definitely well-used.

Service is friendly and actually pretty humorous - one of the guys wondered aloud when I took a bottle of Peche Mortel why it hadn't been picked up sooner. Maybe the location?

Prices reflect rental costs around there - it may be illusion but they seem a little more expensive than others. Still, it's a good stop when around Kenmore or the ballpahk. Solid store.
Sep 10, 2008
Photo of ccrida
Reviewed by ccrida from Oregon

4/5  rDev -4.5%
Grabbed a few bottles here while in town the other day, of the random few liquor stores I popped into throughout the week, this one had the best selection of crafts, especially specialty ones in bombers. Also had some nice Belgians and English, like all the different cask aged JW Lees. Not a huge selection, but it's not a huge store, and they seemed to be pretty knowledgeable in their selections. As was the guy behind the counter. They also do regular beer & wine tastings there, and apparently have some kind of system where you can sample any wine bottle they have in stock (but not beer). Priced seemed average compared to the other places I hit in town.
Aug 15, 2008
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%
The Wine Gallery is down a half flight of stairs at 516 Commonweath. It's not far from "The Lower Depths" on one side (headed east towards Newbury), or "Eastern Standard" on the other. It's a small liquor store with a nice "wood" look to it. It has an average selection of imports and local 6-packs and a small amount of individual larger bottles; as well as a fairly decent selection of wine (note: that does not mean good, just OK, but it is a small store). I wasn't impressed by the selection (of either beer or wine), but it is nice that it's near at least one good stop (The Lower Depths). In a pinch it's certainly worth hitting.
Jun 22, 2008
Photo of ph2001
Reviewed by ph2001 from Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
this place doesn't look that big but their beer selection holds up pretty well, there's a lot of different things to choose from. good international selection as well as american craft, including the rarer releases. they have tastings every thursday night and additional beer tasting events often. it seems that a lot of times they will carry something and i will never see it again there, there is a lot being rotated in and out. this is a good thing but it can be disspointing at times too. staff is very knowledgable and helpful also. prices seem about average for the city.
Jun 04, 2008
Photo of Yamar18
Reviewed by Yamar18 from Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +11%
I love the Wine Gallery. They have a great selection that is always rotating and a great staff who will take the time to explain to you what they have available, where it is from, when they will be getting more, etc.

I have been to one tasting at the Wine Gallery and it was paired with different local goat cheeses. I was very pleased with the pairings and surprised with how well some of them came together. It seems like the staff here is very knowledgable and excited about their beer. Tastings are weekly and I will definitley be going back for more tastings/purchases.
Jun 02, 2008
Photo of SFLpunk
Reviewed by SFLpunk from Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
The guys know their beer, and they know beers that they don't stock, which is almost as important to me. I want them to be able to recommend something similar to what I usually drink if they don't have that. Also, they seem to not only keep the stock fresh, but they also change up what they're offering fairly regularly. Not much macro-beer which makes more room for all that delicious micro.

Awesome shop though small. I think around 300 beers, give or take (including macro).

They carry some really esoteric beers, which is awesome.
Mar 01, 2008
Photo of morebeergood
Reviewed by morebeergood from Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -1%
The Wine Gallery in Kenmore Sq. is in a great location for me, as I often catch the bus from there, so I am often inclined to stop in to browse. The selection here is very good for the area, with three coolers full of six packs and three shelves of 22 oz. bottles. This store has many great beers at very competitive prices, often slightly lower that what I can find in Allston. The service here is very friendly, there is always a friendly conversation about beer etc taking place. I really like the Thursday night beer tastings, and I wish it was a regular weekly event. The Wine Gallery is a great store to visit and shop at downtown.
Feb 20, 2007
Photo of pizzahead
Reviewed by pizzahead from Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +8.6%
I've been frequenting the Wine Gallery Kenmore since it opened. Located in the downstairs of Hotel Commonwealth, next to Eastern Standard, across from Cornwall's. The beer selection has expanded as of late, but its still nowhere near the Brookline location, due to the size of the store.
Beers are in two areas: a double sided rack of mostly bombers in the middle of the floor, and a refrigereator filled with mostly sixers. One side of the rack is domestic, ranging from local (BBC, Cisco, Allagash) to Cali (Moylans, ok Stone selection) and in between (Rogue, Jolly Pumpkin, Middle Ages, Hooker). Other side of the rack is imports. Good amount of Belgian (St. Bernardus, Trappists, Fantome) some German and English below. Fridge contains sixers from BMC, some Sam, Oscar Blues, Founders, Smutty. The selction varies. There are also cold bombers in the fridge by the cheese, but the selection is spotty. Service is excellent- they know what they have, what they don't have, why they don't have it and if they'll get it. I find the price to be reasonable for a specialty store in the middle of Boston. Right on par w/ Bauer or the WIne Emporiums in the South End.
Aug 19, 2006
Photo of swhitt
Reviewed by swhitt from Texas

4.7/5  rDev +12.2%
I've been a customer of the Wine Gallery since the day I started drinking (the day I turned 21, as it was). It's directly across from my house in Kenmore Square. They have a great location, just by all of the MIT fraternity houses and the eastern side of Boston University as well as many of the high end Back Bay area consumers.

Although they originally started as a strictly wine shop, they've expanded quite a bit into the botique beer and liquor area. Their six pack selection is a little sparse, but this is due to lack of space as opposed to choice. However, their bomber selection is quite comprehensive. A very large percentage of BA's top 100 is available within their bomber selection. The majority of these are found within a shelf which is right in front of you as you enter the store. American beers on one side, imports on the other.

The staff at the wine gallery is by far its biggest asset. In terms of knowledge of beer, they're active on BA and they definitely know their stuff. If you're browsing their beer selection and they have a few minutes, they'll almost certainly come over and give you some advice.

The only weakness I can find about this place is their selection - and this isn't their choice, this is because of their small size. It's a restricted area and they maximize it as best they can. However, their Brookline counterpart has a much wider selection. It's close, so if you want something they'll call the other store and check to see if they have it.

All and all, the wine gallery is one of the best stores for beer in Boston. Charles Street has nothing on them and they're right up there with Bauer.
Jul 28, 2006
Photo of bignick
Reviewed by bignick from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -4.5%
This is a good liquor store for beer, but the selection is not nearly as extensive as the Brookline location, due to space constraints. The smallish bomber rack definitely has some gems: the Belgians, Ommegangs, couple Stones, couple Alesmiths, etc, but I have found that the sixpack cooler is not up to the impossibly high standard that its neighbor, Bauer, has set. There is always a decent selection, but I have found that the majority of the six packs are widely available and often pedestrian craft options. The service is very attentive...it definitely has the small liquor store feel with one person doing the counter who will offer to help when he sees someone browsing for more than a few seconds.
Mar 03, 2006
Photo of dbalsock
Reviewed by dbalsock from Vermont

4/5  rDev -4.5%
stopped in this store a few times with expectations of what i'm going to get... always end up with a hell of a lot more than i thought i would. for six packs and things... not a whole lot of options, but for bombers and singles... i am very happy with the selection and never have enough money to buy everything that i want. the store is easy to get to by bus and green line... which is wonderful especially when carrying home some heavy bags of beer. after my recent visit, i am fully decided to make the extra effort past my neighborhood liquor store to hit up the wine gallery for any special bombers i might want in my fridge, especially with the welcoming and helpful demeanor of the person working at the time.
Jan 21, 2006
Photo of MuddyFeet
Reviewed by MuddyFeet from North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
I think I am pampered living close to so many great beer stores after living in beer purgatory for three years. The selection at this Wine Gallery location was solid, but it did not have anything that you could not find at any other beer store in the area. Probably due to the size of the space for beer they are limited to how wide the selection can actively be. More of a place to stop in after work to buy a solid beer and not a destination beer store. The one thing I was hoping for was a bit more extensive selection of local New England beers ut the space was dedicated to craft beers from all over the nation that most people would enjoy. However, I was told by the staff that they could have anything delivered from the Brookline location and could order others for me. I would go back if I was in the area and needed a couple of beers for dinner but would not head there to stock up the basement.
Dec 08, 2005
Photo of Sycodrummer
Reviewed by Sycodrummer from Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -1%
A small store in the bottom of the Hotel Commonwealth, Wine Gallery (as its name implies) has mostly wines, but a very good stock of craft beer as well for the space it alots for beer.

Domestic six packs include styles from Brooklyn, DFH, Sam Adams, Ipswich, Harpoon, Tremont and others. Imports include the basic such as Bass, Guinness, Harp, Bodingtons, but some better choices like Young's, and Julious Echter as well.

Bombers from Rogue, Stone, and Ommegang are there as well as some choice imports such as Saison Dupont, Chimay, Unibroue, Lees, Corsendonk and St, Bernardous. Some interesting Belgian sample packs as well.

Staff is friendly and always offers to help. One gentleman reccomended J.W. Lees Harvest Ale to me.

Prices are reasonable. Around 7/8 bucks for six packs and around 5-12 dollars for bombers.
Sep 12, 2005
Photo of taez555
Reviewed by taez555 from Vermont

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
Located in the row of shops along the Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square, the Wine Gallery is a small little boutique wine shop that also has a decent selection of beers. Wine accounts for most of the small square room. A cooler with a half dozen doors and some shelves against the back wall make up the beer section.

Beer selection is decent. The cooler contains mostly macros, common micros, some imports and more common craft beers. The shelves are a bit limited but are extremely focused. It’s a nice array of Belgians, English, German, and Craft beers. There were definitely some more obscure imports and it’s always nice to see Deus. For the most part though it was limited sticking only to one or two beers per brewery.

The wine gallery seems to fit the growing trend of small wine stores that are attempting to branch out to craft beer drinkers. It’s a decent selection and the weekly tasting are a nice touch, but it’s not really a large or unique enough selection to bring me out of my way.
Apr 09, 2005
Photo of kmo1030
Reviewed by kmo1030 from Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
a good but small selection of beer. selctions from victory, stone, DFH, unibroue, a few belgians, some local stuff, and some english stuff. they also had a stout from africa if i remeber correctly. everything is fresh as the place just opened pretty recently. the service is friendly and always willing to help, but i think wine is their thing. this place is right just about across the street from my apartment so i go here often, it's nice to have such a solidly decent place so close. worth a stop if you live/are staying near fenway.

-edit 11/3/05-
i stopped by this place for the first time in a while last week and they totally revamped the beer selection. they added a new double sided shelf that houses a good selection of bombers ans such. they now offer alesmith, the full line of DFH, fantome, avery, weyrbacher, etc, etc. i was very impressed. very good to see, the improvment on the beer end, there must have been a demand, and thats nice to see.
Feb 04, 2005
Photo of bigbeerdrinka
Reviewed by bigbeerdrinka from Germany

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
Well this store just popped up a while ago and its located right in kenmore square in the hotel commonwealth plaza which makes it an easy stop for a BU student or someone just walking on through boston. Though the shop's title may say wine in it they have a fairly decent selection of microbrewed and imported beers that are a nice find from the average store. The selection consisted of the following brews Baladin Nora, Old Peculier, Hop Wallop, a bunch of Stone products, Anchor OSA, Weyerbacher, Fuller's 1845, and a few other gems. The service there was friendly enough, though I wouldn't bother asking them for advice on beer, and on a side note they do wine tastings every thursday night (though they currently do not do beer tastings). Overall this store was a nice addition to kenmore square, the prices were relatively decent, and hopefully they will continue to keep their good selection of beer. Though this is no way is a must stop, its definetly a nice place to go to if your in the area.
Dec 20, 2004
Wine Gallery in Boston, MA
Place rating: 4.19 out of 5 with 24 ratings