Sommelier

Stopped in here today on a return trip from Milwaukee.

The storefront is nestled in the sleepy, transitioning downtown area, where many similar retail spaces lie vacant. They have a nice sign, with a few lights overhead, but i'm pretty sure they close up early.

The beer is scattered throughout the place, if it were consolidated into one area, it would appear more impressive. There was an open terraced cooler on the right when you first walk in, where cold sixers are. more singles are in crates under the front windows, partially covered by wood slats. In the back, there are cases along the back wall, with single priced six-packs on display. There was a mix-a-six area, with maybe 20 craft options, located awkwardly across from the registers. $8.49 for 6 is a good price, however, the singles were limited, and squeezed on a small shelf above some wine.

The selection was of good quality, a couple gems such as Expedition and Hopslam ($15/6), some New Glarus, Tyranena, Bells, Founders, and Lakefront. No NG Unplugged on my visit. Service was friendly and helpful. Best selection in the downtown area, but Timer's in Racine, and Woodman's off 94 have a larger selection. Convenience is the main factor here, not especially worth going out of the way for. If you are downtown, hit Captain Mike's and a few of the little shops while you're at it.

Stopped by here during a Wisconsin beer run. This place is in downtown Kenosha in a cool old building. The focus is definitely on wine, and while the beer slection is small, it is all quality stuff. They seem to have mostly six packs, with a few bombers. Once nice feature is they have a table in the back with bottles of all the beers they sell with an accompanying description.

I spoke to Bob Mitchell, the owner, on my visit. He knew his beers well and was extremely passionate about both quality beer and wine. He mentioned several beer tastings they have recently held and some coming up in the future. One of the nicest and most helpful people I have run across in a wine/beer store, with none of the disdain for beer you sometimes find in stores that sell both.

Sommelier is a small wine store in downtown Kenosha, maybe a little more than a year old.

The folks behind the counter are still saying stuff to me like, "I can't believe how much you beer guys sound like our wine customers." They admit they're new at picking beer, and appear very open to suggestions. Service and selection should improve with time (or go in the tank, depending on how much beer business they do.)

The selection is almost all micros, but impressive for a little neighborhood wine store. There are plenty of Great Lakes region breweries -- Lakefront, Great Lakes, Bell's, Capital, New Glarus, Summit, Goose Island -- and some national reach -- like Smuttynose, Victory, Rogue, Allagash, Ft. Collins. There's Unibroue, too. They're very good about offering several beers from most breweries they stock, and host a beer tasting with several brewery reps on a quarterly basis.

They're just starting to stock bombers of high-end stuff, but it's mostly six-packs of 12 oz. bottles at or around $7. Mix-n-match as well. If you wish, they have macros, and the apparently resurgent Berghoff brand.

They do a nice job stocking wine, too. Very good at helping make a guy with $15 look classy.

Edit: Up goes the rating for service, as these guys have proven extremely helpful, and plenty willing to order me up a case of beer.