In Fine Spirits

 

2012: Bar closed.

Spring 2009: Beer seemed to be languishing here. Smattering of craft stuff but not much new to be found. Gorch Fock & Broodoo from last year, old label Dreadnaught probably also from last season. The register guy says they don't carry Goose Is. since they aren't "local" anymore after "signing a deal with the devil" for partial distro through AB. Whatever...can't really say i'd return after giving it a few tries. Beer is maybe 1/15th of the selection here, it's a wine shop.

There's a new bar/lounge that opened next door in April 2008. It opens at 4pm daily, with a small food menu that included cheese and charcuterie plates. Current cask offering is 3F Robert the Bruce, and about 20 handpicked craft and import beers, plus Old Style for the cheapos. The menu is very detailed with tasting notes, style, origin, and abv info on each beer. The shop selection remains focused on a handful of select breweries, such as Three Floyds, Unibroue, Coney Is., Rogue, New Holland, Arcadia, DFH, and random quality imports. The lounge would be a nice respite from the Hopleaf when it's room reaches critical mass...

EDIT 12/2007: In the area for xmas shopping, decided to check it out again. They encourage mixing singles and offer a 10% discount for a mixed six-pack. Their cellar had some extras, like Alpha Kong, La Merle Saison, Maredsous, Founders Harvest, and a few other notable ones. The US craft singles I grabbed were under $2 for the most part, DFH 90 min. was close to $3. Not as bad as my 1st impression...but the shelves in the shop have the potential to have at least 1/3 more stock. Service was more helpful too, it's usually 1-on-1 if there aren't many customers there.

Original review 10-19-2007:
Stopped in here randomly while in Andersonville looking for Swedish stuff.

There were a few customers while I was there, and the staff were busy holding their hands while buying expensive wine. The beer shelves held some quality goods, such as 3 Floyds Behemoth, and Anchor OSA. This place had the air of a fancy boutique shop, where you might find a gift for a beer or wine connoisseur. Prices were higher than average, prompting me to make an exit after surveying the scene. I may return to check out the "cellar", but won't be making a special trip.

Stumbled in as I was exploring my new neighbourhood and came upon their wine tasting. Spotted the beers. Prices seemed a bit high compared to some other places in the area I had scoped out already, but they definitely have quality choices and a couple I had heard of but not seen before like a local brew from just outside the city (a farmhouse saison, do not recall the name - need to go back for some). Lots of Unibroue, Three Floyds, Dogfish (Aprihop, mmm).

Overall definitely worth going back. Just need to do so when it is my last trip of the day and therefore will not be walking around doing my errands with bottles.

This store is located amid the bustling restaurant and nightlife district of Clark Street in Andersonville. The store itself is small and very charming, with wooden cabinetry, shelveing, and tables under soft lighting, displaying the wares in a very classy way. The ambience would even make for a good place to drink the wares and maybe have a small party with close friends. Anyway, the wares are mostly wine, as this is first and foremost a wine shop. There is a small display of Belgian and Unibroue bottles, which when the staff notices you studying it, they offer to usher you to the "secret cellar" . The " secret cellar" is down the stairs near the back of the store, and it resembles nothing so much as, well, a cellar, a storage cellar in a restaurant, that is, with the attendant ambience of such a cellar ( i.e. uv lighting, modular food service wire rack shelves, but it's cozy and clean ) and it's about the size of a large walk-in closet. On these shelves you'll find Two Brothers, DFH, FFF, Rogue, Unibroue, and assorted Belgian 750 mls. There isn't much, but what they do have is quality stuff, and they are friendly and helpful, and so it was a pleasure to buy some beer here, and I would do so again, and I could see going here on a more regular basis for beer if I lived in A-ville. Like I said before though, their main thing here is the wine, and I'd shop here first for that anytime, even if it meant going out of my way.