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Spec's #61 - Brodie Lane
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Reviewed by DoctorZombies from Florida
4.68/5 rDev +12.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5
4.68/5 rDev +12.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5
Awesome selection and super friendly staff. There is a deli section where you can eat, and there were multiple venders serving wine, food and liquor samples. Tons of beer from around the world to select from; seemed this Specs had more beer than others I have been in here in Texas.
May 09, 2016Reviewed by BeerSamurai34 from Texas
4.29/5 rDev +3.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
4.29/5 rDev +3.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
Incredible store. It's a chain superstore and has tons of great food and wine. The beer selection was ok, but nothing special. There were quite a few options, but nothing too rare.
Sep 02, 2015Rated by ericaus from Texas
2.72/5 rDev -34.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 2.25 | selection: 2.5
2.72/5 rDev -34.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 2.25 | selection: 2.5
I really like specs, they have a great selection service is not so great
Jul 21, 2015Reviewed by JamLand from District of Columbia
4/5 rDev -3.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
4/5 rDev -3.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Although one of the larger Spec's, it used to not be frequented too much. However, that has changed. They also lost their only quality beer guy awhile back, so service is hit or miss now.
Mar 31, 2015Reviewed by tjkinate from Nebraska
4.28/5 rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
4.28/5 rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Best Specs Warehouse in Austin. They have a solid, well solid for Austin, beer selection with some pretty fair prices.
They also carry the most local beers I have seen in any liquor around the city. I generally don't like supporting the big commercial stores like this, but Specs has been great for distributing Texas beers all over the state.
Staff is friendly and fairly knowledgeable, have to always tell myself not everyone is a beer fanatic like me.
The best part about Specs is that they truly are your one stop shop for alcohol. Great selection on all types and even have an enormous cigar collection.
If you haven't visited this location, I suggest you make a point to.
Sep 17, 2011They also carry the most local beers I have seen in any liquor around the city. I generally don't like supporting the big commercial stores like this, but Specs has been great for distributing Texas beers all over the state.
Staff is friendly and fairly knowledgeable, have to always tell myself not everyone is a beer fanatic like me.
The best part about Specs is that they truly are your one stop shop for alcohol. Great selection on all types and even have an enormous cigar collection.
If you haven't visited this location, I suggest you make a point to.
Reviewed by jamescain from Texas
4.33/5 rDev +4.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
4.33/5 rDev +4.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
I wasn't really sure what to put for atmosphere seeing as how this is a liquor store. This location used to be an Academy Sporting goods store, but it was bought by Spec's and transformed into a 50,000 sq ft liquor store. They have a very impressive selection of beer and their staff in the beer selection is also knowledgeable about what they sell. It is kind of out of the way for me so I don't normally buy beers from them when I'm in town, but I do like go there when I can. They have a section of specialty foods and coffee but I don't normally stop to look because I'm there for other reasons. If you're looking for a specific beer in Texas, they will probably have it.
Jul 22, 2011Reviewed by Fenris244 from Texas
4.15/5 rDev -0.2%
4.15/5 rDev -0.2%
I was downtown and stopped in on my way back home.
Well this i have to say isn't my favorite specs in the Austin area, the dim lighting is a little off putting and it gives the place an odd feeling for me(this is highlighted by the way it sprawls) the place is huge too. It's much bigger than the front of the building would suggest. Good selection and I get the feeling that the beer section isn't the most frequented and was able to pick up a few things the other specs had sold out of and I'll happily put up with odd layout and seemingly way to spread out beer section for that alone. The staff wasn't helpful at all but I'm not going to knock them for that the place was deserted anyway and I'm sure I caught the girl off guard.
Aside from the odd layout and my personal quips aside this isn't a bad store and if I'm in the area I'll stop by see what's in stock
Jan 18, 2011Well this i have to say isn't my favorite specs in the Austin area, the dim lighting is a little off putting and it gives the place an odd feeling for me(this is highlighted by the way it sprawls) the place is huge too. It's much bigger than the front of the building would suggest. Good selection and I get the feeling that the beer section isn't the most frequented and was able to pick up a few things the other specs had sold out of and I'll happily put up with odd layout and seemingly way to spread out beer section for that alone. The staff wasn't helpful at all but I'm not going to knock them for that the place was deserted anyway and I'm sure I caught the girl off guard.
Aside from the odd layout and my personal quips aside this isn't a bad store and if I'm in the area I'll stop by see what's in stock
Reviewed by shakeheap from California
4.35/5 rDev +4.6%
4.35/5 rDev +4.6%
Spec's Brodie Lane is located in an old Academy Sports location and they use the whole thing. This could well be the greatest store in the history of stores. That is to say they offer everything you could possibly need to throw the mother of all parties.
On the left in front are your fine meats and cheeses, sauces and what have you. On the left in back is the beer. More on that in a moment.
Center is one of the biggest wine selections I've ever seen. On the right is the hard booze... everything from the cheap stuff to the pricey.
The beer selection is a combo of cold and room temp. Plenty of shelf space holding what they couldn't fit in the coolers. The selection of beers is decent. A lot of local labels but mostly what is available in most of the other better beer stores around Texas (which is admittedly something of a beer wasteland).
The appear to rotate the stock faithfully and one cannot turn around in there without a helpful and generally knowledgeable employee ready and willing to help. They run some good sales on prices that are already pretty low relative to other places (and they boast a "low price guarantee").
When in Austin I will be returning.
Jan 07, 2011On the left in front are your fine meats and cheeses, sauces and what have you. On the left in back is the beer. More on that in a moment.
Center is one of the biggest wine selections I've ever seen. On the right is the hard booze... everything from the cheap stuff to the pricey.
The beer selection is a combo of cold and room temp. Plenty of shelf space holding what they couldn't fit in the coolers. The selection of beers is decent. A lot of local labels but mostly what is available in most of the other better beer stores around Texas (which is admittedly something of a beer wasteland).
The appear to rotate the stock faithfully and one cannot turn around in there without a helpful and generally knowledgeable employee ready and willing to help. They run some good sales on prices that are already pretty low relative to other places (and they boast a "low price guarantee").
When in Austin I will be returning.
Reviewed by jasonjlewis from Texas
4.35/5 rDev +4.6%
4.35/5 rDev +4.6%
HUGE store with food, liquor, beer, and wine.
I saw pretty fresh stuff on the shelves. They still had some bigfoot and some winter releases, but those beers will age well, so it's not a big deal.
I saw very helpful customer service for other customers. I didn't require any customer service, but no one asked me if I needed help.
Huge selection. I don't think I had a beer in mind that I couldn't find. Austin gets certain beers that other parts of Texas can't get, and I took full advocantage of it.
Aug 15, 2009I saw pretty fresh stuff on the shelves. They still had some bigfoot and some winter releases, but those beers will age well, so it's not a big deal.
I saw very helpful customer service for other customers. I didn't require any customer service, but no one asked me if I needed help.
Huge selection. I don't think I had a beer in mind that I couldn't find. Austin gets certain beers that other parts of Texas can't get, and I took full advocantage of it.
Reviewed by northaustin from Texas
4.2/5 rDev +1%
4.2/5 rDev +1%
i usually go to the specs at the arbor walk so it was kinda like bein in the same store in a different universe.
before i start the full review i have to say this place has without a doubt the most poorly designed parking lot ive ever seen. that aside...
much more open and spread out than the other two specs. despite this i still found help very quickly and had a lengthy convo about beers (a must when visiting new stores). found a few that arent at arbor walk such as two jokers and old bawdy barleywine.
as i was not familiar with the people at the register they carded me and made me feel young again so that was nice.
a pleasant experience and definately the highlight of my trip to south austin.
Jul 18, 2009before i start the full review i have to say this place has without a doubt the most poorly designed parking lot ive ever seen. that aside...
much more open and spread out than the other two specs. despite this i still found help very quickly and had a lengthy convo about beers (a must when visiting new stores). found a few that arent at arbor walk such as two jokers and old bawdy barleywine.
as i was not familiar with the people at the register they carded me and made me feel young again so that was nice.
a pleasant experience and definately the highlight of my trip to south austin.
Reviewed by LittleDon from Texas
4.85/5 rDev +16.6%
4.85/5 rDev +16.6%
At what point does a successful local establishment become a corporate pariah? Specs started in Houston in the early 60s and since has grown to over 50 stores in Central and East Texas. If the Brodie Lane store is an indication of their formula for success, they've done so by offering quality products: beer, spirits, cigars, and food. At this point in their development, they haven't gotten so big that operations haven been standardized to the point of generification (see McDonald's or Starbucks). It is obvious that store managers are given enough leeway that stores don't have to be like every other store. What else could explain Brodie Lane's Beer Guy showing up to work in lederhosen? In fact, the Beer Guy is one of the reasons I like to buy at the Brodie Lane Specs. While I don't always agree with his personal tastes, I can count on his opinions being honest, consistent with his personal preferences, and based on experience. This I can bank on. While my personal preferences may be far from his, I can use this understanding to find products that truly work for me.
Beyond the exceptional service the prices and selection of non beer items is excellent. Knowing that a large purchasing power may unduly effect smaller quality operations (such as Whip In), I am ambivalence as to where my alliance (and money) should lie. For now, Spec's is worthy.
Apr 20, 2009Beyond the exceptional service the prices and selection of non beer items is excellent. Knowing that a large purchasing power may unduly effect smaller quality operations (such as Whip In), I am ambivalence as to where my alliance (and money) should lie. For now, Spec's is worthy.
Spec's #61 - Brodie Lane in Austin, TX
Place rating:
4.16 out of
5 with
40 ratings
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