BevMo!

BevMo!BevMo!
BevMo!BevMo!
Store

1900 N Davis Rd
Salinas, California, 93907-2533
United States

(831) 442-2411 | map
bevmo.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.58
Reviews:
2
Ratings:
3
pDev:
17.6%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by djmichaelk:
Photo of djmichaelk
Reviewed by djmichaelk from Florida

2.85/5  rDev -20.4%
This Bevmo is kind of out of the way, tucked behind several auto dealerships on the northern edge of town and on the border of some farmland (but hey, what in Salinas isn't next to farmland?).

Q - Like most Bevmos, much of the stock is not refrigerated, but is on shelves that line the right-hand side of the store. But at least they're out of any sunlight, and are only exposed to fluorescent light. There are some coolers in the back, but they only seem to store a lot of BMC and the higher volume craft, and only in six-packs -- no bombers in there at all. Many out of date IPAs still on the shelves, too, and not much for stock rotation.

S - Typical of Bevmo, the employees know next to nothing about craft beer. Occasionally, one of them may make a comment about liking something that I'm buying, and that can be encouraging. But then I remember asking about whether they'd be getting any Parabola and I got a "I've never heard of that". Which happens almost every time I ask about a specific beer. I've never been able to get a straight answer on who actually orders the beer, only that "the guy's not here today".

S - When I first moved here, I probably would've given this place a 4.5, but in the past year or year and a half, it's really fallen off. There really is a lot to choose from, but much of the good stuff has been picked over and the stock not refreshed. And it seems like it can take weeks if not months for new releases to arrive -- long after most other stores, including other Bevmos! And they play it very safe -- plenty of Lindemans fruit beers but no Cuvee Rene, lots of generic Ballast Point and Deschutes six-packs, but none of the reserve series for either. One other thing I want to mention -- Bevmo has a reasonably nice online inventory site, but there are a LOT of times that I've been burned by it. If you see something you want and it's a long drive away, CALL FIRST, to make sure that actually have it.

V - If nothing else, Bevmo does usually have some good prices on many beers. Sometimes they'll get beat by other stores, but I can usually depend on the overall bill to be roughly even with other stores in the area.

O - I really, REALLY want to like this particular Bevmo, since there's really nothing else in Salinas that carries quality craft and this store is around the corner from me. But until they get a dedicated buyer who really knows his beer, they'll always just be my second or third option. I'd rather drive 30-60 minutes out of my way to get the good stuff most of the time.
Sep 04, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.39 by LakerLeith from California

Jun 09, 2014
Photo of ThreeWiseMen
Reviewed by ThreeWiseMen from California

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%
I stopped in to this BevMo! yesterday on my way back from San Francisco. I'm pretty sure it's only a month or two old at this point. It sits at the edge of a large shopping complex.

Seemed like a typical BevMo! at first: high ceilings, warehouse-like setup, clean. The two aisles of beer were located in the back right corner of the store. The imported selection was nothing special; just the same widely-available ales and lagers found at all BevMo!s. The American craft section was pretty nice though. I saw a good amount of Pizza Port, Lost Abbey, Deschutes, and Stone, along with several six packs from local El Toro Brewing Co. in Morgan Hill. I have to say, I was sort of impressed.

The girl at check-out was friendly and talkative, but didn't know jack about beer - typical BevMo! employee.

Prices were fair enough, and all of the beer appeared to be fresh.
May 03, 2010
BevMo! in Salinas, CA
Place rating: 3.58 out of 5 with 3 ratings