Cloverleaf Fine Wine

Cloverleaf Fine WineCloverleaf Fine Wine
Cloverleaf Fine WineCloverleaf Fine Wine
Store

711 S Main St
Royal Oak, Michigan, 48067-2626
United States

(248) 357-0400 | map
cloverleafwine.com

Monday - Wednesday: 10am - 8pm
Thursday - Saturday: 10am - 10pm
Sunday: 12pm - 8pm
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.52
Reviews:
42
Ratings:
50
pDev:
7.52%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by after5:
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Reviewed by after5 from Tennessee

5/5  rDev +10.6%
I stopped in here after looking over things here on BeerAdvocate.

GREAT selection of just about everything. Great Belgium, craft beer, imports, local beer.

My unique finds were Golden Carolos in 16oz, plus Langunitas (sic) Maximus. The local belgians were pretty good. The Dragonmeade Tripel held up rather well against the true trappist. The Orval priced at under $5 was rather interesting.

My great find was a nice small collection of beer glasses at modest prices.

They kept the right things in the cooler and the right things at room temp.

ALL the bottles were mix/match at very reasonable prices which was a shock for the type of inventory they carried. I got to try some things that I have avoided just because I did not want the whole 4/6 pack.

Scott was very attentive and sounds like they are in touch with their customer base.

I'll be heading back when I finish my last purchase.
Aug 20, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.45 by FaradayUncaged from Michigan

Nov 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.93 by tommy5 from Michigan

Mar 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4.01 by Ohiovania from Ohio

Dec 30, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by aneymanowski from Iceland

Dec 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Jas45678 from Michigan

Nov 15, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by hotsudge from Canada (ON)

Aug 10, 2014
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Reviewed by Copernicandream from Michigan

3.41/5  rDev -24.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3
Overpriced, old IPAs, staff knowledge somewhat questionable (I'm sure they know their wine) but when I asked for "imperial stouts?" I was told "Oh yeah, of course, we have some great hoppy beers." Huh? My eyes glazed over and I stopped listening after that.

Drive the half mile down the road and go to Holiday Market, better selection, better price, more limited/specialty releases.
Feb 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Bill235 from Ohio

Jan 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Stu_Grimson from Michigan

Dec 05, 2013
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Reviewed by CopperMtnPlowboy from Ohio

4.82/5  rDev +6.6%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.75
This place looks more like a wine shop than a beer store, so if I hadn't read about Cloverleaf on BA, I never would have known the store existed. (They do have a huge wine selection, I'm just not that much into wine.) It was surprising to see a large selection of craft beers, especially the local brews - I picked up 5 different Vivant brews, as well as some Keweenaw and a Rochester Milkshake Stout. All are available in singles, as the man (forgot his name already) told us, "If you don't like a particular beer, we don't want you having to give your brother-in-law a 5-pack of craft beer as a gift"...heh heh.

Customer service is great, knowlegeable while not being pushy. Selection is well organized. I'll be back next time I'm in the area.
Jan 27, 2013
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Reviewed by FEUO from Canada (ON)

4.51/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Love this place.
The staff is extremely knowledgeable and honest but reminds you that their opinion is just that and that there is something for everyone. Talked with Terry a few times and has turned me on to some incredible brews and breweries (i.e. Lagunitas).
I can't say enough about them.
The wine selection is also an eclectic mix and they seem to be MORE informed about those than their beer. Everything they stock they've tasted and hand picked. Not as sure when it comes to the beer but they do like to do their homework.
They also have waitlists for limited releases. Had my name on a few but haven't made the cut as of yet. Expecting Bolt Cutter as I'm #2 this time.
Sep 18, 2012
Photo of BeRanger
Reviewed by BeRanger from Michigan

4.86/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Cloverleaf is fantastic. Located off Main Street in Royal Oak, it's somewhat hard to find if you don't know about this little gem. (Thank Royal Oak's ridiculous city commission for not allowing a reasonably sized sign to be put on the side of the building)

The selection for wine is outstanding from what I've seen and heard however I'm a beer guy.

As for the beer, they seem to have anything and everything you could ever want at a reasonable price. Unlike some of "newcomers" to craft beers which try and price gouge you, Cloverleaf's staff is knowledge and been in the game long enough to set reasonable prices. All of their staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. If there is something that you'd like, they're more than willing to order it for you.

The only draw back I've noted is due to volumes of some of the larger stores such as Holiday market, they don't get in every single release from some Breweries such as Shorts or find themselves with smaller quantities of CBS/KBS, etc.

So if you're looking for a store with a great selection, knowledgeable staff and a reasonable price, look no further than Cloverleaf.
Dec 19, 2011
Photo of NitroGen
Reviewed by NitroGen from Arizona

4.64/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
...that Cloverleaf is a 3 minute walk from the house that my daughter moved into to work in Royal Oak...#$@%$ PRICELESS.
A quick trip to Royal Oak from AZ to help my daughter get situated into her new house found me sprinting and dragging my wife by the hand to Cloverleaf on a Friday Morning.
The building was the power station for Royal Oak Street Cars decades ago..pretty cool if I do say so myself...even impressed my wife who does not like beer.
The sign on the building does not mention beer, just wine, but do not fret as once inside you go down the stairs and are greeted with a really nice display of their most recent beer arrivals. Saw a lot of wine bottles in the room on the left but was drawn to the coolers that they store ALL beers below 6. ABV. (Can I get an Amen?) A small room to the right of the coolers is for beers above 6,0 ABV. I found the beers to be a dazzling array of imported.. available in the MI market AND MI Craft beers on metal shelves. This is not a place to run in and grab a few six packs and run out, instead you build six packs, twelve packs ..etc a bottle at a time. This AZ beer geek was impressed with the cleanliness and attention to detail in everything.
Service: OFF THE CHARTS! While I was just buying just a mixed six for my stay Scott talked 'beer geek' with me, be still my heart, until my wife reminded me that not everyone wants to talk about beer all day long...have a sneaking suspicion that Scott was up to the task.
I found the selection to be GREAT and pricing to be VERY reasonable.
If you want to treat yourself take a trip to Cloverleaf as I found my visit(s) to be the highlight of my trip..just don't tell the family.. OK?
Guess where I will be headed next time I am in Royal Oak??
Oct 12, 2011
Photo of superjose
Reviewed by superjose from Michigan

4.29/5  rDev -5.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Really cool place with a basement cellar type feel, you can tell they take pride in what they do. Everything is singles, most of which is on open shelves but there are several cooler doors for the lower alcohol beers (I wish the high % IPAs were in there too). They have a good selection of beers (especially for a place that seems to do most of their business in wine) organized by style. The staff seems very helpful, but I think they are more wine people then beer people which is understandable. A great place to go if your looking to try a bottle or two of a few different things but don't want to pick up a whole 4 or 6 pack.
Jun 24, 2011
Photo of J0E
Reviewed by J0E from Michigan

4.29/5  rDev -5.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
I visited this bottle shop for the first time this afternoon and was very impressed. I was greeted immediately. I noticed some Shorts anniversary wheat wine and asked the employee about it. He was very knowledgeable and even went back to look at the email he received regarding the release from the company.

You can build your own 6 pack; every bottle is priced individually. Prices are very reasonable, and sometimes are better than buying a full six at other shops. There are a few fridges in case you'll be drinking right away, other wise there are a ton of shelves. I'm not much of a wine guy, but I was told they have a great selection, and seem to have good prices.

Overall: fantastic service, great selection, and better than fair prices. Check it out if you're in the area.
Jun 18, 2011
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Reviewed by tjohn2401 from Michigan

4.64/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
I stopped by Cloverleaf a couple weeks ago on a Thursday evening and was instantly impressed. I was greeted as I entered the very cool basement by a friendly man who may well have been one of the owners. If he wasn't he certainly acted like it. He was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. He spent at least 5 minutes explaining their layout and gave his opinion on a couple of beers I was curious about.

All the beer is sold as singles and they seem to be reasonably priced. Maybe $.10-15 more per bottle than a six pack would cost, but well worth it, in my opinion. It's a great way to try new things.

The selection was very good, too. Tons of great Michigan beers - Bell's, Founders, Short's, Dark Horse, etc. and also some smaller local breweries like mt. pleasant brewing, kuhnhenn and dragonmead.

This is definitely a place I'll visit again.
May 12, 2011
Photo of jrallen34
Reviewed by jrallen34 from Illinois

4.35/5  rDev -3.8%
Stopped by here after lunch at Lily's. The atmosphere is very cool, its in the basement of what looks like an apartment building, you take a few step down and walk into what looks like a cave. There is beer everywhere. As you walk into to your right is there older beer, then there are coolers that hold their sub 6% beer, then there are sections of beer based upon style. Awesomely, all beer is sold by the bottle so this place is a tickers dream. Heavy on Michigan beer with lots of local places I actually haven't heard of. Great selection of East coast beers too, some Belgian staples but nothing outlandish on that front. The service was pretty good. They were very friendly and semi knowledgeable about their stock, not exceedingly knowledgeable about beer in general.

I strongly recommend coming here if in town to pick up a few ticks.
Jan 31, 2011
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Reviewed by Bung from Michigan

4/5  rDev -11.5%
In a neat old building by the railroads tracks. The 2 gents in there were friendly, but I didn't really need or ask for much help. Good varied selection of many styles, though more of the "summer" styles. Appeared to be arranged by style which was nice, though a bit cramped. Prices seemed good. I was trying to find something that I couldn't get in GR or in North Carolina, but I left empty handed. This probably has to do with the time of year and what is available in the summer. Jolly Pumpkin, Belgians and Sours, none of which I particularly care for. Found more things of interest at Holiday Market.
Jul 11, 2010
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Reviewed by WeedKing4 from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev -11.5%
Another stop on the Michigan beer haul trip. Small little beer section, but they do have a lot for their selection in the space they use. Only singles here, so you have to pick and match yourself. Very friendly service upon our visit. I grabbed two bombers of the Stone 13th, and a Double Bastard Ale. As well as some Bells Hopslam. They had tons of Quebec beer from Unibroue and Dieu Du Ceil. Hell, they have more Quebec beer then what we can get here in Ontario. Lots of Michigan beers, Colorado and others. A nice little place, and the prices weren't to bad.
Jan 10, 2010
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Reviewed by DrDoitchbig from Michigan

4.1/5  rDev -9.3%
I can only reiterate what everyone else has been saying. They have an exceptional selection of properly stored beer. Everything is where it should be. The right stuff is in the cooler, the right stuff is out on the shelves. It's in a basement with the windows blocked out so there is no sunlight getting at these beers either. Not to mention the whole place has dim lighting including the coolers.

I can't remember the name of the gentleman I talked to, but he definitely knew his beer and made sure to inform me that there selection is going to continue growing and it will grow in all styles. They also don't focus on any particular style, they have everything here. It's probably a good thing that I live 30 minutes away from Royal Oak because I'd be spending way too much money at this place.

For anyone coming to this place from the outer suburbs that might not be used to Royal Oak's parking there is a lot of pay meters around that you could use. Or since I find paying for parking when I'm going to be in a place for 20 minutes is ridiculous (spoiled by the ample free parking in Novi) there is a bank and a strip mall across the street with quite a bit of free parking.

Also one more thing to note Cloverleaf is still cheaper than Holiday Market and I can almost guarantee the beer is fresher, but Cloverleaf has seemed to raise their prices. For example a Stone Smoked Porter has been $4.99 at Holiday, it used to be $3.99 at Cloverleaf and its currently $4.44. Still a better deal and a better atmosphere. I'd still choose Cloverleaf every time.

I bought a single 12oz Oaked Arrogant Bastard, which is great because I didn't want to shell out for a 6-pack at Holiday. I also picked up a St. Bernardus chalice for $3. All their glassware is $3.

11/22/10: I've come back to edit this review because I have realized that an A+ rating for Cloverleaf is being way too generous. Don't get me wrong it's definitely an above average beer shop and I've never been anywhere that takes better care of their beer.

But they just don't seem to keep up on the current trends. This is not the place to go if you are looking for new releases. They don't seem to have the clout to get any kind of volume and half of the people are more interested in the wine than when Backwoods Bastard is coming in. There is one guy that really seems to know his beer, the same one I referenced a year ago, the rest of the employees are hit or miss.
Nov 04, 2009
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Reviewed by tallmidget from Michigan

5/5  rDev +10.6%
I'm going to lay out in 3 succinct points why this place is the best beer store in the area. I'm comparing this store to Holiday Market because they're the only local competition, there are many other good beer stores in the area; the only problem is that other stores that carry a lot of craft beer does not sell enough volume so you're stuck drinking not-so-fresh beer and your usual liquor store don't have the temperature/proper lighting of a cellar that makes the place so great for storing beer and wine.

1) Lowest markup on beer i've seen in the area. In the rare event that prices are 50 cents to a dollar cheaper at Holiday Market, let that be a warning to you that the beer has been sitting around for a while; beer has increased in price over due to the demand for hops and other ingredients. Do you see all the dust on the bottles at Holiday Market?

2) Everything is cellared/refrigerator properly with thought put into it. This means that the higher ABV beers that will benefit from aging are cellared and the lower ABV beer that are perishable are kept refrigerated which has almost no light to ruin the beer unlike the coolers Holiday Market.

3) Everything is sold in singles allowing you to try many beer styles without breaking the bank. While they are no Holiday Market in the variety department, you can rest assured that the thought put into the selection more than makes up for it.

The place is a bit hard to find. It is located directly across from the Royal Oak campus of Oakland Community College on Main Street and has a red neon sign that says "Fine Wine". The building looks a little nondescript but it is an old building, it is over 100 years old.

The store is mostly dominated by wine but has a respectable beer selection, about 180 beers. You aren't inundated with a superfluous selection of beer; many styles are represented. Most everything is lower priced at Cloverleaf than it is at Holiday Market; if it's not I would be weary of how long it has been sitting at Holiday Market. Glassware is extremely cheap; 2 dollars for every glass. I bought a Weihenstephaner Weizen glass and a La Fin Du Monde Tulip glass.

The people that run the store truly care about what they are selling; if they were in it to make money they would not be selling singles period. They care about people having the opportunity to try beers they normally wouldn't in the hopes that they will buy a six pack in the event that they do like a particular beer.
Sep 03, 2008
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Reviewed by allergictomacros from Canada (ON)

4.85/5  rDev +7.3%
NB as an out-of-towner, I found this shop a little hard to find - the metal-on-brick sign isn't easily seen driving past, but your perseverance will be rewarded. (NB it's right next to the railroad track.) This is a great store. Built into the basement of a brick building (no idea what the stuff above it is...), it has a lovely "cellar" feel to it with racks and racks of wine, beer and some other "artisanal" odds and ends. Beer area is off to the side in the back, but is very well stocked with room (cellar?) temp. stock as well as some fridges. General rule is low ABV in the fridge, while high ABV ones sit on racks.

Selection isn't the biggest in town, but whatever they have you can grab singles of - major props there. Additionally, they're happy to order in anything not in stock that's available (presumably from their distributor), and break those packs down as well.

If I'm ever back in the Detroit area, this will definitely be my first stop.
Sep 02, 2008
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Reviewed by SaucyA from Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +0.7%
I had always wanted to go to Cloverleaf but Southfield is a quite a drive for me. I was pretty stoked to hear they moved to Royal Oak, as I finally can reap the benefits of their fine store.

I waited a month or so to post this review, because the first time I went in was their first day open, and no beer was even on the shelves. When I went in yesterday it was a different story.

Compared to most stores around the area, the actual stock of beer is a bit smaller, but the stock is actually well taken care of here. Most of the MI and Belgian greats are here, with a couple great surprises (like Cantillon and Fantome) in the mix.

I'm gonna echo the other reviewers and say the stand-out of Cloverleaf is the ability to buy any beer as a single. I as a beer-trader love this because it allows me to grab special extras without having to break the bank. I bought 10 brews and a Houblen Chouffe and paid less than $30 out the door for the whole thing. Not bad at all, I must say.

Service is great, and the people there are very personable.

All in all a great stop for the area, and between this and Holiday, I don't think I'll go anywhere else.
Jun 29, 2008
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Reviewed by moshea from Michigan

4.85/5  rDev +7.3%
The most special thing about Cloverleaf is the singles. All beers are only sold in singles and there is not a mark up as many places that sell singles tend to do. Selection is solid, with all the usual suspects, plus severarl that were new to me.

They are moving to Downtown Royal Oak in mid March of this year. I do not know the exact location, but they will be on Main street south of the railroad tracks. this will put them in direct competition with the Holiday Market. This will leave Downtown Royal Oak with 2 of the best beer stores in town and four very fine brew pubs.
Feb 23, 2008
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Reviewed by Monkeyknife from Missouri

4.35/5  rDev -3.8%
Stopped by the Cloverleaf store during a holiday trip up to Detroit. After reading the BA reviews I thought I knew what to expect but I was still surprised by the variety of premium beers available only as singles. The beer was well-maintained on the shelves and in the coolers.

The store was small but packed with tons of wines and beers. I was offered help twice but really wanted to discover everything on my own. The selection is probably less that 200 beers but makes up for it with variety. There were Belgians galore with many I'd never heard of. Also represented were local favorites Bell's, Founders, Jolly Pumpkin and Darkhorse from Michigan. Nationally represented were DFH, Anchor, Stone, Ommegang and many more.

A great place to check out while you can. I'd heard they were moving and possibly not selling beer sometime in Spring 2008. Sad, indeed.
Jan 01, 2008
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Reviewed by soupyman10 from District of Columbia

4.3/5  rDev -4.9%
As with a lot of places, this one was actually a wine store with a good selection of single bottles of beer, although you were not allowed to purchase actual six-packs (I bought a sixer of Founders Black Rye and ended up paying for each bottle individually). They do have a really helpful - if not the MOST knowledgeable - staff. Beer guy while I was there hung out and checked out all the beer with me. Selection is solid, although not amazing - Stone, Dogfish Head, Ommegang, Allagash. Prices are a touch less than Holiday Market (World Wide Stout was $8.50 rather than $10). A good singles shop.
Sep 22, 2007
Photo of bushbeer75
Reviewed by bushbeer75 from Michigan

4.5/5  rDev -0.4%
Great little store, especially if you are looking for singles. You can "build" your own 4-pack, 6-pack, 12-pack, etc. This makes it perfect for trying different brews.

The staff is knowledgeable and very helpful. They take time to recommend their numerous beer selections. They handle most premium brewers - Belgian, German and Michigan (i.e., Bells, Dark Horse, some Founders, etc)

The only drawback is its location in the strip mall, making it hard to find. However, after your first visit [am sure you will be back] that will not be an issue.

On my next trip I will have to check-out the wine selection.
Jan 13, 2007
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Reviewed by CBA from British Indian Ocean Territory

4.85/5  rDev +7.3%
Excellent store, located in your typical non descript strip mall. The store is the smallest of the three that I visited while in Metro Detroit, but by far the nicest despite it's size. Top notch brews nicely laid out - great cooler runs along the length of the back wall. Great selection of imports (Saison & Biere de Garde in particular). Pricing seemed inline with what I saw in the region. You can tell that they've put alot of thought into their selection, and have used the Shelton Bros extensively. Big plus - everything is sold as singles. If I lived in Windsor this would be my go to shop. Service was unobtrusive, but very accommodating and Putnam and Tom were knowledgable and a pleasure to speak with. Highly recommended.

Beer Haul:
La Choulette Sans Coulottes
Fantome Printemps
Jolly Pumpkin Fuego Del Otono
Great Lakes EF Porter
Anchor OSA 2006
Bell's Cherry Stout
Jan 04, 2007
Photo of Applesauce1
Reviewed by Applesauce1 from Virginia

4/5  rDev -11.5%
I visited Cloverleaf after it was suggested by a friend (thanks, ej285701).
This place is a small wine/beer store located in a shopping plaza. The man working the counter seems knowledgable and nice. It seems that this place is somewhere to go if you want singles of some top notch beers from some of the elite brewers (Stone, Great Lakes, Dogfish Head, a variety of Belgian brewers, etc.). I wish the selection had been a little bigger, but it was still impressive. I picked up singles of Bigfoot, Celebration, Punkin, and an Anchor beer. Prices seemed reasonable here. Overall, if you are into a lot of the Belgian Ales (I'm not so much), this is the place for you. A good place to visit, nonetheless.
Oct 16, 2006
Photo of benito
Reviewed by benito from Oregon

4.35/5  rDev -3.8%
This is hands down the best beer store in suburban Detroit. It's located in a non-descript strip mall, sandwiched amongst some rather upscale boutique stores and a Greek restaurant.

The banner in one of the main display windows announces proudly that they sell no gum, pop, tobacco, snuff, or cat food (amongst other things). Clearly, this is a place that takes its liquor seriously.

Cloverleaf's beer selection is small (only about 150 or 200 beers) but they choose the best of the best of the best and then sell it at a reasonable price. Everything is sold individually--a beer lovers dream come true--and their selection of both Michigan and imported brews is especially impressive. With regard to the former, they do a fine job of representing Bell's, Dark Horse, and Jolly Pumpkin, and my only gripe is that I would like to see more of Founders, New Holland, and Arcadia's brews available as well.

That, however, is a small detraction in what is otherwise a fine, specialty liquor store. Definitely take the time to check this out if you are ever in the Metro Detroit area.
Aug 08, 2006
Photo of Beervis
Reviewed by Beervis from Canada (ON)

4.65/5  rDev +2.9%
I can't say enough about this place, but I'll try! The selection is fantastic, they say they have 150 beers, but those 150 are great quality and you can tell that the selections have been well thought out. I noticed a BA shirt hanging by the coolers in the back, almost like a beacon for us all!

There was a great selection of most beers from the Shelton Bros. portfolio, which made up the bulk of my purchase. I have been looking for Fantome beers for a while, as they are tough to find in my area, and I found all that I was looking for here. I also picked up some great MI beers, and found some Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock (2004). All in all, I spent a lot of money, and checked alot of beers off of my "want" list.

The staff is very friendly, and are very knowledgable. This store is a must if you're in the area. Excellent!
Jul 11, 2006
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Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

4.3/5  rDev -4.9%
Look for directions on the website. There was construction at the time which meant a little confusion to a first-timer. A better than average place to buy beer, with a BA working here. Other great features are: the ability to buy singles; choice of outside the fridge beer; some harder to find beers carried; lots of parking; and reasonable prices compared to say New York State and Premier in particular. Putnam had a couple of last bottles of stuff put aside for someone who would appreciate them, and I do. Merci! It was very good to be able to run a chat with a very knowledgeable person, and he was able to carry on a wine conversation at the same time. This is akin to writing with both hands-at the same time.
Jun 28, 2006
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Reviewed by meathookjones from Virginia

4.35/5  rDev -3.8%
Stopped here after leaving Dragonmead hoping to get some of their beers since they had none at the brewpub. Beer is located in the back of the store where there is a great selection of singles. I believe everything was in singles actually which makes it a great stop for people that want to sample a large variety of stuff. There were plenty of local brews from Founders, Bells, Dragonmead and a few others to be had as well as a nicely picked out selection of imports with some real rarities. It was nice to see some Kuhnhenn’s Raspberry Eisbock on the shelves. The staff was friendly as we chatted with them when they rung up our stuff. I will definitely by stopping back again in the future.
May 08, 2006
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Reviewed by Crosling from Colorado

4.5/5  rDev -0.4%
Great Belgian selection, with a nice attention to detail and a very friendly staff. Light lighting and a 60-65 degree temperature is what I liked so much about this place. The beer selection was great, with an emphasis on imports, but a nice selection of American craft as well. I was hoping to find some Founder’s bottles here, like Black Rye, Impy and Devil’s Dancer, but they didn’t have it. That’s my only complaint. They also gave me great directions to Kuhnhenn. Cool glassware. The Dark Horse Imperial Stout I stocked up on here is still tasting great.
Apr 12, 2006
Photo of DrJay
Reviewed by DrJay from Texas

4.35/5  rDev -3.8%
As other people have mentioned, Cloverleaf doesn't have the largest selection of beer available in the Detroit area, but what they have is a high quality variety of import, US, and local beers. Many beers were kept in fridges at the rear of the store, while belgians and other high gravity offerings were arranged on room temperature shelves. This is a great place to pick up a variety of beers, since everything I saw was available as single bottles. Service was top notch - the people we spoke with really knew their beer (and wine). We ended up getting a couple of fresh loaves of bread thrown in with our purchase as well. Definitely a place to stop when in the area.
Mar 26, 2006
Photo of nomad
Reviewed by nomad from Kansas

4.85/5  rDev +7.3%
There a few stores in the bottom right quadrant of Michigan that cater to the "better beer" crowd but none might bring the passion, knowledge, service, and competitive pricing together like Cloverleaf. Some could quibble around the edges of these topics as comparisons are apt, but no store has created a true community of genuine fellowship as this store. For those who are not just passing through Cloverleaf is a meeting point for bigger and better things that may begin with good drinks but often end up somewhere else, some say better. What are the top restaurants in Detroit? What are the newest auteur cinema rolling in to town? Who wants to attend a farmhouse cheese seminar or taste the best of Michigan's apple harvest? They answer these and more, by themselves or by connecting you with other passionate friends and compatriots.

Zooming in and out on a busy Saturday you might not catch it in full, but the team led by Tom and Putnam gives stellar service. They may not want to know what your favorite ale might be, but what you're eating, what you're thinking, what tune might be stuck in your ear, for to them good drink is part of a good life, and their intersection is that much better than over-analyzing each as separate corners.

They do not and will not carry every beer available but they understand the conditions for beer care, namely that lower alcohol beers must be refrigerated and turned over fast. You might never find a store that cares for imports better than the Leaf (especially German lagers) and presents a love of them for what they are, as liquid representation of art and culture. If adventurous Belgian, French, and Dutch beers sound interesting you'll be covered in ways you never knew possible.

And this is not even covering the grape aspect of this store - the wine selection is at even higher level of manicure, if you can believe that, and to ignore them would be a grave disservice to your table. Even if you don't like wine, whatever, you must ask for a quick primer, analysis, suggestion, anything from the staff. Your digestible world will be better for it.

Lastly, check the website.
Feb 21, 2006
Photo of BigDaddyWil
Reviewed by BigDaddyWil from Michigan

4.8/5  rDev +6.2%
Found about Cloverleaf, from a coworker, who got me hooked on to Ba about month and a half ago.(Thanks nisjer05) Anyway, I'm finally reviewing after about three visits. I must say Cloverleaf is a great little beer and wine shoppe. Putnam was very anxious to help and answer any questions I had. Also, he said he could order anything I didn't see on the shelf. Most of the store is dedicated to wine, but does have a decent selection of brews, especially Mi brews. The best part about Cloverleaf is that they do sell mostly singles, which is great!!! Prices are very reasonable, the service is great! I'm sure I'll make a habit to stop by there every other week!!!
Dec 14, 2005
Photo of OldSock
Reviewed by OldSock from District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev -0.4%
Quality – The one bad point, everything that I picked up was fresh and good, except one bottle of Kuhnhenn Java Crème Brule Stout which was expired by several months on inspection and tasted of soured milk. Other than that everything was fresh, with loads of good stuff in the fridges.

Edit: Thanks to marburg for giving me a heads up that this batch of Creme Brule Stout was off. I'm not giving Cloverleaf a total pass because the beer was 3 months past the best by date, but I can't blame them for the horrid flavor on this one.

Service – The one guy there, I assume the owner was very nice. Spotted me as a BA quickly from my meticulous beer selecting. Perfect service for me, asked if I needed help, chatted for a few minutes while I checked out, but wasn’t overbearing as some small shops can be.

Selection – Loads of good stuff, particularly from Michigan and imports. Kuhnhenn, Dark Horse, Founders, Dragonmead as far as Michigan stuff goes. 3 Monts Grandé Réserve, Abbey Des Rocs, Greene King and others.

A gem on my cross country drive, great selection, good service and they had loads of singles.
Oct 08, 2005
Photo of Frozensoul327
Reviewed by Frozensoul327 from Michigan

4.85/5  rDev +7.3%
Found out about this place from Proc... Also met a fellow BA, Putnam at this establishment. A rather small store, but still a very impressive selection. Lots of Belgians, a nice selection of regional micros, and rather nice prices. The thing that I really liked is that all the beers were available for individual purchase, making this a for sure come-back store. A large majority of the beers were also in the cooler, which was an unexpected suprise. I got 16 new beers, some of which i'd only heard about and never seen. The clerk was very outgoing and we carried on a nice conversation for a bit before he made some recommendations for next time i'm in the store. All in all, this store specialized in wines and top shelf high-end liquors. But the beer selection was quite impressive, and the ability to buy singles of every beer is a nice selling point. Recommended when you're in the Metro Detroit area, you won't be disappointed.
Sep 02, 2005
Cloverleaf Fine Wine in Royal Oak, MI
Place rating: 4.52 out of 5 with 50 ratings