CT Beverage Mart

Store

3127 Berlin Tpke
Newington, Connecticut, 06111-4620
United States

(860) 667-1339 | map
ctbeverage.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.04
Reviews:
24
Ratings:
32
pDev:
12.13%
View: Place Reviews
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Photo of coljesep
Reviewed by coljesep from Connecticut

4.29/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25
You can tell they have put a heavy focus on craft beer selection in the last 6 months or so. The younger guys who work in the back know what they are talking about.
Jun 27, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by JLK7299 from North Carolina

Jun 07, 2016
Photo of betterthanyourbeer
Rated by betterthanyourbeer from Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Be careful what you buy...they had a few different double ipas that were brewed over a year ago....some of their selection sits on the shelves.
Feb 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.34 by sippingsunshine from Connecticut

Jun 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.93 by xtonytx from Connecticut

Apr 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by swierczt from Connecticut

Oct 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by JKV96 from Massachusetts

Jul 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by grahuba from Connecticut

Mar 28, 2014
Photo of Ultra-Plinian
Reviewed by Ultra-Plinian from Connecticut

4.07/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
Been going here for years. They are a great group of guys with a lot of knowledge. They have a decent selection but you have to pay attention because sometimes their beers sit for a while. They are pretty good with limited release stuff and while they will have a limit they will leave the stuff out and not hide it.
Aug 01, 2013
Photo of TheLostGringo
Reviewed by TheLostGringo from Connecticut

2.75/5  rDev -31.9%
vibe: 2.75 | quality: 2.75 | service: 2.75 | selection: 2.75
Visited 01/27/2013

Decided to check this store out as I have been on the hunt for a few special things lately.

First thing on the plus side was that it is nice to see some special items available without having to ask (usually only one out at a time as a set bottle limit)

Other then that there selection was fairly average and there are better places I go, other issue is the notice of a lot of dusty bottles which leads me to believe they just don't have the clientele to get the turnover they need.

Let me start by saying that I am not an overly price conscious shopper but seeing GI Cherry Rye for $24.99 had me doing a double take. Probably a place I won't be visiting again unless I am headed over to Stew Leonard's and hope to find a gem.
Jan 27, 2013
Photo of Buysse
Reviewed by Buysse from Minnesota

2.98/5  rDev -26.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5
I live in Minnesota, but I've been to this store about 10 time in the last 7 or 8 years. I visit relies in Farmington and this was always the best place to buy beer. Well, I think things have changed. I noticed this year right off that their selection didn't seem to be as good. Then I asked if they had Thomas Hooker and he showed me where they stocked it but I noticed the bottles were quite dusty. I checked the date and it was 8 months old. Like a dope I picked up some Long Trail Hibernator from the cooler without checking the date. It tasted rather bad and sure enough it was 6 months old. My bad. They no longer had Smutty Nose and some others I missed. Too bad, I liked the place.
Nov 21, 2011
Photo of SickPythons
Reviewed by SickPythons from Connecticut

4/5  rDev -1%
Not on my way home from work, but I make it a point to go here when I want some foreign beers. They've got a great section organized by country.

Their American selection is mostly standard with a few gems here and there.

As far as the service, this place is huge so I'm not too surprised that the staff doesn't seem to care too much about their products. It feels like Sam's Club in there. Unfortunetly, these aren't Sam's Club prices. It really seems like I'm paying for the selection.

I'll be back there shortly for Lithuanian beer night.
Nov 14, 2010
Photo of MaxBrews
Reviewed by MaxBrews from Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -4.7%
Lots of beer, I usually spend 20 minutes in here pacing back and forth deciding what to get. They have an entire isle devoted to beer by country. Lots of regional beers to some cold sixers in the cooler. They of course have the macros and the cheap stuff 40s and what have you. But they have a lot of stuff you wouldn't find anywhere else in the area. A little bit pricer then some places. As far as wine and booze haven't checked out the selection but its abundant. The building is a cavernous warehouse booze wall to wall. The best CT beverage mart in the area. Prices somehow are better then the New Britain one.
May 30, 2009
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

4/5  rDev -1%
I've been here a few times and this is an ok beer store. One cool thing is that they have a vintage section (they have DFH 120, Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, DFH Raison D'Extra, Unibroue Anniversary Ales, Avery Mephistopheles, some ciders, Albert le Coq, Petrus Pale, and other Belgian 750s I can't remember right now). Other selection is ok, but not as good as the other big stores in the area. The top Belgians (Rochefort, St. Bernardus, Achel, Cantillon, Chouffe, De Dolle) and local beers. Rather disorganized though. Domestic section is rather weak for a good beer store. Prices are standard for the area I think.
Jan 01, 2009
Photo of erosier
Reviewed by erosier from Connecticut

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
A really big store with a lot of stuff to choose from. The beer is in and entire isle the back plus the entire back wall full of refrigerators. The fridges contain some macros, but mainly the more prevalent micros - Sam Adams, Harpoon, Long Trail, etc.. There are a few growlers from Opa-Opa and Olde Burnside. The isle of beer was much more impressive with beers from all over the world. I had a question about if they carried a certain beer and the gentlemen who worked there was more than willing to help, even offered to figure out a way to get it ordered at the store. The service was extremely knowledgable and helpful. The quality of the beers was really really good, alot of really good stuff that I was surprised to see. The prices were reasonable as well. They were pretty similar to everywhere else in CT that I have seen. Overall a really impressive selection and very good service.
Dec 26, 2008
Photo of domventa
Reviewed by domventa from Connecticut

4.8/5  rDev +18.8%
Stopped in here on a whim when i was on the berlin tpke. Unbelievable store. Very large store great section devoted to wine and liquor but great beer section as well, probably the greatest belgian sections south of amherst mass area in new england. Picked up 2 bottles of pannepot OFA 06. they were doing a beer tasting of american IPA, had avery, great divide, smutty, ballast point all open and waiting to be tried next to each other. Def will come back a must stop for anyone who has never been. overall great store.
Aug 20, 2008
Photo of mtbbaboon
Reviewed by mtbbaboon from Connecticut

4.85/5  rDev +20%
Hands down the best selection of beer I've seen in Hartford county. All sorts of beer from all over the globe. They have a real good selection of cold beer, too, for people who need the cold beer NOW. I live in Simsbury and drive 30 minutes here for the selection. The floor employees know their stuff, although I usually only need help getting pointed in the right direction. I was recently there for a Berkshire Brewing Company tasting and the CBM employee handing out samples was extremely friendly. The prices are pretty spot on for all items. Plenty of cash registers too, and they open up as soon as the lines get three people deep. Overall, it's a real nice beer buying experience.
Aug 14, 2008
Photo of fredandboboflo
Reviewed by fredandboboflo from New York

4/5  rDev -1%
Pretty similar to the CMB in New Britain. Also have a rack, albeit small, of vintage beers, mostly from the UK, from around 2000-2004. Picked up a 2002 Old Engine Oil Reserve and a 2003 Albert le Coq Russian Imperial Stout, both of which were hearty adventures. Otherwise, good range of any region of beer you're looking for, obviously a place to check if you're in the area and looking for something, you all know the drill if you're on this site I'm sure. Very nice spot. I always come up a few characters short...
Jan 10, 2008
Photo of jim102864
Reviewed by jim102864 from Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev +0.2%
I have no idea where else you can find a better selection of beer than this particular location of CBM. There are three, and this is the largest of them all. Still, I'd like to see their Belgian selection improve. This is not to say they are significantly lacking in that regard, its just that they do not offer the variety a beer wack job like me yearns for. For example; after sampling Urthel Hop It at Toronado, a spectacular beer bar in San Francisco, I sought it out and went to the place with the best selection in my area. Yes, they have Urthel. No, they do not have Hop It in the large bottle but sure, they'll sell you the four pack for $16 (what?). Ok, I'm knit picking. This is the best location for the most diverse selection of brew in the Central Connectiuct region. Go there. You won't be dissapointed.
Jan 27, 2007
Photo of Damian
Reviewed by Damian from Massachusetts

4.8/5  rDev +18.8%
Connecticut Beverage Mart is one of the best places to buy beer in all of New England. While the store itself does have that "airplane hanger" feel to it, it is still bright, cheery and easily navigatable. As far as beer selection, I have yet to find a better place in Connecticut. From local micros to American craft brews to Belgian and European imports, this place has a dizzying selction of fine beers (and all categories are represented equally). They even carry some discontinued beers, such as the Rogue Imperial Stout XS and the Imperial IPA XS bottles. The only minor gripe I have is that is that they fail to carry some of the high end beers that you might expect to find at a place with this selection (Trappistes Roquefort 10, St. Bernardus Abt 12 60th Anniversary "Special Edition," etc.). As far as price, this place is unbeatable. Everthing seems to be priced at 5 to 15% below list. The service here is also terrific. The guys that work in the beer department are very friendly, helpful and knowledgable about all their products. Word on the street is that Adam, their beer manager, will be leaving soon. I bid him farewell and hope they find an equally good replacement. Overall, this is a must stop for any beer enthusiast in the state.
Dec 27, 2006
Photo of RedChrome
Reviewed by RedChrome from Connecticut

4.45/5  rDev +10.1%
By far the most ecclectic of the Connecticut Beverage Marts I have visited. After you come in you have to take a zig-zag to the left to find the single beer aisle. As with the other stores cooler is on the rear wall.

By far the best selection of both imports and domestics with many selections I have not seen anywhere else. All the breweries I have seen elsewhere are represented but their extended lines are available here as opposed to a few selections from each elsewhere.

The staff was extremely eager to assist, and when I mentioned a brewery with no distributor in the state, we got into a discussion about the odds of them being offered soon. Even though I was looking for something they did not have in stock due to demand, he offered several alternatives that are not part of the chain, which is a very nice touch. Hope service wasn't just because the staff was in the row stocking beer.

Most of the beer was fresh with a few straggelers from the off season, but they weren't more then two months out of date. I was very impressed with the combination of service and selection.

Price was reasonable. You aren't going to find huge bargins on anything craft brewed, but you aren't going to get taken for a ride either.

All things considered, my new favorite choice for anyone living in the area to make your regular stop. If you don't live in the area, you might want to think about stopping in if you are driving by.
Aug 28, 2006
Photo of sbattert
Reviewed by sbattert from Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev +2.7%
I called up Newington and asked what they had in stock for a certain brewery. Within a minute or so I found out they had 7 of their labels and what size bottles and even how much. I told him my wife would be stopping by and asked if he could put a mixed case of bombers aside for me. Sure enough, when my wife arrived less than 30 minutes later they were ready for her.

They have a good selection and friendly staff. I'm very pleased with this establishment and try to stop in when I'm in the area.
.
Aug 18, 2006
Photo of sinstaineddemon
Reviewed by sinstaineddemon from Connecticut

3.1/5  rDev -23.3%
pretty good selection of brews here. nice european section, and a great selection of New England beers. The best part, they allow you to break up six packs and create your own, or pick from a singles rack at the end of the aisle. at the front of the aisle, they have a little wooden display of rare beers at the moment. things like Newport Storm, DFH 120's, and others. nice selection, worth the trip every once in a while. like a previous reviewer, wasnt offered any help, but thats ok, i like being left alone at times, and the selection makes up for it. worth a stop.
Jul 24, 2006
Photo of SteveO1231
Reviewed by SteveO1231 from Connecticut

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
Stopped by today to pick up some beer, man what an awesome place. Tons of booze, I mean wine as far as the eye can see. If you head straight back to the good stuff. There are two beer isles one is chalk full of just about every New England micro brew that you could think of, on the other isle there is a ridiculous amount of imports, Belgians, British, and German beers mostly, but a huge selection nevertheless. In between the two beer isles are displays of 12 packs and cases of local stuff, Harpoon, Magic Hat, Longtrail, Victory etc. The last isle in devoted to macros. They also have a small wooden wine rack full of vintages. The back cooler has most of that same stock, only cooler. The selection is awesome and the prices are very good. Well worth the drive if you're not close by.
Cheers!
Jul 09, 2006
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev -4.7%
I stopped by this place the other day after leaving a meeting in Hartford. The store is on the right hand side of the road if you are going south.
I entered the store and found the beer towards the back and on the right side of the store. Ony one aisle but it is pretty well stocked.
They even had a little display on cellaring beers with explanations of how to and where etc. This is where I saw old marley 05 and SA triple bock 95 sitting around. Also first time in CT that I saw DFH Raison d'extra. Not to common in New Haven county.
The imports are on the left hand side of the aisle and range from some decent belgians to a fair amount of english ales to a wide variety of eastern european brews especially heavy on baltic porters. You could put together a tasting of baltic porters here reall easy and real cheap too.
The right hand side of the aisle is local and regional micros. Clipper city heavy seas lineup in effect, lots of DFH, Brooklyn, Allagash and the usuals. Smuttynose wheat wine was a nice find too. At the end of the aisle there is a section for singles, but man they sucked. Nothing that I would really want and actually probably 1/4 malternatives.
There are some coolers in the back but the lineup here is pretty much same as in the aisle just cold.
I was in the store about 20 minutes and was never asked if I needed help so gotta ding the service on that one.
This store is worth a stop and I will probably swing by again when in the area.
Dec 18, 2005
Photo of slander
Reviewed by slander from New York

4/5  rDev -1%
I've heard the talk about these Connecticut Beverage Marts. Kind of hard to believe I haven't run across one of them thus far, but a visit to Hops in Newington en route to up north before out east put us right there. "There" being "on crap ass restaurant row" as Randy enthusiastically put it...
Liquor, wine and beer to the rear. A single aisle and the coolers in the way back. Good local and regional New England micros (Hooker, Cottrell, Farmington River, Newport Storm, Buzzard's Bay, Shipyard, Sea Dog, Gritty's, Atlantic, Smutty, Long Trail, Paper City, Sam, Harpoon, Cisco, Otter Creek, Magic Hat, Allagash, Geary's), and then some of the usual tri-state and Mid Atlantic micros (Ommegang, Southern Tier, Cooperstown, Brooklyn, Southampton, Victory, Saranac, Heavy Seas, River Horse, DogFishHead). And then random micros (Rogue, Stoney Coast, Landmark, Flying Dog). I spotted a rack of singles back there, but it's never the singles you want, you know?
Not really too much going on on the imports side though. Just so-so Belgians, English and German. There is however, an odd collection of Eastern Euros that I can't imagine anyone really being that psyched about (except Randy, who was pretty damn happy to have found, "Brok", "Rooster Beer" and "Golden Pheasant" all in the same place).
Um... Good for the local and regional fresh beer scene.
Nov 22, 2005
Photo of andjusticeforale
Reviewed by andjusticeforale from Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev +2.7%
I stopped in to check out the supply recently, I met a long haired guy who said he was the beer manager. Pretty new but decently knowledgeable. Pretty good selection of craft-domestic. Also a good selection of Belgians and German beer. I picked up a few Troubadours, and a bomber of Southhampton Double white ale (that he reccomended). There seemed to be a predominance of 330ml instead of 750ml bottles; I prefer this on the whole anyway when it comes to to Delirium, trappist, and other belgians.

Not beer Nirvana, but still, No better place on the berlin t-pike.



Edit it seems like the prices and the selection have really improved in this place; more belgians, different stock. THis place has improved.
Nov 18, 2005
Photo of necoadam
Reviewed by necoadam from Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev -5.9%
Probably one of the best store in the central CT area. This is on the Berlin Turnpike (Route 5/15) in Newington.

Quality: I got hit with some bad bottles here before. But overall they got some pretty fresh beer here. Unless you're looking for some Casta brews, then no, pass on those. A quarter of the bottle is just filled with sediment. Who knows how long they've been there.

Service: Service is hit and miss. When I can't find something they pulled stuff out of the cooler for me. So sometimes they're helpful. But the majority of the times there's no one there to help you.

Selection: They've got almost everything covered. Belgains, German, British, local brews, European. I just wish they had a little mroe selection to their 22oz Rogue bombers. But they've pretty much got it all. They've got a mix a six rack at the end of the isle. Do take a look at those sometimes. I scored myself some Mother Lager and some Beck's Octoberfest beers, and those beers where pretty fresh too.

All in all, a pretty good store to browse what they've got. Worth a look for sure.
Jul 24, 2004
Photo of far333
Reviewed by far333 from Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev -4.7%
One of the largest, if not the largest, CBM location. They have a wide selection of beers, including lots of micros plus imports from all over the world. They carry lots of bombers and 750 ml bottles. I was impressed that they carried multiple styles from each of the micros rather than just the flagship styles. Bummer that you can't buy singles here, and they were missing the seasonals from some CT breweries that I've been looking for, but you should be able to walk out of here pretty satisfied.
Nov 29, 2003
Photo of UnionMade
Reviewed by UnionMade from New York

3.6/5  rDev -10.9%
Another CTBM location, this one seems to have the most inspired beer selection, with an entire aisle devoted to specialty beers, plus the big back wall cooler, which carries a veriety of more common micros, and of course your Bud, Miller and Coors.
The specialty beer aisle has various offerings from Belgium, England, and Germany, as well as a large selection of beers representing eastern europe. There's a large polish population in this area, so they have a rather extensive polish, ukrainian, and russian beer selection. They carry several hard to find belgian beers, including a couple Fantomes, Liefman's, Cantillon, and Saison Papaix. Some odd german and english beers, as well.
The staff is fairly knowledgeable. The beer guy knows his stuff, and he's happy to chat about beer, and see if he can order something you're looking for.
Some of the beer has been sitting a while, so make sure you check freshness dates. I found some Post Road pale ale here. I don't think they've made that in years.
Aug 26, 2003
Photo of paceyourself
Reviewed by paceyourself from Connecticut

4/5  rDev -1%
This store is probably best known for it's wine selection and their special room for the upper end wines, but it's still has been one of my favorite area beer stops. The selection of imports is the best of all the CBMs. They have most of the area micros that are available in CT and the coolers are pretty well stocked with plenty of craft brews. The prices are a bit higher than the other CBMs and they no longer sell singles so watch out for those mixed sixes.
Jun 17, 2003
CT Beverage Mart in Newington, CT
Place rating: 4.04 out of 5 with 32 ratings