Whole Foods Brooklyn

I haven't been myself, but from what I've heard it's nothing special. It's more along the lines of WF Union Square than Bowery/Tribeca/CC.

 

they have a run of the mill selection nothing special...great parking and if you need something to go along w/ your beers like prepared foods or groceries than go...had a few growlers filled which was done half assed

 

Passable bottle selection, but it mostly seems like wasted space. Decent growler choices, but nothing as good as Bierkraft's. I'll get a growler there now and then when I'm passing by, but it's not a destination.

 

Their growler prices are amazing though -- $23 for a 64oz growler of BCBS, $13 for Gorilla Warfare...
I imagine they will go back in line with the other WFs by the end of the month but for now really great.
Also they are doing one-offs with local breweries on their brewing system, this time it was a coffee double IPA made with Captain Lawrence which was quite tasty

In terms of bottle selection, nothing overly spectacular but they have just about everything normal you would want but very little in terms of rarer selections.

Also worth checking out while you are there, they have a bar on the roof with something like 20 taps, decent selection, decent prices

I've been happy with my trips there

 

As stated, it's not exceptional, but there are certainly positives. Some good singles. Some well priced items. A few oddities I haven't noticed elsewhere. You can grab a flight at the bar on the top floor.

It's very convenient if you have a car thanks to the parking lot... less so if you take the subway.

 

I guess I'm in minority on this one. I think it seemed better than the Bowery. I have been to Bowery 3 or 4 times and was never impressed. But been to the WF in Brooklyn twice now. I like the selection. Great Evil Twin beers, Lagunitas Sucks today, All Day IPA cans, both Dirtwolf and Hop Ranch there, etc. Also with store being new all IPA's are very fresh. Also 3 blocks from me so it's great location.

 

I agree it's pretty good, definitely way more selection than Union Square. Not sure if I'd say it's as good as Bowery, it's kind of hard to compare due to the layout and since everythings in fridges, but that's a long row of fridges.

they had BCS growlers for $23. maybe not as varied a selection as Bierkraft yet, but Bierkraft's bottle prices are such a joke compared to what you'd pay at WF.

 

Yeah, Bierkraft's bottles can be pricey - I go for the growlers (often $10 or $11 for good regional stuff) and the occasional bottle you won't find anywhere else. My point is that Bierkraft's growler selection is consistently good, and reasonably priced, but so far WF Brooklyn's selection is just fine but not exciting enough to go out of the way for.
And anyway Bierkraft does the counter-pressure filling, which few do around here.

 

The Brooklyn location is not bad at all, but for me, it's not comparable to the Bowery.

 

The Brooklyn store has records for sale, a vinyl display, and two turntables in the bar. I guess they figured out their demographic in the neighborhood and couldn't resist trying too hard. (rolls eyes)

 

I'm pretty surprised by the malaise bordering on pessimism being shared here. Unlike WF Bowery, where beers are stored at room temperature and most are stored against sunny full-window exterior walls, WF Brooklyn keeps almost their entire selection in refrigeration. For a store that probably sees massive turnover in beer stock, they are keeping it amply stocked. For a grocery store in Brooklyn, their selection is probably only bested by Eagle Provisions, but that's an unfair comparison on pretty much every level imaginable.

Point being, if I'm beer hunting in my neighborhood, it's probably not going to be my first destination. That said, I can only think of a small handful of places in central Brooklyn with better selections, and all but one have significantly higher prices. For a place where you can have a rooftop beer, take home a ridiculously priced growler, and shop well-stored merchandise that rotates quickly, it's pretty solid.

 

Just came back from my fourth(?) trip there.
If you're knocking the beer options there, you might just be jaded from the other shops in the city.
They had a giant display of Hop Ranch 4 packs and I asked if I could grab one single. Rang up at $1.99. Yes please.

 

They let you just grab single bottles from packs? You can't do that at the other WFs.

 

I've done this at WF Midtown East. I spoke to an employee who told me it was OK.

I did this with some Westbrook cans and they tried to charge me for the entire sixer. The manager came over and said to take the can price, divide by 6 and round up.

 

I had lifts in my shoes and a cricket bat.


But seriously: I've done this at other Whole Foods as well, but I generally don't bother them with such requests, nor do I assume it'll be fine. In this case, with their tower of 4-packs and their beer person not assisting anybody else, I figured I'd ask. If it's something I really want and they tell me "no" I always just say, "Well, you let rollom have one."

 

same here...