Craft Beer Kings, El Monte, CA

It's a bottle shop and they sell online. Free shipping within California too if you fill a box or spend a certain amount.

 

I'm sorry, but Moe comes off as the biggest beer douche around and is representative of most everything wrong with the craft beer scene.

Unless you're super cool and in with their little circle, you aren't getting any of the good stuff that's hidden in back - not like Moe will let go of his death grip on harder to find stuff and actually sell it to customers - I mean, the dude has to have trade bait for more 3L bottles of whatever.

I also lost count at how many times I've seen them jump lines at beer events.

 

I mean, they ARE the anointed Craft Beer Kings.

 

Not sure how this place still gets to have a license after selling beers that are not legally distributed here (lets not beat a dead horse about this please, just statin a fact!)

 

Why does CBK hate make me so happy?

 

Preach on. Moe is the worst thing about craft beer.

 

I second what @Grant35 has to say. I live in Tennessee and Moe has always taken great care of me even sent me an extra beer for my birthday!

 

Moe and the guys at CBK have always been very good to me. Also gave me advice on what to look for when I was moving across the country. He has given me some great suggestions and I've never been disappointed.

 

when I saw their post that they had bombs in stock in the store and the website. I was about 10 minutes away from the shop and figured I'd give them a call.

"Hey, do you still have any Bombs! left?"
"Uh, yeah. like maybe 8 or so"
"Oh cool. I'm really close, you think they'd still be there if I made it out there in about 10 minutes?"
"Maybe, but you can order on the website"
"Well, I'm driving on the 10 right now, so not really the best instance to fumble around a website."

I get there 10 minutes later

"Oh hey, do you have any Bombs?"
"Nah man, those sold out like hours ago"
"....."



I use to go to the Congregation Azusa bottle shares regularly. Everyone was pretty cool and there wasn't any "show me yours" bullshit for the most part. Then roll in those snazzy CBK shirts and then suddenly it was cool kids where you had to be "this cool to get a 2oz pour" from them. Just the opposite of being all good with sharing beer.


And really, no matter how much he hooks you up in a situation of what can you trade with me lately it's shady when time after time at beer events like the Bruery anniversary, they just cut in front of the rare barrel line and shit like that.

 

The first time I stepped into CBK, I was a newbie when it came to trading (honestly pretty new to craft beer in general). And since then the guys there, including Moe have been nothing but the nicest guys. Theyve helped me out w/ picking bottles, setting up trades, and even shipping out boxes.

I cant really speak for what he has done to you guys outside of the store since Ive never witnessed it. But what bugs me is that the OP here just asked about the business and you guys decided to attack someone who isnt even here to defend himself. If you have such a problem with him and his business, why dont you start your own thread about it, tell him in person, or message him on BA about how he's the worst, instead of taking over this thread.

 

And to answer your question @jmerriken its is a store in south el monte, the also ship beer out to most states except like 5 i think (you can find that on their website under "shipping information")

 

Why would they prefer to sell via the website rather than in store?

 

I recently switched job locations and discovered CBK was only a short detour from my commute. So far, everyone I have met there has been just fine and on occasion extremely nice and helpful. The stock guy (young guy who doesn't work the register) spent a good 15-20 minutes with me the first time there. We talked beer and he pointing some recommendations and left me with a great first impression.

Since then, i stop by once a week or so and everyone including Moe has been (for the most part) helpful. Just yesterday I was walking out when the I noticed a new delivery coming in, I didn't see anything stand out and was about to walk away when the guy pointed out the 4 boxes of fresh Lagunitas sucks. He moved some boxes around and handed me a bottle which I truly enjoyed.

Only thing I dislike as a local is the crazy limited online/vintage sales the have once a month. It sucks for us locals to have to purchase x dollar amount online and select free store pick up instead of walking right in and picking it off the shelf. But the rarity of some of the stuff they pull out for these sales is well worth it for non locals.

Now cutting in line is something that would really piss me off.
Just curious as to how many who witnessed this first hand actually said something about it.

Based on my personal experience everyone at craft beer kings has been nice enough and helpful enough to earn my repeat business. Can they be nicer? Can they be more helpful? Can they put in more effort into building new relationship with more customers? Sure they can.

Either way, I hope this thread gets to them and they take this criticism as a business opportunity to work on their public image.

 

hello,
I would like to start off by saying we run a legitimate business. everything on premise and on our online store is through distro. Some if the things I post on my personal pages are mine. purely to be enjoyed with friends and or colleagues.

to earlycsquid,
Idk if it was me on the phone or someone else who answered the phone. But the best way to get ahold of stuff is to go to our site and purchase. you then have the option to do a in store pick at no additional cost. Im truly sorry you had a bad experience. If you ever plan on coming in a will personally crack something of your choice. We are grown men no need for drama and or hate towards other people. Its pointless and get us no where.

For anyone who had a bad experience with us. Please pm me and I will do what I can to make it right/ or so it can never happened again. I really try to make everyone happy. Its hard trust me. But I do what I can.

Ps I may come off as a "douchebag" especially on ig with all the pics I post and stuff. many people can tell you im really nice. once we get to meet and have a beer. when that happens.. I hope your perception of me changes.
Cheers

 

both

 

I really hate it when bros bring mules, jump lines, and are on some Hakkassan bottle service type shit, but instead of Rose wine, folks are all "I'll have me some Fuzzy, please!"

 

Stop jumping lines, bringing mules, and selling illegal bottles.

And I've yet to meet a legitimate trading partner across the country who doesn't dislike you for what you do so good job?

 

I had almost this same thing happen to me at a Long Beach retailer. Precisely with Bomb!, as well. The worker asked the other guy in Spanish something and the guy looked at me and was like "no, it's all gone." I thought I was crazy too - until half a year later I saw the same batch show up on IG - "We had some (of that batch) in the back, now it's for sale". I laughed.

I still patron that store, and I was even there today. But just like how they didn't trust me, I don't trust them.

I don't trust that they'll be honest with me in what they have in stock, I don't trust that they have my best interest in mind with their recommendations. And most certainly, I don't trust in their prices. Hell, even today I asked how much something was (it was unlabeled) and it came up at the register $1 more. Honestly, I avoid them unless I have to go there. I even caveat recommendations.

To pride yourself with good customer service, you have to be consistent with everyone. It's called "professionalism." You never know who you're dealing with. I understand relationships are important in business, but respect should be paramount. Businesses, judge your customers by the fact that they're patrons of your establishments and that they're willing to pay you money. If you do things like the above, and make judgments of people, you should expect that you will have a mix of both fan boy promoters, who you saw as potential "friends" or "investments" - and, in this case, you'll get detractors - those who saw through these games and called bullshit on it.

 

The one problem i had was when they posted on ig that they had cantillon in stock, so I logged on to the website to purchase, only to find out you had to buy at least $100 worth of beer to buy one bottle. I know a lot of people wouldn't care about that, but to me it seemed wrong.

As far as the store itself, I've been there twice, seemed like an ok selection. I didn't see anything all that uncommon or hard to find locally out on shelves, maybe they keep that stuff in the back. I don't live all that far from them, but I have 2 liquor stores that are closer, and seemed to have equivalent selection ( liquor mart Whittier & Ramirez liquor in pico rivera) wish them the best though, the more successful liquor stores we have the more great craft beer we'll get access to.