What's a good/best bottle shop in the Boston area? I'm visiting my sister in Medford, but of course we are driving all over the place. Thanks in advance.
There are several craft beer cellars throughout mass. The closest to Medford are probably the ones in Belmont and newton
Julio's (Westborough), Craft Beer Cellar (the Belmont mothership), Redstone (Andover/ Stoneham), Marty's (Newton).
Night Shift brewery in Everett is open 7 days a week and if hops you seek, Santilli (west coast IPA) and the 87 (DIPA) is probably the best fresh hoppy beer you can buy in the Medford area.
Unless I'm forgetting something, Atlas Liquors is the best place for beer in Medford proper. Not exactly a jaw dropping selection but it's more than decent and the prices are great. Your best bets though for selection and ease of access are probably Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont, Redstone Liquors in Stoneham, and Liquor Junction in Reading. Those are all easy to get to without lots of traffic concerns (your sister should know the back roads to avoid routes 93 and 128 at bad times). Be careful on just judging distance "as the crow flies" - you can go North of Medford fairly easily but going south can easily set you up for an annoying drive.
Redstone Liquors- best selection near Medford,(stoneham) Rapid liquors- cheapest craft beer in the area, (stoneham) Downtown Wine and Spirits- sells singles, (Somerville) Nightshift and Trillium are both worth it if you have time. Also Hugh O'neils and Mystic Station in Malden, or Redbones have draft lists online and are the best beer bars in the area. Also if you end up at Cambridge brewing company,(good brewpub in cambridge) Supreme Liquors in central Sq. also does singles,(bosth spots easily accessible by the subway)
I'll expand upon this. @toddlikesb33r I live in Somerville and I'm a half mile walk from the Medford line. Here's a list in order of where you should depending on time, I'm mostly listing this to be complete. 1) Ball Square Fine Wines (virtually on the Somerville/Medford line) - This is actually my favorite shop in the area, period. The staff really knows their beer, and you can make a mix-a-six with any beer you want, plus the singles in the fridge typically has a nice selection of seasonals. There's a 10% discount on any mix-a-six as well. The beers are carefully selected, a nice variety and the stock is always relatively fresh. 2) Downtown Wine and Spirits (Davis Square, Somerville) - These guys also sell singles and allow mix-a-six with any beer, nice selection here too albeit at a slightly higher price than Ball Square. It seems like they're better about it now, but there used to be ALOT of older beer there, especially in the imports section. This didn't seem the case the last time I was there though, and if you ask, they have a lot of cellared beer in the basement. Some of it is on display in the back area where there's a bar. 2003 Samiclaus, 2007 Thomas Hardy's, 2008 Celebration, 2007 Old Foghorn...etc. 3) Redstone Liquors (Stoneham) - Their new place is amazing in terms of lay out. If you have a chance go simply to experience the place as a store in general. A truly beautiful place. That being said, it's a bit deceiving if you're simply going there for a great selection. It's good, and they're a passionate store, but the issue with places that size, is much of the stock is old(er) (six months or more). I was there for the first time the other day, and each time I was interested in something I looked at the date and it was 6 or 7 months old. For example, Pretty Things is closing, and I wanted to get some American Darling but it was bottled in June. And while the place is huge, they didn't have anything I wanted that I couldn't get at Ball Square for example, but the store is so wide open it's a bit deceiving. Amazing place though, and once again, passionate owners, and their beer isn't expired either so it's not as if they're trying to dupe you. Still a great selection and experience, no mix-a-six unfortunately but check it out if you have time. 4) Rapid Liquors (Stoneham) - With the exception of some unique items, they have a really great selection. And as @thrillainmanilla mentioned, the cheapest in the area. Not nearly the experience Redstone is, but a solid store nonetheless. 5) Julio's (Westborough) - Considered the best liquor store for beer in MA by many. That's really all I have to say about that one, as I've only been there once. The place is huge. Good luck!
LOL I must admit...I may have been able to drive to Monson in the time it's taken me to turn around when I miss the Santilli turn off from the rotary! And I've been there a dozen times! Good luck!
I'm a big fan of the Craft Beer Cellars & there are many around Boston, although Newton is probably my favorite. But they all have great selection & super helpful staff. Plus they all sell every beer in singles. But Julio's is probably the best in the state as others have mentioned. Most Marty's locations have good selections as well & also sell in singles. In fact, is it really a bottle shop if it doesn't sell in singles? I wouldn't even recommend one that doesn't. Only been to Ball Sq in Somerville once, but I was impressed by it. And of course, if you can take time to stop by Night Shift & Trillium that's always gonna be worth your time.
Pemberton Farms is close to Medford and has an excellent selection of beers. Plus you can grab a sandwich and a bag of potting soil while you're there.
I'm in Davis Square, I just take Uber to Nightshift. That being said, I always get nervous that the driver will miss that turn. Hasn't happened yet, but it's been close once or twice.
Still gotta be careful with old beer in the warm 6-pack section in the back. Last week I spied an Otter Creek Copper Ale from 2014...
