world of beer stores

I visited the WoB in Pensacola, FL earlier this year. It had a real sports bar atmosphere (lots of yelling at a game on TV) and all the bottles were in coolers behind the bar, so you have to lean over to get a good look at what they have. I wound up leaving due to a low tolerance for sports bars and not wanting to lean over the bar to try to read all the bottles.

 

I go to the one in South Tampa all the time for after work drinks. Fun place, maybe a little overpriced on some things, but has a good selection if you know what to look for. Main reason I love it though is because on Tuesday members get 25% off of bottle purchases. Went and bought 2 bottles of Life is Like... a few weeks back. The girl screwed up and added the 25% off making each 50% off so I only paid 27$ for 2 bottles. Hard to not love a place after that.

 

We have one up here near Seattle. Lots of bottles and lots of taps with a pretty good diverse selection of most styles. The menu at the one I went to has them all listed.

Like Azorie said, its really sport bar oriented. Prely loud in general, live bands, kinda douche baggy patrons at least at the one I went to. It's a beer bar without the beer bar feel. If that makes sense. Not a good thing for me but some might like it.

 

Yeah, it is definitely more of a bar than a place to relax and meet new people such a as the environment most brewery tasting rooms have.

 

Been to one near Orlando... beer was good - nice selection especially given what I expected from the area, I dont mind sports bars but it certainly is one, never had the food so cant comment there.

 

According to their website, they started in Tampa. They are now a chain spreading all over the US. I saw one in Cleveland, OH earlier this year.

 

I went to one in San Antonio. The beer selection was great. On the other had, it was an open air bar that did not have a non-smoking area and kept the music so loud that it was impossible to have a conversation with someone sitting right next to you. Not a very enjoyable experience.

 

The atmosphere is pretty generic, but the tap selection is hard to beat and the staff knows their stuff. I've heard the training is pretty intense, and it shows. They are willing to suggest alternative options, and I've even read about a waitress bringing a patron a flight of tasters she thought he'd like just based on what he was drinking and nailed it. They also let you bring in your own food (at least the ones in Denver) since they don't serve any. It's worth checking out.

 

I went to one in Altamonte Springs (north of Orlando), and my experience was similar. Waitress really seemed to know her beer. A guy in a pirate outfit bought me a Piraat on Talk Like a Pirate Day! They didn't serve food there either.

 

The one in the Houston area has loud music, smoking and high prices for pretty damn near all of their beer. Been there three times, don't really want to turn that into four.

 

They have a printed list of everything in bottles... you just have to ask.

 

We have one in Gainesville. I've been a half dozen times or so and it's been awful every time. Terrible customer service, long waits for drinks(once waited 45 minutes just to buy a bottle to go), terrible atmosphere, uneducated staff, large quantity of beer but weak in quality, etc.

Not sure if every WOB is as bad as the one here, though. I'm sure it comes down to management, but the one in Gainesville really is more sports bar than a craft beer bar.

Not to mention, they have a really off putting commercialized marketing program. The whole membership club seems so exclusive and trite. Drink 50 overpriced BMC products and get a commemorative t-shirt!

 

I've been to the Wob in Pensacola more than a handful of times. I never had a bad experience there, but yes, it can get very loud there, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. I have two friends that go weekly on Tuesdays and receive 25% off bottles with their membership. You also receive 30% off on togo purchases with the Wob membership.

 

They have menus and an app of their beers that they keep surprisingly well updated. Large selection of craft beers. The staff is only educated on some basics, some staff members can make decent recommendations, usually just based on style and what other customers liked. They often will have free food and live music. Gets crowded during times you might expect. Can get very loud sometimes, not really my type of crowd. Good place if you want a large selection and don't mind the noise, typical sports bar atmosphere. If you prefer a quieter, more laid back type of atmosphere, go somewhere else (like Mr. Beerys).

 

It's like a secret club? Cool. Good to know, if I ever go back.

 

Well that's a little unnecessary... Actually no, not like a secret club. They are pretty open about it. On occasion the place is packed and only so many menus to go around. Sometimes you just need to ask for help finding one. Guess you never even wanted to like the place. I'm not a fan of the place either but it has its pros.