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.

 

I have visited a lot of different ones throughout the state of Florida, and a few out of state. Quality varies depending on location. South Tampa's location and style is pretty damn epic on a nice fall or spring night in FL. Altamonte and Lake Mary were decent, but very generic. Ft. Myers has terrible service, but is nice because there's virtually no beer scene in Ft. Myers, so good stouts stay on shelves longer, and even the most limited keg won't kick the first night like other locations. The one in Savannah GA had great staff and patrons, but you find that at most places in Savannah. Only one I really take issue with is Sarasota, which unfortunately is my local. During the day, it's fine, but it pretty much turns into a nightclub after 8 with nightclub clientele, nightclub music, and nightclub service. They also had knowledgable staff when they first opened, but no longer. Luckily Sarasota has lots of other options for excellent craft beer in a better environment, so I've found myself going to that WOB less and less.

 

I've been to the Jacksonville WOB. Solid selection and knowledgable staff. The atmosphere is a bit sports bar, not my preferred craft beer place. I go occasionally for the selection with friends, but prefer the Seven Bridges Brewpub a 5 minute walk away.

 

I walked in and hated the vibe; a game was on and it had run over and a band was waiting to start playing.

I wandered up to the bar and the bartender greeted me but didn't offer me a beer menu. I didn't see one.

That's it.

I walk into every place willing to give it a shake. It's just not my kind of place. I walked down the street to Hopjack's and Pensacola Bay Brewery and had a great evening.

 

None of them are my favorite beer bars, but they do have a pretty good selection and their prices are decent - you can get some good beers for $5 or $6 a pop which is cheaper than other craft beer bars in South FL where I live. The live music is usually kind of lame and generic and the crowd there are mostly not beer geeks like us, but it's a place where if you go with a group of people, everyone can enjoy themselves. I have been to the one in Altamonte Springs, downtown West Palm Beach, Coconut Creek, and most recently the new one in Key West.

 

Go

Go into a WOB and ask for ANY BMC product and let me know the result and the look the bartender gave you. Stubbie's program they had when I was there was no different (actually it was worse, drink 250 Belgians/Imports and get a t-shirt and a plaque on the wall)

WOB is a great social place for craft beer virgins and people that dont want to deal with the snobbery some craft beer bars have , its not my favorite craft beer bar in my area but its the closest and cleanest

 

WOB is a great craft beer bar, that is if you want to avoid hipsters and the beer geeks that like to puke what info they know about beer all over you. In Orlando there are not really any decent craft bars. RR is ok, but its freakin hipster central and parking sucks. I can get the same beers (for the most part) at WOB. The milk bar is pretty cool, but you have to deal with the goth and punk kids and its TINY>

For my money WOB is the best craft place in Orlando. Great staff and good selection and decent prices. Some WOBs even have liquor now.

So for you beer/geek/snobs if WOB isnt for you good stay the F out.

 

I'm by no means a snob, but if you think WOB is the best in Orlando then you really need to check out Redlight Redlight.

 

EVERY single time I order something off the menu at any of these "craft bars" like Brass Tap or WoB my first and second order is NEVER there. They either just blew the keg or they don't have it. I stopped going after I paid $7 for one beer that I could have bought at the ABC across the street for $2.50. Not worth it anymore. The only saving grace was that they had it on nitro (but to be honest Young's is better without nitro which I learned that day).

 

I don't agree with you on much, but on this, I'm right there with ya.

 

A beer at a bar usually costs more than a beer at a store.... that's kinda expected...

 

Uhhh, yeah he mentioned RR in his post....sooo...

 

Well no fucking shit. But when you are out of shit every time I order there is a problem. Especially when you price your shit so high.

 

Lol ok RR is a good beer bar if you like no parking spots, don't open until 5, hipsters. Its just fine! But to each his own

 

My local WOB did a Westvleteren XII/ Brandy Huna/5L Piraat tasting this past weekend for 30 Loyalty Members. We got our own bottle of Westy and a 4oz pour of Huna (some of us more) and all the Piraat we could drink for a nominal cost, I even brought a growler of CCB/AC Banana Cream Pie Ale for S's and G's. The loyalty program may be a little hokey, however, if you talk to the owners and get to know them, they'll be more inclined to include you in some off-kilter events.

This isn't every WOB since they are individually owned

 

So much anger.

 

Anyone can own one for $800,000.00

 

Disregard hipsters; acquire beer.