Bottleworks

berley31

New Brunswick (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -23.3%
quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | $$$

I have to mostly agree with the recent review by cbros of Bottleworks. I, too, came here expecting so much after all I've read about the place; I guess it's inevitable that I was to be disappointed.

Lots of great beers, but lots of empty spaces. I had no problem finding stuff to buy to take to the hotel room to drink over the next few days, but there were several good beers they didn't have that I was easily able to find at other beer stores. And the staff was quite dismissive... they blared their music while we shopped, but never offered to help, other than getting us a beer on tap when we approached the bar.

My other real complaint is concerning the prices. I checked my receipt after we left the store (unfortunately); there were many beers that didn't match up with the prices advertised on the coolers... some were cheaper, some more expensive. Not a big deal as I'm sure it evened out, but I would expect a little more consistency at a place that seems to pride itself on its service and selection.

Don't get me wrong, still an awesome beer store. But I think I preferred 99 Bottles in Federal Way.

10-29-2009 19:43:30 | More by berley31

Hopmodium

Washington

4.47/5  rDev +0.9%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Great place in a great neighborhood. My wife found this place after we were strolling the area by foot...I had been meaning to stop by but just never did. I was delighted to find some unique beers on tap, the dude who poured our brews was quite friendly, especially when we told him we had an identical glass head to the one he has displayed with some bottle caps inside. Went during a down time, like I usually do, I just prefer it that way, you get better service and more time & space to browse...duh! Anyhoo, great selection and they let you break open sixers to buy individual 12oz cans or bottles (I like to try as many different beers as possible so this is prime for me and mine). Check out what is lurking in their front window if you stop by. If you are willing to chat to these guys without trying to be a bigger badass, you will enjoy your stay, respect the store and you will be treated the same way...sorry, some of the reviews I read about this place could be said about anywhere in Seattle if you stop by during peak hours. I feel better now and you will after you check this place out, stop by Sock Monster if you do.

01-29-2013 04:55:24 | More by Hopmodium

Bfarr

Washington

3.21/5  rDev -27.5%
vibe: 1 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Dark is an understatement for this place. Not a cheerful place to hang about in or browse, particularly with heavy metal blaring in the background. You can't read the labels or the tags unless you're 3 inches from the glass. Prices are reasonable except some of the aged beers. I actually expected a little more of a selection. There were a lot of European beers but otherwise there was a lot of empty space but certainly not much more than my local bottle shops. A couple of interesting beers on tap to try but I really didn't feel like staying. So unless I'm looking for a rare or aged beer I really won't be stopping here again anytime soon.

06-27-2012 00:15:00 | More by Bfarr

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.86/5  rDev -12.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$

A: A pretty cool vibe. Sordove a place to just hang out free from clowns. Dimly lit which some do not like but I do. It's relaxing and chill.

Q: Top notch. Every beer I have ever picked up was quality. The beers I took home were properly stored and tasted great. The beers I had draft were good as well. No issues.

S: Service is usually average to good(sometimes good). After numerous stops in I am always able to strike convo on beer with the staff and never had terrible service. Somedays are not the best and I have experienced douchiness here from the staff as have many other BA's I. My initial two trips I was let down on service but it was not badI have seen improvements since my first few visits but the inconsistency of service makes me wanna drive cross town or down the road.

S: Not the biggest in Seattle but close. They always have some vintage bwines and I have pulled some mighty bog beers out of here. 2002 Fish BA Leviathan, Vertical Epic 03 ect on top of West Coast staples

F: No try

V: Some beers were well priced and some were a tad expensive. Comparable to anywhere else in the Sound.

01-06-2012 14:41:38 | More by barleywinefiend

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.8/5  rDev +8.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Cam in here with a fellow BA, I've obviously head of this joint and was excited to get to check it out with a local!

I found some Temptation in bottles and had a glass on tap! We split a bottle of fremont oak aged IPA which was delicious, and they had VE 03.03.03 as well as a few other rarities such as Matt!

The service was great, we chatted with a couple of the guys and they were nice and helpful, the selection was awesome, locals, growlers, vintage stuff and ratities.

It seems like the slection changes a lot from day to day, but it was very impressive!

10-12-2011 01:26:31 | More by kingcrowing

beerandcycling88

Washington

3.79/5  rDev -14.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$

Found myself in the neighborhood and decided to check this place out.

This place was really dark and a bit uninviting which oddly enough appeals to me.

The service was ok I only had a question about pricing on something and it was answered in a polite informative manner. So nothing to complain about there.

The beer selection seemed fairly large with a pretty good number of vintage beers. I ended up picking up some 2002 Bigfoots. Aside from the vintage stuff there was really nothing special that you couldn't pick up somewhere else.

Overall this place doesn't live up to the hype but it is an excellent place to stop if you are looking for vintage beers.

10-03-2011 03:03:38 | More by beerandcycling88

MexicanSkittel

California

2.88/5  rDev -35%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2.5 | $$

Just visited bottle works this early afternoon. I wanted to see if there was something I'd not be able to get at home. Granted there were a few and I really mean a few, none of which blew my mind. The website says 950 bottles, well maybe yes if you consider a 6pack of the same beer "6 bottles". So that left me a little un-impressed. After stopping at a bar before with an amazing bottle list which weren't available to go I thought the bottle works selection would have been comparable.
I think if you're in the area give it a shot, maybe the selection grows at different times of the year.

09-28-2011 01:33:50 | More by MexicanSkittel

vande

Illinois

3.94/5  rDev -11.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

This one may have the problem have not quite living up to the hype. I had heard a lot about this place, but, while in Seattle had stopped at a few places prior. To be honest, the selection at a smaller, run-of-the-mill store I'd probably not had stopped in if it weren't for a friend's rec, was actually just as good if not a touch better.Bottleworks would be a perfect hangout to drink some beers, as they have taps, and open some bottles and/or trade some shit or bottle share cuz its got that kinda feel. But I was kinda looking for something special, and didn't quite find it. I walked out w/ a bottle of Upright and a couple of Northcoast bottles...Maybe if I was around for their special releases or Cellar deals I'd have more of a "wow" feel for it...but I'm going on my visit...I'd give it another chance though-

09-03-2011 06:51:53 | More by vande

reymic

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -21%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | $$

Coming from the East Coast, I was really hoping that I could find some of the more hard to find beers from the West Coast. Surprisingly, I'd say about 95% of it, I could get back home. The selection had a few winners, but nothing that grabbed out at me that i NEEDED to have. I still did pick up a number of bottles that aren't available back home: New Belgium, Maui, Cascade, Laurelwood, Freemont, etc. It just wasn't a mindblowing selection, that's all.

Also, the guy working here was very helpful. We explained that we were looking for some beers that weren't available where we were from, and he was fairly knowledagble. Also, when we were looking for a certain Cascade beer, he went into the back to dig up for us.

07-08-2011 15:48:42 | More by reymic

black13

Oregon

2.33/5  rDev -47.4%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 2 | $$

While on Seattle for the weekend I was looking forward to browsing the selection in this place. My first stop was Brouwers, but I had to pass as I had my family with me and they had no desire to wait while I had a beer.

Walling into this dungeon, you have to give your eyes some time to adjust to the minimal lighting. I realize protecting beer from light is important, but without a flashlight, I truly couldn't see what bottle I was looking at without taking it out of the cooler.

It was great to see (or not see) moat of the beers in coolers. But selection and lighting need to improve.

Maybe the clerk was having a bad day or didn't like that I was from Portland, but he was honestly no more help than a clerk selling chips and sigs at your corner market. I told Jim o was from Portland and I was interested in offerings that I couldn't get there. His first response is "I don't know what you get". I'm just a beer geek that doesn't work at a beer store and I can name several things that are not offered in Portland. If you work at a beer store, at least you should know something about distro, especially when you're close to Portland.

Selection was minimal at best. Their website says something like 950 beers. I didn't count them, but this seems to be a stretch. There are Fred Meyer stores in Portland with a better selection. There were several bottles of Epic 03 for $75, but I could find everything else at local grocery stores. I didn't look at the tap list as I wasn't able to stay and enjoy a beer so I cannot comment on this aspect.

Overall, the hype of this place probably contributed to it's letdown. Aside from the Epic 03, I could find anything in this store around town, and there were very few things I couldn't get in Portland aside for some Lost Abbey and a couple local breweries. Makes me happy to live in Portland.

06-25-2011 03:23:04 | More by black13