Bottleworks

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

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

Wow, I've never disagreed with a beerfly grade so much. This place is extremely dark. Yeah, I don't want 150W light bulbs right over the beer, but damn, if there ever was a 'goth' beer shop, this has to be the place. Really dark, everyone seems to be sad and kept to themselves inside, some horrible shitty metal music like those kids would listen to in 8th grade was playing as well. Yeah dude, Rage Against The Three Tier Distribution Machine or something. . .

Selection, well, I made the trip up, stopping in Bend, Portland, Olympia and Federal Way. I spent tons of $ everywhere else. Here, about $15. They just didn't have much that was unique. Sure, the kegs were neat, but I wasn't really eager to listen to someone argue how awesome King Diamond or Stryper is/was. Nobody was a jerk or anything, they just all seemed like someone humped their GF or kicked their dog. And it was a sunny day, in Seattle no less!

Prices were about 10-15% higher than the rest of the PacNW it seemed as well. This place just doesn't deserve an A+. Its worthy and all, but not that worthy. Shitty parking too.

09-22-2010 23:38:00 | More by Beerandraiderfan

TheStove

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +2.7%
quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Bottleworks is amazing.

There really isn't much else to say about it. I kind of want to say that I found the selection of craft/micro brews lacking but that would be wrong as the selection is just different. Tons of stuff from the West Coast and North west that I didn't even know where to start. I want to say they may have been running low on stock as some of the cases were a bit bare when I visited however there was still a good amount of beer to be had.

If you know your Belgians and imports, Bottleworks is sure to please as they have tons of stuff, some in multiple vintages. It was to the point that while I consider myself knowledgeable I this I felt lost. Also admirable is the Barleywine case which features a number of barelywines from various breweries in different vintages.

If all this wasn't enough to get you in, then check out the tap list. They have a nice chill tasting area where you can grab a drink or two and motivate yourself for some beer buying. Russian River Publication and Walking Man Cherry Stout were some standouts here, nevermind that I haven't seen them on tap anywhere else.

If you want hard to find, you came to the right place.

09-09-2010 08:42:33 | More by TheStove

giantsequoia

Washington

2.9/5  rDev -34.5%
quality: 3.5 | service: 1 | selection: 4 | $$$$

I just moved to Seattle from Portland and was excited to check out Bottleworks. I hoped it would be as great as Belmont Station or John's Market in Portland. My hopes were crushed.

First, it's very dark inside and hard to see the products. I understand that light damages beer, but it's just too dark and dingy inside to be inviting. Plus, the selection, while decent, isn't as expansive as it's touted on the store's website.

The store also advertises its beer as properly chilled, but after a ten minute walk on a relatively cool day, my beer was warm.

I bought a six pack of Caldera Pale Ale in cans, which cost me $11.40 plus tax. In Portland, I could get the same beer at the local grocery chain for $9 plus deposit. Whole foods carries it for about $10. It's too expensive at Bottleworks.

Finally, the customer service was lacking. There were four people chatting in the back near the taps. This went on for awhile as I shopped. No one acknowledged me as I walked in the store. I had to go around one worker who was blocking a cooler. No acknowledgment. No "hello". I waited at the front to pay as the workers continued chatting in the back. I was going to give it another minute before walking out, leaving all my products on the counter, when a clerk, who was friendly, finally came up and apologized for my wait. Apparently they were chatting with a distributor. I've worked in customer service before and was taught to always acknowledge a customer. That the workers at Bottleworks chose to chat with a distributor rather than acknowledge and help a customer shows who they value more.

I will not be returning to Bottleworks.

08-21-2010 19:27:43 | More by giantsequoia

DaveHS

California

4.55/5  rDev +2.7%
quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Came here on a recent trip to Seattle after seeing advertisements in Celebrator magazine. Wasn't sure what to expect but this place delivered!

Like most great bottle shops, it doesn't have much in the way of design. Bottles are stacked everywhere. Fridges line both sides of the dimly lit main room, and there are a few wooden tables running down the middle.

Shopping here, I momentarily considered maxing out my credit cards, or just moving in upstairs. This has to be one of the greatest bottle shops in the United States.

Plenty of De Dolle vintage stuff on hand, including 750ml bottles of Dulle Teve from 1994! And they were priced very reasonably.

Found some very old HOTD bottles, and Sierra Bigfoot Barleywine in multiple vintages. Ended up leaving with about 12 bottles, including a delicious '06 Full Sail Old Boardhead that only cost me about 8 bucks!

If you are going to Seattle for beer, there is no excuse not to check this place out.

08-17-2010 20:12:56 | More by DaveHS

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +6.1%
quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

Visited on a recent trip to Seattle. I'd say I "stopped by," but that sounds much too casual -- I'd researched this place ahead of time & made a very emphatic point of seeking it out.

Granted, I'm going to say the selection's high because it's on the other side of the country from me & will naturally have stuff I can't get here in PA. But man, there was some awesome stuff here, stuff I'd only read about & lots on my Wants list. I was a happy camper picking up some Boulevard BBQ, Consecration, & some more local goodies. I put a cap on myself (with the help of my wife), but could've easily walked out with several hundred dollars worth of stuff: Lost Abbey, Mikkeller, Russian River, Boon, Allagash wilds, oy vey.

I had two hours to drive on an empty stomach, so I didn't stop to savor the short-but-awesome tap list (Pliny the Elder on tap? Yes!). Didn't really need much in the way of service, I was pretty happy browsing myself.

Prices were not crazy good, but reasonable. Everyone in PA bitches about the pricing in bottle shops, but I didn't really see any difference here. Granted, I don't how the alcohol laws & taxation work in WA, but like I said: reasonable.

I saw a cousin who lives in Seattle the next day. When I told him we'd been shopping for beer, his response was "I hope you went to Bottleworks." Only wish I'd budgeted more for the visit, definitely an awesome place.

08-03-2010 11:32:08 | More by OneDropSoup

DaveJanssen

British Columbia (Canada)

4.65/5  rDev +5%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Good selection of the more regular local stuff as well as harder to come by stuff. The staff was helpful and were very willing to look in the back for more of something they were out of on the shelf, even if it was from the cellar.

I think the most impressive thing about this store is that each of the four times i went in there in about a week there was always a good number of new beers. Either cellared stuff or new stuff.

And they did have some amazing beer (deviation, 2000 drie fonteinen geuze, 1999 lou pepe geuze, four years of old crustacean form the 90's) when i was there in december. Part of me is glad i no longer live around it, as i would spend all my money there. Great bottle shop, and they also get some reasonably good beers on tap (they have 5).

07-09-2010 21:21:52 | More by DaveJanssen

vroney

Washington

4.35/5  rDev -1.8%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Today was the third time I have gone to Bottleworks and it just doesn't get old walking into that place. They have the best selection I have ever seen and having 5 rotating taps for a taste while browsing the massive selection is a nice touch. The guys who work there are always and helpful so if you have questions just ask. Another cool thing about this place is that they have a cellar where they store certain beers. Have my first aged stout in the fridge waiting to be drank right now. If you like finding and trying new beers I would highly recommend checking out Bottleworks.

04-23-2010 02:42:01 | More by vroney

unHipHopHead

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

This place is pretty chill which I appreciate, they let you browse and if you want something specific just ask for it!

If you go early or on a weeknight you will get great individual service and the staff is always pretty knowledgeable depending on who you talk to.

They have 5 rotating beers on tap in the back of the store with a small standing bar so you can enjoy a pint while browsing. I think this is a nice touch! (note: you can also order half pints if you are looking to taste).

If you go on a Friday or Saturday night after 7 you will most likely run into a crowd and sometimes a party atmosphere which can be a lot of fun but can also appear off putting until you just talk to someone because ultimately this is a really friendly and joyous place. In other words, if you go on a Friday or Saturday night don't be in a hurry.

02-15-2010 23:03:05 | More by unHipHopHead

boogyman

Washington

4.7/5  rDev +6.1%
quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

A friend first recommended Bottleworks to me and I went ahead and checked it out. Boy was I in for a surprise.

Quality- The quality of their beer is very good. This place cares more about how their beer is stored then any other place I know. They even go so far as to take lights out of their fridges to lessen the lights affect on the beer that their customers will be buying. They also have their own cellar in the back that they age beer in and sell it when it comes of age. I will see beers from 2003-2008 on occasion.

Service- This would be a tough one for some people but I think their service is good. When you first go in and up to a few minutes into it, you kinda feel intimidated as you may get greeted on your way in or you may not but you wont likely get more then that unless you approach any of the employees. Not many times do you have someone coming up and asking if you need help finding anything. But.. at the same time if you do have a question and ask them, they are really very knowledgeable guys. They know their beer, and they know their stock. They can make good recommendations as well. Overall I would initially want to say their customer service is only mediocre but considering their knowledge and ability of answering pretty much any question you have, they make up for it there.

Selection- Their selection is one of the best in the Seattle metro area. The only thing I guess you could say was bad about it is that they get a lot of beer but they can sometimes have trouble keeping it in stock because they get so much business. One minute they will have more beer then they know what to do with and will have boxes of beer sitting on the floor, the next they are kinda thin on their selection since they are awaiting their next shipment. So if you go their on the right day right after their shipment, you will be presented with quite a great bounty and even some rare stuff you might only see once a year.

Value- There has been some things I have found to be cheaper then any other store and their has been things where it was more expensive. But usually its a reasonable price and if it is high it it isn't much higher and it makes up for when it is low. Plus I am pretty sure if you buy a whole case, you get a 10% discount.

Overall I love bottleworks and go there very often and make sure I stay up to date on their stock since the rare beers they get can be gone in less then 24 hours after they receive it.

12-23-2009 03:22:16 | More by boogyman

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