Vulcan Beverage

Kalev

4.74/5  rDev +12.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Vulcan Beverage is by far, the best beer selection in Birmingham. Vulcan has hard to find brands that no other store has. These guys have hundreds of hard to find brands. The selection cannot be matched in Birmingham. Their prices are reasonable and I really like the draft beer selection. They have kegs of Abita, Guiness and other unusual draft beer brands. I also really like the fact that you can create your own 6 pack. Any beer can be bought inidividually. The manager there is always helpful and very knowledgeable. This is definitely my new beer store!

10-01-2012 01:55:12 | More by Kalev

joshodonn

Florida

3.05/5  rDev -27.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 4 | $$$$

I'm usually not one to leave a negative review, however after my recent experience at Vulcan Beverage I feel obligated to share their questionable business practices with my fellow BAs.

I stopped in to this store during a recent business trip to Birmingham. I have been in to this store many times in the past to pick up stuff that I can't get in FL (Founders, Good People, Boulevard, etc). On this most recent visit I asked the guy who was working about several beers that I was looking for(who is the only guy I've ever seen there, I assumed he was the owner). After he realized that I knew my beer he informed me that they had about 1/2 a case of KBS in the back. At first he made it sound like it wasn't for sale, he said they received one case from the latest release and were initially selling it for $6 a bottle, however after they realized the popularity of this beer they pulled it from the shelf and 'the boss man' told him to sell it for $20 a bottle if anyone would pay that for it.

I realize that business are free to charge whatever prices they want, but I also think what they are doing is very shady. I chose not to pay this ridiculous amount for a single bottle of KBS. I will probably return today and ask to speak with owner and see if he will sell me a bottle or two for a more reasonable price. If not I will never return to this store due to their unethical business practice.

04-17-2012 14:00:14 | More by joshodonn

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

4.28/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Vulcan Beverage has a very nice selection of imports. Also, a good selection of taps for growlers. The create-a-six-pack thing is always great too.

Easy to get to from I-65. The location looks a little sketchy but I don't know much about Birmingham, so it may be just fine. I certainly didn't have any problems while I was there.

The service was very friendly and helpful.

Prices were good compared to other places I have visited in the area.

I wish we had a place half as nice as this in Mississippi. Maybe one day we can get our archaic beer laws changed.

11-25-2011 19:16:44 | More by TrappistJohnMD

WoodBrew

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

In Birmingham for the first time and Check Beer Advocate for places to check out and Vulcan Beverage was listed as a place to go....so I went. The place is typical of an inner city Beverage store except this place sells Growlers!!! Which blew me away. The atmosphere is good once inside..there is many coolers and shelves of beer along with a white board of growlers. The quality is fine...its a beer store and they had a good selection. ONce I walked in I was greeted and asked if I needed help finding anything...said I was looking and he revealed that the have singles for sale at various prices. I was hoping for more Alabama beers...but most was from out of state....alot from Maine...it seemed. I ended up buying a six which I will try throughout the course of my visit.

09-13-2011 20:37:24 | More by WoodBrew

JayS2629

Alabama

4.88/5  rDev +15.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

I was leery with the barred windows but walked into a beer haven. They had beers I didn't think Alabama could get like Cigar City and hard to find stuff. Awesome selection, and a growler fill with over 20 beers on tap. Picked up some local Good People in a half gallon milk jug. Every bottle in the store was mix your own six. Awesome service, friendly and knowledgeable. Awesome store. The owner went out of his way to make us comfortable and said we could break six packs to mix our own six. Amazing selection of craft beer. Will make it a regular stop on my trips from South to North Alabama.

06-10-2011 22:52:36 | More by JayS2629

BierGartenok

Oklahoma

4.35/5  rDev +3.1%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Love this place!! Always go in when visiting my sister. Always the owner behind the counter and he is very knowledgeable. Awesome idea to make the whole store a Mix-a-six! I always stock up on the local brews (good people brewing..etc) and regional favorites (terrapin, cigar city...etc) Just a great shop and right in the middle of town. Prices are right on point! The owner loves to talk beer and is always very friendly. You must visit this shop when your in Birmingham! They always have the newest things!

01-21-2011 02:58:52 | More by BierGartenok

jpmclaug

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -5.2%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

I visited this place to pick up some brews while I was visiting my dad in Alabama.

This place has a large selection and almost everything is available to be purchased as a single. At the back of the store they had a lot of beer in the fridge and a growler fill station. I think the best part of the place is the ability to purchase singles.

Unfortunately they can only fill growler's into plastic containers( I was told it was a state law) so I didn't get a growler but they did have a good selection including beer from Good People brewing. The price's seemed reasonable also.

The service was good overall. The guy in the store was helpful and talked to me and my father for awhile. Only annoyance was when I checked out he asked for my ID(understandable, I've been told I look young). He then scrutinized it for a lot longer than normal and mumbled something about the hologram before ringing me up. I thought that was a little strange considering we had just talked about beer for the past 20 minutes while I selected a bunch of different craft brews. Oh well he was friendly the rest of the time.

I didn't stop at any other stores in Alabama but I couldn't imagine anywhere else having their extensive selection. I would definitely stop by the next time I'm in town to look for something new.

03-13-2010 21:45:45 | More by jpmclaug

PsychoJedi

Alabama

4.7/5  rDev +11.4%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$$

The place has a nice selection of beers. Sells mostly micro brews and imports. I, unlike what seems like most, people on this board have no bias for or against macro domestics. You can get much them here, but not in mass quantities like 24 and 30 packs. I know I am in the minority, but I like beer regardless of what is popular or not. The shop in not "on the bad side of town" since it is just past the underpass of I-65 from UAB. The owner is a nice guy that knows his beer very well. I, like many, think the selection on micro brews has been a little hyped up. But, go there to shop within the city limits for your imports and micros.

06-08-2009 01:54:20 | More by PsychoJedi

BamaBeerBuff

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -5.2%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

Stopped in and picked up 6 singles. Definitely like the fact that you can buy everything in a single. Selection's definitely the best I've seen in Alabama yet. The place I shop at in Tuscaloosa has a few things he didn't, but he had quite a bit more that they didn't have. Obviously, it's impossible to have everything, but the selection COULD be better, that's why I'm not giving it a 5. It's really close to the interstate, and the guy working there was nice, as well. However, I paid almost 16 bucks for 6 12 oz. beers. I realize he's stocking a huge variety of stuff, but that's pretty expensive for 6 beers. I'll stick to my T-Town store from now on, unless Vulcan has something I really want badly.

04-14-2008 17:36:33 | More by BamaBeerBuff

Horsley54

Mississippi

3/5  rDev -28.9%
quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | $$$

The staff was really nice and socialable, but i felt like people were playing up the selection a little much. I felt i could get most of the same thing, for a cheaper price at Whole Food. I didn't think there was anything real special about the place. I got two beers that my girlfriend had been looking for, but that was really the only "special" beer i got. The one nice thing was if you were looking for beer and liquor great place to do that. The outside does look a little sketch, but inside it was fine.

02-15-2008 22:40:43 | More by Horsley54