Hops & Grapes

treznor

Virginia

4.64/5  rDev +4.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I'm in the store all the time as its just down the road from my house. Very nice selection and the new owner (Bobby) has been working to expand the beer list past where it was under the prior owner (Gail), which was already a pretty decent beer list. Wine is covered well also, though there isn't quite the knowledge of wine as there is for beer.

This is the first bottle shop I've been to where you can drink at the shop. Don't know if that says something about the places I've been or what... There are a couple drafts on tap and, especially after 5/6pm, there are a handful people around the store drinking a bottle or so.

Really, a great shop and I'm glad we have it in Hickory.

07-09-2012 14:20:27 | More by treznor

JdoubleA

North Carolina

4.44/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

A- Really welcoming. Great place to have a beer and peruse the cooler.

Q- Good.

S- Great. Staff has always been knowledgeable and quick with suggestions and pointing out new arrivals. Also really interested in hearing what you have to say, which is awesome. With Bobby in the picture now a whole other level of knowledge is in that store.

S- I've seen bigger, but this is by far the best store in hickory. I'd like a little more beer and less wine, but I get how that works so I can't really knock it.

f- I gave it an n/a, but they do offer a varied selection of cheeses, spreads, chocolates, and other specialty stuff that you wouldn't really know where to get if somebody asked you.

V- Compared with every other place, it's right in line.

02-08-2012 16:55:42 | More by JdoubleA

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.36/5  rDev -2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

A beer/wine store that presents both fermented products with equal reverence. Most beers are in coolers, with a few newer releases on display on several tables, tastefully laid out. Tons of North Carolina beers, also a very good cross-section of the distribution available in the state, from CA to IL to MA.

They also have 2 taps for growler fills, serving Black Chocolate Stout and something else I don't remember. Prices were about average, well worth it for properly cared for beers sold by people who seem to care. Definitely worth a stop, maybe nothing too rare (or maybe you'll get lucky), the type of place I'd always shop at if I lived in Hickory.

01-25-2012 02:20:24 | More by TurdFurgison

Lantern

North Carolina

4.58/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Previously 'Gail's Hops & Grapes'.

Under new ownership (Now simply 'Hops & Grapes'), there is more focus on great beer. Thanks to Bobby, there's a better selection of NC brews, and more availability of beers distributed to NC. Most of the same great staff is here, ever helpful and smiling.

Go in, pop open a brew, go to a tasting, or partake in a beer lesson with Bobby. A lot of great things happening here now. A great place just got better. This place is much need in the Hickory area, where there are no other bottle shops to speak of, and grocery store selections are not very good at all.

01-23-2012 18:37:50 | More by Lantern

Msquared2

North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev -3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

I live in Hickory half of the week and decided this past week to google craft beer up there. Amongst all of the Olde Hickory links, Gail's popped up and I decided to stop by on the way back home. I was expecting some Olde Hickory beers and maybe some other easily accessible beers. However, I was pleasently surprised by the extent of their selection. I walked out with Ballast Point, Laugintas, and some Southern Tier. The customer service was also great. The two women working were very knowledgable about the selection and I always like to meet fellow women involved in the craft beer scene. The value was also comprable to the other craft beer stores that I frequent in Charlotte. Overall, it is an awesome place and I will be a regular patron from now on.

09-11-2011 16:36:26 | More by Msquared2

hartsoet

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev -2.2%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Just went this weekend the lady was very helpful at the store. Was very friendly I'm going back to get some different beer. Had a line of beer & wine help my wife with a wine she like. So I highly recommend this place.It's small but had a lot of stuff inside. Clean inside nice cooler inside for Beer a few wines inside cooler. Wife enjoyed the staff who was pleasant on enterey. In a location that was not what you find in most small area's but called a got directions.It's in a small town so support them because it's the only one we have.

01-31-2011 00:06:00 | More by hartsoet

Macky20

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev -6.7%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

I can't remember where I heard of this place, but I make bi-weekly trips to Hickory and I always stop in during lunch. If you go on Mondays there's a slight (very slight, 5% i think) discount on all beer. I've never been able to, but they do allow you to sit and enjoy a beer on site. There's maybe 12 coolers on your right with great selections from all your local breweries and also coolers dedicated to imports including Trappist and beers from the UK and Germany/Belgium. They also have one cooler dedicated to seasonals only. A few non-local breweries represented from memory are Bear Republic, Founders, Allagash, Great Divide, Terrapin, Sweetwater, Left Hand, Green Flash, Ballast Point, Lagunitas, Stone, Rogue, Bells... and of course tons more. Gail is great to talk to as well as a few of the other employees. Some are more knowledgable than other, but all are very nice and acommadating. Use a GPS to find this place if possible, it sits down low off the road and is difficult to see. I highly recommend it for beer advocates, as they have tons to choose from! Unfortunately, I never spend less than $60 everytime I drop in....

12-04-2010 02:31:10 | More by Macky20

ChemistBrewer

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev -5.6%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

Nice shop done up very well. Devoted to wine overall but beer is almost half the store so thats good. You can drink a beer in house while you shop which is great!

Quality/Selection: Overall a pretty deverse selection especially for the area. Best in hickory id say. Almost every style is available and locals are well represented.

Service: Good when the owner or outgoing employee is there. Could be better when a less motivated staff member is present.

value: Pricey compared to other stores in other places. Theve got a monopoly so take it or leave it. Wine is def overpriced.

10-29-2010 00:45:59 | More by ChemistBrewer

SwillBilly

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev -6.7%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Made a point of stopping by Gail's after reading the Beerfly Reviews. Located in a little strip mall that sits at the bottom of a hill. If you didn't know where this place was you would miss it completely. Needs signage on the main road. Anway, really nice store when entering. Beer coolers located on the left with the rest of the store dedicated to wine, glassware, high end snacks. Pretty nice selection. One cooler is dedicated to NC beers with Olde Hickory, Duck Rabbit, French Broad, Natty Greenes, Mother Earth among those represented. Other coolers are dedicated to nationally recognized names like Allagash, DFH, Terrapin, Starr Hill, Great Divide, Avery, Boulder, Founders, etc...Another section is where you will find the imports with a small but decent selection of Belgian and German beers with some random Euro-Asian lagers thrown in for good measure. What really sets the store apart is that you can actually drink a beer in the store. If you ask, they will give you a glass so you can try any of the beers you bought. Pretty cool if you ask me. Shared a bomber for the French Broad Rye beer and glad I did. Picked up another bomber before I left. Overall, really classy and well done store. Definitely worth a stop. Highly recommended if in the area.

05-17-2010 11:39:25 | More by SwillBilly

beer2day

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev -2.2%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Wow. I was totally suprised by the selection presented here. If my memory is right, 8 large coolers with an awesome selection of beer for the area. Pisgah and French Broad bombers. A good representation of the good beers available in NC. DFH, Stone, Weyerbacher, Victory. A large selection of German and Belgian beers.

Good selection of wine, too. The woman working seemed to know more about the wine than the beer, but the beer is well presented and little assistance is needed in finding anything.

Nice table of glassware and coasters. You can pick up a pint glass to match the beer you are buying.

Easily the best beer store between Winston and Asheville. Makes my top 10 beer stores in NC.

About 3 miles north of town, but well worth the drive.

04-19-2009 01:13:44 | More by beer2day