Oak Tree Discount Wines & Spirits

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +5.7%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

Import section is large and diverse. Organized by country. Excellent selection of micros, including my first sighting of Sprechner in NJ (alas, no more). Only store I know that keeps a large stock of Climax and Heavyweight. Majority of staff is very helpful. I make this a must stop when visiting my in-laws. (4/22/02)

As of 05-12-05: it's pretty much the same, which is damn good. Great single selection, a selection to rival Supersaver,and super-friendly staff. The place to get Climax. My pick for New Jersey's number two store.

As of 12-16-06: selection is, incredibly, expanding. Service is better than ever, and not just Dan. Has surpassed Sommerville SuperSaver as the number one store in the state. My lone regret for moving out of Colonia, shame is I just can't get here that often.

12-16-2006 15:23:51 | More by RonfromJersey

MAN615

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -36.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | $$

Been going here for years, since it is really close to home, and always bragged about being able to frequently visit. I have seen a huge drop off in availability of the good stuff here. Shelves that used to be brimming are now only stocked towards the front, floor piles that were everywhere are just sparsely kept. What a difference a year makes. Still a solid store, but just a shell of what was once a great store.

05-11-2013 19:14:19 | More by MAN615

vange

New Jersey

2.86/5  rDev -39.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2 | $$

This used to be the best craft beer store in NJ and I often came here. I hadnt been here in a few years and went a few weeks back (1/13). Wow, a new owner must have taken over or the beer buyer must have left. Shelves were empty and literally 2/3 of the craft beers they used to have are gone. What they do have is very very basic craft beers. A real shame. I was greatly saddened by this visit.

02-14-2013 17:46:05 | More by vange

jakeox

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -13.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

This place gets a lot of hype on BA, although recently it's often followed up with "well it used to be one of the best beer stores around, but it's gone downhill." I thought I'd add in a recent review to let people know the state of the store.

I stopped in during late December, and granted that I was there during the NYE rush, the selection was a little sparse for such a hyped store. One side of a long-ish isle holds mostly singles (about 80% 12s and 20% larger formats) and a few sixes, all (or mostly) domestic. Another similar-length isle holds imports, and while this is hardly my area of expertise, it looked like a solid selection, particularly of Belgians. A row of 8 or so coolers holds sixes and bombers.

I'm not from the area, but my impression is that they were reasonably stocked with what you'd expect to see in NJ, although there wasn't always a ton from each represented brewery. Prices seemed reasonable and I really liked how many singles were available so I could try a lot of things I don't see locally.

I talked to two different staff members, both of whom were very helpful but hadn't heard of a couple of the things I was looking for (some limited releases, but a couple shelf beers I saw elsewhere in NJ later). They were really good about suggesting other beers that met my parameters (not in a pushy way) and found a couple decent other beers in the back for me (they turned out to be pretty old, but my fault for not checking).

Overall, I thought it was a solid store, but nothing amazing. I went to another store in S Brunswick (that I'll review soon) that had a smaller, but equally impressive, selection, so I don't think it's even great for the area. I may well be spoiled by the quality of stores I frequent in Chicago, though, and I could have picked a bad time to visit (three days before NYE), so take this for what it's worth -- I think this is a solid store that I'd visit if I lived nearby (and will go back to when I'm in town next) but I wouldn't go out of my way to stop by.

01-06-2013 23:26:40 | More by jakeox

bigaizsosexy

5/5  rDev +5.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$$

This place is an all time favorite, but since it is over 40 minutes from me I don't go there much. Their beer selection is the best I've seen so far. I've seen some beers that were a dollar or two over what I have seen them elsewhere for, but their selection is amazing.

Easily have hundreds of beers to choose from, and I must add their import selection is great too.

Their staff is super friendly and very knowledgeable. If I am in the area this is the go to place for CRAFT BEER!

After your purchase they carefully and safely pack the beers in a box.

08-24-2012 15:28:58 | More by bigaizsosexy

mgp2675

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +5.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

I haven't been to every liquor store in NJ but this is hands down the best one I've seen. Luckily I don't live far and make a pitstop there whenever I can. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and they're honest which is very rare. The selection is unbelievable. They have a huge wall dedicated to imported brews from Scotland, Italy, Belgium, Germany, etc. They have a selection of sours, lambics, etc. They also have a lot of beer cold if you prefer, and another wall dedicated to American micro-brews. With the enormous amount of people that go there, they still always manage to have such a great selection. Very rarely do I have to look elsewhere because it's that good. I would put the in-between pricey and cheap, just right. They have a lot of things though that it's worth it to pay what they ask because you can't find it anywhere else. Lots of DFH, Weyerbacher, Founders, St. Bernardus, Riverhorse, etc. They also carry virtually every seasonal beer, plus holiday beers and collaborations.

12-11-2011 02:14:51 | More by mgp2675

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev -10.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This is obviously the most heralded beer store in NJ and rightfully so; it's obvious they care a LOT about the beer and have a staggering selection. They carry pretty much anything that gets distributed to the state and have a phenomenal selection of international beer lining the entire back wall. Everything is very well organized, there's plenty of both cold and warm beer, cases, singles, bombers, sixers, etc.

Staff ranges from enthusiastic to apathetic, depending on who you talk to. Prices are competitive for most offerings, not cheap, but not overpriced either..pretty much market value.

I was a little disappointed after my last visit to find that I bought a few out-of-date beers. That's on me for not checking the bottles more meticulously but I kind of assumed that this store, above any else, would be on top of that. Oh well, guess one has to do their due diligence.

Definitely worth making a trip here, at least once. I have several closer stores that don't match Oak Tree but come close so I don't beeline here as much as I used to, but any beer fanatic owes it to himself to visit at least once.

12-05-2011 16:38:17 | More by tobelerone

HopsYeast

New Jersey

4.94/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$$

This place is the holy land of beer. I live around the corner and am so glad i bought a house where i did. oak tree has the largest beer selection i have ever seen. a whole wall of domestic beer, then round the corner and a whole other wall of beer from around the world. one could easily spend an hour in there without even buying anything. the "beer guy" jay is one of the most knowledgeable liquor store employees you will ever encounter.

like i said,
This place is the holy land of beer.

12-01-2011 01:17:58 | More by HopsYeast

rhartogsq

Virginia

4.9/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

I can't say too much that hasn't already been said. I really liked this place. Their staff was super friendly and helpful and their selection top notch. I wish this place was in my home town!
The staff helped me pick out some local Climax beers, turned me on to Troegs' Mad Elf, and I saw a Breckenridge Beer I hadn't had yet...I had a successful visit.
I had read about Oak Tree but didn't think I would have a chance to go....low and behold, my business meeting was in the building right next to it! Fate? possibly.

11-03-2011 13:55:33 | More by rhartogsq

PatrickSullivan

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +5.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

My go-to bottle shop. It's hard to argue that this is one of the best craft beer stores in the state. Word of warning, if you're planning on stopping by, clear your schedule. They have a huge inventory of imported and domestic craft beer and you'll most likely find yourself spending a good amount of time just taking it all in. If it's available in NJ, chances are you'll find it here. If the massive selection wasn't enough, what sets them apart from a lot of the other craft carrying stores in the state is their single bottle/can selection. They routinely break apart packs and offer a wide variety of singles from Weyerbacher, Troegs, DFH, Victory, Oskar Blues and Sixpoint, to name a few. They also have a dedicated Seasonal single shelf. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Dan and Jay are very knowledgeable about craft beer and are always willing to talk shop or offer suggestions if you need them. If you're ever in NJ and in need of great beer, be sure to stop here.

10-07-2011 18:33:24 | More by PatrickSullivan