Beers of the World

Beers of the WorldBeers of the World
Beers of the WorldBeers of the World
Homebrew, Beer-to-go

3450 Winton Pl
Rochester, New York, 14623-2805
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.32
Reviews:
89
Ratings:
89
pDev:
9.72%
View: Place Reviews
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Photo of piakiev
Reviewed by piakiev from New York

3.8/5  rDev -12%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
Beers of the world winton place location is Closing at the End of the Month!!!

I love beers of the world henrieatta location. Winton place just isn't quite as nice. Not as clean, not as big, very cramped, just not as an inviting environment.
Staff are knowledgable and very nice. However it is very disappointing that this location is closing because it is in such a convient location.
There is a homebrewing section, a large selection of glass ware and beers are organized by country of origin then by brand.
Mar 20, 2012
Photo of keithmurray
Reviewed by keithmurray from Connecticut

3.39/5  rDev -21.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 4
The almighty Beers of the World. Ive been here a few times but most recently last week. The place on the interior looks like a huge department store with beer in every aisle. The beer is arranged by country, they have a cooler full of beers and they carry a lot of regional NYS breweries (brooklyn, saranac, 3 heads, middle ages, etc. The selection is solid but not spectacular, nothing too rare or mindblowing, but most everything you could want will be found here. The.prices are a bit.high here and the customer service is a bit lacking. There was a gentleman working there who looked like Pat O'Brien on crack, who saw me but never asked me if I needed help. When i did have questions for him, he acted like he didnt want to be bothered. For the rochester area, this is a good bet for your craft beer needs albeit the prices are a bit high and the customer service needs improving.
Jan 04, 2012
Photo of codewarrior
Reviewed by codewarrior from New York

3.85/5  rDev -10.9%
I believe this is the original location for Beers of the World, and this bottle shop has aged well for me as I've grown in my love of this thing we call beer.

if you're going to call your store "beers of the world" you have are setting yourself up to fail, unless you're going to unload some serious fire-power on the shelves, and for the most-part, this place has got it.

1 part beer store, 1 part home-brew supply shop, beers of the world is both amazing and disappointing. The staff here is somewhat non-existant, and while their selection of beers is expansive, it is mostly 6-pack focused. Having said that, there are enough gems to make up for the store's lacking (no Black OPS 2010 yet, no GI BCS 2010 yet, extremely limited large format selection for a number of domestics, and they were completely sold out of almost their entire shelton brothers selection, including all Cantillon skus).

The gems include at least 6 vintages of Thomas Hardy, as old as 1996, an exhaustive collection of J.W. Lees vintages (best I've seen), 2006 and 2007 BFM Abbaye Du Bon Chien out on the shelves (as well as anything that BFM puts in a bottle), at least 4 paradox 1-offs, and a healthy if not overly impressive domestic offering (sly fox, and all the NY bottles you'd expect).

The biggest problem in this store is really that it's not either Finger Lakes Beverage Center or Spuyten Duyvil grocery. By which I mean that the selection is not as exhaustive as the Beverage Center, nor is it as refined as the Duyvil grocery. At the former, you can pretty much find anything, including filing growlers, at the later you can get any Cantillon bottle imaginable along with every other impossible to find belgian lambic.

Still, great shop, all in all.
Dec 24, 2010
Photo of DoubleSimcoe
Reviewed by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +0.7%
This place was a bit hard to find in the middle of a snow blizzard in a cold December... it is in Rochester, but it feels like a suburb or beyond. Very much out there, way past the city and in a shopping mall with way too much parking.

Inside, the store is as big as a supermarket, only it is ALL beer! Sweet... :-) Start with beers from Europe... Austria, England, Germany. Then India, Africa, Greece and other "weird" countries and locales.. then American brews, with everything from the big names (Stone, Dogfish, Goose Island, Victory) and small regional breweries you never heard of (Rooster Fish, Horseheads).

Selection is exceptional, no doubt about it, including some breweries you wont' easily find around NY State like Lost Coast. I only wish they had some rare brews. Their stuff is amazing but nothing super rare or hard to find. An employee told me they got three cases of Vanilla Bourbon County and they never made it to the shelves. The most exceptional stuff you'll find is perhaps a bunch of 2009 Bourbon County, both in bombers, singles and four-packs.

I like that almost everything is available in single bottles, bombers, or packs. That kind of flexibility is very much appreciated.

Service is kind of invisible- nobody greeted me or guided me around, but after a couple of minutes in the store, an employee asked me if I needed anything and I asked him about the Vanilla Bourbon County Stout. Otherwise, service is just "there", tab out and go.

Prices are WAY HIGH. Remember when Stone bombers were five bucks? And then went up to $6 or $7? Well, here they are $8.29 plus tax and tip. Samichlaus singles are $6.25, as opposed to $5.50 in New York City. The Southern Tier Cuvee series were $12.99- I bought them for $8 in a Baltimore store, and for $5 at a new and cool beer bar in Baltimore again!

I bought six beers, some on them on sale, and my total was $36. Talk about pricey. This is then an amazing store, but more for browsing and taking notes than shopping. The Barnes&Noble of the beer world!
Dec 14, 2010
Photo of psycle
Reviewed by psycle from New York

4.35/5  rDev +0.7%
Well this has to be the place to go for beer in the western half of New York State. Great selection from all over the world and the USA. Good organization for such a vast selection. Staff seems knowledgeable. Almost every brew is available as a single, even some macro-brewers and some splits. Large cooler along the side wall. Lots of beer-related items including books, glasses and homebrewing supplies. They have an updated website of their inventory as well as new releases.
Another location opened up down the road in Henrietta which is supposed to be even larger!
Slightly pricier than the stores around Buffalo but is still worth the trip.
Nov 29, 2010
Photo of adrock7309
Reviewed by adrock7309 from Minnesota

5/5  rDev +15.7%
First off, wow. I was visiting Rochester, NY on business and unfortunately only had minimal suitcase room for the return trip with extra beer. That was a shame because i could have easlity filled an extra suitcase.

This store had an amazing, affordable selection. Everything was exceptionally organized both by region and style on the shelves as well as in their massive coolers.

Employees were helpful and extremely knowledgeable. What was really a treasure was finding several top notch beers that I absolutely couldnt find in Minnesota. Dogfish Head, Stone were only a couple. Ended up picking up a Mikkeller BG breakfast and a couple random bombers from Stone.

Thanks again and I cant wait to get back there. This time I will pack light in a big suitcase so I have some room for beer on the way home.

John
Oct 26, 2010
Photo of georgcantstandya
Reviewed by georgcantstandya from New York

2.75/5  rDev -36.3%
I've been shopping here for years and if I had made a review in the past it would be higher, but I noticed recently that some of the staff I would chat with has not been around. Come to find out that there are three guys leaving and I personally say that is a major hit for this place since they seemed to be there every time I came in and were always on top of their beer knowledge.

Thought I'd just put that out there, if you're planning a trip out it is still sight to behold as far a selection goes but I think the quality and service will really take a downturn. Also as others have stated if possible I'd check out Hegadorns first since their stock is usually cheaper.
Sep 12, 2010
Photo of dogfishandi
Reviewed by dogfishandi from New York

4.85/5  rDev +12.3%
while i was in rochester my one main goal was to visit this place. upon walking in, i was shocked by the endless rows of beers. truly has the beers of the world. the begining rows start with the imports from japan, africa, you name it, the country is prolly there. imports take up one half where american take up the other. they even have a big selection of macro beers if thats your thing. i was able to find a beer or two that i couldnt get in buffalo. prolly couldve found more, but it wouldve taken all day to see every beer. tons of kegs to choose from with a big display as soon as you walk in. amazing selection.

the staff was very knowledgeable both on there beer selection and there homebrew supplies. speaking of their homebrew supplies, they had a pretty decent selection. i picked up some hop bags while there. i wanted to pick up some liquid yeast, but they did not have any.

a great beer store. they have everything you need related to beer. beer books, beer glasses, etc. next time in town, ill be sure to visit again.
Aug 15, 2010
Photo of DrewKid4
Reviewed by DrewKid4 from New Hampshire

4.6/5  rDev +6.5%
I researched this place before I visited friends at RIT for a friend's birthday. In buying alcohol and beer for the party, I told my friends to stop at this place (I knew more about these stores than my friends who were locals).

Walking in not only was I, an aspiring beer connoisseur, in heaven, but seeing my Coors Light drinking friends in awe was also inspiring. It took us 45 minutes just to walk down the aisles to just look at labels, and buying just one label from the hundreds of others hadn't crossed our minds yet. Yes, I agreed that their prices were a bit high and I wouldn't go there often if I were a local, but the Pick 6 packs helped some of our choices. I did not notice the old beers I had seen in other reviews, but I had not chosen rare beers (Dogfish Heads and Flying Dogs that I had not tried yet) that would have sat long. Overall an excellent place to check out even if you aren't buying much due to the prices.
Jun 17, 2010
Photo of Lazerlobe
Reviewed by Lazerlobe from Washington

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
I visited BOTW for the first time yesterday and was blown away. Coming from Syracuse, which comparatively is a beer wasteland, I was relieved to find many of the bottles on my Must Drink Now and Must Cellar Now lists. I have been to supermarkets smaller than this place. The aisles were full of cases, six packs and bombers but all bottles are individually sold. It was nice to see the area blocked off by country/region as well as the small vintage ale section. The grin that stole over my face when I walked in was akin to that of the 7 year old me on my first trip to Disneyland. Definitely a new stopping point as I pass through Rochester.
Apr 11, 2010
Photo of dxp1113
Reviewed by dxp1113 from New York

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
All I have to say is "I love this place!" Especially when some local breweries come by offering tastings. I enjoy walking into the place and seeing the rows and rows of beers from literaly all over the world. The emplyees there are very knowlegeable and even told me about Beer Advocate. I enjoy going here for fun. They pretty much have every beer you can imagine, the selection for grains for homebrewing are kinda weak, but they have a lot of essensial peices of equipment. If you ever are near the Western New York area I would def. recoment to stop by this place...Beer Heaven.
Mar 21, 2010
Photo of josefnewsong
Reviewed by josefnewsong from New York

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
Beers of the world is the best place to get beer in Rochester NY hands down. They have the largest selection of microbrews by far and staff are knowledgeable about beer and brewing. Some beers can get a bit pricey, but if you go for the sales it's always a great deal and overall I've never been disappointed. If you want great beers on tap, go to the Tap and Mallet, if you want great beers to take home, it's either here or wegmans (especially pittsford or penfield), but BOTW definitely has the most.
Feb 10, 2010
Photo of number1bum
Reviewed by number1bum from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -6.3%
I've been to BOTW so many times I can't believe I haven't reviewed it. It's the best place to find beer in Rochester and miles around. Excellent selection of US micros that continues to grow. Last time I was there, around Thanksgiving, I was pleasantly surprised to see selections from The Bruery, tons of Goose Island stuff, etc. The other places I would say BOTW shines are with certain import countries like Germany and England. Selections are excellent for both. The one area I would say they are just a bit lacking is in their Belgian selection. There is really nothing at all out of the ordinary, nothing particularly rare. I rarely see anything from Fantome for instance, and that's too bad. If anything I would think that this would be THE place to go for Belgians in Rochester, but for some reason they can't seem to get stuff that other parts of the state do. Maybe it's a distrib problem, I don't know, but I can't quite give them a 5 for selection for that reason.

I've shopped at BOTW many times and one thing I've noticed is that service is pretty sparse. I don't know that I've ever once been offered help. If I walked up to the counter and asked they may well help me, but it'd be nice if someone were roaming to try to help customers. The only other thing to watch out for is beer past its best by date. They actually do a commendable job of keeping up on dates and marking stuff down that is approaching or past its best by date, but still, especially with the huge selection of imports, you have to watch out for yourself, as well. This place is also a bit on the pricey side, and I would say that if you can find the same thigns at Hegedorns in Webster (where you can find a lot, but not nearly all) it's likely to be 15-20% cheaper there. Nevertheless, this is a great stop to find excellent beer, and I always make a point to visit when I'm home to Webster.
Jan 07, 2010
Photo of TommyW
Reviewed by TommyW from Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev -0.5%
Beers of the world is a great place for finding beers in the area that you can't find anywhere else.

The guys who work there are very knowledgeable about their selection, brewing and beer in general. They're all pretty friendly as well.

The selection is without-a-doubt the best around. You can really find some rare stuff in here.

I have run into a few issue with some of the beer being a little old. Some of the stuff on their shelves is out-dated, but I've only encountered this a few times.

The prices are high, which is the biggest flaw of this place. Wegmans, although the selection isn't as big, is becoming a much more affordable place to go.
Dec 29, 2009
Photo of jzeilinger
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +12.3%
I stop here every time I visit Rochester (usually on business about 6-8 times/year). Beers Of The World has given me the opportunity to try ALOT of new beers I wouldn't have otherwise been able to try. (Especially considering I'm from PA where everything, until recently, had to be purchased by the case.) BOTW has an amazing selection and they have decent pricing on beers that are native to NY state. It's pretty cool to go to a place and have a world class selection that can be purchased as a single, sixer, or case...pretty darn cool. I've found their pricing to be all over the board, some things I find to be WAY expensive, other things are WAY cheap, you have to know what you're looking for. When I buy alot of singles here I'll walkl out paying an arm and a leg for a case and a half, but they're all high end beers and they're all brews I've never tried so it's safer in the long run as opposed to buying an entire case. I b*tch about the price every time I go in there but yet they are a regular stop on EVERY busines trip to Rochester. I would definitely recommend this establishment, it also scores brownie points with me because they know what they are selling and talking about. A side note - I was THRILLED to buy 3 bottles of the Brooklyn Black Ops from these guys, that's a hard one to find and was produced in extremely limited quantities. Speaking of that, I've found things in here before most other stores in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast even got for the first time!!!!
Dec 12, 2009
Photo of deruiz10
Reviewed by deruiz10 from California

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
A great store, selection is about as good as they come. They don't have as much stuff from the West coast as I'd like to see. Some of the major breweries are missing, and others only have a limited selection which you'll pay quite a bit for. For example, a 6-pack of Stone Ruination will run you near $20. But at the same time, they carry a very good selection of microbrews from around the nation and internationally and are almost certainly the best beer store in the Rochester area. Some things are a bit overpriced, but I guess they have to take care of their overhead.
Dec 08, 2009
Photo of reustyMMX
Reviewed by reustyMMX from New York

3.45/5  rDev -20.1%
Beers of the World is a double edge sword, they have fantastic selection but a lot of the beer on the shelves is old.

They are helpful when looking for something new, but everything is VERY overpriced.

I'm actually quite shocked to see this place rated so highly on here, don't get me wrong is a fantastic place to find a fairly obscure beer, but the risk is that when you find it not only might it be old, but you will certainly overpay for it.

Pittsford Wegmans is becoming a very sensable alternative to BOTW when it comes to finding affordable craft beer in Rochester.

Beers of the World is an impressive place just based on selection alone, but be very careful to make sure your beer is fresh and be prepared to open up your wallet.
Nov 24, 2009
Photo of MrHassellYaHurd
Reviewed by MrHassellYaHurd from Louisiana

5/5  rDev +15.7%
This place was just wonderful. On a recent trip around the WNY area with my girlfriend (where she is from), she took me to this place so we could stock up on some beers for our night.

It had quite the selection and was organized in a very clear manner. The selection of both domestic and imported beer was amazing, one of the gentlemen took a break from moving beer with the hand-truck in order to give us a bit of friendly advice as well as some suggestions. Ended up with a beer called "Berliner style weisse", a Rochefort 10, DFH 120 min, a Rogue Chocolate Stout, and another German whose name I can't recall. But I digress....

If you are in the Rochester area, I really suggest you pay this place a visit; I will be back for sure when I'm back in NY.
Nov 14, 2009
Photo of MrDanno96
Reviewed by MrDanno96 from New York

5/5  rDev +15.7%
I don't give out perfect scores lightly, but BOTW definitely deserves it. Picture the biggest liquor store you can think of and then fill it with nothing but beers from all over the world and you've got this place. The selection from all over the world is incredible. The staff is also very knowledgeable and helpful - they've turned me on to several beers I had never heard of before. BOTW also has a decent selection of glassware and home brewing supplies. If you're in the Rochester area definitely check this place out. My only complaint is that some of their prices are a bit much (Rochefort 10 = $10/11.2 oz bottle). Keep in mind, however, that they're the only beer store in the area. I guess you can't blame them for being good businessmen.
Oct 18, 2009
Photo of cupcakequeenie
Reviewed by cupcakequeenie from Massachusetts

4.8/5  rDev +11.1%
Having gone to college in Rochester, it was the immediate store of choice to hit up once you were of age. When I first drove up to BotW I was a little skeptical as it does look like an average liquor store from the outside. I don't know what I was expecting, it's not like you need a valet or anything to by beer! Exterior aside, I walked in and knew that everyone was right all along. The selection is enormous and completely reasonably priced.

More so, I recently located their Google website and was able to see their almost daily updates of what the get in stock. I contacted them to pick their brains a bit and they have been overwhelmingly helpful. I can't wait to take a trip back home to visit and stock up.
Aug 31, 2009
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

4.8/5  rDev +11.1%
I stopped in here a few weeks back while on vacation with the family.
All i can say is WOW!
This store is huge, I spent over an hour just walking up and down the isles before looking for a cart to haul some things back to the car.
The store is divided into many isles which in the front of the store are separated by country. The entire left wall of the store is beer from Germany. Deeper into the store are the brews from the USA. Deep left there is a huge cooler, front left is an isle devoted to glassware and a homebrew supply section.
I'm sot sure if this is the case, but I would say that if you can buy it in NY you can get it here.
I wasn't hassled by any employees while I was looking, but some other people had some questions which were handled well by the staff. Everything is priced, you can mix a six pack or buy singles.
I never made it to Wegmans, but some of the prices did seem a little high, but I don't shop in NY often so its hard for me to tell.
Great beer store, one of the best I've been to!
Aug 30, 2009
Photo of WalrusJockey
Reviewed by WalrusJockey from New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
I read about this place, but when I got there, I was sure I was at the wrong place. I went inside anyway, not expecting much. "A beer store is a beer store," I thought to myself, "I hope it's good, but it'll be pretty much the same."

I was wrong. The selection was absolutely fantastic. The staff wasn't bubbly, or constantly with the 'can I help you,' but the guys I saw knew what they were talking about and were easy to find and happy to help. The shelf price lists every beer at it's price per bottle, per 4/6 pack and per case, which was fantastic. The selection, well, it was as good as you have heard, it really was.

That said, the prices were high. 10% to 20% higher than Wegman's. I might not buy easy to find beer there, for that reason, but I was thrilled to stock up while I was in NY.
Aug 15, 2009
Photo of mbialek
Reviewed by mbialek from Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +7.6%
I had heard many great things about beers of the world. I finally got a chance to check out their massive selection. I was very impressed. As you walk in you feel a joy at the massive selection of beer from all different countries.You could spend a hour just wandering the aisles deciding what you want, and even then you could have second thoughts. In addition to beers from other countries there is a large american craft beer section. A little bit of a price mark up, but the selection is amazing. This will be a staple of mine when i head back up to school.
Jul 21, 2009
Photo of Reiksguard
Reviewed by Reiksguard from Rhode Island

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
Visiting my old home town for the holiday, and just like every other time we come to visit family, we hit BotW at least once. But more oftern twice - once to load up on beers to drink which in NY, and then another run fill the car to take back to New England with us.

An entire wall of Germany beers. Two aisles of Belgians. The whole back half of the store for domestic craft brews. Wow!

Great selection - you can't run out of new beers to find. The only potential issue is how long these beers have been sitting on the shelve. But hey, I'll take that over not bing able to find them.

Definately recommended.
Jul 05, 2009
Photo of krisandajt
Reviewed by krisandajt from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
Wow...that's all I can say. When you take a look at the shopping plaza that BoTW is home to, and look at the front of the store...you don't fully realize the treasure trove that lies before you. The store is deceptively big on the inside, with rows after rows of beer, all organized by country and brewery. Suffice it to say, if you are looking for a particular beer, these guys have it. My only complains were that the US brews were located in the back (I think the Good Ole' USA should be up front), and the service was non-existent. I am willing to let the quality of service slide since I visited in the middle of the afternoon on a Weds, and it looked like there was only a single cashier on shift.

Overall, this is a great place to stop, and I will be looking for excuses to make the 4+ hour roadtrip back.
Jun 25, 2009
Photo of grayburn
Reviewed by grayburn from South Carolina

4.8/5  rDev +11.1%
I had been looking forward to going back home to the finger lakes for many reasons...this store was certainly one of them. As a recent member of the the craft beer movement, I have been sipping and gulping as many different brews as my wallet can provide me with.
Let me start off with this stores only weakness, you need to check the dates, especially with items that are marked down...they are marked down for a reason, they are either very close to or past the dates on the bottles. Other than that, this place is amazing.
The selection is out of this world, while I was slightly disappointed in not finding some Bells, that was just about my only let down.
The staff is knowledgable, one of the guys was actually walking around with us and showing us the newest stuff in the store, great guys, who know their beer. They know when the popular seasonals come out, and they know what they have and don't have...this is a feat in and of itself because of the store's humongous size and selection.
The homebrewing supplies are a bit overpriced, the beers are certainly not cheap, but if you are looking for some vintage barleywines, 12 aisles of american microbrewvana, this is the place. Stores like this and Charleston Beer Exchange have restored my faith in god.
Mar 11, 2009
Photo of barleywinebrewer
Reviewed by barleywinebrewer from New Hampshire

4.4/5  rDev +1.9%
so, I'm in rochester for work. I've got a little time to kill so I browse the beerfly and find this place comes up as nearby. So, I wander over and holy heck, the reviews don't lie. This place is beyond huge. It dwarfs what I can get in massachusets and I'd definitely spend some time and dough here. Prices were reasonable with some great sales on top notch beers.

Don't know if I hit an odd time or not but the staff seemed very interested in beer but a bit overwhelmed by the foot traffic.

definitely recommended.
Feb 12, 2009
Photo of tlinner
Reviewed by tlinner from New York

4.65/5  rDev +7.6%
A treasure-trove of fine beers, and it's only a mile away from where I go to school! At this store, I discovered my love of Doppelbocks, my appreciation for the Belgians, and my wary respect for Imperial IPAs. It was here that I began a love/hate affair with Stone brewery. BOTW has a dozen aisles of American crafts and micros, an entire wall dedicated to Germany, and other sections for Canada, South America, Asia, and pretty much every beer-brewing area of the world. They also have an impressive selection of glassware, as well as all the ingredients and tools necessary to start your own home-brewing operation. But my favorite feature of this store is their decision to sell beers by the case, pack, and individual bottle. Last time I went, I got nine beers ranging from a Maine-based brew named after Colonel Chamberlain, to Stone's new Bitter Chocolate Stout, all for under $40. I love that I can sample beers individually, instead of buying a pack of what may turn out to be something I hate. There is simply no adequately describing this place to someone who's never been. If you're ever remotely near Henrietta, NY, you have to pay a visit.
Feb 01, 2009
Photo of indiapaleale
Reviewed by indiapaleale from Maine

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
Here in Rochester on business, went straight from the airport to Beers of the World.

What can I say that hasn't already been said. This place is a beer buyers heaven. Aisles of beers separated by country. Lots of coolers, homebrew supplies, glasses, openers, coozies etc...

I got a 4-pack of GLBC Nosferatu for $5.59 on sale and mixed a six pack. I love that option since its not always the case at beer stores.

Selection is uncanny. Tons of everything. Lots of bombers but nothing altogether unusual. They had Troegs but sadly no Nugget Nectar. I searched out some stuff i can't get back home (like Elysian and GLBC) and left feeling happy.

I didn't get asked about anything but it was mid-morning on a Thursday.

Great place, I may pop back in before I return home.
Jan 22, 2009
Photo of JNans
Reviewed by JNans from New York

4.4/5  rDev +1.9%
Read all the other reviews and those basically sum up my opinion. There is no other place like this in all of upstate New York, maybe even the northeast United States. The selection is more than extensive. Beers from 15+ countries, all sorts of home brewing supplies, glassware, kegs, you name it (people buy kegs of Woodchuck?). Just make sure to check expiration dates before you buy, some stuff is within 2-3 months of hitting the date.

It will be a sad day when I graduate next fall and have to move away from this incredible store.
Jan 21, 2009
Photo of fingerlaker
Reviewed by fingerlaker from New York

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
I wanted to cry when I got there. It was so beautiful.

The building is almost 100' deep and 35' wide and FULL of beer. Belgium, Canada, France, USA, Germany, Japan, and even Ethiopia are represented at this store. I don't think many stores in the USA could have better selection. After going in there I wish I had a Ryder truck and five grand instead of just my Chevy Prizm and twenty bucks.

Prices are good. Comparable to Wegmans. The imperial swingtop bottle of La Devine I bought was marked down to $7, so there are lots of deals. But golly, they have so much selection!

Gripes? Floor is kinda dirty. The people that work there seem to just view it as a job, not a beer-calling. I know more about beer than they do. And there are TWO registers. I waited for ten minutes to buy a single bottle of the French golden ale La Devine.

I will go there more often, even though it is over an hour from my house. I don't care. It is my real home.
Jan 15, 2009
Photo of DmanGTR
Reviewed by DmanGTR from New York

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
Ahhh Beers of the World! Situated in a relatively quiet plaza out in the Brighton/Henrietta area on Winton Road. If you don't go into the plaza you'll never see it. I stumbled upon this place while randomly driving around and I am so glad I found it.

I have never purchased anything that was old or past the expired date here. With that said, though, when they feel the need to liquidate their old stock, they will slap a "sale' sticker on their products. That sticker usually goes on about a month to 3 months before the date on the bottles so you're still in the clear. They have a high turnover rate of beer so seasonals are always fresh.

The staff tend to leave you alone unless you have questions. And they are quite knowledgeable about their selection of beer. There are a few beers/breweries that they are not familiar with and those are the ones that rarely make it out here anyway. I was a bit surprised that one of the staff didn't know Kuhnhenn when I asked about the Raspberry Eisbock. Oh well!

Their selection of beer is sooo extensive. I can't even begin to describe how many beers line their walls and aisles and there are ample amounts of each beer too! You can buy 1 bottle or 3 cases! The aisles are divided by country, then by brewery. I would estimate that 70% of US microbreweries can be found here, perhaps not the very best of each microbrewery, but at least a few of their offerings. They have cases of DFH 120, WWS, Raison D'Extra, 90 Minute, etc... a lot of Victory, Brooklyn (including Black Ops), a number of Stone brews, and I even saw the Yeti and the Oaked Yeti there (hopefully there's still some left for when I come back for spring break). Avery, Great Lakes, Flying Dog, Left Hand, Sam Adams, Smuttynose, Anchor, Sierra Nevada, etc... Westmalle, Achel, Trappistes Rochefort, Orval, Chimay, Duvel, Maredsous, KoningsHoeven, the Belgium section takes up 2 aisles! And that's only the Belgian beers from Belgium, not including the Belgian-styles. Germany/Austria nearly takes up an entire wall (about 250 feet long, 2 shelves + cases underneath). There is a great selection of Thomas Hardy, JW Lees, and George Gale's vintages, I think they've recently added Fuller's Vintage offering too. They also have selections from eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, China, Japan, Philippines, Jamaica, Australia, etc... You will not be disappointed with their selection.

I've recently taken up homebrewing and this is where I go for my needs although I might consider shopping online from now on.

Their prices are relatively comparable to Wegmans or Hegedorns, it depends on where you are. But seeing as gas is pretty good, you might want to check out Hegedorns as they tend to be a little less pricey than BOTW.

I love Beers of the World.
Jan 13, 2009
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Reviewed by egy from Massachusetts

4.85/5  rDev +12.3%
Perfection.

This is the place I compare everything to, this is the pinnacle of a beer store. If it's sold in New York, they have it, the selection is that unbelievable. And it doesn't stop there, if you wanted to set up a bar, they'd be the only place you'd need to stop, they have it all. From books to glassware you can find anything and everything related to beer at Beers Of The World! The prices are fair and competitive, they've always got a few things on sale too. You can buy a case, a split case, a sixer, or singles, and the more common stuff is also available cold. Everything is sorted by country of origin, and then by alphabetical order of brewery. If you can't find something ask any of the many employees always on hand. Many who have reviewed this place have not rated the service that high, and true when you walk in there not all over you and every employee doesn't ask to help but personally I think it's great. They don't badger you, but if you need something their readily available and very helpful.

I'm very fortunate that I'm so close to this fine establishment. I would highly suggest making it out to Beers Of The Worlds!
Jan 05, 2009
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Reviewed by rhinos00 from Colorado

4.05/5  rDev -6.3%
I decided to stop here on my way back from Vermont and am I glad I did. This is truly a beer lover's paradise.

The selection was ridiculous! Some of the American crafts included nearly every offering of Rogue, Avery, Dogfish Head, Great Lakes Brewing Co., and countless more that I don't care to even mention due to the vast amount of beer. They also had a huge German selection, which I was pretty impressed with. The Belgium section wasn't as strong as the American craft or German beers, but I'm not complaining.

The service was average at best. Even though I did not ask for help, I walked past several employees multiple times and not one time did anyone ask if I needed help. All I got was the "look in the opposite direction as I walk by" look. The checkout counter was ever worse. I tried to start a friendly conversation and all I got was one word replies.

The quality of beers offered was pretty darn good. Pretty rare considering that they have such a huge selection of beers as well. Prices varied. Some seemed to be more expensive than I had seen at other stores, but some were a lot cheaper as well.

Overall, a must stop. The only negative that I can think of is the non-existent service. If I really want to knit pick, maybe the lack of vintage beers or rarer hard to find beers.
Jan 03, 2009
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Reviewed by cpn920 from New York

4.55/5  rDev +5.3%
Selection is excellent and for the homebrewer it is a one stop shop. This is a beer lover's fantasy...until you start comparing prices to other store's. I find them significantly higher. I also would say serivce is not all that great. I haven't asked for help so maybe that isn't a fair comment but I have been there several times without being acknowledged. But going in there is like a kid in a candy store. The German wall is where I spend a lot of time and a lot of money...what an amazing selection.
Jan 02, 2009
Photo of doctchad
Reviewed by doctchad from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +15.7%
THIS PLACE IS THE GREATEST PLACE EVAR.

They have a hugh wall of just beers from germany. Then smaller lanes of almost every country in the world. THen they break down US micro brews from what i think must be the whole US.

The selection is hugh. Fun to just look around at the packages names and labels

Its great most the time you can either buy one bottle, a 6 or 4 pack or a case of the what ever beer you want, they carry 3 price level from each. Mix and match whatever you and dream of.

The staff is awesome they know there stuff.

Also if you like to make your own beer, great selection of kits to start and products to make

Be prepared when you go there, the prices add up fast, but its fun and worth it. I live in philadelphia now, and whenever i make it back north i stop in a load up with a good supply.

They also carry a lot of glassware, taps, you name they have it.

The only down side i can say is if you are buying a lot like i always do, watch when they are checking you out at the register. I have had a couple times being charged mulitple times for one beer or case, but they always took care of it. The one time I found out after i got back home, called them up and they credit my card back. The staff is awesome and great.

BEST BEER STORE EVAR!!!
Dec 18, 2008
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Reviewed by adamette from Ohio

4.15/5  rDev -3.9%
Wow! I learned of Beers of the World here on Beer Advocate and I am glad that I did (thanks to all of you for recommending it!). I just went about 4 hours ago.

The selection is staggering! There have got to be about 2,000 beers here. As stated in other reviews they are divided by country and then alphabetized within the country. What I did not see in other reviews is the care with which they are displayed. They are all clean, placed on shelves with care and a wide variety of sizes, bottles of the different beers. A huge plus is that a strong majority of the beers can be purchased one bottle at a time. Most times there is a mark up for this privalege but for me all that I want is one of each. Typical single bottles (among the Belgians that I was shopping among) were about $5.

Quality. Just fine in that there is such a huge selection but it is kind of like a warehouse of beer. I do like how the beers are divided into country of origin..it made looking for my favorites...and finding some others nearby... easy.

Service. Just fine. I only asked one question and it was courteously handled but everyone there gave an air of availability demonstrating the potential of good service.

Selection. Could really not be improved upon. They did not have Westy but then who does? Really, there were so many beers represented there that I had read about (here) but had never seen in bottles.

Value. I bought 18 singles mostly centered on Belgians and my bill was $85. One of my beers was $10.25 for Dogfish Raison D'extra, 12 oz. I found several beers for less elsewhere. It was possibly 5% more paid here than elsewhere.

Notes: Any Beer Advocate would love to have this selection at his/her disposal. I am even considering a road trip some weekend with friends (I live 4 hours away) just to see that many great beers in one place.
Oct 24, 2008
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Reviewed by luvGoldenMonkey from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
This is one of the coolest places on Earth, and must stop when I visit upstate NY. It's location (in a rundown strip mall) and its unexciting exterior only add to its greatness. Once you enter, you think you have entered 'beer nirvana' as you are greeted by beers organized by country of origin. The store's size is hidden from the outside, as it appears the selection never ends.

If this place does not have a beer you are looking for, I would be surprised.

Only knock of this place is that I get in trouble with the Mrs. for being gone too long and that its not closer to PA.
Jul 17, 2008
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Reviewed by orcasteve from North Carolina

5/5  rDev +15.7%
this place is my favorit spot in rochester, i get lossed in this place for hours at a time, on my first feild trip with my beer studends i take them hear and give them homework assiinments based upon the stile of beer that they are found of, the thing that i realy love about this place is that no one is bothering you to hurry up and pick somthing and the staff is verry helpfull if you do have a question. the beers in this place change constentiy so every trip is a new adventure, every thing is layed out by country or reagion and you only get to bud, miller, coors, and the rest of the pansey section in the verry back cornner of the store. thank you for puting a place like this in my city. do yourself a favor wile visiting rochester and give these guys some bisness, you wont regret it i promess
Jul 12, 2008
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Reviewed by smilingPolitely from New York

4.35/5  rDev +0.7%
I've been checking this place out periodically for the past four years, and have only recently begun to appreciate it's variety. My buddies and I use to go here to grab a quick 12 from their cooler that was outside the norm - it's always stocked with some weathered micros (plus the usual macros) and rotating seasonals.

Recently, I've been using the place to try exceptional new beers (to me anyway) that I've read about. Since they group the selections by geographical region it's not too hard to find what you're looking for. They also carry kegs for reasonable prices here as well, and have a rather large selection running the gamut. I plan to use this place as a home brewing resource as well when I start up in the near future, as they appear to have a commendable stock of ingredients and hardware. For the drinking enthusiast they also carry a varied selection of glasses, steins, and other vessels for hoisting your libation of choice.
May 15, 2008
Beers of the World in Rochester, NY
Place rating: 4.32 out of 5 with 89 ratings