Julio's Liquors

gameface23

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +7.3%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

Julio's is the best beer store I've ever been in, plain and simple. I have never seen a better selection and their prices are very competitive. There selection of beers from California, Belgium and Germany can't be beat. I love the fact that you can buy 6 or more bottles of any size and receive a 15% discount. Also, every time I have been in there, Tom (the assistant beer manager) has helped me out with either a recommendation or help finding a beer that I was looking for. Losing track of time is almost expected when you walk through the doors.

12-30-2008 04:18:06 | More by gameface23

GonzoHomebrewer

Massachusetts

4.89/5  rDev +4.9%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

I moved to Framingham almost four years ago and Julio's as a result has become a go-to store for me. It is massive and does have a large clientele of beer geeks that will clean out their shelves when harder to come by product comes in, but I can't hold that against them because they really are the De Facto best store in the state. Their prices are always right in line with anybody else; if it isn't, its usually only a dollar or two more, which can be made up for by just buying a mix-6, which gives you a 15% discount on the individual bottles (22,750 or 12, size really doesn't matter this time!).

There is always someone in the beer section if you need to ask a question and they will generally just let you do your thing, with an occasional "finding everything o k?" asked. The beer events that they put on are always top notch, with some hard to find beers always being poured in addition to the staples.

Julios is must stop for any beer geek

05-17-2013 23:38:01 | More by GonzoHomebrewer

alex_hart

Massachusetts

4.84/5  rDev +3.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

This place is fantastic. I went for the first time about 5 months ago and was blown away by the selection. The service has been fantastic. I am sending out boxes for trades and they package and send them for you in store with no fee. All we pay is for materials and shipping (what we would pay for by ourselves anyways). The selection is incredible, and they allow everything in store to be used in a mix 6 pack with a 15% discount. Seeing as that is all I ever do this is perfect for me personally. They have a pretty big selection of snacks and foods, but honestly I am drawn straight to the beer section and have not really browsed through that section too much. With the 15% discount on the mix 6 the prices are more than reasonable.

05-14-2013 11:15:03 | More by alex_hart

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev -8.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Julio's is one of the largest liquor stores I have ever been to in my life. It is roughly the size of a small supermarket, yet it somehow manages to retain the feel of a smaller, Mom and Pop type establishment. The store is roughly broken down into three or four sections. There is a very large selection of wine in the spacious and well-organized left wing of the store, shelving units in the middle are dedicated to spirits and some gourmet food items, cigars and tobacco in a large booth by the checkout counter, and shelves and floor displays of beer along the back wall and in the right wing of the store. The shelving units in the beer section are placed rather closely together, creating very narrow aisles and several choke points. This place must be hell around the holidays, or whenever there's a high volume of foot traffic.

The beer section is roughly divided into distinct areas for imports, local beers, and American craft. A few cooler doors contain mostly macro items. Overall the selection is pretty thorough, and right up there with the best I've seen in the state. They seem to get a fair amount of rarities, and it appears that everything hits the shelves. Like anywhere else though, you need to stay on top of releases if you want a crack at the beer. Don't expect hyped beers to linger on the shelf. Perhaps the most impressive part about the selection is the sheer numbers they are able to pull on some of the more sought-after craft beers. On my most recent trip, they had full-size floor displays built of Nugget Nectar and Breakfast Stout cases. That kind of buying power is really only rivaled by one or two other businesses in the state.

Quality is good overall, though I did notice some past-prime beers languishing on the shelf, mainly in the less-traveled part of the import section. The employees are very polite and seem fairly knowledgeable. Pricing on the beer seems to be on par with its competitors (though the liquor prices were a tad high).

The bottom line: Julio's is one of the best retail beer destinations in the state. The convenient location makes it even more of a must-visit if you're in that neck of the woods.

03-02-2013 07:06:27 | More by ryan1788a5

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.22/5  rDev -9.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | $$

Stopped by on my way home from a trip to MASS. Super convenient location along the 495/Mass Pike connection. Good parking and easy to find (next to starbucks).
Upon entering - Beer is to the right - all else is to the left. Nice selection of US Craft bottles from Joly pumpkin, cascade, lost abbey in one area and a local Mass/New England craft section full of Cambridge, Jacks Abby, Maine, allagash, etc on another rack. There is a row full of Germans, followed by English, then a big selection of Belgian, with an end cap of Scandanavian. A cold row of US 6 and 12 packs and another row of warm US brews.
There were lots of sales too. I got a CBC great pumpkin ale for $2.99! They had a Bruery Tart of Darknes for $19.99 also which is like $5 off what I normally see it for (I should have picked that one up). They also have a 15% discount when you buy 6 or more singles, which is awesome. They include sale items in the "6 pack" but only discount the full price items. I got a Lost Abbey Devotion and Mayan Judgement day, Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire, Jacks Abby Hoponius Union, CBC Sgt Pepper and Great Pumpkin; all for like $33! (with discount)! You also get a "punch card" which entitles you to a free special edition glass when you make your own "6-pack" of bombers like 18x. So, basically you get a free limited edition brewery glass with every 108 bottles you buy...somewhat insane amount but nice that they reward you for being loyal.
I heard they get nice rares like Cantillon, like 2x a year, but they obviously didnt have any left on a random sunday afternoon...
Worth a stop if you are passing by or if you know of a special release; especially since you get a %15 discount when you buy 6 bottles. Nice workers and are very willing to help if you need it.

While the selection is big, its just not any different or better than places local to me like DeCiccos in Brewster, Port Chester Beverage (expensive but good selection), or my uber local fav, Vista Beverage; but they do carry New England only brews like CBC and some national brews like Lost Abbey, that I cant get or is hard to get in NY.

01-25-2013 15:03:17 | More by DrinkSlurm

LeRose

Massachusetts

4.78/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

Made the trek finally in September. Had heard the legend, so the expectations were high. I was not disappointed. Great selection, staff could put their hands on anything in seconds, prices reasonable. Only drawback is the hour drive to get there!

The only kick, and it is minor, is the floor displays were a bit disheveled. That oils be due to traffic and people not putting stuff back where they found it. Wide range of styles, breweries. Staff was pleasant and helpful even though it was very, very busy. There were a couple of ten minute conversations about different offerings.

Great and deserves the perfect score, I reckon.

12-13-2012 01:08:15 | More by LeRose

Psychmusic

Rhode Island

4.85/5  rDev +4.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

I've heard the myths about this place and this summer I made the trek up there from RI to check it out myself. I was definitely not disappointed. They've really got every brewery available in New England represented here. Excellent selection of 6/4-packs and cases. Prices aren't incredible, but you'll never really come across a beer that is overpriced at all- pretty much the standard prices for MA. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and they'll always check their inventory happily if you call ahead so you'll never make the trip for nothing. Not to mention there'll always be hundreds of worthwhile beers if what you're looking for has run out.

Word of advice- Julio's will most certainly get all of the limited/difficult-to-find beers, but because the place is so popular they tend to go very quickly. Moreover, they've got a hold card program so you can reserve yourself a beer if you've bought 18 or so (guessing) mix-a-sixes, so limited beers go even faster as a result.

11-26-2012 00:57:43 | More by Psychmusic

MeMyselfNAles7

Puerto Rico

5/5  rDev +7.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$$

Julio's The Beast In the East...Wao I finally took the trip down to Westborough while I was in Lawrence taking leave. I was rocked to the core, once I got in, I felt like I died and went to beer heaven or a beer store supposed to look and feel like. The selections are top tier with everything from locals micro breweries to full blown giants. Lots of American crafts from all over the country, the foreing beers are top shelf too. I saw lots of beer that I heard and seen on magazines and here on BA that I havent seen anywhere else. The service is superb they breathe and eat beer they now what theyre talking about and are extremely friendly and helpfull. The only thing thats keeping them from being perfect across the board is theyre prices, theyre a little bit pricey but then again theyre in Mass, imagine if Julios was on New Hampshire or that they open a Julios in New Hampshire. Now that will defenitly be a perfect beer store across the board. But prices aside this is the premiere Whole beer saler in the Mass area. Looking foward for my next leave to pay them another vist. Keep it up Julios crew.

11-01-2012 21:50:43 | More by MeMyselfNAles7

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.71/5  rDev +1.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

what to say that has't been said? just to echo the sentiments of most, just a world class craft beer establishment. for my money the selection is unparalleled in the state and probably new england. if it's distributed to MA, chances are you can find it here. all the major brewers, local brewers, and notable imports are well-represented.

the beer manager was friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. stopped in on a friday evening and, but for an impatient wife in the car, would have stayed through monday. walked away with some BA santa's little helper, SN ovila quad, DFH immort ale, angel's share, older viscosity, victory at sea, sculpin, to name a few. my only real criticism is that Julio's is a bit out in the sticks - 45mins to an hour from boston depending on traffic - that said, well-worth going out of your way for. highly recommended.

09-15-2012 05:19:41 | More by BostonHops

merc7186

New York

3.66/5  rDev -21.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$

A: The name says it all, its Julios Liquors, not Julios beer shop. The store is at least 2/3 filled with wine and liquor and the remainder with beer. Its a nice place and not a dump by any means but isnt exactly a craft beer nerd haven.

Q: They had some really great quality beers and very little could be seen of BMC crap.

S: We walked in at 1030am and didnt head a single word uttered to us until we checked out with our beers. This was also after I asked where to grab a cart and the cashier couldnt evne lift up her head, just pointed without a mutter.

S: They had a great selection of New England beers and some other great brewers that get distro in Mass. that we dont see in NY.

V: All of their beers were reasonably priced and comparable on certain bottles that I have seen in other places and states for similar beers.

Overall, a great selection but dont expect much in the way of service.

07-26-2012 22:01:58 | More by merc7186