Abe's Cold Beer

Durge

Connecticut

4.65/5  rDev +1.5%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

What a place! This may be the greatest number of different brews I have ever encountered despite the relatively tiny confines of this psuedo deli shop crowded with six packs and singles. The import selection was not super extensive but the domestic micros were well represented. It was a bit hit-or-miss but the big advantage was being able to take single bottles of anything, $2 each, $11.75 a six assorted. Some select 12 oz. singles are marked as much as $4 which seemed a bit steep in some cases but generally prices were reasonable considering that they were breaking up six packs. They also offered lots of bombers. Locals were well represented as were many from other regions including Bells, Holland, Mad River, and on & on. Breaking up the packs leaves an obvious chance for aging bottles on the shelves and I did note a number of bottles that showed obvious sediment collected at the bottom but most appeared to be pretty current and fresh. I loaded up pretty well and will test the freshness later. I have to say that the store manager, who was working unassisted at the time of my visit, was extremely attentive and helpful, Emma "The Beer Woman". She spent an inordinate amount of time helping me search according to taste while also assiting numerous other customers. She was quick to offer ordering things that weren't available, she knew her beers pretty well and overall this is the place to stop before loading up on cases that you have to buy most other places that might offer any selection close to this. It was somewhat loosely organized and a bit haphazard, lots in coolers, lots not, but I found some goodies that I will happily bring home to Connecticut. They also had a fair number of macros and oh yeah, sandwiches, too! Wish this place was close to home.

09-24-2008 06:04:51 | More by Durge

Budinetz

Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

This place has an awesome selection of beer, some of which is has a reasonable price tag. If you really dig around in this place, you can turn up some pretty awesome finds. Some of the main stream beer that people are really hunting for, Abe will jack up the price due to supply and demand, but that's how you do business and I get that. I must say though, overall very good value for most of the beer available and for PA this is probably the best beer store in the Lehigh Valley. The staff is very knowledgeable as is Abe the owner. Place has later hours also, which is nice for the late shift beer lovers out there. I can definitely walk in here and spend 2 hours looking around, there is THAT much selection. You are able to purchase just one bottle if you wish, or mix and match six packs! Awesome!

05-12-2013 06:15:36 | More by Budinetz

TheBigBoy

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -10.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75 | $$

Lots of Beers, all different kind of beers. I try to stop here whenever in Bethlehem area. $12 for a mixed six is pretty standard and you will likely see some beers here never encountered. Many other sixes and single bottles to pick from as well. I know they do some special orders for "hard to finds" often as well. If near, just stop here. Warms and cold to go. You'll be impressed.

05-09-2013 03:06:14 | More by TheBigBoy

Neorebel

New Jersey

4.81/5  rDev +5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

This is hands down one of the best places to buy beer in NEPA/NJ area. The owners and staff are very helpful and knowledgeable, and most importantly, fair with selling coveted limited releases. I scored a Bell's Black Note here recently. The selection is great, with a lot of beers that are somewhat harder to find in your average PA bottle shop or supermarket. The prices are reasonable, if you are used to what single bottles generally go for in PA. Def. hit them up if you are in the area.

04-14-2013 03:59:38 | More by Neorebel

dcoms233

Pennsylvania

4.74/5  rDev +3.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

A great place for 6 packs and bombers in the Allentown area. He knows his beer and goes out of his way to ensure that he has a good stock of both the regular and rarer beers.

If you are into craft beer and in the Allentown area this is a place you must stop by at!

02-03-2013 03:42:02 | More by dcoms233

NEhophead

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev -6.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

What a pleasant surprise while traveling through Central PA this past week. Easy to find on West Broad St., this place looks like a pretty standard convenience store, but once you look closer you soon notice that practically every inch of the store is stocked with beer...really good beer. As a New Englander, a lot of Abe's selection was news to me including offerings from Bethlehem Brew Works, Sly Fox, Flying Fish, etc. In addition to a ton of local stuff, offerings included pretty comprehensive lines from Pretty Things, Stone, DFH, Mikkeller, Nogne, etc. Definitely a place to stop in and stock up if you're even remotely in the area.

08-20-2012 19:38:18 | More by NEhophead

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -10.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Good quality shop here. The place isn't huge, but they make good use of the space. The shelves were well-stocked--though it seemed to me there might be some items that have been sitting for a while. There was fridge space for macros as well as crafts, with the more popular brands (DFH, etc.) available in 4/6-packs or greater. You really can't complain about the selection, though there really wasn't anything outrageously rare there that I could see. As I'm not from the area, I'm not sure if they offer the more rare items when they are released. But with reasonable prices and diverse selections from the likes of AleSmith, Bruery, Mikkeller, and so forth, you really can't beat this place.

05-09-2012 04:41:29 | More by Rifugium

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.28/5  rDev -6.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$$

Abe's is pretty much the only option in the valley for a great craft selection if you want to buy singles/bombers/sixes. They have a great selection of US craft and imports. If you wanted the limited release stuff you can't get at the distributor or Wegmans, Abe's is your place. All bottles are available individually which means they are slightly more expensive than normal, but on the other hand you can break up any six if you just want one or two of a certain kind. On average the bombers are a few dollars more expensive than other stores I have been to and the individual bottles .25-.75 more expensive, but you are paying for the selection. Some of the employees can be helpful, but some have no idea, it all depends on who is working. I am still unclear on their policies for highly sought after stuff, as I have been unsuccessful on acquiring it despite calling ahead and being told when it would arrive. My only knock on Abe's would be that sometimes their stock is a bit aged. This is to be expected because they have a huge selection, but there isn't a huge craft drinking population in the area. This has hurt me (old IPA) but can be quite nice when you find year or two old stouts. Overall, the best Bethlehem, and perhaps the LehighValley has to offer in small quantity.

02-02-2012 23:04:27 | More by NoLeafClover44

nrs207

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Abe's definitely has a lot of beer, and a lot of variety. They like to be helpful when they can, and it really is the only place I buy beer except when I want a 6 pack of something not too special (I then go to Wegmans, which is a bit cheaper with most 6 packs). The real key is being able to buy as many or as few of any bottle you want except for the more common stuff (then you have to buy whole 6 packs). This only came into play for me once because Sierra Nevada is only by 6 pack and I wanted Celebration, which Wegmans doesn't have. Was happy to buy a 6 pack, but it was $12. Gone within a couple days. I got 120 Minute here, I've even seen a couple bottles of Russian River, although never PtE.

The only thing I don't like about Abe's is that sometimes their selection isn't the freshest. I was in a couple weeks ago and saw an IPA from 2010. This usually doesn't come into play, only for the less well known stuff or the expensive stuff. Its not in a location where I feel that a lot of people want to drop $8-10 on a bomber, etc. I see most people walk out with BMC or not really know what they're doing when looking at the craft selections. So I can't really blame them, because if they didn't have out of date beer at all, you probably wouldn't be able to get that beer anywhere in the valley except maybe a case at Shangy's. If you're into craft and don't want a case, this is really the only place to go in the valley.

12-07-2011 03:25:09 | More by nrs207

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.64/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Let's keep this simple. If you are looking for bombers, sixers or singles (and you can break up any craft sixer) anywhere near the Lehigh Valley this is the place to go.

Great selection, great prices, seems to be good turn over. Personable service from both of the counter folk. Good access from Route 22.

I mean, for all the talk about PA bottle shop prices, I've found plenty of bombers here cheaper than in NJ.

Just don't ask questions about the how. Accept it for what it is, the best place around for small scale purchases.

09-24-2011 04:17:54 | More by RonfromJersey