Pizza Port Bottle Shop

tjensen3618

California

4.1/5  rDev -8.5%
quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This bottle shop is right next to the Pizza Port Carlsbad restaurant.
It basically looks like it's the adjacent storage/boiler room for the restaurant, but they decided to throw a bunch of coolers in there and sell some beer, sounds good to me.

They had around 10 coolers filled with primo quality crafts and imports. The place is small but and they make great use of the space by only offering the beers you want, and none that you don't.

The selection score gets bumped a point because they sell single bottles of beers that are normally only found in 6'ers. When buying beer that can get as expensive as $20 a 4-pack i can't stress enough how important having the option of buying single bottles is.

There are a few standing only tables where you can consume the beer on site sans glassware if that's what you want to do. The guy working there was nice and the prices were fair.

The 1-2 combination of the restaurant and bottle shop is a must stop if in the area.

05-25-2010 22:15:47 | More by tjensen3618

i630

California

4.7/5  rDev +4.9%
quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

The bottle shop has much shorter hours than Pizza Port itself, but they're posted in plain sight on the front door. I would call them to find out exactly. The selection in the Pizza Port bottle shop is the best selection in the North County area. To get this kind of selection you have to travel down to East County or South Bay. You can bring your friends and open the bottles you buy in the shop. They will lend you some glasses so you can throw a mini taster. I got my bottles to go. The service is friendly and helpful. The prices are spot on, extremely reasonable.

05-03-2010 22:53:59 | More by i630

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.35/5  rDev -2.9%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$$

A decent little bottle shop right next door. Heavy on the SoCal stuff and Belgians. NorCal and the rest of the West Coast conspicously absent.

Quality of the stuff they do have is top notch though. The service as well, very knowledgable. Price is a little more than I liked, but Socal, I guess everything is a little pricey.

Ambiance, no frills, this is just a bottle shop, and that's a good thing. Was kinda surprised how small it is. But you just can't pass up picking up a bottle, I was drinking and eating next door, such an enjoyable experience, and then you get treated right when asking about selections, you can't help but pick some stuff up, even if you might find it a little cheaper or somewhere else.

My only criticism would be that there isn't much variety, but it does seem to change a bit, so its got that going for it.

02-27-2010 23:22:24 | More by Beerandraiderfan

ocmpoma

California

4.85/5  rDev +8.3%
quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Visited on 10 Jan 10:

I stopped in here to browse in the evening a few days ago and there was a small group of people trying out some brews. I came back a couple of days later to find a porter or stout to go with the PB&J I was going to have. Can't really enjoy PB&J without stout, says I.

Both times I noted the service provided -- the gent working the counter was happy to help with finding / recommending / etc. Very laid back and knowledgeable about what they had, even recommended that I let the stout I grabbed warm up before drinking, which was spot-on.

And their selection is as reported -- excellent. They have probably a dozen cooler doors, three of which are occupied by Belgians, two more German and European, and the rest mostly US craft and some odds and ends. I saw some Pliny and Racer 5 on my first visit which I didn't see when I went back. I did grab a Ten Fidy in a can -- my first try at that one -- for my PB&J. Since I'm now residing in Carlsbad, I'm sure I'll be a regular here.

01-11-2010 20:45:36 | More by ocmpoma

vacax

California

4.25/5  rDev -5.1%
quality: 5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Essentially a one-room destination with upright coolers lining the north and south walls. All the beer is in the coolers. The middle of the room has standing-height tables where you can drink the beer you buy. I haven't done this yet, as the tap list next door keeps my thirst well taken care of, but it is nice to have the option. On the service, side, typically there is just a cashier manning the joint, who I am sure could help, but has a priority of just ringing up the other customers.

The selection is great, but this is not place to come to buy a few six packs. This is where you come when you are looking for some nice bottles. Lots of high end selections, both domestic and from abroad. I have found more Belgian lambic varieties here than anywhere else in SoCal. They had also received a shipment of Baladin Xyauyu one time I was there. Prices can fluctuate a bit, some brews I seem a little overpriced, but then other items seem like a real good value. The only problem is with the selection here it is hard to walk out without spending a good chunk of change.

10-14-2009 21:20:43 | More by vacax

ETF5000

California

4.85/5  rDev +8.3%
quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Great little place next to the wonderful Pizza Port Brewery in Carlsbad, CA. The prices are clearly labeled and the selection is unbelievable. They claim to have over 600 beers! I haven't counted, but it's enough to keep me busy on BA for some time. Once you buy the beer you can take it home, mosey on over to Pizza Port and get some Beer Buddies, or just pop open the bottle there and drink it in the shop with some friends. The people that work there are very chill and are always ready to give you some suggestions if you're not sure what you want.

This place is clearly world class, I'll be back many more times.

10-12-2009 05:13:00 | More by ETF5000

jklinck

California

4.85/5  rDev +8.3%
quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

This is by far the best bottle shop in San Diego. Excellent selection of all styles of beer as well as some Belgians that I have not seen anywhere else. It's great how you can buy a bottle and drink it right there on premises. They even have glassware for you to use and don't charge a corkage fee. The guys that work there are real laid back and are always happy to help you find something and are very knowledgeable about beer. It's a great place to go before of after hitting the Pizza Port brewery.

09-20-2009 06:56:07 | More by jklinck

GJ40

North Carolina

4.7/5  rDev +4.9%
quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Wow! I stopped in after a visit to Pizza Port on our first night of a southern CA vacation. This place isn't large but they've got some serious quality. I picked up 2 Alpine Pure Hoppiness, 2 RR PyE, 2 Ballast Point Dorado DIPA, an AleSmith YuleSmith and a Lost Abbey Tomme de Cuvee.

The guy behind the counter was very helpful with recommendations. The prices seemed to be better on SD beers and a little higher on others. But the selection was outstanding. I'm not sure I'd buy my everyday beers there but it is the place to find new and special beers.

I wish I had a Pizza Port Bottle Shop closer to home. If you're in the area, you have to stop in.

08-15-2009 04:42:57 | More by GJ40

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -6.3%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

We stopped in here after a visit to the adjoining brewpub last March '09.

Quality: Pretty interesting place, looking like an attached garage that they converted into the bottle shop. Everything is stored in coolers, so you can purchase and enjoy right there if you like. It's pretty much open air as well, so you can smell the salt air as you peruse or drink their wares.

Service: Decent enough I suppose. We were asked by the fellow at the counter if we needed any help but we declined, opting to just browse what they had.

Selection: Honestly, it was good but not great. I credit that to just probably hitting them at an off time. Plenty of standard fare from Pizza Port, Lost Abbey, The Bruery, Alpine, and Ballast Point. Lots of Northern CA selections as well. I was happy to see some bottles of Russian River Consecration. Good Import selection as well. Like I said, I didn't see many rare seasonals but I could have just hit them on an off week. I was pleased to see a small selection of glassware for sale as well.

Good place and very convenient to have right next door to the Pizza Port Carlsbad location. Be advised that they don't open until later in the afternoon during the week, something we found out when we made a return visit later on in our trip.

07-23-2009 19:17:09 | More by Kegatron

womencantsail

California

4.7/5  rDev +4.9%
quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Stopped here after a day at Stone and Lost Abbey before heading back up to Pomona. I had heard great things about the shop, so naturally I wanted to see if they were true.

The shop is a small place, but there is quite a bit of beer there. I grabbed a few things (Achel, Brew Dog Punk IPA, Lost Abbey Lost And Found, and a Pliny the Elder just because it was so fresh). I would have liked to grab a few other things, but I had already spent way too much money at the other breweries. I found a few things that I don't often see in other places, but a lot of the beers I can find at Lone Hill and Walnut Liquorette, so I was not "totally blown away", I guess you could say. But, if you aren't as fortunate as I am to have great bottle shops by you, then this place will be your wet dream.

Some of the prices are a bit high, but I guess you pay a bit of a premium for the selection.

The service was friendly and helpful, I would definitely stop by again if I was in the area.

07-12-2009 00:08:38 | More by womencantsail