Chevy Chase Wine & Spirits

qchic

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Made a quick stop here and my first impression was that is wasn't quite as big as one might expect after hearing so much about it and seeing their advertisements in newspapers. Now that I think about it, those ads comprised of list next to list crammed together represent the store fairly well. I was immediately greeted and offered wines to taste upon entering(it was a serve yourself situation which was an interesting setup) and there were many other employees around to help with any questions. I headed for the beers to the left of the store, and was happy to see so many singles available. The drawback is that they are gonna cost a touch more, but not prohibitively so. American micros available to the area were well represented, including the newly acquired Founders. Decent selection of bombers to ensure more interesting findings. Six packs were in coolers along the opposite wall, and I noticed some decent prices on cases (Bell's 2 Hearted for 34). A good place to stop if you are near, but nothing rare or cheap enough for a special trip. If I wasn't so impressed by Rodman's, this place would really stand out more.

04-19-2009 15:29:16 | More by qchic

jaheussner

District of Columbia

4.38/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$$$

Like everyone, I'd heard great things about CCW&S, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It's a bit cramped and the layout of the place (i.e. all singles with some broken sixers in the cooler) is a bit hard to navigate. The selection is very good, though, which is truly the main thing. They had a ton of Black Ops and a decent amount of BCBS (albeit for a limited time). The staff isnt particularly knowledgeable, with the exception of their "head beer guy", but if you've got a decent beer brain, you'll find your way around. The one big drawback is the price, though around DC, it doesn't get much cheaper, so you may as well avail yourself of the selection. It's not my favorite place around DC, but for Goose Island, Great Lakes and some of the smaller, northern breweries, Chevy Chase is necessary. It's definitely in my rotation around the area.

01-03-2012 01:54:50 | More by jaheussner

jdense

Oregon

4.44/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Visited during DC Conference Beer Sojourn, November 2011.

Located on the far north end of Connecticut Ave. near Chevy Chase Circle, I had to ride the bus up here (the Metro Line veers off over a mile from the store) and on a late Friday afternoon after the conference it was a very long ride, about an hour to go 4 miles. There's a small parking lot in the back off the street, very little street parking to speak of.

This isn't a beer store per se, a very good selection of wine and liquor. The key, of course, is the beer, and while it took me a while to understand the shelving/organization of the place, I can see why this is considered the best beer outlet in DC. I had my heart set on a 6-pack of Bell's Expedition, and a phone call confirmed availability. The website is pretty accurate re inventory, but I'd be careful to venture up here without checking. Staff was quite helpful, willing to answer any questions (didn't really have any other than checking on Bells/Founders/etc location).

Certainly could have hung out here for quite a while. Prices are a bit on the high side of average prices for DC area, but given the quality of the selection, especially hard to find items, I was glad to pay the preacher. If you're looking for hard to find items (from a PNW perspective) this place and the Whole Foods on P certainly top the list. Deserving of its lofty status. Highly recommended.

11-27-2011 22:43:19 | More by jdense

Chaney

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -7.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

I've seen amazing reviews of this place... and subpar reviews here. I think my review will be somewhere in the middle.

Atmosphere: Once you walk in, there is a distinct musty smell here the is inviting for the average beer geek. However, many may be turned off by this aspect. The beer is situated in the front part of the store, and the wine (and there is quite a bit), on the far back half.

Quality: I've never bought brews from here that were past their prime, and no one I know has ever either. There are very crude paper price tags situated on the individual beers, but still the quality of the overall beer selection is quite good.

Service: As many times and I've been here, it never fails. Once I ask a beer question, the person yells to the head beer guy, "HEY, COME HERE!" I think his name is Larry... and he's great!

Selection: Not as great as others have mentioned. I can get most of the stuff on the Virginia side of the DC area, but there are a few gems that are worthy.

Value: Meh... I guess this place is good, but it seems average overall to me. I will give them a pass overall compared to the Whole Foods (Whole Paycheck) up the road.

09-13-2011 04:34:35 | More by Chaney

mi6234

District of Columbia

3.93/5  rDev -9.2%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

I just started going to this place a little more often. Rodman's use to be my go to store in the District but that place has gone way down hill in terms of price and never gets the really tough to find stuff.

The place is kind of cramped. It's old and a bit musty. I've heard they will sell old beer but I've never bought anything that would be hurt by age so I can't speak to that.

There's only one guy there that seems to know about beer (I'm always referred to him when I ask). He seems knowledgeable but no one is super friendly. I'm not there to make friends though so it's not an issue.

You can get really hard to find stuff here. I was able to get Parabola, Hanssens Gueuze and Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti all within the last month. They have a very impressive selection of lambic which has been great since I've really gotten into them recently. Their selection in general is awesome but as I said, I really only go here for the really tough finds because I can just stock up at Total Wine for year rounds and major seasonal releases.

Defiantly worth your time if you're looking for something specific but not a place I would go to stock up on everyday beer.

06-09-2011 15:27:28 | More by mi6234

CuriousMonk

Virginia

2.45/5  rDev -43.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 1 | selection: 3 | $$$$

This little joint is situated in NW DC. I heard about this place through various reviews. While the selection is quite impressive, but every bottle there is covered with dust and off-putting. Prices are stupid expensive and make no sense. It's sort of a creepy place to visit. I'm not a fan of this place and have gone about three to four times and have never bought anything, okay except an awful $18 bottle of la jolla pumpkin 750ml bottle which was terrible per se. Mostly because they don't have anything worth buying (6 month old DIPAs anyone? $30 DuClaw Colossus?) Nobody offered their help. I asked one guy for a Belgian beer, he said talk to that large looking dude and he knows his stuff. That so called dude didn't know anything not even De Struise stuff. Don't waste your time jaunting over to this place which is not metro accessible. Don't believe the website, which says it's like in the Top 10 of ____. No way. Head to Whole Foods instead for FRESHER selections and more reasonable prices.

02-23-2011 21:49:12 | More by CuriousMonk

smakawhat

Maryland

4.44/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$$$

This is probably the only place in DC where you can buy single 12oz bottles. Not only that, there is an incredibly varied selection of US craft choices, showing producers that are common around here (Dogfish, Duck Rabbit, Great Lakes, Great Divide, Lagunitas, Stone etc...), to having a great selection of imported.

The best is there imports are by the bottle and you can save yourself from spending a lot of money on items that you would normally have to fork over bombers and packs for. There are also beers in this store that I have NEVER seen anywhere else in the area. Staff is pleasant as well. Great place to shop in candy store like fashion. Keep in mind though, some bottles have been sitting so check for freshness dates.

One good suggestion, if you can't find parking out in front, or want to skip the meters (who doesn't) go park behind the store by turning down McKinley ST NW, they have a lot.

02-22-2011 01:19:04 | More by smakawhat

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev -3%
quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Chevy Chase Wine & Spirits is recognized as one of, if not the best bottle shop in DC. After hearing about it for years, I finally make the trek to Mecca in December.

The shop is signifigantly smaller then I expected. Not that this is a bad thing - it is simply condensed. All of the beer is toward the back. It's laid out in a bit of an odd manner, but once you get your bearings, it's not hard to find (most) of what you're looking for.

The selection is top notch, and it catered to all palates and incomes. I was quite impressed with their selection of high end product as well (they had a couple bottles of Tactical Nuclear Penguin, as well as some high end and hard to find sours).

The staff was somewhat stand-offish, and didn't really offer to help. When looking for this or that, I felt as if I was "in the way" when asking for assistance. They certainly weren't rude, but I can't say the service was stellar.

The owner was there as well. He, on the other hand, was quite nice and friendly, though he kept himself up front in the wine area.

Prices are high(er). I mean it's DC - what were you expecting?

If you're in DC, be sure to hit Chevy Chase Wine & Spirits. It's a must - whether on a vaca, or just jaunting into the city.

01-27-2011 18:14:54 | More by Rhettroactive

petacutlasaurus

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

My go-to for craft beers in the D.C. area. Similar to D'vino's and D'vine's, but I would argue this place has better selection - equal service.

The staff, particularly the bearded fellow who's often at the store, have great recommendations and a fantastic grasp of what's on the shelves. I've learned a lot about beers and beer brewers by talking with people at this store.

Great for singles, I would say there's regularly 500 varieties of beer sold here, each at very reasonable prices. Highly recommended.

12-01-2010 23:33:46 | More by petacutlasaurus

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

3.7/5  rDev -14.5%
quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$$

I have lived in DC, about a year and a half now, and have gone here a couple times.

I have gone a couple times, each time thinking maybe it'll get better because of the great reviews, and I'm always a little underwhelemed. I AM NOT saying this is a bad beer store, because it certainly isn't. I just don't think it is all that people have cracked it up to be on BA.

Quality: They do get great in country stuff as well as rarer things like Nogne-O, lots of belgians, germans, UK stuff, etc. Impressive the variety they have, but at the same time, I see lots of hoppy beers sitting on shelves in singles and I know that they are probably old and not the beer they used to be now. Good stuff overall, but maybe the particular times I've gone they havent had anything particularly rare or really great stuff I 'had to buy.' Solid, but it's nothing exciting.

Side: The bottles are very haphazardly organized too, which turns me off a little. I just feel like they don't have a lot of 'quality control.'

As for service, the people working there mostly ignored me poking around in the beer and didn't offer to help or help find anything I was looking for. Average. Maybe I've been there when the beer guy wasn't there or something, but the workers didnt seem knowledgeable or caring about the customers.

Overall, solid, but I'll tell those coming into town if you are nearby, sure check it out, but there are better places to check out. In DC, I like CT Ave Wine and Liquor in Dupont Circle (which is a fun area to visit and hang out in anyways), Schneiders in Capitol Hill (also near some good stuff), Rick's in Alexandria, VA, and Total Wine in Alexandria also. Personal opinion, and I realize I'm going against the current on this store, but I have not been overly impressed in my visits.

11-02-2010 03:18:09 | More by Dreadnaught33