Monarch Beach Market

DoubleJ

California

3.86/5  rDev -1.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$$

Much larger than anticipated, though that doesn't mean all of the space is being used to sell alcohol. Monarch Beach Market also carries some foodstuffs and houses a service deli. Still, it's a clean, organized store. Beer is located towards the back on the right in coolers.

Brands available: Lindemans, Duvel, Port Brewing, Stone, AleSmith, Bootlegger's, Victory, Dogfish Head, Maui. Seeing Mongo DIPA bottled two months after the bottling date was a good sign for the freshness of the beers here. I found them to be a little more expensive here.

The checkout guy was really friendly and asked if I needed help selecting a beer. Eventually we got into a short conversation about Black Phoenix.

There aren't many shops for beer in the very south of Orange County, so Monarch Beach Market is a little bit of a destination for the immediate area.

06-01-2011 16:46:34 | More by DoubleJ

AWolfAtTheDoor

California

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$$

I personally don't come here for beer very often. Bev Mo has 99% of the same beers that this place does for a LOT less money. I found Pliny the Elder here ONCE and that is why I occasionally will stop in to see if they have any more. The only beers they carry that I can't find at Bev Mo are from Russian River, and again you're going to be paying at least $1-$2 more per six pack of any given beer here versus Bev Mo.

On an unrelated note, the deli is actually very good and makes some great sandwiches. Been eating here literally for years and years, well before I even started drinking.

05-18-2011 22:31:43 | More by AWolfAtTheDoor

DoktorZee

Alberta (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$

After hearing from a friend that this was the place to go to buy quality beer in the Laguna Beach/Dana Point area I paid a quick visit to restock and was quite impressed. Three coolers full of high quality beers from Dogfish Head, Deschutes, Stone and Bear Republic certainly made me happy (lots of others too - these just stood out to me on this particular visit).

If you're so inclined they also have a small deli and a decent wine/hard liquor selection, but neither stand out locally like the quality of the beer choices. If you're looking for great beer to enjoy the sun this is a very solid place to go.

04-03-2010 22:58:34 | More by DoktorZee

raiser

California

3.7/5  rDev -5.6%
quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$$

Well, I got this little market added to BA so let me be the first to tell you why.

This is a "wine shop/deli" that has a good selection of craft brews. I picked up several bottles of Alesmith Decadence and Speedway Stout here, the former I couldn't find elsewhere.

They have other goodies too, both local and international and very few mass-market brews.

I wouldn't go out of my way to find this place, but it so happens it's on my way to the beach. If you are heading to Dana Point, Monarch Beach, Salt Creek, or Laguna Niguel it's worth a stop in.

It was referred to me by a customer I met at O'Sheas brewing supply in Laguna Niguel, and is not far away.

The knowledge of the majority of the staff is not BA quality, HOWEVER the manager is a beer-geek and a BA. He puts "Shelf-talkers" printed out from the BA website on most of the top beers. Look for the "ON SALE" cooler way in the back, for rotating specials. And sign up for the beer-tastings, once a month.

07-01-2008 23:15:20 | More by raiser