Spec's Arbor Walk

Fenris244

Texas

4.65/5  rDev +6.2%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

I really like specs, they have a great selection and a staff that knows what their talking about(most of the time.) The beer section dwarfs the beer sections of most other stores. Specs is the HEB of liquor stores! They have all my favorites under one roof which is nice and get almost all of the limited releases that make their way to Austin plus they have a deli and almost any other kind of alcohol you could want. My only complaint is I don't quite care for the wall of coolers that makes up most of the beer section but other than it's pretty perfect, easily my go to store.

Also you get a 10% discount for paying cash, that's pretty cool.

11-25-2010 02:49:41 | More by Fenris244

duffmann808

Texas

4.7/5  rDev +7.3%
quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

What can be said about Specs that hasnt already been said about Wal-Mart? They offer nearly every kind of alcohol and beer that you could ever want, as well as fringe products like Cigars, glasses etc. The selection is stellar, and I have never gotten a beer of less than perfect quality from Specs. Something for everyone who drinks, Specs is my place if I need something hard to find. My only complaint would be that they dont have a build your own six pack. Overall, where I buy a majority of my beer, and a great place for those who drink wine and liquor. In fact, during SXSW I had a friend who got handles of rum for $6 from Specs. Forgetting the obvious goonery that took place, Specs can give you what you want, and cheaper than you expect if you pay cash.

09-14-2010 19:20:46 | More by duffmann808

northaustin

Texas

4.3/5  rDev -1.8%
quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $

this is my usual stop.

the selection is great and one of the biggest in town for sure. all the new and latest craft brews as well as all of the classics.

the service is awesome. the beer guys clint and andrew always let me know about new stuff before it comes in. the cashiers are very nice and always strike up a conversation.

alot of good beers at a very cheap price. and the beer guys know how to manage it so the new and special beers dont just fly off of the shelves.

i dont even look at about 80% of the store but i feel very comfortable up in the beer area. and when checking out.

12-08-2009 04:50:32 | More by northaustin

Riccymon

Texas

4.2/5  rDev -4.1%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Visited a Spec's for the first time last weekend and was pleasantly surprised. After strolling through countless rows of wine and liquor, you reach a long row of beer coolers in the rear of the store. Unrefrigerated shelves of beer also line the back wall. The selection is impressive... seemed to be almost everything I've seen in other Austin beer stores, and then some. For example, I saw six packs of beers that I've only ever seen in bombers in the city.

Workers were all over the place, and my wife and I weren't there long before someone asked if we needed help. I also saw a worker helping another customer--making suggestions, bringing something out of the cooler, etc.

Prices seemed average to just below average, though I was really impressed by a 6 pack/$6.59 sale on Victory Prima Pils and Hop Devil.

I'll definitely be back to Spec's, particularly to look for more sale prices. This likely won't become my go-to beer store, however, as it only had around a couple dozen singles available.

[Edit] The occasional sales are wonderful at this Spec's. I picked up a six pack of Old Chub for $6.59 today (Dale's Pale was the same price)!

03-18-2009 01:47:15 | More by Riccymon

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev -7.5%
quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$

I had hoped to nab some DR6 here, but as luck would have it I was too soon. A fun store to browse in general, they have fine selections of wine, cigars, wine paraphernalia like special openers, wine savers. etc.

They also have a cool selection of candies from different countries, a nice variety of hot sauces, BBQ sauces and peripherals.

As for beer, pretty much the entire back wall is loaded with everything from U.S. macros to Belgian 750s. I regretted not being able to mix-a-six here, as New Belgium had 6 or 7 different varieties to work with. Relatively local stuff includes Real Ale, Independence, Southern Star, Rahr's, and St. Arnolds.

The staff wasn't exactly a fount of information but I wasn't looking for any. It was close to closing time, there were only a few employees there and they were ready to leave. Fair enough.

I was able to easily assemble a case of local goodies for the trip home and even managed to find some candy and goodies for the wife and kids. Always a good idea to ply those you love before bringing in even more beer to an already overstocked basement. ;-)

A recommended stop.

07-25-2008 20:37:45 | More by brewdlyhooked13