Hop City Craft Beer & Wine

rpjonesga

Georgia

5/5  rDev +8.2%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

Yesterday afternoon, I made my 4th visit to Hop City and felt that it was time to write a short review.

Organization of the beer - The first thing that you notice when you walk in the store is how the beer is organized. Unlike most stores, beer is displayed by style and not by brand. While this has been the way wine has been sold forever, it is the first time that I have seen beer displayed in such a way. As a person that is partially to pale ales and IPA's, I find this way of organization very useful and time saving (not that I am in a hurry to leave Hop City.

Selection - Hop City clearly makes an effort to be first to market with new brands to Georgia. They also seem to carry more of the full lines that are offered by brands (they have all 7 of the Bell's offerings instock). If it is available in Georgia, you will find it at Hop City.

Knowledgeable Staff - While other stores in town carry selections that are close to Hop City's, I have not visited a store that provides such quality hands on customer service. Kraig (the owner) clearly loves beer and enjoys taking time to talk to his customers about his passion. Yesterday, I asked him to recommend a good sour ale and lambic ale and he was more than happy to help.

I would strongly encourage any beer lover in proximity to Hop City to give them a try. There are a few places in town that all beer lovers should support (5 Seasons, Muss & Turners) and Hop City definitely falls into that category.

Cheers to Kraig and his team!!!

06-11-2009 13:02:13 | More by rpjonesga

zplug123

Georgia

5/5  rDev +8.2%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

I've been to this spectacular location about half a dozen times in the past three months; although it's out of the way I've gladly gone down to Midtown just for the selection and price. The store is basically split into half beer and half wine. Even then, the products are nicely arranged by style so everything is easy to find. Not only that, but it's situated conveniently next to Five Seasons Westside, which is another happy story in itself.

The staff is friendly and their idea of monthly events and tastings suits me well; they even have a homebrewing section that is nicely stocked.

08-08-2009 03:14:43 | More by zplug123

MrMJL

Georgia

5/5  rDev +8.2%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

Best beer store in town, move over Tower and Greens. Friendly staff with great suggestions and willingness to assist or lay back. Store is perfectly arraigned by beer types clearly marked. Have individuals for sale to make your own 6-er, which is always a plus for me; only local place I've seen that is Total Wine & Beer. Haven't used it yet, but it's the first place I've seen with a water bath beer chiller. Plenty of parking in the rear and located right next to the brand new 5 Seasons westside. Hop City also does weekly free tastings across the street at Octane on Wednesday nights.

08-08-2009 03:24:00 | More by MrMJL

Cyberkedi

Georgia

5/5  rDev +8.2%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

This is THE place to buy beer in Atlanta! Beers are arranged by type so you can easily find what sort you like best - stouts, IPAs or whatever. They have a lot of beers that I have never seen anywhere else in the Atlanta area. The employees are very helpful and well trained but not intrusive, and will quickly guide you to the sort of brews you are seeking. They are also very efficient at the cash register, and you can join a free club to get discounts on your purchases. Finally, parking is plentiful and they are easy to find. I will visit this place again and again and again.

08-11-2009 02:19:29 | More by Cyberkedi

GrizzlyBrew

Georgia

5/5  rDev +8.2%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

I can't imagine going anywhere else for beer anymore! I'm lucky (or cursed) enough to work very close to this store. I'm in there at least once a week. The guys are great; they care and know about beer, love to talk about it and have the selection to back it up! If you have not been here, you are doing a disservice to your self.

The shelves are arranged by style, which makes it easy to explore other varieties of brews you like. They also keep a rotating shelf of seasonals and specials in the front so you see it first thing, not to mention a few highlighted beers on the counters when you walk in. If you want it and they can get it, they will. I have pleasantly surprised more than once when I though a beer was completely sold out - an apparent benefit of what is becoming Atlanta's craft beer store!

Check this place out!

10-31-2009 03:10:03 | More by GrizzlyBrew

AlFromBayShore

Georgia

5/5  rDev +8.2%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

Hop city sells four things: wine, beer, cider, and homebrewing supplies. You cannot count the fantastic customer service and advice because its free. This is a place for connoisseurs, geeks, and foodies.

Before my entrance into a craft (or quality?) beer addiction, I was a big wine person. I cannot wait until my beer obsession wanes so I can explore Hop City's Left Brain. But for now, Hop City is a pure pleasure that continues to enable my latest addiction.

Oh great, I tried to post but needed an additional 36 characters to reach the 500 character requirement. Okay, here it is: Hop City is the bomb!

02-27-2010 17:26:15 | More by AlFromBayShore

Bierliebhaber

Colorado

5/5  rDev +8.2%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

This is a beer advocate's utopia. Even veteran quaffers of high-quality brew can be a bit overwhelmed at the breadth of selection. The combination of quantity and quality is what most amazed me. Other stores have impressed me with sheer numbers or for their stocking of high-end beers, but never in a package as complete as this.

The beers are arranged by style in an easy-to-follow layout and each selection can be purchased as singles, allowing customers to maximize their variety.

The workers have a thorough knowledge of beer and a willingness to share it. It is clearly a passion for them. This is easily the store that I will measure all others against.

03-16-2010 18:38:36 | More by Bierliebhaber

boss302

Florida

5/5  rDev +8.2%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

This is by far the best beer store I have ever been to. It is probably a good thing that I live so far from Atlanta, otherwise this place could create an shift in balance to my beer/income ratio. They have a great selection of Belgian beers and I was able find some that I can't find in Florida.

The attendant that I talked to was very knowledgable. I showed him some of the selections that I made and asked if he had other recommendations based on my selections. So far his additional selections have been good and I have expanded my knowledge without having to muddle through mediocre beer. He also helped me to my car with the 3 boxes of beer I bought.

Compared to my experience, I had to rate this a 5 in everything, just becuase all categories have so far been the best.

07-11-2010 14:52:31 | More by boss302

jzaif

Ontario (Canada)

5/5  rDev +8.2%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

I flew into Atlanta from Canada (London ON) for the weekend for a cousins wedding and am always looking for great spots to grab some great beer and Hop City was exactly that. Craig (the owner) took me around the store and helped me pick a wide variety of stuff including some local GA beer as well as some beer exclusive to his store. Unfortunately i could only bring a limited amount of bottles back with me as i was flying home but otherwise i would have dabbled in the large Belgian section they have in the store. On another note, the store is very unique as they carry equipment for homebrewers and also give lessons on how to do so. Beside the store is also a nice little brewpub (dont recall the name, i think 5 something) and i would recommend stopping in there too, either before or after (maybe both). Craig and everyone else there were very helpful and any time im in Atlanta i will definitely go back. Cheers!

09-03-2010 12:48:42 | More by jzaif

JamnesCameron

Illinois

5/5  rDev +8.2%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

Visited on a recent trip to Atlanta, near Georgia Tech campus.

A little difficult to nail down the parking, but once I did, OH BOY! What a place! I was like a kid in a candy store.

Went here looking for breweries I can't get in Chicago, Terrapin, Sweetwater, Butternuts, 21st Amendment, to name a few. Huge selection, very nicely laid out on shelves loosely by styles.

Although I didn't need any particular service myself, other than helping out to the car with my haul, everyone was very attentive and eager to help anyone in the store. I eavesdropped on an employee helping out a couple put together a recipe for a homebrewing session, and he was very patient, asked good questions to determine what they were after and helped them put the grain bill together.

Overall value was very reasonable. I walked out with about two cases of high quality and some limited release brews for about $120. The only downer was the Hopzilla I lost to breakage in my extra suitcase flying home.

If you're visiting Atlanta, go check them out. If you live in Atlanta, you lucky bastards, make them your local.

09-24-2010 01:13:30 | More by JamnesCameron