D&Q Mini Mart

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.71/5  rDev -15.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

I stopped here just to see what might be available, as it's just a little south of a great Specs location. That proximity might both help and hurt beer geek sales, I guess I'd shop the 2 against each other if I lived here.

Specs is king at this point, best selection every time I'm in Houston and decent pricing. But this place is pretty good for selection too, less overall than Specs but there were a few things I didn't see anywhere else so worth a stop for that.

Small store, Kwik-E mart style, but lots of good beer in the coolers, plenty of singles too. Maybe the availability of the singles is the defining point, pretty decent.

03-01-2011 01:05:40 | More by TurdFurgison

champ103

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -25.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

I stopped by one afternoon to check out the selection. I was a bit surprised with what they had (in a good way). All the local stuff. Saint Arnold, Southern Star, Real Ale. A ton of Belgian and Unibroue to choose from. Not nearly as much as Specs, but still a very good selection. Almost everything could be purchased as a single as well. There is also a huge collection of branded glassware to choose from. There was really no service to speak off, just a woman working the cashier. Overall, a place I would come to more often if I lived closer. Though there are three Specs near me that all have better selection, and value. Though if in the Montrose area, and looking for good beer it is still a place I would recommend.

I need to edit my review a bit:

This place has gone through some changes over the last few years. The smaller selection has grown a lot, and now is becoming the place for the hard to get hyped up one offs. D&Q seems to get the newer stuff (Rye on Rye, Jester King, 512 BBA Porter) before Specs. The owner and the other clerks are nice and knowledgable, but hands off. You also need to be in the know to get the hard to find releases. A handful of growlers to go, and that selection is growing all the time. Mostly Texas breweries with some other interesting things thrown in.

I am not a big fan of the set up. It is still dirty, about a half inch of dust sits on all the glasses, and a bit intimidating to walk in at first. Lots of beer sitting on the floor now, in the heat (no AC). I would not buy anything from the floor. Skunked, warm beer, and lots of older stuff that has not been seen in Texas for years. A great selection, the owner knows whats up in the craft beer world. I still think it is over priced a bit, and I would not buy anything from the floor.

08-06-2009 19:06:06 | More by champ103

wagenvolks

Texas

4.15/5  rDev -5.3%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Stopped by this place while helping my girlfriend move to an apartment no less than 2 blocks away.

No complaints about the service; granted, no one is going to come up and help you unless you ask for it, but the cashier was very friendly and knew her beer. Great selection, with a huge variety of singles and bombers at reasonable prices. Sixers available too. Has pretty much everything you can find at a Spec's or Central Market, but the one distinction that sets apart D&Q (and helped me adjust my "selection" rating) is the glassware. At least 50 different glasses from various breweries, multiples of each, and the best part? They're all $3 apiece. I happily gobbled up a Houblon Chouffe tulip, a Duchesse de Bourgogne goblet, and a Great Divide tulip, and will return to buy some more soon.

Beer prices are a bit more expensive than CM or Spec's, but that's to be expected given D&Q's small market status. Besides, the cheap glassware more than makes up for it. Great little neighborhood beer shop, and one I'll be sure to frequent again...

08-03-2009 02:10:32 | More by wagenvolks

Hopmodium

Washington

4.44/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

After reading about this place on BA I decided to drive the 30+ miles each way to give it a shot and I am glad that I did. I had planned on also going to Spec's Liquor Warehouse on the way home but after filling up my backseat at D&Q with gems there was no need. The reviews I read were correct, Brandon is ultra-knowledgeable and kind, so was the lady that worked there with him. I will certainly be making the monthly pilgrimage downtown, fighting off insane drivers and poor roads easily knowing that I WILL be able to find some QUALITY beers that I have not tried yet. I picked up 9 bombers (including some that I had never heard of), a growler from (512) Brewery, and a 4 pack of Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA from He'Brew as well as a 6-pack of mixed brews for under $115.

They also have cool shirts from local breweries for affordable prices. There is a (blech) wine section as well for those unfortunate souls we call co-workers, friends and family. Snacks, smokes, sunglasses, hand-blown glass items, ice, local publications and many other products found in "mini-marts" are also available. Beer signs, glasses, and other promotional paraphernalia are also for sale. After chatting a bit with the propreitors I was given an awesome Hop Rising poster so I would go away ;)

This should be a Texas landmark!

06-02-2012 01:01:52 | More by Hopmodium

SWMeyer4141

Texas

4.44/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Was informed by a fellow beer advocate user to check out the D&Q Mini Mart in Houston. I wasn't dissapointed. A little pricy, but didn't mind because there were some hard to find brews. Picked up Stones 14th Anniversary IPA and a Burton Baton single(I've been trying to find this forever). The gentleman at the store was very knowledgable and is willing to try to get anything for you. They also have a ton of Pint glasses for only 3.00 each. I picked up a Victory and Great Divide Glass. Definitely will be back next time in Houston.

EDIT: Brandon, the owner, is a great guy. Talked for 20 minutes today. Knows his beer and wants to share the wealth. Now we just need D&Q version 2.0 in Beaumont.

03-08-2011 20:49:19 | More by SWMeyer4141

myspoonistoobig

Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +4.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Stopped here on a recent business trip, hoping to hunt down some Jester King. Walking in, I didn't know what to think. Store was definitely a mini-mart, but the first thing that struck me was how warm it was. Thankfully, almost all the beer is in coolers along the back wall. I poked around a little bit while an employee was working to restock shelves. Turns out, Brandon is the man. It's his shop and he is super passionate about beer in general and especially good Texas beer. He asked me a few probing questions about my preferences and made excellent recommendations. He even went into the back to snag a rare four-pack from Southern Star for me. I asked about Jester King, he said he was expecting some and took my card, saying he'd hold a bottle if it came in while I was still in town. Are you kidding me? This is seriously above and beyond type of service. No wonder everyone who came in knew him by name.

It may well be that the slightly higher prices dictate that the bottles will hang around this shop a bit longer. Or maybe it's the seemingly out-of-the-way location. But by my estimation, this was actually a better selection than Spec's, albeit smaller in volume.

I can't say enough about the service; this is the type of shop that I would love to have locally.

04-21-2011 02:51:51 | More by myspoonistoobig

shoky01

Texas

4.28/5  rDev -2.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

Holy crap an awesome beer store! So good in fact, Ive been often enough to take the Foursquare mayorship. Originally went because a friend told me they had Unibroue Chamby Noire, I wasted no time getting there to find the last bottle. I asked the owner if they happened to have any more and he gladly went into the cooler and grabbed the rest for me. Also found several rare Saint Arnold Divine Reserves just sitting on a shelf. Im always surprised at something when i stop in there. And if nothing else i can always talk beer with the owner. He always keeps stock of stuff that even Spec's Smith st doesnt. We always hit both in one trip cause its so far for us. They charge a little more than most liquor stores but they also have more. The sheer brewer glass selection is impressive, and any beer enthusiast worth his bottle opener would not skip those 2 aisles. Love this place, will keep going there as long as they are in business.

08-08-2011 20:35:30 | More by shoky01

MIA4IPA

Illinois

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

First time down in Texas and thanks to other BAs this was the place to come for craft beer. The place was a little messy and unorganized but the service and atmosphere was great. The window shelves and around the store was filled with empty craft beer bottles from around the US. I don't know if its a Texas thing but a lot of the beer is kept refrigerated which in the same aspect was nice because their was a lot to choose from that I could drink right away! The buyer was there and he was very helpful and a lot of fun to talk with. I picked up a lot of Jester King, Ranger Creek and deschutes. Abyss was not available yet. Also a bonus was a lot of glassware.

A great stop to come to for some local craft beer!!

12-30-2012 02:05:14 | More by MIA4IPA

LadyOfMuchBeer

Texas

4.63/5  rDev +5.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

From the street this place is just a mini-mart, inside it is a beer enthusiasts candy shop.

The beer selection is always changing and you never know what will be pulled out and put on the shelf. Prices can be a little higher than liquor stores, but are still reasonable.

If you like to build your own 6-er, this is the spot, he has hundreds of choices! You can also buy singles, don't even have to choose all six. His glassware selection is impressive and my daughter likes picking up a gourmet soda or brewer brand root beer when we come in.

Service is spot-on. This guy knows and loves his beer as much as we do, and is awesome to talk beer with! Much more personable than any Specs retailer I have ever met. Worth the trip every time as I live about 40 miles north of this store.

08-26-2011 13:10:51 | More by LadyOfMuchBeer

poonamibaxter

Colorado

4.45/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

It is a run down looking Kwicky Mart from the outside but very different inside. They have the best selection of singles I have ever seen probably. Every beer they have is available as a single. Nice. Prices are on par with Specs and Specs has a little more selection but D&Q has things that Specs doesn't. They have a nice selection of glassware like others have said.

The guy at the counter was awesome. He talked to me about each beer I was getting and how they would age. A very welcome addition to the Houston beer scene.

03-01-2011 19:24:48 | More by poonamibaxter