Cottage Hill Package Store

cvm4

Mississippi

3.98/5  rDev -6.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This place is pretty easy to find. It's not hidden or tucked away anywhere since it's on the corner of a shopping center.

Pretty friendly atmosphere here. Had a worker come up and start recommending beers and talking beer with us. It was helpful since I'm not familiar with some of the beers carried in AL. Only time I felt uncomfortable was when I grabbed a box and started to fill it up. They wanted me to bring the beer up to the counter and they'd box it up for me. The kicker is I want to know what I have grabbed and not run up to the counter to see.

I gotta say selection was good. They had beers from AL breweries, Bells, Cigar City, Great Divide, Thomas Creek, SN, Belgians and more. Only problem I had was seeing some IPA's that were over 6 months old. They do have taps where you can fill up a "growler" (plastic gallon jug).

The beer is pricey because AL has some of the highest beer taxes around. And if you get a single, expect $1-1.50 more per bottle compared to the pack version. They can't help the taxes, but the singles prices are ridiculous!

03-21-2012 10:58:35 | More by cvm4

BLazarus22

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

I've been working response in Biloxi, MS for over a year now. Being in Mississippi means awful beer selection so I went in search of the best. After trying places here and there I landed at Cottage Hill. It looks a bit trashy from the outside but oh dear lord does the selection blow your mind.

The guy working was helpful but unfortunately he was the only one working. That means not a lot of 1 on 1 service during busy hours. This store seemed to have everything from Bells Brewing (that fits the 16oz or less rule). They have taps to fill milk jug growlers but can't legally do glass(?). The prices are a bit high but it really is your only choice around these parts. Lastly, they have just added a singles rack for build your own sixers. It seems like they will be adding all the time to the quality and selection of the store.

09-12-2011 02:12:47 | More by BLazarus22

dancingbearpub

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$$

Great store with great employees! Six drafts inside for tastings or growler fills. Looking to expand into a tasting room! I found some gems I can't get in Texas. Tommyknocker Hopstrike filled my growler. I want Tommyknocker kegs in Texas! I will continue to shop here on my visits to Mobile mostly because of the selection.

Great store with great employees! Six drafts inside for tastings or growler fills. Looking to expand into a tasting room! I found some gems I can't get in Texas. Tommyknocker Hopstrike filled my growler. I want Tommyknocker kegs in Texas! I will continue to shop here on my visits to Mobile mostly because of the selection.

12-30-2010 16:28:36 | More by dancingbearpub

poonamibaxter

Colorado

4.15/5  rDev -2.6%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Went by here today to see what is available in the bottle here in Alabama while visiting for work, Decent selection but not having bombers really limits what they can do. Its six or four packs only which severly limits your choices once you think about it.
They sale gallons and half gallons of 5 different beers which is awesome. I was able to get Hopzill and Dank Tank half gallons for the hotel room. Really nice.
The staff couldn't have been friendlier or more helpful. I am going to go back to grab some sixers before I leave town.

11-11-2010 21:42:22 | More by poonamibaxter

thechip

Florida

4.65/5  rDev +9.2%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Cottage Hill Package has the best selection in Mobile. The prices tend to be a bit higher than average, but good beer doesn't come cheap anywhere in Alabama, unfortunately. Still, it beats a trip to Pensacola, especially since I'm lucky enough to live less than a mile away.

The store expanded in the last 6 months specifically to increase their shelf space for a better beer selection. For those not familiar with CHPS, In addition to their beer, they have a good selection of wine and liquor, and there is also an impressive walk in humidor. They also have a beer cave in the back of the store in addition to the beer selection on the shelves.

My only real complaint for CHPS is that their selection is limited on the build your own 6 pack shelf. They do rotate out the selection on this shelf, but it's pretty limited. Gourmet Galley is much more user friendly in this department. Still, it's not even close to being a deal breaker.

They have also recently started selling a rotating selection of growlers in order to provide beers that otherwise wouldn't be available due to our state's asinine container laws.

The staff is great, and the owner takes great pride in the quality of selection. They are very responsive to customer requests, and will go out of the way to get you what you want. If they can't get it, it's because their distributors can't get it.

07-27-2010 04:14:36 | More by thechip

wjstewart

Alabama

4.8/5  rDev +12.7%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$$

This is a great place to get a good brew in Mobile. They have the best beer selection on the West side of the Bay. They are now serving growlers in store with 5 or 6 tasty beers on tap. I recently brought home a Tommyknocker Hop Strike Growler along with a Great Divide Hercules 4 pack and a Terrapin Rye Squared 4 pack. Money well spent. They also had a little gem just in, J.W. Lee's 1999 Vintage Harvest Ale. I'm really looking forward to this one.

The staff is exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly. I will definitely be making more frequent stops to see what they are rotating on the tap.

07-23-2010 12:53:45 | More by wjstewart

sletts

Alabama

4/5  rDev -6.1%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$$

This is probably the best package store in Mobile. They have good selection for the area and the owner is trying to have the best beer selection in LA (Lower Alabama). They have a whole Belgian rack and then a lot of beers from Tommy Knocker, Great Divide, Abita, Highland, Unibrou, etc. The only problem is that it is very expensive. Over $15 for a sixer of almost anything with a high ABV and $20 for a 4pack of Delirium Tremens. But life is too short to drink bad beer.
They also have a very nice walk in humidor, which has a great selection of cigars. Recommended if you're looking for good beer in Mobile and willing to pay.

10-30-2009 16:49:41 | More by sletts

williefish

Mississippi

3.7/5  rDev -13.1%
quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$$

This is a good place to get the standard beer fair in mobile, though selection has gotten better since the max abv went up. The liquor selection is very good especially if you like a hard to find, high end scotch. The thing that brings me back is the walk in humidor. They have the best selection around as well as some good prices. In particular they're the only place I've seen el baton cigars, which go well with a good trappist dubbel, south of Atlanta.

So decent selection, alcohol on par or a little higher, but great cigar prices and selection.

edit: met the owner at one of his other stores in orange beach, real nice guy, said they were working on increasing the beer selection.

10-12-2009 22:19:30 | More by williefish