Malloy's Finest Wine & Spirits

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | $$

Incredible how different this Malloy’s is from the one in Glen Ellyn. A very appealing front fascia that looks new and in style. Walking in the store looks damn fine and very well done (classy). Immediate downside – lots of wine and spirits, little beer.

There is literally only one small isle of beer (out of the entire huge store) devoted to craft beer, and a couple coolers (though again the majority is for other stuff). However, the selection was pretty good, and the prices were better than Binny’s.

The service was fantastic and the woman working was quite helpful and I enjoyed my time there.

If I was in the area, I’d stop by. However, as stated, the selection is extremely small.

11-17-2011 01:16:10 | More by SpdKilz

AleWatcher

Illinois

3.56/5  rDev -11%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | $$

I usually stop by this location on my way to Bavarian Lodge, as this place is conveniently located just a few ticks off I355.

The employees are friendly, but the selection is pretty small... The store is HUGE-- why not more than 10 linear feet of cooler space designated to craft?
The beer they do carry is generally quality stuff and the prices are pretty fair... I just wish they offered more of a selection!

The selection includes all the regular Midwest craft options like FFF, goose, bells, founders, etc. Of course they carry a sizable chunk of BMC offerings, as well as pseudo-craft like leinenkugels and blue moon.

If you're in the area, stop here-- and then definitely stop by The Bavarian Lodge!

11-25-2011 01:55:42 | More by AleWatcher

charlycat

Illinois

3.86/5  rDev -3.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | $$

This is a local option and provides a similar alternative to Binny's (perhaps with less selection/volume). There are very good people who work here who are happy to help. The focus is definitely on wine, but the beer selection is good. I do wish they rotated their selection a bit more often. At any rate, it's always nice to walk into a liquor store where there are 8 fridges full of craft brews, 1 with Sam Adams/Shiner/Generic/Ubiquitous-but-Tasty, and only 1 with American macro brews.

And the architectural design of this place is pretty great, welcoming, and promotes the entire selection (wine, beer, liquor). Whoever designed it...major kudos.

07-28-2011 01:42:56 | More by charlycat

spointon

Illinois

4/5  rDev 0%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Though I live just 20 minutes from Malloy's, I didn't discover this store until I attended a 4 day seminar at a nearby hotel.

Easy to get to (just off I355) and lots of parking right out front. Upon entering I noted that the main focus of the store is wine and liquors (lots of high end stuff). The beer is sort of off to the left and toward the back. I would say about 80-90% of the craft beer they had was in coolers and there were not many coolers with non-craft beer.

I saw nothing particularly earth shattering or interesting, but what they did have was super high quality. Mostly a mix of American craft beers focused on the Midwest (Bells, FFF, Goose Island, Founders, etc). There were a few others form around the country and some quality imports too, but the selection was pretty limited.

The service was super friendly. The guy behind the counter had a cast on his foot but he still hobbled all the way out to where I was shopping to see if I needed any help finding anything! He knew good beer too, so I give the service high marks.

All in all its not a destination store to drive a long way to, rather its a super friendly store to get a few quality staples.

11-21-2010 01:35:51 | More by spointon

beereality

Illinois

4.65/5  rDev +16.3%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Although this store has much more space dedicated to wine (beautiful wood work in store), they continue to push the beer boundaries. I was happy to find this little store so close to my work, that had Alpha King, Breakfast Stout,60 Minute, Centennial, I could go on. The thing I like is the people, Lucas is always looking to add new beers, give good suggestions and listen to my needs. Crystal is very nice too.(and cuter) I think its the people that make the difference, not to mention that they are consistently a buck cheaper than binny's on six packs and bombers.

11-19-2010 00:35:37 | More by beereality

Simos

Illinois

4.85/5  rDev +21.3%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

i was out in the suburbs visiting a friend and stopped by this place on the way. i thought it was one of the best designed stores that i have seen in a long while and i was greeted as soon as i walked in. initially i was a little worried that the beer selection would be limited because the store looked like it was mostly wine but when i looked in the cooler i saw that the beer selection was high quality, not the biggest i have seen, but very well thought out and selective. i met the beer manager Lucas and his knowledge was pretty amazing. he helped me pick out some Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' which was exactly what we were looking for. Great store with great service. i will be back again when i am out this way for sure...

11-16-2010 22:53:50 | More by Simos

emerge077

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev -23.8%
quality: 3.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3 | $

This is the newest store in the Malloy's chain, and it was obviously conceived by a wine person. The interior was all wood racks and burgundy walls with framed art reproductions of fanciful epicurean scenes. The clerks stayed behind the modern checkout counter.

All the beer was in the coolers, save for a random smattering of 5 or so winter seasonals and Goose Island bombers wedged next to bar supplies and gourmet dry goods. The coolers were pretty standard, one door of bombers (Dreadnaught was the one highlight) and a few doors of craft sixers before it all went typical macro. Magic Hat, DFH, standard stuff. Sadly this is the biggest store of the chain in terms of square feet, but has the smallest selection. Wine & Spirits occupy 90% of the store. There was a cooler full of cheese next to the checkout that looked pretty good. Staff was preoccupied and didn't really seem to care about the beer I was buying or even saying hello.

The parking lot is a pain, and the traffic was especially a quagmire. Go at an off time to avoid the traffic, not at 5pm or on weekends...

12-30-2009 04:32:47 | More by emerge077