Tipple's Brews

biochembrewer

Texas

3.29/5  rDev -27.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

I'm grew up in Gainesville and when I saw, upon coming back to visit family, that there was an A+ ranked beer store (at least right now, as I write this), I was very excited. After going I wasn't completely disappointed, but Tipple's is definitely NOT an A+ beer store. I think I'm a very fair person, so I'll be as objective as possible.

The facilities are very new which gives the store a very presentable, welcoming, and "fresh" perspective. The atmosphere inside is also very nice, with wood shelving and floors. Not a very large store, but a decent amount of space reserved for beer. Parking is somewhat limited, but additional parking was available in the back.

The only employee there didn't say a word to me the entire time I perused through their entire beer section (spent at least 10 minutes looking). I wasn't upset, as I probably know beer selection and styles better than most store employees; however, employees should always ask if you need any help, if you're looking for anything particular, or to let you know about a rare or seasonal beer they just got in.

One really cool thing I noticed was they had 3 or 4 faucets on the wall, and I noticed a few recently poured beers on the counter. Unfortunately, I was not offered one.

The pricing of most beers was about what the other beer stores in the area charge, so: average pricing.

I'm not sure if Gainesville just doesn't have a lot of beer stores, but the selection is average, to good. At first glance you see a lot of offerings, but each beer has anywhere between 4-8 bottle wide rows on the shelf so there are not as many different types of beers as you think. They had mostly what most other beer stores in the area have (Cigar City, Southern Tier, DogFish, Terrapin, Stone, Sierra Nevada, etc.) without anything really alluring.

Overall, definitely worth visiting to see what they have. Just don't expect to be blown away or expect a "World Class" beer store (as technically, that is what an A+ ranking is). I say it's about a C+/B- beer store.

10-19-2011 19:36:09 | More by biochembrewer

JCaweinstein

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev -17.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$

I stopped at Tipples on my way home from vacation. The building looks new and is very nice. They've got some nice wine shelves on one side of the store, a bar where you check out that you can also sit and have a beer. Beer is on the other side of the store.
They have a nice selection of craft beers. One area for imports and another for domestics. I was looking for FL beers only and was a little disappointed with the selection. I wanted to load up on CCB but they only had 2 varieties of the year round beers and no Humidor or seasonals.
The service was decent but not great. Two guys working were talking to the two guys at the bar. Neither checked if I needed some help. When I asked some questions they were friendly enough.
I was very satisfied with the pricing. A 6 pack, a mixed 6 and a 750 for 27$ I thought that was fair.

04-08-2012 02:38:19 | More by JCaweinstein

MarcGetty

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -14.8%
quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$

As I was in Gainesville for the weekend and needed to stock up on beer, I visited Tipple's Brews as it was the # 1 rated beer store on BeerAdvocate. Tipple's Brews seems to be divided up 1/2 wine and 1/2 beer with very good selections of each.

Arriving found a good selection of craft beer, both domestic and imported, both cold and not, and in everything from single 12oz bottles to plenty of 22oz, 750ml, and even a few 3L jeroboams behind the counter. Most of the brands I sought were available and I walked out with over $100 in 750s over two trips.

I had a few questions about selection, which were answered with stares as if I were speaking another language, so I'm not sure what is up with the service.

While Tipple's Brews is definitely a great place, and a place I'm sure to visit if in Gainesville again, I'm not sure it deserves the "A+ World Class" rating it current has on BA.

10-05-2010 14:33:32 | More by MarcGetty

Holland

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -14.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Tipple's is a good liquor store overall, and a great liquor store for Gainesville. Atmosphere is nice, with an organized setup and incandescent lighting. The service is fine depending on when you're there. I was there during an event and just wanted to purchase beer, but it took a while. The selection is excellent for Gainesville, and they order beers that you can't get anywhere else around that area.

The only reason it's not rated better is because it doesn't have the large warehouse capability of places in Chicago (Binny's) and Denver (Tipsy's). I'm sure Tipples doesn't move enough stock to justify having more space or more selection, but it has improved even in the short time I've been there.

The best part is certainly the atmosphere and the fact that you can get some great beers on tap.

04-24-2011 23:35:41 | More by Holland

Beer21

Florida

3.96/5  rDev -12.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$

It was nice to find a place like Tipple's only 45 minutes from my house. However when I lived in Gainesville for 6 years we had nothing of the sort. I only wish they would have opened earlier. Anyway Tipple's has a great selection of beer, with more Belgian beers than others. The service was ok, but I guess I was expecting the guy working there to be more enthusiastic. I was pumped up to check the place out and he just seemed to be indifferent. I mean who wouldn't want that kind of job in college?

I will say that the selection is probably the best from Tampa to Jacksonville. The prices are reasonable and you can sample a few beers in the store while shopping. I will go back and recommend it highly.

02-04-2012 04:40:48 | More by Beer21

ryanadamss

Iowa

4.18/5  rDev -7.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 2 | selection: 5 | $$

Best beer selection in Gainesville hands down. Only questionable thing I have on Tipple's is the service and people who work there. Very quiet staff and seems like most of the workers dont know about many of the beers.

I have found several great beers here and will continue to go back on a regular basis. They are always improving their selection and stock. I can find something new everytime go in. They even were serving food last time i went in. Venison wrapped in bacon was delicious. Tipple's is definitely the place to go if your looking for a great atmosphere and some of the best beer.

03-10-2011 22:23:45 | More by ryanadamss

mullenite

Florida

4.3/5  rDev -4.9%
quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

Stopped by today after seeing it pop up on BeerFly. (Yes, I randomly check BeerFly for new places.)

Great location in west Gainesville/Haile Plantation. Much closer to my house than any of the other beer stores around, which probably doesn't matter to most people.

The store is nice and has a good, high class look to it. I was greeted as soon as I walked in with a whiteboard featuring new releases and their overall ratings on BA and/or RateBeer.

Service was great, and they were very helpful by telling me about upcoming events and their rewards program.

They do sell all beers in singles but with prices just slightly higher than the other stores in town that do, but still not too bad.

They do have a great selection and have a lot of beers I have not yet seen in my two years here in Gainesville (Traquair, DeuS, Fuller's Vintage, Coppers Vintage, Dark Island etc.)

02-04-2010 17:18:16 | More by mullenite

jf60657

Florida

4.35/5  rDev -3.8%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Wow...Cool Place. Visited with 3 other BA's on a trip from Jacksonville to Gainesville. The store is a little out of the way from the college and climbing gym we were also visiting. Due to the rain, being tired from climbing and traffic, we were all getting a little cranky. When we arrived and walked in, our spirits changed for the better! First thing I noticed was how clean and well lit the place was. Then I noticed the beer, lots of rare Belgians I never see and plenty of one-offs and rarities from the breweries available in market. Then, whats that?....GORDON!! I've been looking everywhere for it and now I've got it, yay! You can mix a six and they the display beer with the sixer price as well as the single price, very helpful and leads to no surprises at the checkout.

The staff was very helpful and nice. The prices were very reasonable. Cigar City brews on tap (Maduro and Jai Lai). This will be a stop every time I am in Gainesville.

06-18-2010 17:01:40 | More by jf60657

nickfl

Florida

4.36/5  rDev -3.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This is a very nice store; well lit, everything seems new and upscale. The beer is relatively well organized, about a third of it refrigerated. They have a few (four, if I recall correctly) taps on the wall by the cooler for growler fills and, better yet, so that you can have a pint while browsing their selection. I had a Swamp Head Blackwater while shopping and it definitely enhanced the experience.

I live only an hour away, but there was still a decent selection of things that I would not expect to find at home. Prices were reasonable, but not cheap. Overall, a very nice store, definitely worth checking out if you are in Gainesville.

08-09-2011 01:27:37 | More by nickfl

awsmith4

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev -0.4%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

Needed a beer store while heading to Ocala from Atlanta two weeks ago and saw this place listed here on BA. Stopped in looking for beer to bring to a cookout/herf and also to see if there was anything rare or not available in GA. The selection was not extremely vast but it did appear to be carefully thought out. The prices were reasonable but what really made me dig this place was the friendly atmosphere and helpful staff. These guys seemed to want to talk beer as much as I did and had someone else not needed assistance we would have probably talked all afternoon. I will be stopping there again anytime I am headed down to FL.

11-29-2010 21:57:54 | More by awsmith4