Sonoma Wines & Spirits

KelsoSaaz

New York

5/5  rDev +11.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

This is my go-to package store in my home town, I don't go anywhere else.

Sonoma has the best beer selection on Glastonbury hands down. They have a knack for getting in rare and hard to find stuff as well. They just started expanding their beer selection as well which helps them because their location isn't in a huge space., so things can only get better. They maintain a good balance of imported and domestic brews, with a sizable selection of bombers and large bottles along with a good selection of individual 12ozs for sale, with even more selection in the walk-in beer cave.

The atmosphere is nice and relaxed; it's not an intimating place to step into unlike some other stores in town. Plus they also seem to always have good music playing faintly in the background. The staff is always super friendly and quite knowledgeable about everything on their shelves. They are also good at giving recommendations for customers. Another plus is that they can place purchase limits on certain hard to get brews, so when a rarer beer arrives in store, one person can't just come in and clean out the stock, which I have seen at other stores around town.

Aside from beer, they have a quite good wine and spirit selection, to which the staff equally as knowledgable about. Prices for everything are on par with the Glastonbury area, and can be cheaper than in other similar towns (West Hartford, Avon, etc..).

If you're a beer advocate and want the best craft beer selection with the best staff in the Glastonbury area, go to Sonoma.

04-03-2013 07:03:12 | More by KelsoSaaz

gdkersey

Massachusetts

4.14/5  rDev -8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

There are a few liquor stores in the Glastonbury/Manchester area that have decent to good beer selections, but Sonoma is where I frequent most often when visiting family or friends in Glastonbury.

The selection they have can't be compared to something like Julio's in MA or Manchester Wine & Liquors, as it's a much smaller store; however the quality of their selection is awesome, they always have a good mix of styles and domestic/international breweries. The have a nice selection of bombers and 750mL bottles at the front of the store, but they also keep a large majority of these bottles cold either in the walk-in or the big fridge at the rear of the store. They even keep some 12 oz gems in the rear cooler (including some De Dolle Stille Nacht a few months ago).

The service is always friendly, and there is a guy (who I'm assuming is the beer manager) who is always willing to talk about what they've recently got in and help pick something out for those who aren't sure what they're looking for. From what I can tell, they are also super knowledgeable about wine and have a quality selection.

Prices are on par with the area, and in some cases cheaper than what I can find in Boston (a plus when visiting). Definitely recommended for people in the area looking for craft brews.

10-17-2011 16:47:40 | More by gdkersey

Billolick

New York

3.85/5  rDev -14.4%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$$

On the upscale side of the beer world, beer, wine and booze place in the middle of several shopping malls. Respectable beer selection is located towards the rear as you enter on several shelving units and a cooler or two.

Burnside and Opa Opa growler selections are always a nice option, even though they seem to enjoy a solid distribution in the general area. Also choices from Stone, Ommegang, DogFish Head, Victory. Add in the typical locals, a smattering of quality Belgian, British, and German imports and you have a place thats while not being anything spectacular, is fairly solid and worthy of a visit. You will find ample BA quality brew, service was friendly and knowledgable, prices a bit high, but prolly reasonable for the area.

To the first reviewer...all Fives?...really?

01-27-2011 17:53:49 | More by Billolick

Leftfield00

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +11.1%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

*I am re-reviewing this place*
My opinion of this place has changed greatly since I last reviewed here on bA. As I mentioned in the last review, these guys really seem to care, and it shows. In the past six months, they more than doubled their bomber & craft selection.

The guy that owns the store is obviously a fan of the Arrogant Bastard type beers. The guy that runs the store is all over the place, but got me to try the Trappist Rochefort 10, Dogfish World Wide Stout, and Brasserie DuPont; and I loved all three. Now they've got a younger guy there that knows his stuff too, and he's made some great suggestions to me like the Weihenstephan Vitus, Schnieder Aventinus, and Maredsous.

They expanded the selection of single bottles you can buy, expanded the six-pack selection, and even put a bunch of bottle racks inside the walk-in cooler to keep bombers cold.

Seriously, this place has really come a long way, and I highly recommend checking them out. They don't have the "biggest" selection in the area, but I would argue that they have "the Best".

When you stop by, tell them you read this review. I've got a bet going with them that says I can get them 20 new customers by referring friends and co-workers.

**Original Review**
From what I understand, this place has changed hands in the past few years, and that is good news for us. The guys that run it now really seem to know their stuff. On more than one occasion I've walked up and down the beer aisle with them bs-ing about this beer and that, and they really seem to care about what they do.

On the few occasions they didnt have an asnwer for me, they were happy to look it up. A few weeks ago, they even special ordered beer for me, and didnt charge me anything extra!

They've got a great selection of craft & macro brews, imports & domestics, bomber bottles and glassware. They've even got a great selection of sake.

They've also got a ton of wine and liquor, but I haven't explored that area of the store much. Overall its a really clean, tidy place, and I've been going back to them, and only them. I highly recommend checking them out!

12-11-2010 15:20:22 | More by Leftfield00