Crown Liquors (Downtown)

cwcolby74

Indiana

4.22/5  rDev -7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

I was impressed but not knocked over by this store. I had heard so many people, especially BA's, rave about Crown, I guess my expectations were way too high.

The selection is great but not what I'd call outstanding (I can think of at least three liquor stores in Indy with a better selection). They have a lot of foreign imports, which is great. They have most of the usual suspects from craft breweries that distribute more or less nationally or at least regionally. But they didn't have much that I couldn't get somewhere else, and probably for less money.

I like how the place is laid out. The staff was friendly and repeatedly offered help (although I didn't really need it; I was just browsing and left without buying anything, a rarity for me when I go to a liquor store with money in my pocket). I don't like parking downtown, so I went in the late evening (as I would suggest for you).

As an aside, the store is caddy corner to Barcelona Tapas, which is a great Spanish restaurant with a variety of Spanish beer. Both are worth a try on the same trip!

03-18-2011 17:34:56 | More by cwcolby74

stouts4me

Illinois

4.94/5  rDev +8.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

A: great atmosphere, place is just loaded with great beer, each new area is loaded with more beer I have to have !

Q: the quality I see is that they have some older vintages you might be hoping to find. I got ahold of the big series from Shoreline Brewing that included 2009 Lost Sailor aged in bourbon barrels !

S: the service is great at this store, the guy behind the counter KNOWS beer, and can hold a conversation about many types and breweries styles, as well as making suggestions on others you may wish to try.

Sel: I believe this selection to be top notch. I came from northern Illinois and was totally enthralled with the beer selection, I could'nt stop pulling bottles of the shelf. What a great road-trip this will be in the future!

F: not avail.

V: I think the prices were in-line with where they should be . I was'nt complaining about any of them, and I left with 3 boxes !

06-02-2012 22:44:36 | More by stouts4me

CBlack85

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -11.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Stopped here while visiting family in Indy, about the sixth place I stopped looking for Three Floyd's Alpha King (fortunately they had one sixer left).

The place is well laid out and spacious; with several well stocked beer shelves and coolers. Fairly well laid out and easy to navigate. The downstairs has a very respectable wine selection.

The staff seemed fairly knowledgeable and not overly pushy, but definitely willing to talk beer when prompted.

The selection was pretty good, not the best of the beer stores I visited while in Indy, but good none the less. Lots of local-ish beers ranging from Upland & Three Floyd's to Two Brothers and Tyranena.

Overall this was a nice store with a good selection, and centrally located.

04-09-2012 18:02:08 | More by CBlack85

AleWatcher

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -13%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$

Stopped here between Sunking and Upland Tasting Room....

This liquor store is about 3 minutes from Sunking-- and if you're doin one, you may as well do the other.

Good selection, friendly staff, and they had some Dre fontenien on shelves-- that is my favorite part of this store.

Anyway, if you're coming to Indy to hit up sunking, check out this place. It's very close by, and really worthwhile.

The prices were decent.
The selection had most any IN and great lakes breweries, and even had mixed six packs of "all Indiana samplers" and "dark veer samplers" that seemedto be hand-picked by the store employees.

01-20-2012 19:52:55 | More by AleWatcher

racens

Indiana

4.8/5  rDev +5.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Great place. Not the widest selection in town (still have yet to see anything top Parti-Pak on the south side), but the quality and service were tremendous. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about not only what was currently on their shelves but also what was upcoming (CBS release, etc), how much they would be allotted of it, and the conditions they were going to place on its sale (bottle limit, price, etc). Was also very surprised to still see several bottles of Three French Hens on the shelf, well after its release last winter. Overall, a great shop, plus mention you're a BA and you'll get a 10% discount

09-19-2011 23:27:08 | More by racens

backfat

Indiana

4.64/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Stopped at this downtown location on my way to the upland tasting room to pick up the ol' lambics. Beautiful selection of singles throughout a long isle. Singles of any six or four packs by request. I love that. Was asked if I needed help or had any questions. Average and reasonable prices that you would find at most Indiana liquor stores. They still have some drie fonteinen and other assorted shelton bro imports. I REALLY LOVE THAT. picked up some moloko cuz it hasn't hit my town yet and I heard it arrived at their store about 2 weeks ago. After talking to the cashier that offered me help about breweries in my area, I asked him if he had any glassware. He then goes to the back, and grabs me a sam adams noble pils glass and just says that it's on the house! are you kidding me? if this place was in my home town, I'd be broke. awesome selection and even better service. A+

08-17-2011 03:05:39 | More by backfat

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev -8.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

This place has the feel of a high end wine store. Clean and well kept. Not a dusty bottle in sight. It offers a huge beer selection, wine cellar downstairs, and plently of spirits too.

One long isle about 4 or 5 shelves high of beer in every format bottle size. All the popular locals Indy has to offer with a great foreign beers selection, US craft is well represented from all over USA and even some Meads throw in for good measure!

Helpful staff thats quite knowledgable about everthing alcohol.

Prices were a bit higher than average, but since I was here from far away, I glady paid the price for some popular Indy locals I normally don't have access to from my local stores.

08-15-2011 15:20:24 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

mdvatab

Indiana

4.86/5  rDev +7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This was my third stop on a whirlwind tour of Indie's highest BA-rated bottle shops in town.
This Crown Liquors shop is in the heart of downtown. The shop doesn't have it's own lot, so I had to feed the meter. I entered to find the sharpest-looking, cleanest shop I've been to in town. A long row of beer coolers is straight ahead, and they face two long 4-5 level shelving units that run parallel to the beer coolers.
Refrigerated beer consists of a wide selection of six packs and various other packages and configurations of a variety of craft, import, and macro brands
On the shelves opposite, I found many excellent single bottle craft and import offerings. I'd struggled to find HOTD Adam around town, but found >6 bottles at Crown. The buyer here definitely knows what he's doing. I found a few other specific sought-after brews that I hadn't seen on prior visits to Kahn's or Payless.
The store clerk was very friendly, was knowledgeable about his product inventory, and answered my questions without any problems.
EXCLLENT store on all accounts! I will definitely be back.

07-14-2011 03:44:56 | More by mdvatab

mulder1010

Australia

4.41/5  rDev -2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

went in while visiting Indy. Glad I did

A-- Standard bottle shop. Beers to the left and in window and wines downstairs.

Q-- Easily organized and easy to find stuff. Some bombers in coolers and some on shelves. Pretty deep selection but more on that later.

S-- Excellent. Very helpful as I was looking for an Upland Sour and got one. Was offered a KBS and Devil Dancer as well. Just took the DD as wanted to try it. Very helpful staff and answered my questions very well.

S-- Impressive. big selection of sours from NB, limited DFH, Heavy Seas, FFF, Shoreline BA beers, Chicago area and good selection of Indiana beers. Even some Dark Horse I have not seen.

V-- Came and went with specific beers in mind and got them all and did not break an arm or leg to get them. Very helpful and informative staff. Highly suggest if in the CBD of Indy.

07-05-2011 05:05:51 | More by mulder1010

Hibernator

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev -7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

On my to MacNiven's I stopped in Crown Liquors for a glance of what they have to offer and I concluded their selection is for real. I was impressed at the cleanliness of the store and how everything was organized.

For those of us interested in good beers, the coolers are to the left when you enter and appear to start of with the macros first and and then give way to some really good craft beer options. I'm not gonna go into too much detail here, but I was mainly interested in those beers that I can't find in Massachusetts, so I was pleased with the selections from Bell's & Three Floyds that I'm accustomed to only reading about.

I ended up purchasing a 6 pack of Three Floyds Alpha King & Bell's Oberon. I definitely would have ended up buying more if logistics wasn't an issue this trip, but I guess there is always tomorrow.

05-24-2011 22:24:44 | More by Hibernator