Crown Liquors (Downtown)

calhoon

Iowa

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

We drove from western Iowa for the Antique Advertising Show and drove to Crown based on the reviews on BA hoping to find some regional rarities. The service from Ben and others was exceptional--particularly when they learned I was a BA. I was pleased with the selection and the pricing. I was offered the chance to mix and match six packs from the same brewery which I really appreciated. But for an impatient father-in-law I could have stayed twice as long and talked beer for a long while; I will definitely go back to Crown if I ever get back to Indianapolis.

03-25-2011 20:37:17 | More by calhoon

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

MilwaukeeCrusher

Wisconsin

4.7/5  rDev +3.5%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$$

I found this to be a nice store in the heart of the city. Prices were ok to maybe slightly higher (but you generally get that in the city). Store was laid out nice and efficiently, and service was top notch. They seemed to know their beer and were genuinely concerned with making the consumer happy. Their line up of beers had some heavy hitters, and although they did have some obscure breweries from the local and intermediate areas I thought they were a slight step below compared to a few other places I went to in the area. I would definitely stop here again if passing through, although it is the city with traffic and parking concerns, so I might rather go to a suburban location of this fine chain.

01-13-2011 17:51:53 | More by MilwaukeeCrusher

phisigben

Kentucky

5/5  rDev +10.1%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

They have one of the best selections in the city they don't have the biggest but what they do have are very great beers. Sprinkle (Mike) is the man; he helped me get a bottle of BCBVS and a bottle of Rare BCBS. I stopped by with a friend during a tasting introduced myself and he hooked my friend and myself with a taste of Darkness. The week before X-Mas Mike did a special beer hunt in the store. He put random bottle of some special beers out on the shelves. I got a bottle of Darkhorse Plead the Fifth, and I almost pulled the trigger on a bottle of 2007 Pannepot (I should have got it).

01-10-2011 14:34:07 | More by phisigben

JamesS

Indiana

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

While not the best beer store in Indy, it is a great place for downtown Indy. Nice selection of micro breweriess from all around, just as you'll find throughout Indy, but not quite the quantity or number of actual brews.

I was able to pick up some Indiana brews (Barley Island), but was dissapointed in the lack of more Hoosier beers.

Service was nice, asking if I needed help, but weren't sure if want I wanted was in (Shoreline) and took some time finding out. Still, fairly friendly over all.

Clean store, lay out is nice. Again, it's not the best in the city, but probably the best in that area.

01-06-2011 14:55:54 | More by JamesS

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev -0.9%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Located in downtown Indianapolis, kind of easy access from I-70. The beer selection is very broad and deep, and as a bonus I stopped in on Christmas Eve, when the beer guy (Sprinkle) was sprinkling special cellared beers onto the shelves periodically. Lots of good stuff, although the prices were kind of high (so high that I passed on everything).

The prices on standard stock were OK, maybe a tad high too but I don't shop in Indy very often so I can't compare it with Kahns or others. But I'd happily stop here again (and plan to) just due to the wide selection.

12-30-2010 16:59:05 | More by TurdFurgison

MbpBugeye

Ohio

4.65/5  rDev +2.4%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I was staying downtown, and went to eat in the vicinity of this shop. I saw the amazing reviews and had to make a stop. I was in brief contact with sprinkle, the GM. I tried to come in time to meet him, but I didnt make it before he had to leave. Regardless, the people working were very nice and helpful, it was surprising considering that I was there 15-20 min before closing. They still greeted me and asked if they could help, I had a question about Behemoth Blonde dating and one of the young guys looked it up for me. In all I felt quite welcome here.

The store itself is very new and nice looking. Very clean, especially since many liquor stores are dusty, cramped places. The area that got my interest is the beer area. It is comprised of a long wall of coolers housing 6packs. Across from that are the shelves that hold large bottles and some singles.

The rest of the upstairs is liquors and other things. There is a downstairs that looked to be a huge wine cellar style shop.

The selection was pretty large and very unique with many rarities. Lots of Three Floyds, Mikkeller, Boulevard, The Bruery, De Molen (which was a nice, rare surprise), Indiana locals.

The coolest bottles were two vintages of Behemoth Blonde (08, which I got the last of, and 09) and a Cuvee de Tomme. I just couldnt afford $52.99 for a small bottle of a probably flat LA beer.

Prices are a tad high for some things, but they offer a 10% discount for BA members.
I recommend this store, I would like to have the chance to stop back again.

10-24-2010 21:38:34 | More by MbpBugeye

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.65/5  rDev +2.4%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

The service was a 5 even before I set foot in this place. I was taking a short weekend trip to Anderson, IN for a wedding and I posted and searched on this site for suggestions on a good beer place in downtown Indy. I got pointed to the store manager who was friendly and very helpful. When I finally arrived at the store the staff was friendly helpful.

They have a nice selection of brews that aren't available in the St. Louis are including the locals like FFF and others. But they also have Stone, DFH and some The Bruery. Good stuff. As others have mentioned they definitely go for quality overall quantity. The store is two smaller stories with beer on the right side of the first one and then liquor to the left. The first floor is wine and what looked like a tasting room.

Very nice place and I would stop any time I could if I was in Indy.

10-03-2010 20:14:05 | More by JoEBoBpr

aasher

Indiana

4.46/5  rDev -1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

I had heard great things about this store so I had to stop by. It's two stories in all, a main floor with beer and liquor, and a basement with tons and tons of wine. The beer is directly to the left on the main floor. They definitely had quality breweries, including Cantillon and a couple from The Lost Abbey. I had heard they had Russian River as well but they must have been out when I went. The beer selection was extensive, but not the most I've ever seen by any means. I'd say they definitely focus on quality over quantity. They had a lot of rarely seen beers. They were a bit pricey but at least they carried them. They also did have some things that I hadn't seen in awhile, most notably Anchor's Christmas Ale, which I absolutely love. It's a great store, the only downside is that it's hard to find parking. It's definitely worth the stop, especially if you're downtown Indianapolis.

08-18-2010 22:35:35 | More by aasher

btorsdog

Ohio

4.85/5  rDev +6.8%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This place and the people working there brought me a deep sense of inner peace an comfort!After a very hectic day it was quite nice to find this place and talk BEER with some very knowledgeable & down to earth people!
Outstanding selection and a very impressive , beautifully maintained store.If ever in INDY make sure to seek out this breathe of fresh air, you won't be disappointed, HIGHLY recomended! Wish I had a store even remotely close to this in my town , Indianapolis should be proud, very proud of this gem!

08-15-2010 22:03:12 | More by btorsdog