Stearns Liquor

drewmprs

California

3.65/5  rDev -19.1%
quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $

Solid local beer store with 4 cooler doors of six packs and 22's. Prices are very competitive and usually cheaper than Clarks or Wine Country. This used to be the kind of place where I felt like I was the only beer geek that ever shopped here, but sadly things have changed in the past year. Firestone 12 sat on the shelf here for months, Firestone 13 lasted a couple weeks, and Firestone 14 was gone the day it came in.

They claim to sell the most stone beer in long beach and will give case discounts if you ask nicely. Surprisingly, there is a decent selection of glassware opposite the cooler door that houses the 220z bottles. Also, they have some sort of relationship with the distributor of Asombroso tequila (based in long beach) and it is $10 less than anywhere else.

12-17-2010 06:17:42 | More by drewmprs

Ambiorix

Kentucky

4.65/5  rDev +3.1%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Stopped in twice during a recent business trip to Long Beach. Not a huge selection, but what is there is of the highest quality. The customer service is noteworthy. Oscar was a great help on my first visit and Danny, the owner was terrific during my second visit. I mistakenly told Danny I'd seen his store on both BA and the other site, but I was incorrect. I'll be adding an entry to help spread the word on a fine establishment. Thanks guys! I was able to add several bottles of Russian River, a Lost Abbey, and a bottle of Firestone Walker 14 to my cellar collection.

12-02-2010 21:36:21 | More by Ambiorix

Alatorre

California

4.7/5  rDev +4.2%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

Great Store! I've been buying beer here for years and have yet to be disappointed. I live right down the block and continue to be impressed every time I go in there. Danny definitely knows what he is talking about. I've been turned on to various new craft brews because of him. In addition they always carry the usual suspects, Stone, Dogfish Head, Chimay, Unibrou, Duvel, etc. What can I say, its a little local beer mecca. I look forward to my next visit to Stearns Liquor. Great place to grab a few cold ones and talk beer!

11-25-2010 22:14:09 | More by Alatorre

ArizonaPat

Arizona

5/5  rDev +10.9%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

danny and his wife are amazing, never had a store owner that truly cared about what his customers were getting their hands on. i feel more like a friend than a customer really, the best selection in the area, and the knowledge and connections to back it. any of you people think you are on this sight a lot, think again. dan the man probably spends a quarter of his day here researching everything you can think of. miss you bro, youre the best. i'll send you some hop slam just as soon as i can get my hands on it at my place....

11-18-2010 10:21:29 | More by ArizonaPat

Curry767

Australia

4.85/5  rDev +7.5%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I visit LA every two months as a result of work and Stearns Liquor is always my first stop for US beers I want to take home.

Danny has a great knowledge and is always willing to help out with suggestions. Every time I drop by his range of great craft beer has expanded. I suspect that as more beer geeks get word of the store and start buying that he will end up with a massive range.

I have no hesitation in recommending this store to anyone in the area or out of towner like myself.

Very accessible of the 405

11-05-2010 08:05:37 | More by Curry767

DoubleJ

California

4.05/5  rDev -10.2%
quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$$

I met someone over at Beachwood BBQ on Sunday who worked at Stears and thought it might be fun to check that place out. Well, the person I spoke to wasn't there, but it still was a fun trip. Right as you walk in, you see a huge display of Firestone Walker, DFH Punkin Ale, and Drifter Pale Ale. Nearly all the beer is refrigerated and well organized, with six of the doors holding craft beer. There's Caldera, Russian River, The Bruery, De Ranke, Cantillon Classic Gueuze, Dieu du Ciel, Speakeasy, Dogfish Head, Ballast Point. One of the sections has single bottles where you can mix your own six-pack.

One unique thing are the shelf talkers for some of the beers. Expect highly rated beers to see one, and if there's a rare beer on display, expect one to tell you there's a bottle limit. Some bottles are priced, some are not. $5.59 for Pliny the Elder is a little more than I'm used to paying, on the other hand you get a unique selection of beers to choose from at Stears Liquor.

09-24-2010 18:25:54 | More by DoubleJ

Halcyondays

California

3.85/5  rDev -14.6%
quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$$

This liquor store is just east of the 19 (Lakewood Blvd.) on a cramped section of Stearns Street, only street parking that I saw. Pretty open inside, it was nice to see everything refrigerated aside from some Firestone Walker 12-packs.

The selection is quite good, they have the Stone, Sierra Nevada (they have Bigfoot though), Anchor that you're going to find anywhere. Lots of Marin and Moylan's too, refrigerated which is a lot more than I can say for BevMo. I also saw some stuff that isn't too common. Sculpin (1 per customer), Kern River Just Outstanding and Class V, Supplication, Saison du Buff, Ten Fidy, Consecration, all the Rocheforts, Delirium Nocturnum, and Orval which was cool to see in corner liquor store.

Selection is solid, nothing super rare though. Prices are tough to tell, because I didn't really see any price tags, but the 6er of Dale's I picked up was over $12, so that should tell you something.

In the end it's a nice store if you're by the legendary Traffic Circle and its proximity to The Wine Country makes for a nice 1-2 stop, but there's nothing here to make a crazy drive for.

08-24-2010 03:08:38 | More by Halcyondays

Hawes0094

California

5/5  rDev +10.9%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

This place truly has the largest and best beer selection in Long Beach. They have beers that you cannot find at Beverages & More. The are reasonably priced and the staff is very knowledgeable when it comes to the different types of beer they carry. Also, if they don't carry the type of alcohol or beer you desire, they will do everything in their power to find it for you. They have the entire Stone Brewery collection along with several micro-brews you cannot find elsewhere. I highly recommend Stearn's Liquor.

08-02-2010 23:28:33 | More by Hawes0094