Highland Package Store

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

4.46/5  rDev +3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | $$$

Highland Package was recommended to me by my server at a local bar in the five points area. I was looking for a specific German beer and this place did not disappoint. They have a really good selection and I left with so much great stuff I probably damaged the suspension on our mini-van.

The staff were very friendly and helpful. There was a interesting cast of characters that are obviously regulars at this place. I enjoyed listening to them talk with the staff and I learned a lot.

There is a hodge-podge of singles in the middle of the beer section, so you really have to look carefully.

Probably a little pricey but a very cool place!

11-25-2011 18:14:07 | More by TrappistJohnMD

Bonhoeffer

Alabama

4.85/5  rDev +12%
quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$$

Go here. On pace to have the single largest selection of beer in Alabama. Another review mentioned having a problem with the service, which is surprising. The proprietors are very friendly and strive to understand what they are selling, and they are usually very talkative and helpful. Yes, their prices may run a tad higher than some other places, but most other places only have a fraction of the selection. And some stuff here is very competitively priced, so it's a mixed bag on pricing.

And of course the draft beer selection sold via growlers is huge.

12-14-2010 02:24:07 | More by Bonhoeffer

dnrobert24

Alabama

3.84/5  rDev -11.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

If you are looking for a beer store in Birmingham that is most likely to carry X beer that you are looking for, you should start with Highland's Package store. Not much more can be said, except that they fill plastic 1/2 gallon "ghetto growlers" and have singles of some more rare beers individually priced. In the center aisle, there are singles from broken six-packs that can be purchased.

The owners have made it clear that they want to please the customers by having a wide selection, and while they are friendly, I've not had the customer service I would like to see in the beer store in Birmingham with the widest selection in town. For example, there is always a TV going, and whoever is working will stare at it first, then assist the customer second. One time I wanted to get a single of a beer that was not already in the center aisle, and they would not let me. Instead, they "helped" me by going through all the singles in the center aisle to look for the single I wanted. When it could not be found, a "special price" for my single was rung up--at a higher price than if it were in the singles aisle. The owner acted like he was doing me a favor by selling me the beer. Also, when I bought 4 singles of a Terrapin release that is normally in 4-packs, I had to pay a premium instead of the original 4-pack price because it was no longer on the shelf in 4-packs, but was in the singles cooler. Things like that make me knock the value and service marks.

As for quality, the beer has a fast turnover, so freshness is not usually a problem. One qualm I have is that they put the older beer out in the singles aisle. For most beer that doesn't matter, but I saw some older Sweetwater IPA mixed in there.

07-20-2011 19:16:31 | More by dnrobert24

yesferro

Mississippi

4.8/5  rDev +10.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

As a beerstarved Mississippian we drove 3h just to go this place. I was impressed to say the least. Great selection, very good service, and 20something taps to fill 1/4gallon, 1/2 gallon and 1 gallon growlers. We also go to try some of the brews that were on draft and also available in 6'ers.
In AL it's still not legal to sell 22oz'ers so keep that in mind when you go in. They have a nice amount of Belgians, we picked up Corsendonck, St Bernardus, Saison Dupont, Duchesse de Bourgogne and some Dulle Teve from Oerbier. Pretty nice I'd say. They have tons of Bells, some Great Divide and Avery (who are being boycotted right now), Peg Leg, Good People... the list goes on and on and on. If you're anywhere near this place and need any brew, stop by, you won't be dissapointed!

04-24-2011 22:24:17 | More by yesferro

ztaylor1

Alabama

3.7/5  rDev -14.5%
quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Location is very good. Very easy to find and it's located in a very nice part of town. The shop itself is very easy to spot with bright neon signs and a nice big sign out front.

The selection was absolutely amazing. they had everything avaialable in alabama. their huge on tap selection is what actually impressed me the most. great find.

There are two downfalls to this store: the prices, which were a bit steep, and the service. I actually dont even know if the attendant knew anything about beer because when i asked about it he gave a short answer and continued watching tv.

11-08-2010 02:29:43 | More by ztaylor1

STKPICR0720

Alabama

4.21/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

This place pretty much has it all. Liquor, wine and the largest selection of beer in Alabama. Not too mention the ever growing selection of draft beer to go they have 55 beers on tap. Great place and a must stop for everyone. Here in Alabama we have to use milk jugs for the draft to go beer. Hopefully that will change one day. They also seemed to have large quantities of everything. The prices are reasonable to great. Like I said this store is doing very good at putting all the new beers that are now offered here in Alabama. If you need it they have it and if they do not they will get it for you.

07-06-2011 04:28:19 | More by STKPICR0720

meigs3

Alabama

4.94/5  rDev +14.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

The owners, Jimmy & David, are two brothers from Eastern Europe. They are very customer oriented and remember the name of the regulars who come in. They will order kegs for you and are pretty good at carrying a big selection of kegs. They even remember the types of beer that I like when they are telling me what kegs they have in stock. Jimmy is really the beer guy of the two brothers. Their variety of bottled beer is great and usually you can find the same ones in the cooler. If its a beer that can be obtained in Alabama they either have it or will get it for you. Much better atmosphere than at Vulcan.

10-09-2011 03:43:30 | More by meigs3

gamwich

Hawaii

3.85/5  rDev -11.1%
quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

A convenient location easy to find in a strip right next to a Western Grocery. This package store has a very broad selection of beer, many of which are available as singles. Further, many of the selections could be purchased either from the cooler unchilled. The employees were friendly and happy to help, but did not seem to know a great deal about beer.

The best feature of the store is their draft selection. They have 25+ taps and sell draft beer to go by the quart, 1/2 gallon, or gallon. The draft beer comes in plastic (think milk jug) or one can buy a glass growler for $5. The draft selection was high quality and quite varied. One could get a "six pack" of draft beer - 6 quarts of different drafts for $35.

If looking for a place to buy beer in B'ham, one could do much worse than to visit Highland Package Store.

11-30-2010 13:03:56 | More by gamwich

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.45/5  rDev +2.8%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$$

Possibly the best selection of beer in Birmingham. If not, then definitely the place to go to get growlers filled. Highland Package Store always has a dozen high-quality beers on-tap for takeaway (1/2 gallon or gallon growlers sold at the premises, if needed) and the owner takes requests. The beer selection is stellar and changes regularly.

Yes, it's a bit pricey, but these are beers you won't find anywhere else in town except maybe Vulcan Beverage Company, and I believe their selection is a bit smaller.

Friendly knowledgeable staff; definitely recommended.

10-30-2010 18:59:46 | More by AgentMunky

maleman

Mississippi

4.51/5  rDev +4.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Best place for brews in the Ham. Have one of the best varieties of choice. Have around twenty beers on tap that choose from. Service is friendly and helpful. When I told the guy I was disappointed that they didn't have any Hopslam he went in the back and got me some of his private stash! I always check them out when I'm in the area!!! They were the first in town (that I found) that had Green Flash available from San Diego. They are always easy to talk to and helpful in making suggestions depending on your favorite style of brew.

04-23-2012 22:43:47 | More by maleman