Craft Beer Cellar

Jsmick

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

The absolute best beer selection that I've ever come across. Their knowledge is extensive, their service impeccable, and their selection is unparalleled. Definitely worth a trip out of the way. This is the type of store that sets the standard. All craft, with absolutely no crap.

05-17-2013 04:48:57 | More by Jsmick

Imstillthegman

Delaware

4.72/5  rDev -1.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Very nice little shop. Lots of locals, which I was hoping for, and many other craft or imported beers. Nice selection of glassware and even some t-shirts. I managed to drop a bit money here, both in locals and glassware. Glasses, btw, were nicely wrapped and boxed separately to avoid breakage. Very nice touch and much appreciated! Definitely will visit again when in the area. Well worth the drive from Boston.

05-16-2013 14:03:38 | More by Imstillthegman

rjp217

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

The absolute epicenter of Craft Beer in Massachusetts and dare I say, New England. Their selection is unreal. They can and will get almost anything out there. Foreign and domestic, reading materials, clothing, glassware, they have it all. The ladies that run the shop make the experience even better. Extremely knowledgeable and courteous. They constantly update the current selection whether it be on the website, facebook and twitter. I cant say enough positive things about the place. They do it right and im glad it's close to me.

05-15-2013 18:01:33 | More by rjp217

yottachem

Massachusetts

4.93/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.75 | $$

A hands down favorite in the Boston metro for bottles. The atmosphere is always very relaxed and fun. Most of the time when I come in (I've been in at all times of the day) there's some music playing (and excellent choices, generally).

Staff is VERY knowledgeable about both the beers they sell as well as the market in general. The shops focus is on domestics with an emphasis on locals, but they also carry a nice selection of European styles/breweries towards the back of the store. If the shop doesn't have a bottle, just asking the staff will tell you where you could get it or when you could come back to them for it. Everyone there is very friendly and incredibly helpful. These are people that truly love the craft and it shows.

As others have noted, this is a smaller shop, but the space is very well utilized and the staff is constantly restocking. Even still, the selection is impressive given their footprint. Each time I go in (which is almost every week), I'll find something new. Bottle prices are on par with other shops, def. not overpricing.

05-13-2013 18:48:49 | More by yottachem

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.54/5  rDev -5.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | $$

A great little gem of a place. Some shops really just go above and beyond, and this is one of them. A tremendous selection of beer here, including a heavy bias towards local craft/micro options, including Night Shift and Pretty Things. Also a small selection of wine.

Those who know me know that I'm a glassware collector. Well the selection here made me drool, and between the wife and I, we walked out with nearly $200 worth of local and not-so-local glassware. Service was great. Not only was someone right there to ask if we needed help as soon as we walked in, but someone took the time to wrap and box all the glassware we bought. They're running a good operation here. Prices were about spot typical shop prices.

I hate driving anywhere within Boston or its suburbs, but I'd gladly go back to this place if I'm anywhere remotely in the area. And if I lived within 50 miles of this place, I'm sure I'd go broke in no time.

03-10-2013 01:55:13 | More by Rifugium

KBrennan1000

Massachusetts

4.73/5  rDev -1.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Craft Beer Cellar is the kind of store I dream about. Small shop (square footage-wise) with a serious selection of beer. Glassware and tshirts from several breweries, along with a nice little collection of beer-centric books for sale. The area towards the back where tastings are held was well set up and out of the way of most foot traffic so as not to impede shoppers. The layout of the beer section was a little confusing to me, though if I wasn't on a bit of a time crunch I probably could have figured out the pattern. The store had a slightly crowded feel to it but that could partly be because of all the people crowding around the tiny Boston Terrier puppy who was making friends with what seemed to be a large black Newfoundland by the register. It was pretty awesome. I do think that the small space was well utilized, though. I'm curious to see what a slightly larger Craft Beer Cellar would look like but this was without a doubt a place I would enthusiastically spend my paycheck every week. I hope they open a shop closer to me.

09-04-2012 18:30:57 | More by KBrennan1000

ComRock12

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

I love this store - it is hands-down the best beer store I have ever been to. The atmosphere is super classy and well organized, the owners are extremely knowledgable, and the selection is out of this world. While they don't have the most bottles I have ever seen in a single place, the focus on what they do carry makes up for it. The belgian section at the back of the store is hidden when you first enter, but do not leave without checking it out. Nice selection of glassware and specialty items like mustard as well.

07-31-2012 13:48:25 | More by ComRock12

hagbergl

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

First off, I have to say that this review is long, long overdue. My girlfriend and I have been coming to the Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont for nearly six months now and have really made a tradition of it--going there and picking up some special beers to have with, or after, a weekend meal. So without further ado, a review of the beloved Mecca of beer geek-oriented stores:

Atmosphere (5/5): one of the best aspects of the Beer Cellar is that it is NOT one of those dingy, poorly-lit, somewhat smelly liquor stores that all are familiar with. Instead it feels like a real shop where you'd buy quality products. This isn't just some happy accident, the result of Kate and Suzanne lucking out--the owners have put real love and deep thought Into presentation. The place looks greats, is well-lit, keeps the music at medium-low so you can hear yourself think (rather feverishly about what you should buy, how to resist blowing $100...), and is arranged so that it always looks pleasantly full of fresh brews from all over the world. I'm telling you, I have seen no liquor store of any kind that looks so classy and that so strives to please the customer's sensibilities. You, Craft Beer Cellar have succeeded in making me NOT want to leave your store, while at most others I can't wait to escape.

Quality (5/5): considering that the Beer Cellar is all about quality, I won't waste space here going on and on about it. It should suffice to say that I have never bought a bottle that wasn't fresh from them. No oxidized beer. Ever. Which is amazing, since the type of beer they stock often sits on the shelves at other stores (I'm looking at you Kappy's in Fitchburg!) for eons and spoils. The beers stocked are of tip-top quality, and I have bought some of the most sought after beers--like Speedway Stout and Lost Abbey Inferno--all in mint condition.

Service (5/5): service at the Craft Beer Cellar is always excellent. Whenever I find myself torn over this bottle or that, I'll ask one of the owners, Kate or Suzanne, for advice and they always give their honest and unvarnished thoughts. Whenever I have been unsure about a new beer they've steered me in the right direction. Besides recommendations, they're great about taking requests on beer and glassware, and if you call or contact them on their Facebook page they'll set aside anything that you'd like them to hold for you if you're worried a particular beer will be out before you are able to get to the store. That is service. They also can special order kegs, help organize in-home beer tastings, and have beer geek discount and beers of the month clubs. Pretty, pretty cool. Their website is constantly updated and the owners are very active on Facebook and Twitter, too.

Selection (5/5): the selection at Craft Beer Cellar is impressive to behold. It is well-curated and always growing. They've been near one thousand different beers in stock for a while now. What's on the shelves and in the coolers is fresh. They also have a nice selection of glassware from Belgian (the Trappist breweries' chalices and others from Dupont, Duvel, and Scaldis), German (Weihenstephan weizen glasses), and American breweries (Stone, Maine BC, Slumbrew). I don't think it's possible for a beer geek to be disappointed with what the CBC has to offer.

Value ($$): while some reviewers have said that the Beer Cellar is a little pricey, I think it's reasonable. Yes, the beer to be had at this shop CAN be expensive, but there is quite a range. There are 500 mL bottles of Jack's Abbey beers for less than $3, 22 oz. bottles of SN Torpedo for less than $4 and then there are barrel-aged beers of white whale status by the Bruery in CA for $35. Everything else falls in the middle of that range, generally. Pricing is competitive and compares favorably to stores in Somerville and Cambridge and is almost always better than a shop in downtown Boston. Also, if you're looking to save, they let you buy individual 12 oz. bottles of any beer in the store found in that format. You can't beat that. If you want more than a bomber of Ruination but don't want to spend $20 on a sixer, just take three or four 12 oz'ers! CBC is definitely an easy place to shop smart.

Hopefully this review was helpful and turns more people on to what is, in my mind, the finest little beer shop the greater Boston area has. "Changing the world one craft beer at a time" indeed.

06-02-2012 13:47:24 | More by hagbergl

shootingbox

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

The CBC is essentially worked into my weekly routine. Living in Watertown there are a number of stores with a good selection of craft beer, none however compare to the the selection found at the CBC. I have never walked out of there disappointed. Kate and Suzanne (the owners) are awesome and know their beer. The staff at the store also are very well versed and always looking to help you find the perfect beer and are quick with great recommendations. I try to tell everyone I know about this place and have caught myself on more than a few occasions telling patrons in other beer stores that if they love good beer they need to pay the CBC a visit.

05-11-2012 00:16:26 | More by shootingbox

brureview

Massachusetts

4.86/5  rDev +1.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

The Craft Beer Cellar has an excellent craft beer and glassware selection. One usually has to order special glassware online, but a number of well-known brewery glasses are available here including Belgian Brewery tulip glasses.

The store is easy to shop in. Beer selection is well organized .
The staff is very knowledgeable, and is familiar with the restocking date of hard to find or seasonal beers.

There are weekly tastings. Their web site, http://www.bostoncraftbeercellar.com/ has an events calendar, and is very informative. The site lists all of the beers currently in stock.

I highly recommend this store for craft beer fans..

03-17-2012 22:14:48 | More by brureview