AJ's Fine Foods

jcalabre

California

4.35/5  rDev +2.8%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5

I visited the AJ's in Chandler, AZ on Ray Ave. This is an upscale grocery store (for those of you in So Cal, think Bristol Farms) w/ a great selection of beers. I found several micros that are not available in my area. If I have the chance again, I will stop here.

06-10-2003 21:03:32 | More by jcalabre

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.74/5  rDev -11.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Visited on a recent trip to the Greater Phoenix Area. Sort of a Whole Foods-esque atmosphere, upper class shopping environment. One row of coolers, with some beers sitting in front of them. Lots of singles and six packs, and a pretty good selection of large format bottles. Some decent Belgians, and an average selection of local Arizona stuff (some Four Peaks and others), Sam Adams, Odell, Stone, Alesmith, Sierra Nevada, Rogue and DFH. Moderate international selection (some UK and Asian stuff), but not overwhelming by any stretch. Quite good pricing on the single bottles (12oz), most were in the $1.50-2.50 range, and bombers weren't too expensive either. No service in the beer area itself, but pretty solid job by the employees at the checkout - re-packaged all my beers in six packs, double bagged everything and were quite friendly all around. A decent stop, but not fantastic. Hard to rate this because I'm not too familiar with how this location's selection compares to other stores in the area/state, but is substantially less than many I've been to in Western NY/NYC.

01-02-2012 04:45:41 | More by liamt07

DPFRD

Arizona

4.35/5  rDev +2.8%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$$

Good place to go if you want some decent Belgian, German, Eastern European, and american craft. they also have some asian stuff, and some swill if you're into it. Sometimes they have nugs, sometimes they don't hit it up if you're in the neighborhood, you're bound to find something nice. They keep everything in their open cooler so it is ready to go. Definitely a good place to go if you want to do some tastings as they have amazing cuts of meat, produce and an awesome assortment of hard to get cheeses.

02-05-2011 00:14:58 | More by DPFRD

magictrokini

California

3.85/5  rDev -9%
quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Yuppie supermarket that makes Whole Foods look like Food-4-Less. Long beer aisle that literally bisects the store. Pretty big selection and variety. The German/Euro beers are the least represented, with mostly mainstream craft beers (Chimay, Franziskaner, Corsendonk) but there are a few oddballs that you can find. Larger mirco selection. Lots of Dogfish Head and Avery, with a constant rotaing variety. Can always find at least 10-12 beers that I have never seen and another 10-15 I can't get in San Diego. Best part: SINGLES. All of them are SINGLES. Prices are on the high end, with some being ridiculous (Avery Mephistophiles, $12 for a 12 oz) but most are in line with everywhere else.

12-17-2008 16:39:59 | More by magictrokini

far333

Connecticut

3.65/5  rDev -13.7%
quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Stopped in here on a business trip based on Beerfly info. This place is similar to a Whole Foods, great quality stuff. Incredible beer selection. Not only were there lots of beers that I can get at home, but many others that I can't. And there is a huge selection of singles to choose from in 12 ouncers, 22 ounces, and 750 ml. Good selection on imports too. Any BA will easily find something here.

Only thing I question is the management and/or aging of the inventory. I bought a Stone Leviathon and an oaked Arrogant Bastard, and they both had muted flavors, limited hop presence, and a sort of old taste to them. I actually poured both of them out before finishing them and won't be reviewing them. If you do stop in here, you may want to only buy beers that are dated, and beers that have recent dates.

10-26-2007 16:24:43 | More by far333

ggaughan

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Stopped in here the other day after working at a client in Phoenix. Although I have read that a few of the othe AJ's locations may have had a better selection, this was the nearest to where I was and was still definitely worth the trip. I was flying back East the next day so I tried to load up as best I could. They had a very nice selection of New Belgium beers (Fat Tire, 1554, Tripel, Abbey and the new SpringBoard). I also saw a decent selection of Alesmith (Speedway Stout, IPA, Anneville and Yulesmith), unfortunately I had already had a bottle of each at home so I didn't look up on them. I picked up a few local brews from Arizona and New Mexico. Not sure about how they will be but thought it would be nice to get something from the area. They had a few Dogfish Head which was nice to see being an East Coast guy. They also had a decent selection of Belgians, English and German beers. Even a few from Japan I had never seem. I ended up with 12 bottles and would have purchased more if I was driving home or had more luggage.

03-04-2007 22:45:53 | More by ggaughan

BeerBelcher

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

I visited this store based on the feedback I read on this site. It was partly because I was traveling from a different part of the country I think (it doesn't look like a beer shelf in Milwaukee), but also because there is a plentiful single-serve selection with some rather attentive help.

When I first walked into the store (having never been to an AJ's before), I thought I'd walked into an over-sized Hallmark store. Once I got into the beer & wine aisle, I realized my initial assessment was off. There was a long aisle of singles, focusing on CA and CO beers. The wine steward stopped by to speak with me, which I appreciated. Pricing was reasonable. I'd recommend this place as a beer store to visit when in Phoenix.

02-08-2007 22:28:10 | More by BeerBelcher

ruinationation

Arizona

4.15/5  rDev -1.9%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

This is just like any AJ'S. Sorta upscale grociery store with larger parking spaces that comes with larger pices. The have a quality selection of beer and they stock the limited releases of those breweries. Very clean and the checkout clerks act very professional. They have lots of fancy goods here, I ususally find myself going to and from each AJ'S buying out the Stone limited brews. If you can't find a brew thats not extremely rare then checkout this or any AJ'S and you just might find what you looking for.

02-08-2007 03:26:56 | More by ruinationation

gabe

Florida

3.7/5  rDev -12.5%
quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$

I visited AJ's on a recent business trip to Phoenix. It's a high end grocery store with a decent beer selection. They have one whole aisle cooler filled with lots of beers. Six packs, 750's, single bottles... a little bit of everything. All of which is kept cold. I saw some really nice things here. Alaskan Smoked Porter, Stone, Pizza Port and I initially wanted to give it a higher selection score, but I think the reason was because these were beers that are harder for me to find on the East Coast. There are some things I can get that AJ's didn't have. Anyways, I stocked up on some items and that was it. Its a grocery store so there was no help/service to be found, though I didn't need any. On a side note their deli selection and fresh foods looked awesome. There was a coffee bar out front with some tables to relax at. AJ's also has a good selection of wines and liquors. Worth a stop if you are in the area.

09-13-2006 17:51:33 | More by gabe

Prufrock

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -27.9%
quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 2.5 | $$$

I visited AJ's Fine Foods and Sun Devil Liqours on a recent trip to Phoenix. AJ's is much prettier, but Sun Devil Liquors wins by a mile in terms of selection.

One aisle of chilled beer. Wide selection, but their "variety" consists mostly of well-known international lagers that aren't worth it.

A few bombers near the back; picked up AleSmith IPA. Had some Rogue as well, but the selection is pretty boring.

Much better wine selection and food offerings. Good bakery and coffee shop. But for beer, head elsewhere.

01-09-2006 22:06:26 | More by Prufrock