Spirit Haus

fitzy84

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This is really the only liquor store I go to in Amherst. It has probably the best selection in Greater Amherst, arguably Hampshire county. As soon as you enter, you know this is not a place to pick up a 30 rack of Bud. Wines line up the left of the store, with the right full of microbrews from around the country and world. The freezer section is walk in and houses many brews found outside and unique, in bulk, selections.

Many of my first unique beers were had in this place. The staff is very nice and helpful. Any questions I have had or friends have had were answered honestly. It definitely has a down to earth but professional tone when it comes to beer. Because of the incredible selection, I would expect high prices, but I find all their prices really reasonable for the beer, wine, etc selections they have to offer. Overall, if you want to shop in Amherst, MA, this is the place to go.

10-25-2007 03:39:57 | More by fitzy84

DavidSeanNJ

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Since I went to school in Amherst at UMass, I am very familiar with this place and visited it regularly when I was a student.

I feel that Spirit Haus takes their beers seriously, and this is shown by their selection of "hard to find beers." (Great selection of Belgians) Lots of single 12 oz bottles, bombers, and GREAT service.

The owner seems to be a little rough around the edges, but surely knows his beer.

Great beer stop in Western MA, stop in if you are checking out the moan and dove.

01-06-2008 01:57:33 | More by DavidSeanNJ

currysage1

Maine

4.4/5  rDev +1.1%
quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Walk in and wine is to the left and beer is to the right. All the way to the right is a dance floor that is always evolving with different local beers - New England. All have good sized displays, and some come from outside NE.

Great cooler selection, BBC, Opa-Opa growlers. Walking in the cooler they have so many nooks and crannies literaly stuffed full of beer.

Their dry lineup is where it shines though. A solid aisle for Domestics, bombers, six's, singles. Next is a whole aisle for Belgians, half an aisle for English, and the other half for German. And one more aisle for all the other wonderful stuff from around the globe.

Good prices, knowledgable staff, try to talk up the beer manager, she knows her stuff. Some of the workers are kind of dense when it comes to beer and to customer interaction.

04-07-2008 12:52:45 | More by currysage1

nomad

Kansas

4.35/5  rDev 0%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5

Oh, Spirit Haus... 'twas my alcohol provider all through college. Well, beyond the many cheap, disgusting kegs me and my college buddies bought there back in the days, the Haus has a great selection of beer and an okay selection of wine. Their strong point is New England craft brews, seeing as Smuttynose, Paper City, Magic Hat, etc. aren't too much of a hike from the middle of western Western Mass. Good selection of European major breweries, counting dozens of varying British ales and German lagers and weizens, though sometimes the prices were a bit much. Great walk-in freezer - its this wood lined room with pathways that twist around stacks of sixers and cases varying from Natural Light (ouch) to Paulaner (yum) to just about anything else. Now they are starting to get more West Coast brews as well. I likened it to a very cold candy store. And since Amherst is a college town to the core, there is always a sale on some good regional brew's seasonal offerings. In fact, if it wasn't so much of a college town, and they weren't so dependent on keg sales to frats (mine included, I admit), I would imagine their selection would be even better.

People were decent. They would probably be more friendly if they didn't have to deal with dumb, drunk college students all day. If you're young, and its after 6 PM, expect little service. If you're not under 30, and their is daylight outside, expect some service. All in all, a place I enjoyed and will never forget. After I graduated they still remember me when I come back for homecoming - nice considering how many look-alike frat boys pass through everyday.

02-11-2003 16:19:33 | More by nomad

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev 0%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Walked in and quickly realized that the building was much larger than it appeared from the outside. Amazing selection. My jaw dropped to the floor. Most of the beers are also available at many other better MA beer stores. However, I also found growlers of Paper City and bombers of Hyland and People's Pint. I did a little leprechaun jump and clicked my heels together. Also, I could not really find an expired date. Even the BBC bombers I looked at were all within the date. They were helpful and essentially left me up to my own perusing unless I had a question.

11-26-2005 21:50:19 | More by MuddyFeet

bennybrew

Maine

4.35/5  rDev 0%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

little building. manymany beers.

pete tell's me to stop in to get the fuller's i was looking for. they had it. i was looking for a 95 osa magnum. they had it. you want a huge pile of belgians? german? english? mongolian? they got it. big walk-in cooler too. some stuff on the floor is a little scattered but most of the beers are in nice racks.

prices were fair. the osa was $16 and the fuller's 2004 vintage was $7 (or so) help was good (the one guy i talked to was a ratebeer guy who i ran into at the moan and dove later).

pretty impressive.

01-16-2006 01:25:29 | More by bennybrew

Politibrew

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev 0%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Spirit Haus is probably the best place to get craft beer, local brew, and imports in the pioneer valley. It's a bit chaotic in organization (as noted by other reviewers) but their selection is fantastic. Great variety of local new england and mass beer, as well as a an excellent selection of European imports. I was surprised to find La Trappe, the only Dutch (non Belgian) trappist here, which I've yet to find in the U.S. before. Great big walk in fridge in the back, the place to go to grab some growlers of Opa-Opa. Prices are pretty reasonable, they have some nice mix n match deals, as well as clearance and discount bins. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable. Owner told me they've been around for 37 years.

They need to go easy on the neon signage.

Oh, they sell plenty of wine and spirits too.

12-15-2009 23:03:08 | More by Politibrew

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev 0%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Convenient to budding drinkers in Amherst College or UMass Amherst, this place is a total find. If it's available in western Mass it appears you can find it here, with possible exceptions being those things that only Julio's gets. Maybe Julio's isn't really considered western Mass though...

Easily 300 beers to choose from, conveniently laid out by country and then brewery. Many offerings are available both on a room temp shelf and in the coolers, which are really nice looking wood/glass doored jobs. Of special note is the availability of beers from the People's Pint, which I just haven't seen anywhere else (that I've noticed).

Prices are about on par with Table and Vine, meaning college students won't have to drive too far to get their craft fix. Wish it was like this when I was in college, but then again I was always broke...

10-14-2010 19:30:00 | More by TurdFurgison

Greenlabel

New Hampshire

4.3/5  rDev -1.1%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5

One of 3 excellent beer stops in the Amherst/Northampton area. Not as large as Northampton's Table & Vine but may have as extensive an overall selection. Floor displays emphasize craft brews and some crafts are on sale each week - look for the list posted near the cooler door. It's impossible for a craft beer fan to come here and not leave with something. Seem to particularly specialize in such relative locals as Paper City and Wachusett. One of the few places where I've found the products of another local, Hylands of Sturbridge, MA. I think the local craft turnover is quite good but am not so sure about the imports as that selection is substantial and some items are undoubtedly slower moving. Personnel whom I've talked with were both knowledgeable and friendly. It's easy to drive past without noticing the store but that would be a mistake. Look for it if you're in the area.

05-07-2003 16:06:02 | More by Greenlabel

Billolick

New York

4.3/5  rDev -1.1%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Must hit beer store very near to downtown Amherst, MA, excellent selection, very beer savvy,nice guy behing the counter, found a bunch of overpriced Alesmith, all the locals, regionals and national good suff, tons of imports, glassware, more everyday stuff on the floor, stacked up, more high quality suds on 3 large shelving areas and in cool, old school wood framed coolers along the rear wall. we were given two glasses, allways a nice touch. well worth a visit if in the general area, just a few minutes from Moan and Dove and the Dirty Truth, what a great local trifecta!

07-28-2006 13:15:01 | More by Billolick