Ball Square Fine Wines & Liquor

Ball Square Fine Wines & LiquorBall Square Fine Wines & Liquor
Ball Square Fine Wines & LiquorBall Square Fine Wines & Liquor
Store

716 Broadway
Somerville, Massachusetts, 02144-2239
United States

(617) 623-9500 | map
ballsquarefinewines.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.3
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
24
pDev:
11.16%
View: Place Reviews
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Photo of Sheppard
Reviewed by Sheppard from Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
This is a good liquor store with a well curated beer selection. The only issue I have at this place is that it's on the small side and it is trying to be the best at wine, beer, and liquor (and other stuff). I can't say it's not succeeding, but I can also say that it would benefit a bit more from having a little more fridge space for beer.
Apr 16, 2023
Photo of Dricardi
Reviewed by Dricardi from Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +16.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I fell in love with this store the first time I walked in. The owner is very amicable and approachable. He, along with all his staff, really know their stuff. Whether you have a question about wine, beer or spirits they can steer you in the right direction. They aren't in it to up-sell either, they demonstrate a clear love for the craft and flavors they carry and will guide their customer to comparable beverages in the price range they are looking for. If they don't have what you want, they are willing to try to get it for you. Not to mention, being a member of the beer and / or wine club makes you privy to special rare commodities and discounts of drinks of the month as well as track your purchases online for reference. A great local spot, to which, even if I left the area I would travel to get my drinks here.
May 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4.9 by drinkbeernoth2o from Massachusetts

Sep 07, 2015
 
Rated: 4.86 by swingie from Massachusetts

Aug 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.26 by SveNss0N from Massachusetts

Apr 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by TheAnk from Massachusetts

Sep 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by WoostaBia from Massachusetts

Sep 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by dubdrop from Vermont

Apr 21, 2014
Photo of papat444
Reviewed by papat444 from Canada (QC)

4.46/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75
Post EBF bottle shopping :)

More classy, upscale store with everything available to MA. The difference between this one and Downtown is they had rarer beers that i hasn't seen elsewhere. Saw a Utopias, 4 versions of Black Damnation, Older Viscosity and 7 different beers from Bruery. Also had 3 versions of Yeti. Definitely a place to check out for some harder to fins beers.
Mar 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by thesarahfuller from Massachusetts

Mar 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Resuin from Massachusetts

Dec 17, 2013
Photo of brureview
Reviewed by brureview from Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +5.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
This is one of the better craft beer, wine, and spirits stores in MA.

The vibe is great- lots of foot traffic, and a clientele who wants to purchase better quality wine, beer, and spirits.

The service is quite good- the staff takes time to help you, and their opinions about beer are valuable.

The store often has craft beers which I couldn't find elsewhere- including the Narragansett Bock,
and Prairie Hop.

They also have an online service for purchasing an order to be picked up. All beers in stock
are listed online.

The store will be opening an additional store under another name in Needham summer of 2013.
May 20, 2013
Photo of atdunn9
Reviewed by atdunn9 from Massachusetts

4.8/5  rDev +11.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
One of the most underrated beer havens in the Somerville/Boston area. An unbelievable selection of beers, and always getting new shipments of rare beers and your usual selections. The staff is extremely knowledge in all areas.

If you go, talk to Nate. He is the beer manager and one of the friendliest people in there. Always recommending new beers based on certain flavors I enjoyed in previous beers.

Follow them on Facebook as they usually post the rare shipments there. Just picked up some Barrel Aged Bigfoot today which they didn't post, so you never know what they will have that they haven't announced on social media.

They have a great selection of sours and belgians in the back corner right along side a superb selection of 22oz and 12oz beers from around the US.

Definitely my favorite liquor store in the area.
Feb 14, 2013
Photo of ridedammit
Reviewed by ridedammit from New Zealand

4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
This is a small but very nice beer and wine store (they also have cheese and other foodstuffs). Beer selection is great, they have lots of local brews as well as beer from good breweries around the world (at least those that can be gotten)

The staff is super friendly and are always roaming the store to make sure you can find what you are looking for. They have a beer club that does not have discounts but rather it pouts your name on a mail list so that if a rare or limited release beer comes available you can get them to hold a bottle for you so you can pick it up.
Dec 09, 2011
Photo of Patrickbrusil
Reviewed by Patrickbrusil from Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
After reading these old reviews I think it's time for a fresh take.

First off, I almost never buy cold beer. I go straight to 750ml bottles and belgiums. But for a specialty shop the cold selection is varying with local favorites to belgiums I'd normally never find in s cooler.

Prices tend to run a buck or even more cheaper than my main store (Marty's - it's literally 3 minutes from my house). The Rochefort 10 is $6.50 and it is a steal!

The staff is on top of their game knowledge wise although truth be told I'm not one to press for info as I usually know what I'm after.

What is killer about these guys is their craft beer email list for rare stuff that doesn't make the shelves. It pains me to even write about it because I'd rather word not get out. I was able to secure a Rare Bourbon County Stout and an Old Stock 2009 cellar. Super impressive. They are slaying it!
Feb 12, 2011
Photo of BeerutalTruth
Reviewed by BeerutalTruth from Massachusetts

2.9/5  rDev -32.6%
Poor Ball Square Fine Wines & Liquors...they could be so much more if they actually knew about the beer they were selling. I've been visiting this place for quite some time and although they have a good selection (average for the area when compared with Liquor World and Downtown W&S)the knowledge and passion just isn't there.
I've seen the wine folks talk to customers in depth about what they have on the shelves and you can tell they really know the product. In complete contrast, every time I attempt to talk to the little hairy kid that runs the beer dept. I leave feeling like my beer I.Q. had dropped 100 points. It's quite obvious from the conversations I've had and heard that he doesn't drink or like beer. He can't describe the beers he has on his shelves and shows no passion or excitement when it comes to getting customers to try new things. The last time I was there I left cringing after her tried to tell me that OPA OPA growlers where the best thing in his shop.

They have a good selection (not as good as other's in the area) without the knowledge to back it up.
Aug 13, 2009
Photo of Billolick
Reviewed by Billolick from New York

4/5  rDev -7%
Just a few minutes from Tefts Univ. in Somerville, this little corner place screams neighborhood, boutique type of wine, booze and beer kind of place. Clean, well lit, well laid out, no dust on the bottles. Friendly service, the good beer is located straight ahead in the coolers and on a large display rack. Decent selection, so you will have no trouble finding plenty of BA worthy brew, basically a reasonable selection of the usual widely available stuff. What you will not find is much beyond that. For a wider selection you will have to go to Downtown Wines and spirits, which is just a few minutes driving.
Apr 26, 2008
Photo of GolgiIPAratus
Reviewed by GolgiIPAratus from Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -14%
I was going to come in and write a quick review of my visit there this past weekend, but reading the reviews ahead of me, I realize I have nothing new to add. Everything I wanted to say has been written. I pretty much had the exact same visit as the one MuddyFeet and others recount.

-“There’s more beer in back.”
-“We can order it if you don’t see it.”

Most prices are competitive. I saw a 6-pack of Bigfoot for almost $1 less than the one I bought at DW&S a week earlier. And, like others have said, compact space, packed with as much as they can. I got a bomber of Racer 5 and a 4-pack of Trois Pistole.

I signed up for an email list and was informed of bi-weekly tastings every other Friday night. We’ll see what kind of action that brings.**

Oh, did I mention Lyndell’s (only the greatest bakery known to mankind – get a halfmoon and prove me wrong, I dare you) is on the opposite corner? Not a bad 2 stop spot.


**UPDATE:

So, as it turns out, that "email list" was basically to push their wine. My frequent emails stating I signed up having been given the impression I'd be receiving beer tasting information though only wine tastings and wine information had been sent were greeted with silence. My emails weren't even hostile, actually they were *suggestive* in that I;d be more inclined to come into their store if they used the emails to include new beers, deals and these mysterious 'beer tastings' I was told about. Anyway, instead of addressing my politely issued requests, concerns and whatnot, I was apparently removed from their email list as I haven't recieved one since my third email. (Where I hadn't even changed my tone to what would've been perfectly appropriate impatience by that point...) Oh well...it all results in my lowering the Service rating to a 2


**UPDATE #2: I received an email stating they are in the process of splitting the e-list into wine & beer interests and that my name was added to the beer category. We'll see how it goes. Service up to a 3...not a 4 again....yet..
Feb 15, 2006
Photo of MuddyFeet
Reviewed by MuddyFeet from North Carolina

4/5  rDev -7%
An odd little store. They make do with the space they have. Oh, by the way, there is more beer in the cooler in the back. They always like to remind me of that. But that is more for cases. My girlfriend was thrilled, that's where she found her Sea Dog Blueberry Ale. The selection is definitley nice compared to the packy 50 yards away. More of a craft beer presence, but because of its size the selection is limited to what they can turnover. Which is something else, Ievery beer I looked at was within its date. Yeah! Much kudos to that after another local beer store is sore in that category. However, definitely more of a place of convenience than to go shopping or if you are looking for something specific. They tell you they can get anything for you, but sometimes you want something then and there. It's nice they can order anything, but I am an American and like my instant gratification. But I still go back often because it has a nice craft beer selection for casual, non-experimenting drinking.
Sep 23, 2005
Photo of albern
Reviewed by albern from Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -14%
Let's get real. This is a fine beer shop, cozy, well organized, and so forth, but it's selection is a far cry from Downtown Liquors in Davis Square. If you're in the area and want to shop for rare beers, this store isn't the place to do it. If you are in Ball/Powderhouse Squares and want to pick up a six pack of something more conventional and want good prices, by all means go right in. This store does not deserve a selection rating of more than a 3ish, at best. Again, it is a good beer store, and in most parts of the country, it would blow away the competition, but in Boston/Somerville you've got at least 3 which are in a league so far beyond Ball Square Liquors why would you want to shop here. Keep going. The three aforementioned are Downtown Liquors in Davis Square, Marty's in Allston, Charles Street Liquor in Beacon Hill area. There are others as well.
Sep 03, 2005
Photo of Hibernator
Reviewed by Hibernator from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -7%
I have visited this store a few times in the past. The first time I went here I was surprised at the great selection they had. I decided to check this place out again last night to see how things have progressed.

This is a pretty small store located right in Ball Sq in Somerville. The closest landmark would be Sound Bytes a few stores down. The store is clean, organized and well lit. There appears to be a diverse selection of wine and liquor. As you walk to the back of the store you will notice the coolers and the beer that awaits to be examined.

The first thing that caught my eye was the Ommegang display...very nice. The coolers are packed with some really good craft beers such as Brooklyn Brewery (Brown Ale, Pilsner, Pennant Pale Ale), Geary's HSA, Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, Smuttynose IPA, Sam Adams, Allagash and many others. They also offer some Belgians, bombers of Stone, etc in a cooler to your left.

Service was friendly and appeared to appreciate the business. I visited on a Friday night and there was an Offshore Amber Ale tasting. They had a wine tasting at the front of the store as well. Its great to be greeted by someone offering free samples of something you have never had before. Kudos in the service department for this offering.

This is a solid store with limited space offering some quality beers. Certainly worth checking out if you live in the area or are passing through. You should be able to pick up some nice beers.
Mar 05, 2005
Photo of waughbrew
Reviewed by waughbrew from Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -16.3%
This place was a nice surprise to me. The sign looked good, it was next to a Belgian truffle shop, and it had an Ommegang display.
A small store that packs a lot of quality into it. A great selection of locals and regional brews stock the fridges at great prices. The owner is usually behind the counter and he is very friendly and helpful. They do not carry a huge selection of single bottles or imports, but they do have some that you do not see around much. Watch the dates as they tend to have "special sales" here to clear out older beer. I think that they should use their small space more for bottle-conditioned beers because all of their six-packs of filtered beers tend to not move so fast. But it is still nice to see a smaller place stocking more interesting beers.
Jun 21, 2004
Photo of Longstaff
Reviewed by Longstaff from Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +3.5%
Stopped in unexpectedly and was quite surprised at the large selection for just a little store and very little cooler space. The coolers were jam packed with local and regional micros with one cooler for the macros. Found some Brooklyner Weisse that I have yet to find in the area. Talked to one of the owners working the register and he was very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Limited specialty beers but the guy said he would carry any beer you liked and would get you any six pack that's distributed in the area just to try it out. Beers that have been laying a while around are sold at a discount. There's also a cooler in the back that I didn't check out yet. They have beer tastings on Saturday afternoons. A good alternative to Downtown and also less expensive.
Jul 21, 2003
Photo of Admiraldinty
Reviewed by Admiraldinty from Massachusetts

4.85/5  rDev +12.8%
First, let me say that this is a rather small store, and is more focused on wine than anything else. That being said, these guys are extremely helpful. They'll even special order a 6-pak of whatever you want just so you can try it. The quality is exceptional. They constantly keep the beers rotating. Even though this is a small store, the staff makes use of all the space they can and have a wide variety of micro-brews, and even a few Belgians. If you don't see what you want in the glass cases you'll find even more in the storage refrigerators behind them. I go here now instead of Davis Square. Price is much better and more reasonable as well.
Mar 12, 2003
Ball Square Fine Wines & Liquor in Somerville, MA
Place rating: 4.3 out of 5 with 24 ratings