Stuffed Sandwich

jcalabre

California

4.08/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3

My wife & I made the 50+ mile journey to check out Stuffed Sandwich. It's located in a non-descript strip mall in San Gabriel.

It's like dozens of other sandwich shops you'll see around L.A., with one important exception: they have a huge selection of beers.

As has been noted, you need to buy food, in order to buy beer. They had an impressive selection of North American, Belgian and German beer. The fridge cases that the beer is in are behind the counter, so it's not easy to spot everything they have. Before going, went to their website & chose a couple of beers that I wanted to have. I was disappointed that neither was available when I got there. In fact, they don't keep their website up to date.

But back to the beer: I had a St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout.I had Never seen that brewin So Cal before. I also samped a Kasteel Kriek that was on draught.
My recommendation is that if you're in the area, stop by Stuffed Sandwich. For me, I'd go back if they had a 'special' beer occassion. Driving thru a mess of traffic, even on a Sat. morning, was a bit much

08-09-2003 21:21:23 | More by jcalabre

MrVonzipper

California

4.47/5  rDev +4.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5 | $$

I've been here a few times now. Just recently took a buddy the other day for his first time, in which I think he was a little reluctant due to Sam's reputation which can be a Huge turn off.

In my few experiences, they have been good. The first time was about 6 years ago. I followed the rules and Sam was extremely cool and helpful. This place is Not a Liquor Store and it's Not a Bar. So if you go in with that mentality and understand that he can lose his business license if acting like the two. So when you go, plan on eating, at least a little bit. You have to order beer before even thinking about beer. Once you order food. You will get very knowledgable help with their huge beer selection if needed. Also bring a beer glass unless you want to buy one or drink out of a Dixie cup. They don't have the staff a necessity to wash dishes or glassware. I always buy a glass from the great selection they have.

The food isn't bad. I really enjoyed my cappicola sandwich. My buddy got a grilled cheese. I suggest half a sandwich if you plan on drinking.

The beer selection is extensive. A wide range from all over the world with a ton of CA craft breweries along with all the sours for all you sour heads out there. A phenomial Belgian section. If interested the have a bunch of gift type beers like double magnums of great Belgians or Double Bastards or even very well aged phenomenal wines like Silver Oak and Opus One.

This place is a must visit if visiting or from SoCal.

07-14-2011 03:53:13 | More by MrVonzipper

DarthKostrizer

California

4.58/5  rDev +6.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

I made my first stop into this place today with a buddy who had been telling me about this place for sometime now. When you first walk in its best to just forget about the beer section and just order your food to get it out of the way because you will more than likely take a few minutes trying to decide which beer you wanna try first.

As far as the beer goes I believe he has about 10 coolers full of beer which is kind of cluttered so make sure you look behind bottle if you can before decided. There were 9 beers on tap all were of the season I believe. There is also beer on display that is shrink wrapped put together so you can buy different years of the same beer. I personally purchased the Bigfoot which came with a 93,94,95,98,01,and 02 to add to the others I have been aging myself. The selection is good and I'm sure if you got to know the owner he would tell you there is far more than the eye can see. The place also has a decent selection of glassware which you will need if you dont want to drink your beer out of a cardboard cup haha great money making idea buy a beer need a glass with that??

The food was not bad if anything it is filling enough so you can suck down a few brews and be on your way. The price for everything seemed to be reasonable and I had no problem paying what I paid for the beers I purchased.

All in all if I didnt live so far fromt this place I would probably make a few more trips a year than I do now which is one. Highly recommended

07-13-2011 02:42:52 | More by DarthKostrizer

smarcoly

California

4.8/5  rDev +11.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

My favorite sign in Sam's shop reads:
This is not A Burger King
You dont get it your way
You take it my way
Or you dont get
The Son of a Bitch

My brother-in-law turned me on to this little gem of a sandwich shop and I am so thankful for it. I live in Orange County so it is a bit of a drive for me to get out to visit Sam and Marlene, but it is worth it every time. The first time I walked in their joint I was amazed at the tap selection and the bottle selection in the coolers behind the bar. A very eclectic collection of recent releases, obscure imports, and hard-to-find vintage beers.

The first time I went in was Nov 2010 and I was shocked to see Barrel Aged 2 Turtle Doves on friggin tap! I immediately hit it off with Sam (I had been given a heads up on his style though). He is a true beer lover and Sam & Marlene's combined 50 years of industry experience shine. Sam is the BOSS though. Follow his rules and he is a fun-loving guy.

In order to buy beer, you must order food first (their license dictates this). They hand make all their pasta sauce and it's pretty tasty. The sandwiches are delicious. Huge pastrami sandwich piled high with meat. Nice!

The shop atmosphere is that of a traditional sandwich shop with a little more "beer-lover" appeal. Many, many different styles of beer glasses from different breweries lines the glass cases around the dining area. All are available for purchase. You will want to buy one if you don't bring your own glass. Otherwise, you will be drinking from paper cups.

Sam has an amazing cellar of beer. I don't think anyone has ever seen it though. He has a list of vintage beers you can buy, but he doesn't list his "best" stuff. If he likes you and you hit him on a good day he will venture off to "the back", disappear for a while, and emerge with a gem. As Sam says, "All it takes is money". The best part? These gems are not overpriced. My buddies and I drove up there before a Bruery Reserve Society tasting and told Sam we needed to take something nice for the bottle share. He brought out a Bruery Batch 1 Levuds & 2000 Alesmith Old Numbskull. We were stoked.

I can't say enough about Sam and Marlene. Classy people with a fun shop. You will never be disappointed in their beer selection.

03-25-2011 02:39:35 | More by smarcoly

DearthVader

California

4.85/5  rDev +13.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

I'm actually sitting in Stuffed Sandwich as I write this review. Marlene set me up with a Tomahawk from Mikkeller.

I am a little biased towards this place because I've been coming here regularly for lunch since they moved to their new location in 2003. I just turned 21 in December of 2010 so I finally realized how amazing this beer selection actually is. Sam (the beer Nazi) has a huge selection of bottles that are cold and ready to drink. Then when you start looking around he has a few packages that are off to the side of hardy wine, bigfoot, and celebration ale. All which have been paired with the same brew, but different years. Sam has a warehouse full of beers that he's been aging for years. Some things dating back to the 70's. He always has 9 beers on draft and he has a different theme for each month. This month is barleywines. He has 3 taps right now that are Bigfoot. A 2010, 2008, and a 2006. Impressive!

You can't say enough good things about this place. Sam has really taught me everything I know about beer. My first day of coming in to actually drink, he went over all the basics and shared beer stories with me for over an hour during his lunch rush. Marlene is the nicest woman alive, but get on Sams hood side and you'll have a blast every time you come in. I find it fun to have an old man talk shit to me everytime I see him.

Bring your own glass and follow his rules!!

02-08-2011 20:21:07 | More by DearthVader

pword9d8

California

3.9/5  rDev -9.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5 | $$$

Just like everyone says, bring your own glass! You don't want to have your beer in a paper cup! They have over 700 brews here on tap/bottle. You need to purchase food in order to drink as well.

I was able to buy some beer glasses that are hard to come by so another star for that. Sam is quite a character but grows on you.

He is heralded as the father of craft brew in certain circles and definitely knows his stuff. Beer lovers rejoice, there is a "Beer Heaven."

Subscribe to their email list and you will be in the loop of what they put on tap.

12-20-2010 05:27:01 | More by pword9d8

drewmprs

California

4.15/5  rDev -3.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

This is a veritable institution of beer in Los Angeles. Pre-2007 it was stuffed sandwich, father's office, and Hollingshead.

Pleasant setting with a small bar to the left and enough tables to seat about 40 on the right, plus another 30 can sit outside. You must order food and you must bring your own glassware.

The food isn't great but it gets the job done, its basically a deli with an expanded menu. I stick with the sandwich whenever I visit.

The beer list tends to be heavy on the stronger and darker beers but there is a sizeable bottle list. Many customers bring in bottles of their own, just make sure you share some with Sam the Owner. Sam occasionally brings out some vintage bottles from his impressive cellar. Cantillon is often found here when it is gone everywhere else.

I'm not in the area too often so I haven't been here more than a handful of times but I always enjoy my experience.

12-17-2010 06:10:09 | More by drewmprs

Retsinis

California

4.03/5  rDev -6.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

Made a trip down to the Stuffed Sandwich for a Barrel Tasting. They were pouring things like Parabola, Adam from the Wood on draft to name a few, and Ishared the whole flight that was offered with a friend.

It's a family owned place, and the service comes with a bit of sarcasm ( in good fun) which makes the place unique. The walls are filled with bottles of some Very rare, and old beers. Such as some Hair of the Dog bottles, Batch 7 in a 750 ml! wow!

Fellow BA picked up a mixed six pack of Bigfoot with a 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2003 in there for $30! amazing.

The place is small, and nestled in the corner of a mini-mall, but this is a must try imo.

10-07-2010 18:38:15 | More by Retsinis

womencantsail

California

4.08/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5 | $$$

I've been here a lot of times. Mostly on Wednesday nights for the weekly beer tasting group.

Always make sure to order some sort of food when you come in, even if it's just a cup of potato salad or a sandwich.

The bottle list is quite extensive and eclectic, so you can easily find something you like or that you haven't tried before. Plus, they tend to have a few interesting beers on tap.

Sam can be a bit rough around the edges, but if you care about the beer, follow his rules, and aren't an ass, you'll be fine. And as much as he dishes it out, he can take it right back too. Though I wouldn't necessarily recommend taking jabs if you've never been in before.

Definitely an institution in the Los Angeles beer world.

01-14-2010 17:58:11 | More by womencantsail

seldomsthirsty

California

2.1/5  rDev -51%
vibe: 2 | quality: 1 | service: 1.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 1 | $$

al-righty then. i went to this place 5 years ago for the first time and fumbled just like most do. i got in the wrong line i argued with sam i did not bring a glass of my own. a sign at the register informs all of the rules. i also noticed a print out of the top five places to drink in the country and this was third i have been to all the others and its nada like this joint(it has since been removed) i have returned several times because i like beer and punishment. i agree with the idea to speak with marlene she is sweet and knowledgeable. what is wrong with this place is what is wrong with me. i like to follow rules i want to please people but i do not own a this bizz. i once got into an argument with a guy on a bus(you know who u r) about this place. i was drunk and he sucker punched me with the line, maybe if you lowered your expectations and tried to enjoy it for what it is you would not have a problem. well i was drunk and it hit me square in the brain, this guy was right. i want the SS to be so much better than it is. i want non gross food. i order the coleslaw or grocery store looking fries and promptly toss em in the large bin near the restroom. i want my beer that has been in the basement for three years to be the one i asked for not sams idea of what i want, and it should have been properly cellared after all i paid a lot for it. i want the wife and friends to want to go with me and not be afraid of poor food and service. i want i want i want that is my problem. the SS reviews here are clear and to the point. its like what buwkowski said about wanting, understanding and accepting the truth- its like being at work and having some other guy at home fucking your wife. for me this place is nothing but disappointments. yet i return thinking they may have that white whale of a beer that i want no that i need that i must have. any who if ya do go and ya see a sad lonely dejected skinny white boy in the corner drinking out of a paper cup DO NOT say hi just know that you have been warned and for gods sake don't get the slaw.

06-18-2009 17:58:42 | More by seldomsthirsty