Beer World

BierReise

Florida

2.95/5  rDev -28%
quality: 2.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4

I just checked this place out the other day and although the selection is there I'm afraid much of it is old stock. This is unfortunate because as we know beer does go bad over time. Basically a little convienience store with lots of beers taking up the middle of the store. Funny, theres anothe place not 5 minutes from this one that has a similar selection. And problem.

08-20-2003 19:49:47 | More by BierReise

Jredner

Florida

3.3/5  rDev -19.5%
quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 5 | $$

Ok you will find a LOT of old stock and the owners don't know beer and it is fairly dingy and unappealing to the eye...but

I love places like this. You really have to get in there and root around. Digging out the good stuff is fun and there are hiddem gems in this place. It's the kind of beer store I need to eat and have used the restroom before I go cause I can spend hours rummaging around looking for rare treats. Prices are decent to pricey, but they definitely have some stuff (old stuff mostly-but many Belgians that will age ok) that you can't get anywhere else in Florida. They also bring in more special orders than any other bottle shop I know of.

If you are visiting and plan on hitting World of Beer you might as well hit this place since it is close. Hit here and the Beverage Castle in Tampa (Temple Terrace) and you will have had one excellent beer shopping adventure.

03-10-2006 04:16:21 | More by Jredner

nick76

Florida

3.3/5  rDev -19.5%
quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 5 | $$

This was the first beer store I ever went in the door took one look at all the beer and was blown away considering how awful it looked on the outside. That was years ago. I have seen the likes of many beer stores since but this one still holds a special place in my heart. They have cleaned up their stock in recent years but they still have some hard to find stuff. When I first stared going here there was a lot, I mean a lot of really really old stuff. You basically had to be careful what you were buying or you were getting really stale beer. Not so much anymore, they still have some old stuff but not like it used to be. They have also cleaned up the shelves a little bit. It used to be like going to a garage sale the beers were all over the store in no particular order. Not as bad today but they could use a little bit more in the way of decor. There are coolers as well as shelves but the good stuff is mostly on the shelf. The coolers are for the common stuff. As selections go this place has the best. Sadly it suffers from not so involved staff. The prices are slightly high. Although there are a few bargains. I recommend you check this place out you will find something you want!

11-26-2008 07:39:08 | More by nick76

doppelmeup

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -14.6%
quality: 3.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Okay, so why are all the people reviewing this store in Florida from North Carolina??

This store is about 15 minutes from my sister's house. We are visiting, and when I arrived she said that there was a beer store close by, but she had never been before.

So we went today to see what was available. My sister is not much of a beer drinker, but she was willing to try whatever I wanted to bring back. Let the games begin!

This place is somewhat non-descript, pretty much the size of gas station convenience store.

Inside was very cramped, but there were cases and cases of beer everywhere, and three aisles were devoted entirely to beer. I don't know how this compares to other stores in the Tampa area, but this one had IMO a very good selection of beer. The breweries I saw represented were Brooklyn, Rogue, Avery, Bells, Great Divide, Mendocino, lots of Belgians, decent selection of Germans including Korbinian, Celebrator (only 9.00 a 4 pack) and quite a few others.

I did see quite a few Sierra Nevada IPAs from 2006, so be sure to check the age of the beer you select.

No service to speak of, other than the owner gave me a 10% discount because I bought more than 6 beers. All in all, I'd recommend this if you are in the area.

11-06-2007 20:18:42 | More by doppelmeup

PiecefulToker

Tennessee

3.65/5  rDev -11%
quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Like others have said, this place looks really sketchy from the outside, and there are some sketchy people on the inside, but there is some great beer here! Overall, the prices are decent and there are some good finds if you look carefully. I have not been able to get Jolly Pumpkin, Brooklyn, Oskar Blues, or Bell's in Tennessee, but this one shop has all of them in FL. Here is some of what I picked up on a recent trip to Florida at this store w/ prices:

Mixed Six Pack:
Bell's Oberon Ale $1.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/1094
Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere Farmhouse Ale $2.69
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profi ... 9897/28176
Duchesse De Bourgogne $3.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/641/1745
Saxo Belgian Blond Ale $3.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/753/2585
Unibroue Don De Dieu $2.39
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22/694
Theakston Old Peculier $1.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/359/926
Oskar Blues Gordon $3.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profi ... /2681/8919

750mL:
Rodenbach Grand Cru $8.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/216/673
Affligem Dubbel $7.49
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/196/157

Bombers:
Lagunitas Luck 13 $4.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profi ... /220/35397
Lagunitas Imperial Stout $4.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/220/1373
Lagunitas Gnarlywine $4.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/220/1579
Bison Farmhouse Saison $4.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profi ... /609/37539

St. Bernardus Mix w/ 6, 8, 12, Tripel and Goblet $17.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/259/1856
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/259/1855
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/259/1708
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/259/722

Also, from the same place the other day, I picked up:

6-pack Bell's Hopslam $15.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profi ... /287/17112
6-pack Bell's Two Hearted ?
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/1093
6-pack Dale's Pale Ale $9.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profi ... /2681/6518
6-pack Old Chub $9.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profi ... 2681/14712
4-pack Ten Fidy $11.99
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profi ... 2681/34483

06-05-2008 00:13:45 | More by PiecefulToker

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -9.8%
quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4

This is basically a convenience store, but it does have a very good selection and lots of quality beer. While nothing close to the World of Beer just mintues northeast, still this store is credible and a great source of singles and chilled beers.

Cramped and crowded central storage area, designed to hold as much beers as possible, is made in a way to surround the shopper on the 3 sides. Mix and match is fine but not advertised as such. The small aisles mean lots of jockeying with other shoppers. Most of the good beer has uncooled sixers and fourpacks as well as single choices in the large coller.

The brews range from quality imports to flat-out macro cases, but the quality imports and micros are clearly favored here. The service is basically nil, with a single checkout station that always seems to have at least 3 people in line. Easy off-street parking and convenient to major thoroughfares, particularly Ulmerton.

01-18-2004 13:30:14 | More by AtLagerHeads

NCBeernut

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -7.3%
quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | $$$$

First of all, maybe prices are different in Florida, as I am from NC, but damn this I steep. I payed it because I haven't seen it in NC, but I payed 9.99 for a single 12oz bottle of DFH 120 minute IPA and the same for the WWS. Anyways, HUGE selection, mostly unrefridgerated, with a big selection of both single bottles and sixers, as well as some twelves. I didn't really see much from the staff, but they are at least friendly. 120 minute was bottled 10/07 and WWS bottle 10/06 (ok for an imperial stout). Beware though, as you can spend a looong time in here. Lots of good stuff to choose from. Great selection of DFH, Stoudts, Avery, etc. Just don't come here without a fat wallet.

10-14-2007 00:37:39 | More by NCBeernut

apintofknowledge

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev -7.3%
quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Totally unassuming from the outside, with neon signs and sale ads for big brewery products (Bud, Miller, Coors) filling the exterior windows. But step inside, head back, and find almost half this small store devoted to the best selection of craft and imports I've ever seen for a store this size. Nice Belgian choices, including several varieties of Fantome and St. Bernardus. Good selection of British and German beers as well, along with a few meads. A Polish customer pointed out all his favorite Polish beers to me... and there were quite a few on hand. Domestic micros that I can't find at home in Jersey, including Sprecher, Bell's and Coney Island, along with other good stuff from Rogue, Ommegang, Dogfish Head, Weyerbacher, Brooklyn, Stoudt's and more... and most varieties from each brewery were on-hand, including some seasonals and hard to find beers such as Theobroma. And a shelf or two devoted to in-season Christmas beers, including several Belgians, Santa's Butt, Bad Elf, etc. And the prices for the most part were very reasonable.

A large cooler along the far wall is mostly devoted to singles where you can make your own six-packs. Very nice! I didn't ask for any help, but the service was friendly at the counter. My only warning is to check dates, as I found beers "best before Dec 07" on the shelf in Nov 08. Also, just on an odd note, on a catch-all shelf at the end of the wine aisle, you'll find ports, sherries, sakes, and STP!?! I'm still scratching my head over that one!

Unfortunately, I only discovered this place on the next to last day of my vacation in Florida. I could have stocked up on some great beer for enjoyment all week if I had only known. Always remember to check BeerFly before you travel anywhere!

11-30-2008 21:06:33 | More by apintofknowledge

Shaw

Florida

3.85/5  rDev -6.1%
quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Jredner pointed me to this store and, boy, I'm in his debt.

As my wife and I pulled up both of us thought, "Pretty crappy-looking place." It's just an old gas station. But once you get inside it's beer heaven. Racks and racks stacked high with bottles, a big cooler, whole cases floor to ceiling, and a rack of dusty glasses for sale. The beers are mostly organized by country of origin and then brewery.

I'd say they stock just about every beer that's available, including hard to find Belgians (like Cantillion, Fantome, Thiriez, etc.) and the more esoteric craft brews (like Dogfish Head's Fort, Pangea, 120 Minute IPA, etc.). If you're looking for that special beer, I'd go here first.

As Jredner wrote, some of the stock is older, so check the dates carefully. But a bottle of Great Divide's Fresh Hop was wonderfully fresh, and their Dogfish head brews were quite new.

I spent about $50 on six beers! Of course, several of those were 750 mL bottles, like 2005 DFH Fort ($19) and Fantome Chocolat ($14) The man behind the counter informed me when I brought five bottles up that buying one more qualified me for a 10 percent discount! Nice. Total Wine in Clearwater has better prices, but you won't find half the stuff there that's here.

I highly recommend Beer World and wish it was closer to us in Sarasota.

04-12-2007 15:12:39 | More by Shaw

sliverX

New York

3.98/5  rDev -2.9%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Visiting a friend in the area and this is where he took us. A bit worried pulling into the lot, not so much entering the door and seeing stacks of craft cases. Lots of things not in WNY Terrapin, Bell's, ballast point, hoppin frog, Cigar city of course, fort Collins and a few others is never heard of. Prices on some things were good while others we to me outrageous or maybe just normal for beers I never see. Bought some wake n bake in May, lots of out of date beers so buyer beware with ipa and such.15, 16, and 17 anny needs from every all on the shelf, 09 Smutty wheat wine, 08 killer penguin and I'm sure more. I'm happy with the experience and will go back anytime I'm down visiting.

05-09-2011 23:58:35 | More by sliverX