Sam's Quik Shop

PhunkLover

North Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -24.9%
quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | $$

A great little hole in the wall beer store. Probably the best overall selection in the triangle. The service is hit or miss, mainly miss, but it is a convenience store so you can't complain too much about that. Ask for Jamie if he's working, he probably knows the most about their beer inventory and is a nice guy as well. I like this place, but I wish they people who worked their were more friendly. This place really needs some competition within the Chapel Hill/ Durham area so they will have to improve upon their shitty service and hire some people who actually care.

05-23-2008 21:30:26 | More by PhunkLover

aleckpa

Maryland

3.56/5  rDev -21.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$

Stopped by here in a trip to Cary. I've heard a lot about it so I had to check it out. I rate this place very high, but I wasn't overly impressed compared to other places in NC (GSO, Winston). Nonetheless, there was a very large selection. I do like how they have beer on tap, but I didn't have any. Their glassware selection was probably the best I've seen to the beer stores I've been to. I think their prices were similar to other places, give or take a few dollars. If I was from Durham, or lived close by, I'd stop in all the time. But I wouldn't go completely out of my way to come here.

06-15-2011 01:40:04 | More by aleckpa

cbros

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -18.3%
quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$$

Came in after reading all the reviews. Funny thing is that my sister went to Duke about 15 years back and she lived right down the road. In the four years I visited there I must have passed this place hundreds of timesand just assumed that it was a run of the mill gas station. You walk in and you see a 'regular' convient mart, the beers are in the back of the store. Everything seemed to be up to date. But it was hard for me to find any kind of organization. All the beer selections for a particular brewery where clumped together but you had to search the racks. There was alot of room and alot of beer choices which was nice. My only complaints are that it seemed a little pricey, 7 bucks for a 22 ounce Big Boss, and their service was a little lacking. But I let that slide because it looked like they were in the middle of getting a shipment in.

I am glad that my sister lives in Durham again because I do plan on coming back whenever I visit her.

02-13-2009 23:17:08 | More by cbros

NCBeernut

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev -15%
quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 5 | $$

First of all, let me just say that the selection is absolutely phenomenal. They really have basically anything available to the state of North Carolina. Even have growlers of locals not available in bottles. Also, if there is a new/seasonal/special release, you can just about guarantee that they will be among the first to have it. They also have branded glassware that is priced at $3 across the board, with some stuff priced at $1! Most stuff seems to rotate pretty well, but if you hunt you can also find some old stuff that cellars well - a couple months ago I was there and picked up a sixer of Old Horizontal that already had a year on it.

The downsides. I don't talk to the staff anymore. For the most part, with exceptions, I found out that they are anti-social, often dicks, seem pissed off that you are in their store and bothering them. Also they are hesitant (or straight up refuse) to give you an empty case unless you can fill every last square inch of it with their products. Second, I have a definite problem with any place that puts their entire damn selection of German lagers at room temperature (in this particular corner, I think it might even be a bit warmer than the rest of the store). I don't buy them specifically for that reason, even though they have ones that I want.

However, I don't drink a ton of German beer and I am not super chatty with staff anyways, so for me, this is still a great place to go for beer.

04-04-2010 21:02:10 | More by NCBeernut

beerinator

Illinois

4/5  rDev -11.7%
quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5

Easily the best place to buy beer in the triangle. The selection is great, but don't expect the staff to be able to help you much.

Sam's can't be on the wrong side of the tracks, because it's practically underneath them. The location isn't the best, but once you know where it is, you'll definately be back.

I've had great success finding beers here that aren't available elsewhere. The prices are good, definately better than the local Whole Foods.

Sam's is worth a stop for all Triangle based beer drinkers.

01-11-2004 18:13:11 | More by beerinator

Loki

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -11.7%
quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5

The best selection I've ever seen at an Exxon, ok who am I kidding. One of the best selections in the state. Nearly every craft beer in the state was represented there, plus lots of craft beers you don't see other places and plenty of imports. They don't have much space so stuff is just stacked everywhere. They only have case prices for certain stuff, so since they didn't have Mash House by the case I paid for 4 six packs. Makes it more expensive, but I can't get it in the triad so it's worth it. I also couldn't find any rhyme or reason to the order of everything, but well worth the stop. I will probably be back once a month, until I don't have to go to the Pop The Cap meetings because we have changed the law.

07-08-2004 12:09:52 | More by Loki

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -11.7%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

Stopped by when visiting Chapel Hill and looking for some local beers. Sits by itself on a parking lot with some gas pumps and a car wash in a sort of wasteland between a large highway and another road. First glance looks like your typical gas station convenience store but of course that isn't the case.

I am from PA and used to their backward case laws and best place I have to buy bottles is State Line Liquors in Elkton, MD (so fairly or not, that's my basis for this review).

There are three or four coolers along one wall with a nice cold selection of 6-packs and bombers at the same price as they are warm. Also some growlers from Carolina BC and I guess they also have kegs from Foothills. Also saw all the other locals like Duck Rabbit (incl Baltic Porter), Highland, Big Boss, etc.

Back room has large selection of N American stuff, in particular lots of Rogue, DFH, Bell's, Allagash, Great Divide, Unibroue, etc. Front has shelves divided by country, more N American and nice selection of imports, including some Mikkeller (Big Worse and Black Hole this time). Only concern would be with those sitting on top shelf more exposed to light but that's not really any different than anywhere else.

The service, there were two or three men at the front counter by the entrance and I didn't bother them and they didn't bother me. While I was browsing I heard them greet some regulars and answer a few questions so service was what I want from store.

Best place I've seen in Triangle area so far, by far widest selection, but I had sticker shock on a few things compared to prices in PA and was also unable locate a few beers I was specifically looking for. Granted I'm comparing apples and oranges here, but that's what kept me from rating this higher. For those familiar with State Line in Elkton, I'd say these two are very similar in quality and price and selection wise I'd say Sam's is 60/40 domestic and State Line is opposite (yes, that's a very broad generalization)

01-09-2008 15:13:18 | More by yourefragile

lumpvt68

Virginia

4/5  rDev -11.7%
quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | $$

I consider this my local shop since it is fairly close to my hometown of Danville. Looks are very deceiving as it looks like an old, rundown convenience store outside and in the immediate front. But once you get in the back, your mouth hits the floor! An amazing selection. East Coast, West Coast, Belgian, etc.

Prices seem reasonable, but I don't have alot to compare it to. Join their "club" and for $10 (when I did it) you get a t-shirt, two beer glasses and 10% off all future purchases. That is a sweet deal considering they had some really cool glasses from various well-known breweries.

I thought the service was average. The guys didn't really seem into the beer, just when the next Metallica concert was. And they weren't very accomodating to my request to hang a poster to advertise a local brew fest. I thought it could help us both, but it seemed it was to much trouble to take down a flyer for the local garage band concert that was a year old.

Overall, a real diamond in the rough that I feel lucky to have within a 1 hour drive of my house.

02-23-2009 18:24:45 | More by lumpvt68

Singularbinary

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -11.7%
quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | $$

Living in Raleigh its a bit a of a drive but I feel like its worth it every time I go. Selection is by far the best ive seen in the area and the prices are reasonable. They are usually the first to get new beers in too which I am always on the lookout for. Ill usually go in there and browse around for about 20 minutes before i can finally decide what to get. Plus they are one of the few places that I can get decent glassware.

Overall I'd say that Sam's is one of the best beer stores in the triangle area.

04-08-2010 00:18:24 | More by Singularbinary

ViveLaChouffe

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev -10.6%
quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$

You would pass right by this place if you didn't know better. Looks from the outside like a typical package store selling the same crap as the next package store down the street. Inside, it's a treasure. A relatively small floor area devoted to craft beer packs quite a punch.

With the recent "cap-popping" I was anxious to see is Dogfish Head and Victory faves would be available as they do not distribute to GA (yet). I was not disappointed. DFH Punkin, 90 Min., Chicory Stout among otheres. Victory Hop Devil and Golden Monkey too. I am sure this selection will only expand as more high ABV brew makes it into the state. Locals are well represented too. I saw Allagash which makes this former Mainer happy. The only quibble you could have with the selection is not alot of good imports (re: Belgian and German brews).

Everything was hella fresh. Service was good, grabbed me a box out of the back for my selections. Prices were more than fair.

An easy exit of 147, this will be a regular stop when I go to visit my parents in VA...

09-08-2005 14:20:44 | More by ViveLaChouffe