Coaltrain Wine and Spirits

coloradobeer12345678

Colorado

3.91/5  rDev -8.9%
vibe: 3.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

This is a great store close to CC and the old northend... a little cramped but great selection.. prices are a touch on the higher end but they nearly have it all.

they have as well a great wine and spirit selection.. so if you look for convience and a large selection with knowlegble staff and do not mind to pay for that that is the shop for you

02-17-2013 00:50:08 | More by coloradobeer12345678

Jambarino

South Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -11.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$

I took a vacation and was in the springs for a few days and stopped by here twice to browse and try some local stuff.The store is mainly a liquor store so the atmosphere is bland,but the beer selection was good with an aisle dedicated to craft beer bombers and singles and various displays around and a large cold section with 4 and six packs.All of the Colorado breweries are well represented and I bought a few Bristol offerings and a few imports I have never found before.There wasn't much Russian River or Firestone Walker offerings which was dissapointing as I have never gone this far west before and was hoping to score some.Most of the Colorado breweries I can get back home so I didn't find much that I hadn't already had before.I have heard they keep rarer stuff in the back but none was offered to me.

The staff was okay,they didn't seem very talkative and when I said I was from South Carolina and was looking for some beer exclusive to the west they didn't seem too knowledgeable about what to recommend and only pointed me towards some Oskar Blues stuff that I had already tried,however they did try to help.Maybe I didn't look hard enough but I wasn't blown away like I expected to be after hearing this was the place to go for craft beer in this area.Prices were decent and fairly reasonable.

Maybe I am jaded with stores like GBX near me back home but I wasn't too impressed.I figured for Colorado,one of the kings of craft beer breweries that there would be a a better selection and I had heard this was the store to visit,but I have 4 craft beer specific stores withing 20 miles of me back home that all top this place in selection.I am not bashing this place in anyway,it is a very solid store and I would go back again if in the area and refer anyone to if visiting Colorado Springs.

10-12-2012 17:16:11 | More by Jambarino

cell10

4.8/5  rDev +11.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3 | $$

Everyone told me to go and see for myself and I can say I was not disappointed. They have stuff I can not get back home and the guys helped my brother in law and I out gave us some info and got us going for the next day or 2. I will def be going back before i go home. If you are in town stop by and look for yourself. The selection when i walked in was OMG! they still had single holiday bottles and overseas singles as well. Austin was a great guy and got us hooked up with an Avery brew that man looks good.

05-04-2012 00:39:00 | More by cell10

beergoot

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

One of the finest little beer places I've ever visited.

Their beer selection is topnotch, focusing on many western state breweries, big and small. They also have an extensive collection of Belgium-styled beers plus other foreign offerings not found elsewhere.

The staff is very helpful and willing to special order things for you. They also don't overcharge you for some rarities and limited run beers that other local, big box beer stores do.

Small in square footage, but bursting at the seams with an awesome beer selection and enthusiastic staff.

12-17-2011 22:41:50 | More by beergoot

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

4.16/5  rDev -3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

stopped here while I was in town for a conference, to pick up some stuff I can't get back in PA. I went with the highest rated store, and it didn't disapoint.

Pretty small place, and as the name implies, much of the store is dedicated to wine and liquor. But they make up quantity for quality. They have a cooler of six packs in the back, and up front by the register they have six packs and large bottle of local stuff. then they have an aisle of the rarer stuff in the corner. Good selection of limited release stuff from Colorado breweries like Great Divide, Avery, Ska, Left Hand, etc. Plus other West Coast stuff, including Russian River, and European imports.

Staff was friendly and pointed me in the right direction. Prices were about average.

10-24-2011 21:18:37 | More by jmdrpi

d4radio

Colorado

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

Best beer selection in town.

A lot on the shelves you can't find anywhere but even more tucked away in the back if you ask the right person. I have never been able to leave this store with out multiple bottles even if they didn't have what I came in for.

Cooler selection contains the six packs, good stuff from all over the state and some of the big ones not from Colorado as well.

The bomber shelf is almost the highlight, it is well stocked with plenty of "wants". No bottle limit on most of the stuff out there. Restocked regularly.

The real gem is the back room and the cellar. You probably won't get anything out of the cellar but if you talk to the right person and come at the right time you may get some goodies from the back room (Pliny and Cantillon for example).

Sometimes the staff aren't the friendliest but they usually are very knowledgeable and loosen up over time.

Fun place to go overall.

09-02-2011 19:25:35 | More by d4radio

DelMontiac

Oklahoma

4.04/5  rDev -5.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

Had to check out Coaltrain while I was town before heading home. Found plenty that I can't get at home.

Coaltrain is next to some railroad tracks and it appears to be just on the wrong side of them, but that doesn't seem to be stopping anyone. I knew I was in for a treat when I saw some sugar mamma with a cart containing a variety of Belgians, Stone Ruination, and a 12 pack of Laughing Lab.

The place is...semi-organized and really tight. The aisles are only wide enough for one person. They simply need more space. I found myslef having to wait my turn as it was a busy time as folks were getting off work. The ones that don't work or don't care what they drink were lined up with their foeties and fifs which made me thankful for my job.

This little place packs a punch! It's a lean machine - not very much crap and fluff. They put mostly quality brews in the little space they have. Lots of great domestic and import bombers and bigs on one short room temp aisle which I didn't even see until I had a cart with two cases on it already. I checked out the small single cooler in the corner with a mishmash of unorganized bottles of all types. There were a lot of old dates in there so I stayed clear of them. The main row of coolers is mostly full of desirable sixers and hop bombs.

Service is good. Asked a guy about the Upslope in cans he was stocking. He said they're pretty new self distributors from Boulder and he really likes their Brown Ale. The guy who rang me up helped me out with my two well packed boxes. I let several people go ahead of me since they had single items and he thanked me for that.

I think most beer in Colorado is pricey and Coaltrain is no different, albeit a little cheaper than it's warehouse style competitors in the area. I was a bit shocked when I rang up although I was trying to keep track in my head. I figure it's for a good cause - me!

I left with:
Upslope Brown Ale 6pk
Russian River Sanctification single
Russian River Consecration single
Russian River Salvation single
Russian River Redemption single
Delirium Nocturnum single
Oskar Blues Ten-Fidy 4pk
Oskar Blues Gubna 4pk
Oskar Blues Mammas Little Yella Pils 6pk
Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale 6pk
Victory Storm King 6pk
Stone Ruination 6pk
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard 6pk
Nogne O Pale Ale single

Coaltrain is a must stop if you're in the area. If a crazy dude in the parking lot starts yelling at you waving his shirt around, just ignore him and get in the car. He'll look for someone else to bother. If not, then just run over his crazy ass.

07-24-2011 04:56:01 | More by DelMontiac

codewarrior

New York

4.3/5  rDev +0.2%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I was recommended this liquor store by a regular at Bristol Brewery, as they had just run out of 4-packs of Old No. 23 Barleywine, and the distribution of that beer is extremely limited.

Man was I glad to have hauled myself across town mid-day to check this spot out.

First of all, as another poster mentioned, the store is located right off a set of train tracks, and as I rolled up to the parking lot, a huge train was rolling by. Authenticity indeed.

Secondly, the beer selection is imposing, it's not huge, but the selection is extremely well picked. They have one 16' shelf filled with large-format beers (half domestic, half imports), a whole bunch of cases on the floor, and 10 - 12 doors for small-format beers. The big question mark here is the bomber cooler, a small cooler wedged in the back corner with seemingly no organization, and a very small, and very odd collection of beers to chill (they were cooling RR sours in there?!).

The beer guy was very nice there, and seeked out to help me search through the Boulevard display for a possibly left-over Saison Brett (no such luck).

I ended up going home with:

Fantome Printemps
2009 Old No 23
2009 Nefarious Ten Pin
Smokebrush Porter

And left on the floor:

The Bruary Coton
Fantome Saison
Avery 16
Avery 17
Sarafijn Tripel
Odell Mountain Standard Reserve Batch #1
Odell Saboteur Batch #1

And far too many imports/lambics to count.

10-24-2010 21:15:58 | More by codewarrior

allforbetterbeer

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I went looking around Colorado Springs for some rare/unique beers, and every major liquor store told me to come here if I wanted an obscure beer. I wasn't disappointed. From what I can tell, this store has an additional 15-30 beers on top of what any other store in Colorado Springs can offer. It doesn't have the "warehouse" feel in any way, its prices are fairly good for a smaller store, and it also has a decent selection of wine. All that adds up to a nice spot to shop for beer. The clerks I have talked to have always been helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. If you are looking for hard to find imports (especially if they are single bottle types) I recommend this as the best place to look in Colorado Springs. As a store that advocates for beer, this is as good as it gets. This store often holds tastings of international and local beers in collaboration with The Warehouse restaurant.

10-08-2009 17:57:01 | More by allforbetterbeer

shivtim

Georgia

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

Accidentally happened upon this little gem when exiting I-25 to go to a 7-Eleven. We almost witnessed a fight between an angry customer (whose check had bounced) and a 7-Eleven employee.
I saw a Dogfish head sign in the window and it said "microbrews" on the awning, so I figured I'd wonder in. Good thing I did. Great selection of singles of various sizes on the shelves and in fridges. Lots of refrigerated six packs too. Some Belgians etc, but of course I was there for local and west coast beers. I saw Pliny the Elder (sorry aforbes10), and picked up a Bristol mass transit ale, Tommyknocker Pick Axe, and a Fort Brewing Hop-15. Would have gotten more but I had a flight to catch 48 hours later, with no checked luggage.
The staff behind the counter seemed friendly enough; I didn't need or ask for help and they didn't offer it.

Also, there was literally a large coal train passing directly by the store. I suppose if there was an "atmosphere/vibe" rating for liquor stores, this place would get a 5 for authenticity.

03-16-2009 15:18:38 | More by shivtim