Friday 4th of June 2010 07:46:57 PM

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**Edit 2008**
No more 3 Floyds bombers here, save for Brian Boru that is most definitely old (feb. release). $13 sixers of Gumballhead, and about 1/2 inventory reduction. Still a wacky hodge-podge. Looks like the beer doesn't move at such jacked up prices...

Original review:
This is an odd store that has multiple identities. Deli, grocery store, greeting card & jellybean depot, liquor/wine shop, and fortunately, also a beer store. The beer selection appears to be a happy accident.

Galleria is my pit stop when i'm in this area for gallery openings. As far as BYO restaurants around here, forget it. There is a surprising selection once you look around a bit. Beer section is to the right when you go in (the left door), all the way in the back on the left. Shelves are a little disorganized, sometimes dusty, but you can find some nice seasonals here and there. A box with random singles dumped in it on the bottom shelf suggests turnover is low. Coolers on the left are more organized, but I couldn't tell you what their system is. Some representation of German & Belgian stuff. Not really rare/eclectic for the most part, but it seems like lesser known items can languish on the shelves there indefinitely.

I've had some help here before, but you'll likely be on your own. Once a guy busted out the ladder to get the last vintage Fantome off the high shelf above the coolers. On the other hand, they haven't reordered any in over a year now. You can often find multiple 3F seasonals here (5 total), Great Lakes (10 including leftover xmas in sept.), Goose + Matilda & Pere J, Allagash, and oddball crap like "Trader Todd's adventure beer". A little pricey on imports, mostly in line with the River North area though. Hennepin for $10? No thanks.

Also in the area is Clark St. Ale House, Rock Bottom, Drinks Over Dearborn, and Binny's, if you are touring around.

Sunday 16th of September 2007 09:06:50 AM

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I doubt many people who don't live or work in this area will find the Galleria. Galleria Market is just south of Chicago on Orleans.

The bulk of the area inside is dedicated to a deli and a salad bar/dining area. They have sandwiches, soups and salads that seem to be aimed at a more sophisticated palate than most salad bars or delis. The rest of the area is devoted to selling gourmet food products.

They have a fairly decent aisle devoted to beer. Half cold and the other half is room temperature. Three Floyds, Two Brothers and Goose seem to be well stocked when I visit. You will also find many other regional breweries represented here.

Like many other small beer/wine stores in the Chicago area, Galleria Market seems to be a place where you can find some older beers that you may have missed in the normal Chicago beer feeding frenzy after something is released.

While I wouldn't suggest driving all across town to make the Galleria your normal beer store, I would suggest checking it out if you are looking for something that is sold out in other locations across town.

Galleria Market is one block west and one block south of the Chicago stop on the Brown/Purple Line. Parking is mostly street parking in this neighborhood.