Monday 3rd of November 2008 10:42:47 AM

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2009: Selection always improving, they went in the back and found their last Juliet for me, bonus on service there...

Popped in here about a week or so ago. Selection has improved from what I last remembered. Beer is on the left side of the store, in long wall coolers, past the deli case humidor. Walk down about a third of the way until you start to see beer instead of alcoholic kool-aid and mirrored disco-ball vodka bottles.

With the proximity to Hopleaf, and the Orval poster on the door, they play up their Belgian selection pretty well. One cooler door has quite a few singles and 750s of quality Belgians such as Rodenbach, Orval, Piraat, Rochefort, Wosyntje, Gulden Draak etc. Rochefort 8 was $6, the 10 was $6.49, Rodenbach 750s were $9.99. Not many lambics though. Big craft selection with plenty from Founders, FFF, Southern Tier, and DFH. Surprisingly the pricing was fair and not intentionally gouging. The back room held some overstock and a few gems like ST Cuvee One and Cuvee Angelique, plus other De Glazen Toren beers. Also Founders Curmudgeon and Breakfast Stout. So they are making an effort to get more limited and high end stuff now it seems.

Staff sort of shadowed around from a distance, probably more as shoplifting deterrent than to offer help. The counter guy was nice and answered a question about bourbon. A good stop for out-of-towners and locals alike after an evening at Hopleaf. If you're looking for craft singles, head up Clark St. to In Fine Spirits.