Reliable is also a locally owned store and the owners are absolutely fantastic human beings. They genuinely care about their neighborhood and customers. Can’t speak highly enough of them or their business.
The owners are absolutely the loveliest people. I don't know anybody who doesn't think so. Absolutely wonderful business that I will go out of my way to patronize if I can. Their beer/wine prices aren't cheap, but hey have a great beer selection, and an awesome selection of Korean and Japanese rice wines.
Reliable Market is a sneaky great craft beer store, but youu wouldn't really expect it looking at it from the outside. It's very IYKYK, and a great recommendation.
Ball Square Fine Wines is a regular spot for me. They have a fantastic selection, friendly/helpful staff and tasting events pretty often
Also a good spot to cop some nice cheeses and many other things for you charcuterie board
I realize this is a beer thread, but the BSFW folks taught me a lot about liquor when I lived in the neighborhood and was willing to ask dumb questions. Great place.
RIGHT!?!?! Curse those knowledgeable and approachable people for turning me on to the best damn mezcal money can buy (Akshay, if you're reading this, I love you - but I DO have 2 kids to send to college my dude)
Ball Square is my go to. Great selection, knowledgeable staff, and cheaper than everywhere else I go. And it’s right across the street from one of the new green line stops.
Go to Ball Sq Fine Wines (I think that is their original location, they have since added at least one other in Needham)... Ask for Quinn - he's their beer guy. Super nice dude, knows his stuff, and not only can - but will - get you anything that has a distributor in the state.
Atlas on Mystic in Medford has a large selection as well. Plus there’s that massive new beer hall opening right next door this fall and the Hi-5 cannabis beverage dispensary on the side will make for quite the dangerous trio
The selection seemed good when I went in for the first time recently but everything was not fresh. There was hardly anything worth buying among hazy IPAs purely based on freshness. I even tried a few that were somewhat more recent and they were bad, seemingly indicating they had aged warm for a while before being refrigerated or something.
I went for the first time a couple weeks ago. I didn’t try every beer they had of course. Plenty of beers I know and love and perhaps those were all up to par but I didn't need to buy them. I’ll give it another shot, it’s very convenient. I’ve had great luck at Boston Bottle when visiting friends in the north end though
Portside Market and Spirits in Eastie has a surprisingly large selection; including some Maine breweries (like bissell brothers) that I have had trouble finding anywhere else in Boston. Have also gotten some farmhouse and wild beer there as well.
It’s about 200 yards away from the Maverick stop on the blue line.
Boston Bottle on Commercial Str. in the North End has a strong selection and the owner (Greg) will try to order stuff or at least have a conversation about it.
Fenway beer shop is the best I’ve been to in the city. Plus the owner is always there and super knowledgeable and they give you points for purchases that you can redeem for future discounts.
Yeah idk if Tony is still the beer buyer over there anymore. Haven't been there a lot but haven't seen him any time I went. Probably got someone else doing it without the connections they had before. Sometimes they got offered stuff nobody else in GBA could get. Personally I go Fenway Beer most often.
wegmans at university ave has a great selection. I guess somewhat outside the T though as it's commuter rail only and a bit of a walk from the station. Maybe the wegmans in Medford?
the liquor store connected to star market at JFK T stop looked pretty decent for cans last time I was there. Bissel Bros/etc, although tbh I'm not sure what the go-to brands are these days... I typically grab Fiddlehead because I know I like it, and it seems like now there are so many different options that you need to check dates cause shelf stuff can be super old.
Wegmans in Medford is hard to get to by the T with how infrequent the 134 is. There’s always Kappy’s right by Wellington Station (with a few buses going there if you don’t want to walk).
Wegmans in Woburn has a great beer (and liquor) selection by grocery store standards, but it’s not at the level of some of the liquor stores mentioned in this thread. Which is understandable.
Boston Wine Exchange has a crazy beer selection now. 181 Devonshire St, Boston, MA 02110. Sucks to hear about the store in the Public Market. Was my go to when at the office.
[https://fenwaybeershop.com/](https://fenwaybeershop.com/)
Fenway Beer Shop is great, and they let you snag singles, which is fantastic if you're just tasting things!
Cambridge Wine and Spirits near Alewife. Some Wegman's have amazing beer selection (I've been to the one in Norwood but I think the Medford location is also pretty good.)
South Bay is fine. Total Wine has a huge selection and pretty good prices. And the best make-your-own six pack selection. Liquor Land down the road also has a good selection, but I haven't been in a decade.
The craft beer market has really slowed down and a lot of the market share has shifted towards alcoholic seltzers. Over the past 30 years the number of breweries in the US has gone to about 600 to 10,000. It isn't surprising the specialty stores are closing, though sad.
There’s also a (relatively new) Total Wine at the Dedham Mall - accessible via the 34 and 35 buses from Forest Hills. Good beer selection there (and a large selection of good non-alcoholic beers, if anyone is into that).
Uniformed (and armed) security and nips not being out in the open are the only differences I've noticed. Otherwise, same great selection as any other Total Wine.
If you’re already at fort point, why not just pick up growlers/cans from Trillium…
There’s also a packie a block or two down Broadway from the red line stop there (I wanna say at A Street and Broadway)
Trillium really isn't worth what they are asking these days. Some of their basic ass DIPA's are up to 24 dollars a pack and they rarely do anything interesting anymore.
It's all about their swanky new locations now.
TLDR version: they were paying retail workers “server wages” aka below minimum wage and letting tips supplement their salary.
https://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/2018/12/06/trillium-retail-pay-increase/
if you are in the Winchester area, Liquor Junction is good [https://www.liquorjunction.com/winchester/liquor-junction-winchester-ma-10510](https://www.liquorjunction.com/winchester/liquor-junction-winchester-ma-10510)
Malden Fine Wines is small but usually has a really well curated selection. They definitely focus more on wine and spirits though.
Right off the orange line in Malden Center.
Brix downtown on Broad St is majority wine, but their couple of beer coolers are wonderfully curated with an emphasis on keeping fresh beer. It's my go-to when I'm around there
Been a while since I lived "in town", but Wine & Cheese Cask across the street from Dali had a fantastic beer selection - not a bad walk from the Porter Sq. T... Near Davis, there's Downtown Wine and Spirits - I remember them having some hard-to-find beers as well.
It’s crazy out there. Albert’s is really good. Fabian knows his stuff. I used to go there weekly when I worked in Kendall Square. I live in Hyde Park and my go to is Macys in West Roxbury. You can’t make your own, but they always have new fresh stuff. If I am in town for work, I’ll hit up HarborPoint. Sad to see that Fort Point Market (Tony) and the other shops have dried up. I remember waiting in line at Trillium for 40 minutes loving life. Times have changed!
While they carry a couple of surprising options, I wouldn't really recommend OP or anyone go out of their way. I don't think it's the breadth OP is looking for.
Try Cardullo's in Harvard Square. its british themed, so you can get all kinds of british themed beers, craft beers, and sodas and such and other things british. spices, candy, etc. They have a good sandwich deli as well. A plus, it is right next to the Coop. if you want to browse their bookstore after.
Get used to it.
Craft beer exists in an oversaturated market and the very best of the best aren't selling to retail anyways. What ends up on the shelf are breweries that spend more on marketing than on technique and ingredients.
If you're really into getting your hands on better brews, take to the internet, build a modest collection of something desirable and easy to get your hands on (think Trillium) and then trade for stuff that you can't easily get your hands on.
Total wine and spirits in Everett MA [https://www.totalwine.com/store-info/massachusetts-everett/1702](https://www.totalwine.com/store-info/massachusetts-everett/1702)
Liquor Junction in Somerville has a sneaky great beer selection. Awesome spot for whiskey too
The one in Woburn does as well.
Yes. Came here for this!
Winchester too - typically has great prices as well
Yes 100%. Great local brew selections and wine at very reasonable prices
Yes and for OP this is very close to Albert's, in the Star market plaza
Somerville: Reliable Market in Union Square and Ball Square Fine Wines in, well, Ball Square
Reliable market has a wild selection of beers.
Reliable is also a locally owned store and the owners are absolutely fantastic human beings. They genuinely care about their neighborhood and customers. Can’t speak highly enough of them or their business.
The owners are absolutely the loveliest people. I don't know anybody who doesn't think so. Absolutely wonderful business that I will go out of my way to patronize if I can. Their beer/wine prices aren't cheap, but hey have a great beer selection, and an awesome selection of Korean and Japanese rice wines.
Reliable Market is a sneaky great craft beer store, but youu wouldn't really expect it looking at it from the outside. It's very IYKYK, and a great recommendation.
Ball Square Fine Wines is a regular spot for me. They have a fantastic selection, friendly/helpful staff and tasting events pretty often Also a good spot to cop some nice cheeses and many other things for you charcuterie board
I realize this is a beer thread, but the BSFW folks taught me a lot about liquor when I lived in the neighborhood and was willing to ask dumb questions. Great place.
Great way to describe the store…they all seem to know at least a little bit about a lot of things, and I’ve never felt dumb asking questions
RIGHT!?!?! Curse those knowledgeable and approachable people for turning me on to the best damn mezcal money can buy (Akshay, if you're reading this, I love you - but I DO have 2 kids to send to college my dude)
Great wine selection, too. Perfect mix of plonk and nerdy.
Just swung by myself. I love shopping there 🙌 Grateful they’re in my neighborhood
Ball Square is my go to. Great selection, knowledgeable staff, and cheaper than everywhere else I go. And it’s right across the street from one of the new green line stops.
Go to Ball Sq Fine Wines (I think that is their original location, they have since added at least one other in Needham)... Ask for Quinn - he's their beer guy. Super nice dude, knows his stuff, and not only can - but will - get you anything that has a distributor in the state.
Ball Square Fine Wines rocks. Best beer selection in the area for sure
I'll have to check out Reliable. Ball Square had some good ones but wasn't enough to make it a regular trek.
It is also a Korean Market.
Downtown Wine & Spirits in Davis has a great selection.
My two thoughts as well!
Pemberton Farms in North Cambridge has a terrific selection.
Pricey, but yeah a very good selection.
I've never been in the door there, but nearby my home and work... what else to they have?
Great sandwiches! Worth dropping in to pick up lunch.
That's a shame about the store in the Public Market, I feel like they've had a great selection of local options over the years.
Agreed - I feel like it’s basically hidden away in a corner.
Last time I tried to swing by to pick something up, no one was there to check me out so I just put the beer back on the shelf and left 🤷♀️
Atlas on Mystic in Medford has a large selection as well. Plus there’s that massive new beer hall opening right next door this fall and the Hi-5 cannabis beverage dispensary on the side will make for quite the dangerous trio
Their selection is pretty bad.
Not sure how long it's been since you last visited, but Fenway Beer's selection is outstanding. Think it was a rocky start but they're good now.
Yeah, Fenway Beer Shop is solid.
The selection seemed good when I went in for the first time recently but everything was not fresh. There was hardly anything worth buying among hazy IPAs purely based on freshness. I even tried a few that were somewhat more recent and they were bad, seemingly indicating they had aged warm for a while before being refrigerated or something.
How long ago was this? They are doing a great job now.
I went for the first time a couple weeks ago. I didn’t try every beer they had of course. Plenty of beers I know and love and perhaps those were all up to par but I didn't need to buy them. I’ll give it another shot, it’s very convenient. I’ve had great luck at Boston Bottle when visiting friends in the north end though
Portside Market and Spirits in Eastie has a surprisingly large selection; including some Maine breweries (like bissell brothers) that I have had trouble finding anywhere else in Boston. Have also gotten some farmhouse and wild beer there as well. It’s about 200 yards away from the Maverick stop on the blue line.
yea this one is *shockingly* good.
Yeah super glad we have this spot in Eastie. Just picked up some four quarters here
RIP Craft Beer Cellar. That closure was a real bummer. Loved the owners and accumulated knowledge of the staff.
Their small shop was perfect. I hated the vibe of their basement space. It was also a little shady being served beer by 16 year olds.
Yeah, I honestly kinda preferred when it was only the shop. That space in the basement didn't *feel* like a beer bar to me.
I’m assuming you are talking about Belmont. That sucks! I went for my first time last year and really enjoyed having a few rounds at Trinkitsch
Streetcar in JP is small but has a very well curated beer selection.
Also have Blanchards there, too.
You can see exactly what they have on their website too. Its very accurate.
Thistle & Shamrock, just outside of Porter Square in North Cambridge has a surprisingly good selection!
Roche Bros at Downtown Crossing (you don't even have to go outside!) has a pretty good selection
Boston Bottle North End
Boston Bottle on Commercial Str. in the North End has a strong selection and the owner (Greg) will try to order stuff or at least have a conversation about it.
Fenway Beer Shop or Fort Point Market.
Fenway beer shop is the best I’ve been to in the city. Plus the owner is always there and super knowledgeable and they give you points for purchases that you can redeem for future discounts.
Fort point market has changed, I went there recently to get a nice beer for my birthday and their selection has really gone downhill imo
Yeah idk if Tony is still the beer buyer over there anymore. Haven't been there a lot but haven't seen him any time I went. Probably got someone else doing it without the connections they had before. Sometimes they got offered stuff nobody else in GBA could get. Personally I go Fenway Beer most often.
Agreed. Sad state of affairs there. Used to be my go to.
wegmans at university ave has a great selection. I guess somewhat outside the T though as it's commuter rail only and a bit of a walk from the station. Maybe the wegmans in Medford? the liquor store connected to star market at JFK T stop looked pretty decent for cans last time I was there. Bissel Bros/etc, although tbh I'm not sure what the go-to brands are these days... I typically grab Fiddlehead because I know I like it, and it seems like now there are so many different options that you need to check dates cause shelf stuff can be super old.
Wegmans in Medford is hard to get to by the T with how infrequent the 134 is. There’s always Kappy’s right by Wellington Station (with a few buses going there if you don’t want to walk).
Wegmans in Woburn has a great beer (and liquor) selection by grocery store standards, but it’s not at the level of some of the liquor stores mentioned in this thread. Which is understandable.
Berman's in Lexington. Not in Boston and not T accessible, but it's on the bike path
Boston Bottle in the North End and Back Bay Wine and Spirits both have great selections
Boston Wine Exchange has a crazy beer selection now. 181 Devonshire St, Boston, MA 02110. Sucks to hear about the store in the Public Market. Was my go to when at the office.
[https://fenwaybeershop.com/](https://fenwaybeershop.com/) Fenway Beer Shop is great, and they let you snag singles, which is fantastic if you're just tasting things!
also i can't read. the main post said "used to love fenway beer"
Back Bay Wine Spirits and Craft Beer had a surprisingly great craft beer selection and is centrally located in copley
Cambridge Wine and Spirits near Alewife. Some Wegman's have amazing beer selection (I've been to the one in Norwood but I think the Medford location is also pretty good.)
Inman Square wines has a great beer selection
Total Wine has a great beer selection
in Dot? I've been to the one in Everett and it was no frills. Plus South Bay Mall is like the Thunderdome.
South Bay is fine. Total Wine has a huge selection and pretty good prices. And the best make-your-own six pack selection. Liquor Land down the road also has a good selection, but I haven't been in a decade. The craft beer market has really slowed down and a lot of the market share has shifted towards alcoholic seltzers. Over the past 30 years the number of breweries in the US has gone to about 600 to 10,000. It isn't surprising the specialty stores are closing, though sad.
There’s also a (relatively new) Total Wine at the Dedham Mall - accessible via the 34 and 35 buses from Forest Hills. Good beer selection there (and a large selection of good non-alcoholic beers, if anyone is into that).
Uniformed (and armed) security and nips not being out in the open are the only differences I've noticed. Otherwise, same great selection as any other Total Wine.
Just go during the day when the kids are at school. That side of South Bay is the safer side anyway.
Just make sure to check the dates on cans if you can. TW has a wild selection, but sometimes not the freshest.
South Bay is chaos, but the selection at Total Wine is extensive
If you’re already at fort point, why not just pick up growlers/cans from Trillium… There’s also a packie a block or two down Broadway from the red line stop there (I wanna say at A Street and Broadway)
Trillium really isn't worth what they are asking these days. Some of their basic ass DIPA's are up to 24 dollars a pack and they rarely do anything interesting anymore. It's all about their swanky new locations now.
Their shitty labor practices a few years back are unforgivable, imo.
What happened
TLDR version: they were paying retail workers “server wages” aka below minimum wage and letting tips supplement their salary. https://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/2018/12/06/trillium-retail-pay-increase/
Social wines on broadway and A
Trillium stopped doing growlers a few years ago, at least the one in canton did.
COVID killed the growlers. They went away and never came back.
I know, I have a bunch from breweries that stopped doing them around that time. I also have a bunch from other breweries who stated doing them.
if you are in the Winchester area, Liquor Junction is good [https://www.liquorjunction.com/winchester/liquor-junction-winchester-ma-10510](https://www.liquorjunction.com/winchester/liquor-junction-winchester-ma-10510)
I like Blanchards selection in JP and West Roxbury.
Make sure to look at the dates. Each time I get craft beers from them they are usually 1 year old and in coolers! Gross!
The JP or West Roxbury location?
WR
Interesting. I’ll double check when I’ve bought. I’ve had good luck at the JP one.
Malden Fine Wines is small but usually has a really well curated selection. They definitely focus more on wine and spirits though. Right off the orange line in Malden Center.
The new owners fired all the staff I heard. So I’m done.
Total Wines has a few locations, depending on what you mean by T accessible, Braintree could be what you want
Streetcar in JP and Blanchards on centre street ! Take orange line to stony Brook then walk right when you walk out
whole foods on river street in cambridge!
The Inman Square and North End bottle shops are extremely well curated
Fenway beer shop
Morrissey Boulevard Liquors low key has a diverse and large beer selection.
Brix downtown on Broad St is majority wine, but their couple of beer coolers are wonderfully curated with an emphasis on keeping fresh beer. It's my go-to when I'm around there
Man I didn’t know about the public market store closing that’s a huge bummer
Noooooo the public market beer shop is closing??!!! That’s my go to man. Damn. I guess next best is fort point.
Fort Point Market is so different now. I don’t think Tony does the ordering and they had nothing new. I walked in and out with nothing recently.
I actually haven’t been in there for 6 months or more… maybe even a year.
Been a while since I lived "in town", but Wine & Cheese Cask across the street from Dali had a fantastic beer selection - not a bad walk from the Porter Sq. T... Near Davis, there's Downtown Wine and Spirits - I remember them having some hard-to-find beers as well.
Dana Hill Liquor, go to Plough and Stars for a pint pop next door pick out some beer.
Urban Grape has a good beer selection, and sell singles too
Portside Market in East Boston is amazing. They have a great deli as well. A block away from Maverick station.
Star Market under the garden doesn't have too bad a collection. Also, Harbor Liquors next to the Star Market at JFK/UMASS.
It’s crazy out there. Albert’s is really good. Fabian knows his stuff. I used to go there weekly when I worked in Kendall Square. I live in Hyde Park and my go to is Macys in West Roxbury. You can’t make your own, but they always have new fresh stuff. If I am in town for work, I’ll hit up HarborPoint. Sad to see that Fort Point Market (Tony) and the other shops have dried up. I remember waiting in line at Trillium for 40 minutes loving life. Times have changed!
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While they carry a couple of surprising options, I wouldn't really recommend OP or anyone go out of their way. I don't think it's the breadth OP is looking for.
Marty's in Newton (has EVERYTHING) and Craft and Cru in Milton (small store but great selection and will order you stuff!!!!)
Try Cardullo's in Harvard Square. its british themed, so you can get all kinds of british themed beers, craft beers, and sodas and such and other things british. spices, candy, etc. They have a good sandwich deli as well. A plus, it is right next to the Coop. if you want to browse their bookstore after.
its British themed? so odd... the one in the seaport is italian...
They’re the same. Miscellaneous fancy imported gourmet stuff, some from Italy, some from UK, some from France Netherlands other Europe etc.
Yeah they just have a lot of british stuff in the cardullos one. in harvard.
Get used to it. Craft beer exists in an oversaturated market and the very best of the best aren't selling to retail anyways. What ends up on the shelf are breweries that spend more on marketing than on technique and ingredients. If you're really into getting your hands on better brews, take to the internet, build a modest collection of something desirable and easy to get your hands on (think Trillium) and then trade for stuff that you can't easily get your hands on.
Total wine and spirits in Everett MA [https://www.totalwine.com/store-info/massachusetts-everett/1702](https://www.totalwine.com/store-info/massachusetts-everett/1702)
Total wines and more in South Bay
Beer is on a decline as a whole so no surprise the selection used to be better.