Comments on: What's the best packie in the Boston area?

Question: What's the best packie in the Boston area?

Mayor Curley — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:42:43 -0800

I have lived here for almost all of my adult life and don't know this-- What is the best package store in the Boston area for beer? I want something like Beers of the World outside Rochester, NY and I can't find it: beers from all over the world, and regional beers from the US. I know of some decent places, but nothing that makes me feel like I have just entered Mecca. Lets try to keep it in the 495 Loop, but I will drive further than that if the place sounds really fantastic. Baseball season is here and summer is coming so I am looking forward to some nice beer.

By: calhound

calhound — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:51:37 -0800

This might sound strange but what about Whole Foods? I don't live in the Northeast but as a beer connoisseur I found their selection about as good as it got when I lived in south Austin. They have the sales volume to move a lot of unusual beer.

By: ikkyu2

ikkyu2 — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:53:46 -0800

Blanchard's, at 103 Harvard St in Allston, is pretty serious about beer. Their keg list couldn't all fit on one page, last time I looked at it, and their beer selection was an adventure to wander around in.

By: MasonDixon

MasonDixon — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:54:25 -0800

Downtown Wine and Spirits in Davis Square is pretty good. They have a big selection of European and Microbrews.

You might also check out BeerAdvocate.com to see if they recommend anyone.

By: fet

fet — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:54:40 -0800

Colonial Spirits in Acton has something like 500 beers, as does Blanchard's in Allston/Brighton.

By: fet

fet — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:55:30 -0800

Oh, and Table & Vine in Northampton has over 500 as well.

By: pombe

pombe — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:56:06 -0800

Seconding Dowtown Wine and Spirits. I used to live right around the corner from them ... how I miss them now.

By: neustile

neustile — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:56:30 -0800

Not huge, but locally I go to Downtown Wine & Spirits in Davis Square and Wine and Cheese Cask near Inman.

By: jdl

jdl — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 10:05:32 -0800

Definitely Downtown Wine and Spirits.

Also Charles St Liquors on Beacon Hill has a huge selection.

By: whatzit

whatzit — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 10:08:20 -0800

at one point I was looking for really obscure beer for a present. every shop I went to and didn't find what I wanted, they sent me to either Charles Street Liquors (143 Charles St., Boston) or Downtown in Davis.

And when I asked for more recommendations at these stores, they pointed at each other!

By: Horace Rumpole

Horace Rumpole — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 10:12:08 -0800

Cambridge Wine & Spirits (nee Mall Discount) isn't quite as big as Blanchard's, but it's pretty good, and much easier to drive to (if you're as scared of driving in Boston as I am).

Also possibly of interest: Boston Beer Map

By: Sprout the Vulgarian

Sprout the Vulgarian — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 10:18:12 -0800

Kappy's in Wellington Circle.
When you walk in, turn right past the initial wine displays/bins, and check out the outside shelves of the last aisle on your left before the aisles become made of cases instead of shelves. That's where they keep their more unusual brews, including Chimays and Harpoon 100 barrel series.

By: Sprout the Vulgarian

Sprout the Vulgarian — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 10:27:58 -0800

If you're really serious about it, try calling and talking to someone over at the Beer Distributors of MA - if they don't know of places, then they can at least give you a name of someone to talk to at a major distributor.

By: saffry

saffry — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 10:34:10 -0800

Beeradvocate seems to be a great resource for finding local beer.

I know place that's pretty far outside 495, but if you're ever on the Masspike heading west, try Yankee Spirits in Sturbridge, Ma.

By: Plutor

Plutor — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 10:34:46 -0800

Let me throw in another vote for Blanchards. Also, their generic Blanchards brand vodka is amazing, especially considering its ludicrous (cheap) price.

By: ubersturm

ubersturm — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 10:59:13 -0800

Third Downtown Wine & Spirits. Lots of fairly obscure imported stuff, a good selection of American microbrews, etc. [I will admit I've seen good selections in Whole Foods in other parts of the country, but I have no idea which Whole Foods in the Boston area are permitted to sell alcohol. Not the one I've been to in Cambridge, at least.]

By: mkb

mkb — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:22:21 -0800

There's another Yankee spirits in Attleboro if that's closer to you!

By: inoculatedcities

inoculatedcities — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:23:59 -0800

As a former employee and somewhat (probably too-) frequent patron of theirs, I'd have to second the recommendation to check out Blanchard's in Allston. You won't be disappointed by their micro and international beers and the prices are fair. Marty's down the block also has a fair selection but it doesn't really compare to Blanchard's. Also be sure to visit the Blanchards location in Allston, not the other Blanchard's stores throughout the city as they are owned by a different group of people and the stock is likely to be different as well.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:33:01 -0800

I will admit I've seen good selections in Whole Foods in other parts of the country, but I have no idea which Whole Foods in the Boston area are permitted to sell alcohol. Not the one I've been to in Cambridge, at least.

The Whole Foods on River Street (Cambridge) -- one block in from Memorial Drive has wine and beer.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:37:15 -0800

Off-topic, but related --

Next weekend (Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14) is the Boston Beer Summit at the Castle at Park Plaza. Here's a list of beers that will be available.

By: blaneyphoto

blaneyphoto — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:46:38 -0800

Its way outside the range you'd probably be willing to drive, but if you happen to be in RI anyway then pay a visit to Wakefield Liquors. Definitely the best selection I've ever seen. They downplay it a bit on the website, but they've seriously got everything. Reasonable prices too.

By: olinerd

olinerd — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:50:19 -0800

I'm not a beer person, but I like going to Marty's in Newton for other alcohol, and I have friends who enjoy their beer. Their Mystery Packs are popular too. Some real losers, but sometimes real winners!

(And while you're in Newton, go two blocks down the street to get ice cream at Cabot's. Mmm...)

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:57:36 -0800

Lots of good responses, and fast! I'll investigate based on these!

(And while you're in Newton...)

The punchline is that I live in Newton.

By: buzzman

buzzman — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:57:58 -0800

Harpoon!

By: jeblis

jeblis — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 12:00:06 -0800

Beers of the World outside Rochester, NY

I used to love that place. Beers of the World, not Rochester, NY. Whole Foods has an OK selection.

By: olinerd

olinerd — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 12:30:36 -0800

Well, great, Mayor Curley. Ice cream for all!

By: Sprout the Vulgarian

Sprout the Vulgarian — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 13:03:21 -0800

I'm a big Harpoon fan, but they are not a diverse packie.

Now that I think about it, though, calling them would probably be a great way to find out about stores with good diversity of products, because they self-distribute in Boston. 888-HARPOON. The people who work there are really nice, so they'll probably be helpful.

By: Gungho

Gungho — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 13:27:55 -0800

Why go to a Packie? Boston Beerworks at Fenway and at North Station have Growlers to go. So does Rock Bottom in the Theater District.

By: feloniousmonk

feloniousmonk — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:00:39 -0800

You can also get growlers at CBC in Kendall Square.

If none of the above recommendations pan out, and that would surprise me, I'd go to Bukowski's in either Inman or Boylston and ask the bartenders. (Look for Max in Inman, first.)

By: hilatron

hilatron — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 18:14:03 -0800

I don't know what qualifies as "nice beer" for you, but my Belgian-beer-snob boyfriend likes The Wine Gallery in Brookline Village. A smallish selection, so perhaps not quite Mecca, but very well-chosen brews. And hey, it's just a hop and a skip away from Newton.

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 05:02:19 -0800

Blanchard's and Colonial Liquors are both very good-- I hit both yesterday. I'll go to Downtown Liquors as soon as I can be bothered to cross the river.

Really I want Beers of the World, but it seems like these are as close as I will get.

By: Gungho

Gungho — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 08:08:36 -0800

Also John Harvards in Harvard Square sells growlers. See the nice thing about growlers is you can taste the beer before committing to a 1/2 gallon. I have had drought beers and their bottled counterparts and there is a vast difference. So why not get the real drought when possible.

By: LilBucner

LilBucner — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 11:56:32 -0800

Bunghole Liquors, conveniently located in Salem and Peabody.

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:37:04 -0800

For the record, Martinetti's on Soldier's Field Road in Brighton has a decent selection at decent prices.

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:04:26 -0800

I went to Julio's Liquors on Rt. 9 in Westboro a couple weeks ago. Granted, it's pretty far west, but it's at least on par with Colonial Liquors in Acton. Even together they're not Beers of the World, but Julio's is worth a stop. So far my research suggests that Julio's and Colonial are tied for first with Blanchard's in third.