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Brewery Creek Liquor Store
Category: Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
3045 Main StVancouver, BC V5T 3G6
Neighbourhood: Mount Pleasant
(604) 872-3373
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
27 reviews for Brewery Creek Liquor Store
Review Highlights
"Great selection of beers that are not available anywhere..."
(in 5 reviews)
"Vancouver Island craft ciders."
(in 5 reviews)
"...I couldn't be luckier to live so close to such a legendary..."
(in 3 reviews)
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27 reviews in English
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Review from Tom B.
1/23/2012
Clearly a great champion of the beer lover, in a funky, cool neighborhood south of downtown Vancouver. It looks like there's plenty of good food nearby, and there's certainly good coffee. There are antique stores on the same strip, and you could easily spend a morning strolling the area. If there's a beer lover or cocktail lover in your traveling party, please plan to make time for this shop.
It's kind of a regular liquor store with the prefab shelves, plenty of coolers, rails diving entrance and exit. You don't realize right away how specialized the inventory is. The staff are friendly, but I didn't need to pepper them with too many questions, so I can't comment on their level of devotion to industry knowledge or anything.
There are probably a dozen shelf blocks given to wine and spirits, probably half a dozen coolers given to chilled wines. A couple coolers given to ciders and other fruity drinks. Upstairs is the beer room, with three coolers full of west coast Canadian and American offerings. Around the corner are three more full of industrial lagers. There are a couple more coolers with foreign and more obscure/less-local domestics, and three shelves full of a variety of Belgians, along with many Cantillons and Mikkellers, some fairly obscure. A really nice lineup, though they could probably double it if they wanted to sell every conceivable beer available in BC--not that they need to, by any means. I walked out with a couple Mikkellers, a couple Cantillons, a few intriguing Canadian ales, and a bottle of Rum Runner from Sea Cider--*yeah*!
I was secretly hoping for some Raven Ridge Fuji, and, alas, did not find any anywhere in the tiny handful of places I went in the city. Might be cidery-only, for all I know. These guys gave me a beautiful case of treats to bring home to crack and reminisce about BC over. I'll definitely be back. -
Review from Melissa E.
Vancouver, BC
1/28/2012
For the love of all that is good on earth i have reached beer heaven!
Never been or heard of this place before but a friend wanted to get her grubby mitts on Philips limited edition Mass Extinction so we ventured in. I'm sure there are probably places with a better beer selection but I have only recently discovered my love for all things micro-brewed and this was an awesome intro.
Lots of selection from around the world but what I was most interested in was the BC and WA/OR offerings. What was supposed to be a quick pop in and out turned into a 30 min selection process that had me leaving with
- Philips Mass Extinction
- Russel's Blood Alley Bitter
- Rogue Juniper Pale Ale
Looking forward to heading back!Listed in: Beer me!!!, Drinks anyone?
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Review from Neil H.
Vancouver, BC
11/23/2011 8 Check-ins Here
If I had a financial advisor, he or she would advise me not to live so close to Brewery Creek. I have a lot of trouble not stopping in to see what's new any time I am close by, which is usually 2 or 3 times a week.
A few weeks back they somehow managed to wrangle a few bottles of Trappist Westvleteren 8 (http://beeradvocate.co...) in store. If you know anything about Belgian beer, you know how hard that beer is to get. That says a lot about their commitment to bringing people the best beers available. -
Review from Robin M.
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Look, it's a liquor store. There will be no poetic waxing and waning over the vast number of reds they have in stock (but there are hundreds, I'm sure), there will be no run-on sentences that gasp for air as they profess undying love for the knowledge of the staff (though they do know what they're talking about), there will be no unnecessary meandering through literary prose as I lay out the facts of this fine establishment.
It is just that: a fine liquor-selling establishment that stocks plenty of good reds, a whack of fine cold whites and a fairly decent beer selection -- all within a reasonable price-range.
Also, it's located pretty damn close to the park on 7th. Bike rides, Brewery Creek and the park on 7th = the best kind of summer inevitability. -
Review from Peter S.
5/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Another case of too much hype? Or the legend not living up to the hoppy reality?
I walked in expecting to be floating on frothy beer foam clouds, with barley angels greeting at the door, and malty aromas wafting about. But... sadly beer heaven was just not that awesome.
It was more of a wine store with a section of beer tucked into the back corner.
Hell ya, there are some awesome beers here, with a few that I have never seen in Canada. But I couldn't help feeling totally underwhelmed.
4.6 stars for the Creek!Listed in: Beer Heaven, Booze
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Review from Aaron S.
5/19/2011
If this review was done four years ago when I first came across it it would be 8 stars. We didn't even have Yelp in Canada and you can't give more than five stars. Thats how much different this place was. I would marvel at the selection of beers that were not offered by the LDB. I would weep at their insanely high prices. It was for the greater good I would say between wiping my eyes. These beers can be only had across the border. They are providing what the government will not.
Well, fast forward a few years and the government has actually gotten their shit together and now offers much of the same choices of craft brews that Brewery Creek once had cornered the market on. A recent visit left me feeling less than impressed. Mostly because a lot of it was the same as it always was. Sure there were some new choices but not nearly as much as I was expecting.
This place is beloved by many in the city and certainly anyone who lives in the area is a fan. I don't dislike it, but I am saying I'm not nearly as in love with it as I once was...................... -
Review from Luisa D.
5/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My husband's words "I'm glad we don't live near here. I'd be here all the time. My mouth is watering." This was due to their amazing selection of beers and ciders.
The staff are really friendly too. Prices are a little high. -
Review from Daniella F.
Vancouver, BC
3/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
This store has an amazing beer selection. There's a bunch of Portland and Seattle beer, which is pretty cool.
Like many of the other reviewers, I'm always a bit bummed by how expensive the beer is, but, it's Vancouver. Just because a beer costs $4 in Portland, doesn't mean it's going to be less than $8 here. /le sigh/ Long story short - I think the beer prices at Brewery Creek are reasonable for the city.
That said, I accidentally bought an $18 bottle the other day. It *was* delicious, but might have been put in the wrong place on the shelf, because I thought it was going to be $8. -
Review from Derek W.
1/3/2011
I go to Brewery Creek for the staff and the selection.
The management and staff at Brewery Creek clearly care about good liquor and beer, and give a thoughtful nod to wine as well. I don't think I've ever purchased liquor here without having a conversation with staff about whatever I'm buying - either at the counter while I'm making the purchase it, or while making my selection. They just like to talk about why what I am buying is good, or recommend alternatives, which enhances not only the buying experience, but the sipping experience later as well. And an informed consumer can become a connoisseur.
The liquor selection is standard liquor store, but spotted with little extras to keep things interesting. I found a bottle of The Kraken dark rum here after looking for months around town - even the Cambie BC Liquor store didn't carry it. And the beer selection superior to just about everywhere for domestics, and competitive with the signature BC Liquor stores for imports. Be sure to ask a staff member for recommendations.
On the downside, they can't compete with BC Liquor Store prices, with a premium of about 10%. But they're also open until 11pm, so 10% may be a completely reasonable surcharge if you are looking for a great selection of beer between parties. -
Review from Shannon B.
Vancouver, BC
12/19/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Brewery is so refreshing to have on Main st. This is not your typical cold beer and wine. Great selection of beers that are not available anywhere else.
A nice variety of specialty spirits. Can't wait to buy some mamajuana!Listed in: In the 'hood
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Review from Sam L.
12/20/2010
BEER!
Phew I got a little excited there - in fact I'm drinking a bottle of Coopers Lager right now that was picked up from this fine establishment earlier this evening. I've been coming here since pre-expansion when the place was the size of my bathroom (see: tiny). Still, they managed to cram an incredible amount of hard-to-find beers (yeah yeah yeah, wines too) into a shockingly small space, but once they expanded, it was off the charts. The staff are knowledgable and friendly, and the plastic bags you get from here make PERFECT kitchen under-the-sink garbage bin bags. Although they no longer sell my favourite beer (Vieille Provision Saison Dupont) I still come back far too often to be healthy for their fine selection, whether it's a rare euro treasure or a guilty PBR pleasure. -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
8/3/2009 1 Check-in Here
*Rapped to the tune of Bart Simpson's Original Rap Song*
Give me a beer!
Well...you're looking for beer, of the micro brew variety, this is your place. And is that Rogue and Pike Place?
"Let me start at the start then take it away
The name is Brewery Liquor Store C
That's Brew with a rew and a capital B
Then wine plus beer, yay that's me.
Introductions aside, let's move to the cooler
You can all drink along at the sound of the "tssst"
Once upon a time, about a week ago
All of a sudden the thirst started to show
The heat was sizzling
I was sweltering
Supposed to be working but I was refusing
To let the heat wave become an intrusion
'Cos in frothy-beer-land, I was drinking
But the heat kept coming,
My head kept buzzing
Ran for the cooler door and felt a cold explosion
Looking for the staples but to my surprise
There stood beers of all sorts of size-s
I was jumping
I was joying
Things got distorted because there were so many
Raspberry's my fave
Brewed by so many
But how to decide? With the help of the beer guys!
I said "Which one to get?"
They said get them all
I said a taste test?
And they said that's the spirit!
Get going, drink them all and report back to us
What you like the best
Cos if you don't we won't know what to tell the rest!
Beer! Sweet Tasty Beeeeeer!
Beer! Sweet Tasty Beeeer!
Just in case you wanna sing along with the dorkiest rap song ever! http://www.youtube.com... And yes, the answer to your question is yes, I remembered this song!
PS. There's free parking in the back! -
Review from Chris B.
Vancouver, BC
8/18/2010
Every beer geek has their second home. A place where they can talk shop, grab the latest beer literature, and stock up on the best bottles available. Although a few of the private liquor stores have hopped on the craft beer bandwagon, none do it quite to the level of brewery creek. With over 300 different beers to choose from I often find myself sitting and staring at the coolers for a good 20 minutes before I even start to narrow down what I am going to purchase. Although tedious, trust me when I say, this is a very good thing. The staff in the store are knowledgeable, the selection abundant, and best of all they give a 10% discount for CAMRA members.
If you're not a beer geek you're still in for a treat if you make a trip to Brewery Creek. The hard alcohol selection is very respectable for it's size, offering some of the best premium local products on the market. The wine selection is quality from what I gather, however I know far less about wine than I do beer or liquor, so I'll have to take other patrons word for it. -
Review from Brian G.
Surrey, BC
8/23/2009
Brewery Creek is the best liquor store around. Well at least for beer selection, not sure about the rest, as I mostly drink craft beer and rarely drink wine or spirits.
It seems in BC our beer selection is lacking. If you look at most cold beer and wine stores they carry the large macrobrews and a couple selections from some of the larger microbrews, but that about it. Actually if you go across the line, you will notice that every corner store actually has better selection. Well Brewery Creek is quite different, when I go their I feel like a kid in a candy store. I can easily take 45 minutes making my decision. Which is good, because it makes my 45 minute drive in from Surrey feel well worth it. Great store. -
Review from Kreag S.
Vancouver, BC
1/2/2009
It breaks my heart to have to say anything bad about a liquor store..and today my heart is broken....
So I get it...this is not a government liquor store, it's an independently owned one..awesome..more power to you..but riddle me this..why is everything like $10 more here then it should be??? A mickey of Baily's cost me $26 when I could have bought a 26er for less down the street..what's the deal???
I will give them props for a great beer selection but unless you have series green then I wouldn't even waste my time....I don;t know how the hipsters afford to buy their booze here but I would love to know their secret...Listed in: Just Skip It
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Review from Chris R.
4/26/2009
My review of Brewery Creek pertains only to their beer selection , which is fabulous (they also sell wine and spirits). The owner Gerry and his staff are very friendly and knowledgeable; their recommendations have always been good too. They have all of the best local beer and also work hard to overcome our liquor bureaucracy and bring in the best from the world at large. You will not find a better beer selection anywhere else in BC.
The one knock you might have against Brewery Creek is that it is expensive. However, if you are serious about beer, join CAMRA Vancouver. Members get special discounts. -
Review from Kat S.
3/29/2010
I was tempted to give 5, but held off because of the price point. But they get top marks for selection!
I used to live near this place when it was still just the tiny beer store. Now that they have expanded they have so much more to offer.
Why do I like this place so much? In no particular order:
1. Staff are knowledgeable and helpful. Looking for something in particular? They will help you find it and if they don't have it will find out if they can get it.
2. There used to be a friendly dog that was there (any business with a resident pet makes me happy) - haven't been in a while, so not sure if the dog is still around, but they keep treats at the counter for any visiting 4-legged customers.
3. They carry gluten-free beers which are labelled as such. For a while I was trying to be gluten free due to some (nonexistent) allergies and was desperately missing beer. Hurrah for the selection here!
4. The great beer selection. I just wish they would get Fat Tire.
5. Vancouver Island craft ciders. Yum.
6. These guys saved boxes for me when I moved. It was sweet.
If only I still lived around the corner. Sigh.Listed in: Main Street Favourites
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Review from Alex B.
East York, ON
10/1/2010
Looking for a beer the gov store at kingsgate mall doesnt have? then look here!
Their selection is not bad and I recently spent too much and enjoyed some yank beer from this store.
Thanks for that! -
Review from Malloreigh M.
Vancouver, BC
11/26/2010 5 Check-ins Here
It really doesn't get better than Brewery Creek. Easily the best beer selection of any cold beer & wine I know in the city - and the wine selection is great too. I go here primarily on Sundays, because the law requires them to charge more than BCL, but I never feel like I'm suffering.
Listed in: Just One Drink
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Review from Daniel L.
11/17/2010 10 Check-ins Here
The very best beer or bier selection in town hands down... Better than any BCLD location, huge Belgium bier section.... Some other Yelper says over 300 to choose from I think thats a little high, maybe thats how many they have imported over time.... I would guess 75-100 varieties on the shelf.
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Review from Sheila W.
BC
1/7/2009
This is more of a place to go for beer than for wine. They have a wide selection of beer, especially BC micro-brews. But there are also some fine American micros and other international fizz.
They have a fair selection of wine -- good enough selection to pick out something nice ... but nothing to give you the kid-in-a-candy-store feeling. There's a lot of below-average cold-beer-and-wine-store plonk at prices higher than the BC Liquor Store. So if you're looking for a cheap bottle of Yellow Tail or Painted Turtle, head to the government shop. But if you want to spend $30 plus on a bottle, there are some nice choices.
I think it might be hit-or-miss with the staff here. I overheard a staff member giving great service to a couple who were looking for a nice bottle of wine to give as a gift. They wanted so spend in the $50 range. We picked up a bottle of $35 BC bubbly, without help, waited in line at the check out, were shouted "NEXT" to and when we paid with a credit card the woman slammed the pen down on the counter for a signature and scowled at us. She asked for a second piece of ID and complained that it wasn't BC-issue (my friend paying isn't from here), which is kinda rude. How can you have a BC license if you're just visiting?
Beer lovers should check it out. Wine lovers might prefer to keep looking. -
Review from Sylvia S.
Vancouver, BC
3/13/2011
Love it!
Nothing beats having a great liquor store in your neighbourhood, especially one that's open late (11pm). I've yet to be disappointed in the selection or the staffs suggestions.
Being a private liquor store, the prices are going to be higher. It's not as bad as some other private liquor stores, especially on their beer and wine. Spirits, on the other hand, you can definitely notice the price difference.
Also, there is one cashier in particular that has a sour attitude. The other 99% of them are cheerful and pleasant.
Definitely will be going here often! -
Review from Vincci L.
11/23/2009
I come here on my days that I shop at the cool boutiques on Main. Free parking in the back is a bonus.
They carry my all time favourite wine, THE Balthasar Ress riesling.
Enough said. -
Review from beki L.
Vancouver, BC
5/18/2010
aahhh....back in the day..when i was guzzling down liquor with no worries and idea what it was doing to my insides.... ahem, anyway.
great wine selection...they always have my favorite red that never disappoints- wolf blass yellow label.
and if you venture to the back, you will find yourself in a wonderland of beer! not a huge fan of beer myself, i used to get my 2 bottles of red and pick myself up a nice tall can of something 'different' each time. i love trying out funky canned beers with names i can't pronounce and forget the second im done.
oh, i miss the days of drinking....le sigh~
the only downside, liquor ain't cheap here. but because it is so close, convenience has a price! -
Review from Rich B.
9/21/2009
I like beer, wine and cider so living in British Columbia with its stupid liquor laws, condescending monopolistic distribution and obscene taxes is generally frustrating. Brewery Creek Liquor Store sells as many delicious and fascinating beers as I have found anywhere this side of a rather unusual Four Points hotel I once stayed at near LAX, and it sells them at an appropriate temperature thus making being a BC booze-lover a little less irritating. Thank you, guys.
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Review from Ali L.
Montréal, QC
11/19/2009
Vancouver has a couple good beer stores, and Brewery Creek is my favourite of them all. Hefeweizen please!
Beer lovers know how sad the beer options are at a typical BC Liquor Store. You walk in and there's a couple cases of Kokanee and Molson and other macrobrews in the fridge, some Stella and Heineken, and representing the microbrewing world, Granville Island Brewing. This horrible selection is enough to make one turn to drink, but then there is nothing worth drinking, which makes for horrible agony. Not so at Brewery Creek! Brewery Creek has a decent selection, which makes buying the beer almost as fun as drinking it. Santé! -
Review from Tara T.
BC
11/13/2008 1 photo
This is my local bottle shop and I couldn't be luckier to live so close to such a legendary store. Brewery Creek recently renovated their small store. It is now much larger and user-friendly, which is great as they now have room to bring in even more hard to find beverages. This place is known for its vast selection of beer, which might have something to do with the owner himself being a bit of a beer nerd. Brewery Creek is one of the few places in the city where you can grab a six-pack of Australia's Coopers and you'll find a plethora of BC craft ale as well as American micros including Rogue, Pike, and Fish Tales. I'm not a beer connoisseur, so I'm not completely sure what other beers are available, but some look like they're from medieval times and I've never seen them anywhere else in the city. The staff here are also very friendly and helpful and if you're a lover of wine I highly recommend Chat en Oeuf (although I don't believe this is exclusive to Brewery Creek).
