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Firefly Fine Wines & Ales
Category: Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
2857 Cambie StVancouver, BC V5Z 3Y8
Neighbourhood: Fairview Slopes
(604) 875-3325
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 11 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
23 reviews for Firefly Fine Wines & Ales
Review Highlights
"I loved the Enomatic tasting machine where I could taste up..."
(in 2 reviews)
"...staff, very different selection from the liquor store."
(in 3 reviews)
"A massive walk-in cooler full of hoppy awesome-ness."
(in 4 reviews)
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23 reviews in English
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Review from geoff a.
Vancouver, BC
2/13/2012
I have to say Firefly has the largest craft beer selection in Vancouver.
I've always been a big fan of Brewery Creek, which has a comparable section, but lacks the amazing walk-in freezer. One could easily spend enough time browsing the selection and mulling over the perfect buy to leave with a bit of a chill.
Today I walked away with a La Vache Folle Imperial Milk Stout and Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye. An excellent way to end the weekend! -
Review from Kathleen L.
Vancouver, BC
2/10/2012
After being kicked out of the Cambie Street BCL for my companion not having ID(I was purchasing and she was standing beside me), this store was like a gift from the beer gods. I marched up here steaming mad after such an atrocious situation at the previous store. I walked into Firefly and all my anger seemed to fly away. This place is truly heavenly. This is most likely the best beer and wine store in Vancouver. It really truly has everything you need. When I opened the beer cooler I couldn't believe my eyes. It's huge in its selection. It has all of my favourite hard to find California beer companies. It has my lambic lovelies. It has my British favourite ales. It has my Oregonian tallboys.
The staff was really friendly and helpful. I think they were used to people staring slack-jawed at the selection. It didn't seem to faze the dude working in the beer cooler when I walked around repeatedly saying oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, thank you, thank you, thank you.
I am really truly in awe of this place. I'm kinda sorta glad it's not so close to where I live. I think it might lead me to financial ruin if I lived close by. -
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
12/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Firefly is a beer fan's wet dream. Shelves and shelves, rows and rows of amazing beer and the prices are really good considering they are a private store and are bringing in some special beers.
In addition to a number of beers on the main floor, Firefly has a walk-in cooler with a number of other beers. This is great if you are going directly somewhere where you'd like to drink your beer without chilling it.
The staff are super friendly and the layout of the store is quite nice. They have a great selection of beer and wine and if you're ever confused the staff are more than happy to help.
I will say that I can't go in there without dropping $50 bucks on a number of different types of beer, and I have made it my mission to try everything they have but I don't regret any of it.
All in all this is my favourite beer shop in town! -
Review from Luisa D.
11/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I finally made it to Firefly and promptly had a beer boner once inside. If you don't mind paying extra for an amazing selection of craft beers Firefly is the place to go.
Not only is the selection incredible but they have a large walk-in fridge so your beer (or white wine) is ready for drinking once you've got where you're going. I was tempted by the mixed pack from Dieu du Ciel. It was $45 but really $3 a beer isn't bad when you're not paying restaurant prices. Instead we got a mixed pack of Paddock Wood, one bottle of Sam'l Smith Organic Cherry Ale (amazing) and a big bottle of Rogue Chocolate Stout.
They have parking but right now it's under construction. Load your meter 'cause it's going to take a while to choose from all the options. I'm giving them extra props for their name. It probably has nothing to do with the tv series Firefly but anything that makes me think of Nathan Fillion is a bonus! -
Review from Tai V.
Vancouver, BC
10/31/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Good, Good, Good. Open till 11 every day!
Hard liquors aren't expensive like at most cold beer & wines.
Ill be sad when I no longer live on this block -
Review from Doris L.
Vancouver, BC
10/10/2011
Very very helpful staff
but most importantly, they have a VAST selection and decent prices!
I love you, firefly fine wines & ales. -
Review from Peter S.
5/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not really sure why it has taken me so long to pay Firefly a visit?
This five star review of their beer selection was a no-brainer.
They've got an even better beer selection than Brewery Creek!
A massive walk-in cooler full of hoppy awesome-ness.
So many beers, so difficult to make a decision.
I settled on a limited release by Howe Sound (Grapefruit IPA).
Damn good!
I shall return very soon with a wallet full of Sir John A's.Listed in: Beer Heaven, Booze
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Review from Adam R.
Vancouver, BC
3/4/2011
Lighthouse Brewing! Samuel Smith's ales! Propeller Brewing!!! An inconceivable amount of other beers!!!!
For all ye who lament the sorry choice available at the gov't liquor shop, here be thy salvation.
Now go forth and partake of the malty goodness that is Firefly. -
Review from vanessa G.
Vancouver, BC
1/27/2011
Yup. I'm converted. Screw you BC liqueur and your archaic alcohol selections (don't worry i will still see you for spirits if i have to)!
I've been wondering how we haven't had a stores with unique or better selections from around the world. There are so many microbrews and we only get exposed to a few dozen.. well not anymore!
I wanted to do a belgium themed birthday for my boyfriend so i came here looking for a selection of belgium beers. They had a whole wall of of them! It made it hard to choose but so exciting because we get to go back and drink them all one by one.
One a separate note for the unexperienced beer drinker (which i once was) Belgium beers tend to have a higher alcohol content so when you are buying the individual beers the price may seem higher but it's actually not if you work it out you are actual getting a deal.
They had a ton of wines as well for you winos. -
Review from Darcy C.
9/22/2009 ROTD 2/17/2010
Firefly update ...
They continue to offer truly excellent service, with extremely knowledgeable and friendly staff, but they've re-organized to a more familiar "by country" organizational strategy for their wines.
Also exciting (although possibly not new) ... if you work for VGH, you get 10% off if you show your hospital id. Score! -
Review from Sheila W.
BC
Updated - 1/25/2010
My last update is now incorrect. They've reorganized the shop, given into 'the man' and gone to the usual way of organizing wines -- the familiar by-country method. So if you're looking for an Argentinian Malbec, they're now all in a row, instead of scattered around depending on whether the Malbec was spicy, black teeth or subtle.
Is it easier this way? Maybe -- if you know what you like. But if you're looking for something new you can always ask the staff. They have plenty of special wine in the $60+ category, but also plenty of weeknight finds in the under $20 group.
And they seem to match BC Liquor store prices. E.g. Punto Final Malbec is about $16 in at the government shop, same as at Firefly. Casal Thaulero Sangiovese is under $11 at both shops. That's a nice change; it makes me angry when private wine shops tack on an extra $2-4 to a pizza-pairing wine I know is barely worth $12 to begin with!
Also, getting to know the inside of their beer fridge has also got me hooked on many new styles of brews. Over 400 different labels? Yes please!!
They have expanded since my last review and now carry a fair range of spirits, including lots of nice scotch, Pemberton vodka, Victoria gin and other local/boutique/specialty booze.Listed in: Cheers to wine
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/21/2008
I love how this wine store is organized. Instead of choosing a country and then looking through it's… Read more »
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Review from Mike P.
5/27/2010
Friendly staff, very different selection from the liquor store. Cold room is great!
For a cold beer and wine store their prices seem very reasonable.
Sometimes they import these $20+ 6 packs that I can't imagine have much demand. They should stick to the unique stuff that's still reasonably priced... -
Review from Nadine W.
Vancouver, BC
1/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
This quickly became my favourite wine shop when it first opened. I loved the Enomatic tasting machine where I could taste up to six different wines while I shopped. Usually, I'd discover a new wine that way and end up buying more than I came for. I loved the way the store was arranged by taste. It was a great way to discover similar wines to my usual favourites, wines from other countries that I might not otherwise try because I'm partial to BC wines.
But now, the store has been reorganized in a more conventional manner, by country. Can't say that I like this, as I'm not as tempted to try the wines just by country. The Enomatic machine is still there for tastings (with glasses nearby), but the last few times I was there, there were only 3-4 wines to taste rather than 6. The selection of BC wines is great, the cooler has some unusual beers and ciders, and more recently they've begun carrying spirits as well. -
Review from Jeff B.
Burnaby, BC
10/16/2009
Where have all the good beers gone....sung to the tune of Van Halen
good one week, so-so the next. They seem to have less and less of a selection for micro-brews (that's beer speak for something with flavour) these days. Personally I'd still travel 6hrs to Portland, Oregon for my fix or at least a skytrain ride to Central City Brewpub, ok it's still Surrey for a Pale Ale or a Rasberry Ale.
Update: for the lower mainland it's right up there for selection. -
Review from Chere Michelle C.
Vancouver, BC
9/15/2010
My Guy and I love this place. We rely on the expertise of the salespeople, but NEVER feel pressured. We've been on a Malbec kick lately and also, on a tight budget....and with the help of the Firefly staff, we've sampled some amazing wines without breaking the bank. I never feel out of place here or pressured to spend lots of money. We love the fact the prices you see displayed INCLUDE taxes so you just walk up and hand over your cash and walk away feeling pretty good.
Once we exhaust the Malbecs we'll move on to another varietal and I have no doubt will receive amazing recommendations as well.
Store is laid out beautifully and the selection of beers from around the world is staggering as well. There is a huge walk in fridge, as well as one whole section in the store dedicated to ale.
I can't say enough about this place; love, love them! -
Review from Sachi M.
I'm not much of a drinker, but this place had interesting things. I bought a Belgian framboise beer. I had it today and it tasted pretty :) It had a crown and a cork!
I also noticed they have two kinds of Umeshu (plum wine) in the cooler room.
I didn't know there was wine sampling until I read the reviews. I'll have to go back with my friend who knows more about wines and loves beer. I think I'll get them a gift card for this store for their anniversary.
- $10 minimum for Credit & Debit (as of Feb 2010). -
Review from Mercedes G.
Vancouver, BC
10/31/2008
If fine wines and beer are your passion, Firefly wines will have you behaving like a kid in a candy store! Locally owned by two brothers, Firefly is a testament to what any good business should be, especially a fine wine and ale store. With a beautifully modern designed interior, Firefly encourages you to wander about and enjoy the experience.
The experts at Firefly will take the guesswork out of choosing a wine or ale and they have interestingly categorized not by country or name but by flavours and tastes. When my boyfriend and I stumbled upon Firefly, we had the store to ourselves and we were assisted to the 10th degree with our ale purchases. I am a fan of European beers and one of my favourites is Grolsch, with its pop-lid bottle that I remembered from my days living in England. I was so pleased to find Grolsch in its true form here at Firefly, especially because most stores now carry it in plain beer bottle form. It's just not the same!
Firefly also hosts wine and food pairings a couple times a month with catering from Figmint Restaurant, which happens to be next door! -
Review from Geoff B.
11/23/2009
Walked in here twice in the past few weeks looking for Phillips Brewing latest seasonal (Dirty Squirrel). The first time they hadn't gotten their shipment yet. Roughly a week later I bought the last bottle, and that's only because they had it squirreled away in the back and had only just found it before I walked in. Both times staff were very courteous and helpful, even though a beer lover like me probably isn't their main clientèle.
The whole place has a really chic vibe to it. Track lights everywhere and wireframe racks for everything. I was so single-minded in my search for the Squirrel I didn't even peruse the wine, but judging from volume and the other reviews it's pretty good. The regular beer selection is better than your standard government liquor store, but slightly less than the uber one in Oakridge. -
Review from Mari K.
Vancouver, BC
11/7/2008
Firefly is a bright, shiny wine store. They have a spacious, walk-in cooler and an amusing arrangement of local and imported wines organized by style, like "Sweet," "Spicy," "Crisp," "Suave," and "Teeth Stainers." The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and well supported by agency reps.
Weekly tastings offer two to four wines and ales poured by the producer or agency. Their Enomatic wine tasting machine holds eight labels and is always set on No Charge. -
Review from d f.
Vancouver, BC
8/18/2011
I stop into Firefly maybe once a month to pick up a Chilean Carmenere that the BCLB doesn't keep in stock. I really like their selection and find most of their staff very friendly, but unfortunately a couple of the younger male clerks have been repeatedly condescending to me. Now I know not to ask any specific questions if they are the ones on shift unless I want to be spoken to like a dim child. For example, one time when I asked if a particular Riesling would have that petrol scent I try to avoid, I was told that many "educated palates" found that character appealing and that I may want to avoid Riesling altogether if I didn't appreciate it. Ugh. It was a simple question that could have been answered simply, and if the clerk was unsure about the particular wine I was asking about, he should have said so. Suggesting that my palate was not "educated" enough to appreciate Riesling was unnecessary. I would probably shop at Firefly more often their customer service was more consistent.
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Review from Michael C.
North Vancouver, BC
3/5/2010
Can't speak to the wine portion, but if you like beer, make a trip here.
The selection is astounding, and the staff was wonderfully helpful and passionate about their beverages.
Proximity to the Canada Line seals the deal. -
Review from Vancity Girl M.
Vancouver, BC
8/30/2010
They have everything! Well beer-wise anyhow. Didn't look too closely at their wine selection. Staff is also quite friendly and had some good insight into the beers. They also provide tasting sessions for a small fee - I really want to go to one!
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Review from Lee N.
Vancouver, BC
3/17/2010
The choice of wines is very good and pricing is fair, I drop over when parked at City Square. I find parking around there difficult it is defiantly for locals. Their wine selection has matured since they opened, less bottles per wine more selection, it isn't on par with Kitsilano or Marquis but is working in that direction. They probably do well with walk over traffic from the hospital.
Listed in: Wine
