July 10, 2009
Originally reviewed 7/15/2008... Have heard a great deal about this place but never find myself in the neighborhood. Courtesy of a knee injury playing soccer and a trip for X-rays, here I am... Decent selection up and down the style map. Several previous vintages of Stone Anniversary, Vertical Epic and Old Guardian located in a "vault" give the place some charm. Good cold selection in the coolers as well as numerous craft products on the shelf way in back. Other than that, most items are available in other of the better outlets around the city. Edit: Y’know - a lot of the stuff looks like it’s been around a while - I expect it to some extent but certain things that may be hard to come by after only a few days in other stores tend to sit here for a fair amount longer, I’ve noticed. Edit: Service can be friendly at checkout; don’t usually see them while perusing the stock but that’s OK. One thing that’s weird is the eclectic music that you can find here - it’s usually blasting pretty loudly and can get a little disconcerting to an old fart like myself that’s clinging to the last vestiges of his 30s... For what I can see, prices are a little on the heavy side - may a buck or two up for bombers and sixers. Not a huge deal, but it would preclude someone from making a special trip. Solid outlet when you’re in the area. (Edit: This is one of those places that gets a lot of the new releases but really there’s not a whole hell of a lot that I can’t get somewhere else, and maybe for a little bit cheaper. So I check out the selection for stuff that may be gone in other places earlier but lately it doesn’t go much farther than that.)

March 26, 2009
Downtown is one of the better beer stores in the Boston area for those interested in finding something different. They have a pretty good selection of European beers with a Belgian selection that has been degrading of late. While the belgians may be in decline, it makes it easy to expore other fine beers from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, France, Italy, Poland and Russia... They also have a good selection of American micros - the beer area now extends father back and there are an abundance of warm, high quality miros from California, Colorado, New York State, Lousiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island...Help does not seem as attentive as in the past. They seem more interested in wine tasting area, and the beer section reeks of wine. Beer prices are on the higher side - what you pay for is selection. That said, I never leave with less than a case of beer that I’ve never tried before...

October 29, 2008
Has a great selection of American crafts and Belgiums. Has Founders, Victory, Port, Stone, Avery etc. Very pricey at least $2 more per beer. And the service is terrible!!! Don’t expect to get much help at least not without some attitude.

May 15, 2008
Standard beer store appearance. A decent selection, but a little scattered and disorganized. There were boxes and bottles all over the place. The help was busy drinking wine and ordering Bud Light when I was spending time browsing. Some real rarities, good Belgian selection, and decent local and regional offerings. Prices were a touch high (what isn’t pricey in Mass?).

August 6, 2007
Decent selection. Sometimes they put out cellared vintages which is nice. They have AC but it isn’t too strong, so during the summer the store is at least 80. Prices are high.

June 2, 2007
Quite simply, a great beer store - I discovered many regional brews I have never seen in other area store (some of which I’ve never even heard of), and scored some hard to find belgian stuff (that I also haven’t seen at other stores) such as oud beersel framboise - the tatooed kid behind the counter seemed to know his stuff - I went in expecting outrageous prices, but I wasn’t really shocked by anything, and some prices were even quite a deal (5.49 for Nogne O Imperial Stout) - this place is better than Charles Street Liquors, and has a better belgian and other import selection than Julio’s - this may become my only essential stop for beer when in town.

January 17, 2007
I’ve been here a few times. Service varies. Some employees are very knowledgeable, Some are not. Great selection, Bit pricey. Good Belgian selection. Would visit again.

September 4, 2006
Good ole Downtown Liquors in Davis Sq., Somerville, MA (my hometown). Much like Redbones, this is another gem in this town. They have a wide selection of unique beers (and wines). Back in 1988, they were the only liquor store in the area which carried and sold "Harley Davidson" beer. The service isn’t the best, but the selection of beers makes it worthwhile. They are always updating their stock and they sell singles of just about anything they have in stock. You will be able to find many hard to find beers here. Even though they are located in a busy area, parking is possible. There is also Davis Square T stop on the Red Line a stone’s throw away.

August 28, 2006
One of the two reasons(Redbones is the other) for stopping in Davis Sq if you’re in the area. Yes they may be a bit overpriced on some items and yes the staff can sometimes have an attitude, but this place has never disapointed me, I always leave with hard to find,high quality selections and they will sell singles of anything.

August 24, 2006
NIce place, good selection especially in the imported department (lots of Belgium beer). the price is variable...they do well in the Alesmith but others tend to be a bit overpriced. Regardless, the location cannot be beat and parking is not an issue even though its in Davis Square. Stop by, chances are you may see me