January 26, 2012 [ Updated January 28, 2012 ]
Nice sized store with good selection for area. Decent selection for mixed six, but lots and swill mixed in. Prices seemed a little high. Nothing rare or hard to find, but I feel they did the best they could for what is available to them. Only place worth a stop in the area. Kind of like the Binny’s of central IL.

August 31, 2011
Hit this shop in February when I was in town for a convention. Very nice clean store in a safe part of town. They had a great selection of staples, and seasonal’s. Being in a smaller market they also had a number of breweries that are to small to support the Chicago market. Might have been the best part of the trip to Springfield.

July 8, 2011
Warehouse of booze. Not very friendly. Not a great selection. The prices are reasonable.

April 23, 2011
(Visited 05/2010): Visited this Friar Tuck on every visit to Springfield thus far. It is located on the southwest side of Springfield off Veterans Parkway and I-72. There is a fairly large lot out front. The interior is segmented by type of drink, with beer being in the rear of the store. There are coolers all along the back wall, and along the left side are singles, 4 and 6-packs, bombers etc. The store layout kind of reminds me of a smaller Bevmo. The beer selection is solid regardless. Lots of beers from the western part of the US including Lost Abbey, Stone, Rogue, Port, Ballast Point etc. In addition there are a lot of beers from closer to home (for me) like Three Floyds, Bell’s, Hoppin’ Frog etc. Imports from Belgium, Germany, Finland, UK etc are fairly abundant as well. The mix and match singles are pretty extensive and there is a good amount of cold beer available. FriarTuck also carries some homebrew supplies. Service has been pretty good on my visits. Someone will typically stop by and see if you need anything, and the people working the checkout are friendly. Overall having this place in walking distance of my hotel means I am always going to have something good on future visits and will need to remember to bring bubble wrap for goodies to share back home that I can’t find there.

October 19, 2010
Stopped in the Springfield Friar Tuck on the back from Chicago, and unsurprisingly, it looked exactly like the other Friar Tuck stores I’ve been to so far. The beer aisle made up the long aisle along the left wall, and the whole back cooler, with some end displays as well. So quantity is not an issue, nor is selection- I found a couple nice bottles I didn’t see in STL or Chicago- but inventory turnover is questionable. I can only wonder how long some of the beers have been on shelves here. As long as you’re not buying IPAs or other particularly time-sensitive beers, you should be able to find some unexpected things here. If nothing else, Friar Tuck is consistent in selection, service, and atmosphere in all of its stores.

October 9, 2010
I discovered Friar Tuck about a year ago....why did it take so long? The selection is extremely impressive, especially when you consider that you’re in Springfield. Prices are in line. I’ve found the service to be very good. I’m in Springfield a few times a year since I have family in town. Problem is, with EVERY shopping visit, I’ve gotten at least one thing that’s gone bad (seems to be a risk with IPAs and the like, sure, but every time??). One especially bad experience - paying (ignorantly - I thought it was a super-top-end beer), paying nearly $20 for a four pack of Arcadia Hop Rocket (couldn’t find it anywhere else and a friend recommended it), and it was bad. Ouch.

July 26, 2010
I alway enjoy stopping by a Friar Tucks if I am close to one. The place has a nice selection of singles for a decent price. I found some good beers for a good price. I also like the fact they carry homebrew stuff. Unfortunately the people that work here are idiots though. The two guys I talked to knew nothing about beer, or what they carried. Would stop by again though if I was nearby.

August 19, 2009
Visited over the weekend while in town for a wedding - I am always on the look out for two things, a nice mix a six seleciton and FFF. While not as great as Corral in Granite City with regard to the mix a six, they had approximately 60ish beers to choose from @ $10 a six and $35 per case - Their import and bomber selection was extensive as well - Most important I was able to get a bomber of FFF’s Dreadnaught which is not carried at the stores I frequent in Southern IL. Very nice store and I am going to be sure to stop there whenever I am in Springfield

June 15, 2009
The beer selection is fairly extensive, perhaps one of the best in Springfield. Got some good finds (some micro-brews and imports), but did not feel the beer was the main focus of the store.

May 29, 2007
I don’t pretend to represent this store. I’m just a part-timer. My ratings reflect the current averages ... nothing more, nothing less. If someone asks about carboys, yes, we stock them normally. While I intend to fix my own lack of knowledge in brewing/wine making, remember $ is short enough where part-timers feel the need to work 60 hrs a week, as opposed to the standard 40. Those who make their own beer/wine already know the startup costs AND the learning curve. To expect part-timers can spend their outside time - and foot the costs - for our own education is a bit much to ask, considering why we’re there in the first place. Complaining that staff at a liquor store doesn’t share your passion, budget, and time to research is myopic. Next, there’s no commission, and no financial incentives for me to direct customers to purchase anything. Simply, if it’s quality stuff, I discuss it. Next, regarding customers who’ve been treated rudely: There’s no excuse for this! However, for every incidence of bad customer service, I can also show you 50 people who ignore me completely when I ask to help, turning their heads as though I’m invisible. That said, if you’re treated badly ANYWHERE, I’d suggest you demand to see the manager, not just waiting to moan about it out here. If you choose NOT to make a complaint in any store when so treated ... growing a pair is always an option. ~Tim