Total Wine and More - Newport News

August 7, 2006 [ Updated January 7, 2007 ]
This is a chain across the region. This particular location is a bit smaller than the one I first visited in No.Va. ... but they still manage to present a pretty impressive array of both six packs and singles, particularly for regional micros. Just having moved to the area, I’d say that about 40% were new to me. For regulars to the area, of course, it may not be as unique. But I’d still say that the variety is very good for a neighborhood liquor store. This isn’t as obscure or exotic as Bon Vivant or Coastal, but for the every day buy, this is a good place to start. And their prices are significantly better than the boutique stores ... $2 cheaper per bottle for Weyerbacher specials, for example ($7.99 vs $9.99 at Coastal). They also had a pretty cool wine tasting going on the day we went and a far better than average lineup of basic-to-extravagant wines. UPDATE: After living here for a while, I’m becoming less impressed. WATCH YOUR RECEIPT ... I’ve been overcharged more than once. And today I heard one of the guys tell a customer that the difference between pilsner and lagers was one was top fermented and one was bottom fermented. Jeez ...

January 10, 2006
I’m rating this based on the Va. Beach location. The store is decent sized and caters mostly to wine but has a good selection of domestic micros and imports as well. This is accually where I first started exploring the world of "good" beer. some of the the staff at the Va. Beach store was very knowledgeable and in fact I became very good friends with the majority of them during the time i lived there. the store is mostly based on wine and therefore you’ll have to ask around to find an associate that knows beer, but each store usually has atleast one person with a solid knowledge base. they can custom order you anything that is on their distributor list, but you’ll have to ask them for a copy of the list. each store orders their stock seperatly so you will not find the same things at each location. They do ahve a fair cigar selection although it is not presented in a very consumer friendly fassion. It’s just a side by side humidor cabnet stuck on the end of an isle. I always had good experiances with any price discrepancies, often times getting discounts.

January 9, 2004 [ Updated July 2, 2004 ]
I’ve had some good deals here, but overall this place has been a MAJOR disappointment. The shelves are constantly unstocked/out of stock. The people I’ve spoken with usually have no clue when the beer will show back up. Prices on the tag versus the register price have been incorrect many times and when brought to the attention of the proper people, left unchanged for weeks. That said, this is the only place to find Samichlaus and SN Celebration in the area. I’m almost forced to buy things here at times. They have a above average selection of US micros as well and that has helped contribute to my ratings. Worth going to once in while, but do not get your heart set on finding beer nirvana. ****UPDATE TO THIS RATING: BEWARE! If you buy from them, check your receipt BEFORE leaving. I got hosed by them the other day. Bought two 6 pack build-your-own kits and on a couple of bottles got charged for a six pack rather than a single. Didn’t pay any attention to it even though the cost seemed high. It’s my own fault, but I wanted to give anyone reading this a heads up so it doesn’t happen to you!