small selection of beer in the coolers. girardin geuze Fx2011 in stock. a few other local/regional special releases but nothing special. their deli store next door is more worth visiting.

I visit Tony’s ~1/week. From a beer perspective, it’s only a few cooler doors, 1 being entirely Belgians, and a few more for US and other countries around the corner in the back of the shop. While the square footage is probably 90% taken up by wine (and, IMO, the best selection in the area, particularly in the 12-25 dollar range), the beers are extremely carefully chosen and there’s not really a bad one on offer. Not the depth of a Tipsy’s or Lukas, but probably matches the breadth. Tony (owner) is as passionate about beer as he is wine, and has never led me wrong on either. He (and all the small staff) are always very keen to discuss the beers in great detail and make suggestions. While not beer-related, Tony’s Market may be the best food emporium in the Denver area. Certainly in terms of meat and seafood. The only plus to them closing the (food-only) Mineral location that was ~1mile from my house is that now I get to visit the wine/beer shop more often.

Tony’s Market might be the best place on earth. They offer a great selection of meats, seafood, pasteries, cheese, pre-made sides and gourmet selections. The Dry Creek location also offers a small wine and beer store. The store focuses primarily on wine but they have a nice selction of foreign beers which rotate seasonally. It is a small selction contained in one cooler. Beligiums, sours, lambics are the primary focus. They have about 20 X-Mas brews from around the world at Christmas. The staff is very helpful and knowledgable. Worth the stop if you are in the area. They often times have some beers that World Cellars or Davidsons don’t carry.

Tony’s Wine Shop, a one room cubicle of alcoholic joy, is nowadays dwarfed by the newest liquor marts and stores. Still, that’s part of its charm. Tony’s Wine Shop is actually an ancillary part of the larger though charmingly compressed Tony’s Meats, both of which exude an old world feel. While Tony’s Wine Shop does have a meritable selection of wine, it’s beer selection is a bit lacking, and then only because space is lacking. The brain behind the store more than makes up for a dearth of beers, however. His name is Tony too (no relation to the big owner) and his credentials are impeccable. Elite education, extensive experience abroad, and a broad smile all make him the most charismatic man I have the pleasure of knowing in the world of beer. He yearns for the day where he can dash away the cheap swill and fill those shelves with something better, but in the meantime he squirms and ekes a few bottles of the good stuff in between the crates of Corona, and all that is fine with me. A visit to this store should be focused on meeting the man himself, and tipping for the sagacious advice with a bottle of something nice. The more better bottles bought, the more he can supply. For now he’s under the firm thumb of consumer demand, but I hope someday he can find a venue where he can express his aptitude and talents to a gracious audiences with finer tastes.