I don't even know where to start. There's a reason they have such a low rating. Horrible attitudes, and really bad customer service. The way I saw them talking to a man of color, they also seem to be extremely racially biased. AVOID! read more

Great place, friendly, well stocked. Decent prices and good sales. I only began to explore wines. Wonder if they deliver?

New renovations are awesome. Very clean, open, and well lit. They have a huge walk-in fridge/freezer section which includes liquor based specialty cocktails in a can!! Lots of cider and beer options as well including lots of vermont based companies and common name brand options. Much higher quality vibe than before the fire and renovations read more

This place has excellent selection of beer and spirits. When I visited this past fall, they had many of the best known IPAs in Vermont. I picked up a case of Heady Topper, which was a plus. Parking is easy. Right next door or on the street. This is a favorite place for UVM and Champlain students. read more

If you want a four pack of craft beer , sure. If you buy a 12 pack or more , be ready for dented cans, empty bottles and cases that you'll find out when you get home have clearly been dropped and thrown around . Consistently terrible products read more

Avoid weekend nights when college is in session. The place is a mob scene. I used to love going here back in college. It was always so full of life and very busy which I (back then) happened to enjoy. However, overtime I have learned to enjoy a less hectic environment. So, I actually avoid going in here on the weekends. Instead, I will go any weekday or maybe, just maybe, and only if I absolutely have to, i will concede and go in on a weekend morning. The Bevy though is great overall. They have a large and great selection of anything and everything- which is important. I like being able to go in there and find just about anything. :) read more

Pearl Street Beverage - Raspberry wood chuck! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

I'll go into this saying that I realize I'm reviewing a liquor store on Yelp, which is embarrassing mostly for me. Reserved a keg. Went to pick it up. A line for days with some surly 20-something ringing people up at a glacial pace. Another 20-something jumped in and offered to take me at a separate register because I was there for a keg. Nice enough. I follow him. He proceeds to triple the time it takes to sign and pay for the keg because he's hammering down an egg sandwich at 11:30 am, mouth-breathing all the while, and then using the same unwiped hands to handle my ID/card/pen/etc. Annoying enough but whatevs. It's Burlington. Roll with the punches. Then they ask you to pay for the already inordinately priced keg. Except there's a catch. You can only pay IN CASH. For a keg that includes a deposit. They sure as heck don't tell you that when you order it on the phone. And as an example of how jacked up the whole process is, I ordered a pony keg (50 beers) and the grand total came to $165 with deposit. A keg of caviar wouldn't cost that much. When you inform them that no one in their right minds outside of coke dealers and mafiosos carry that kind of cash anymore, they shrug and point to the ATM right by the register. They say "there's an ATM right over there" as if you didn't get it. Coolest part? The ATM only lets you take out a max of $100 (the cheapest keg you can buy there, with deposit, is well over $100). So you pay the ATM company twice and your own bank twice just to get enough of your money out to fork it over to them. I sarcastically expressed my enthusiasm for the whole sham, to which egg sandwich dude replied "yeah, pretty sure our store set up that whole arrangement." Thanks, bud! Oh, and if you lose the very flimsy piece of pink paper they hand you when you get the keg? You lose your deposit. Ditto with returning the keg more than 7 days later. Don't waste your time coming here. Winooski Bevy is better in every way. read more

After I'd moved up here this place had become my default liquor store for it's good wine, good beer, and passable liquor selection. Hey, two out of three is still good! When I felt spendy (~$8) I'd fill up the growler with some rare or limited release draught they had that week. The guy who'd help me was wicked passionate about beer and eager to nerd out on the subject. The staff for the most part aren't terribly nice, or interested in doing anything except checking your ID and taking your money. Worse yet, their staff are tragically uneducated about ID Laws in Vermont and are so sick of college brats they are pretty unpleasant about it. If you show up with anything except a VT Permit or license, bring a back up in case the "laws" arbitrarily changed that day. I'm a thirty-year old guy, and I still get trouble here. I had the audacity to present a passport as ID and was rather viciously lectured on how I didn't understand the laws of the state. You win, miserable toothless woman. I'll just take the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution and my business to the Winooski's excellent Beverage Warehouse. BOTTLE REDEMPTION (An Addendum): I've come in a few times to redeem the bottles I bought. Every time has been a challenge. Even when I called in advance to confirm they were accepting bottles I'd get resistance and attitude from some staff and often be left waiting north of ten minutes for help. I'm not some hobo dragging in trash bags of rancid cans. The last time I dropped bottles off (after calling twice to confirm I could) the guy who helped thanked me for being the rare type who washes and sorts the bottles for them. He told me I could come back anytime during their advertised 10-6PM redemption hours and get help. And so I did the next week. If I treated just one customer at my job the way I was treated the last day I tried to drop off bottles, I'd have been fired on the spot. I'm not an unreasonable guy, and work in customer service myself. But I still can't believe how rudely I was treated for wanting to drop off two twelve packs of clean, sorted bottles DURING BUSINESS HOURS. (Pro-tip: for redeeming bottles go to Burlington Beverage Center - 208 N Winooski Ave). From now on, I'll take the long walk to reward a store that deserves my money. Sorry cool growler guy, I wish you could take you with me. read more

It's weird coming back to your college town after being away for a while! These guys were the go-to for kegs and the such at parties. Now that I'm back and looking to bring back some of the awesome beer scene that is VT, I found them much more sophisticated than the "keg of PBR" I used to associate them with. I had a super helpful working help me to bring back a couple 4 packs of a nice collection of local brews and I'm super excited to get home and try them all! Of course, they were out of heady topper, but that's not their fault! read more

Oh the humanity. Seeing a young 20-something girl puking her guts out in the parking lot at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon is kind of a turnoff. I haven't been in here in years (since college days many many moons ago). But, yesterday I was looking for something you can only find at a liquor store and in downtown Burlington your options are limited. To their credit, they did have what I was looking for and I've always been able to get a parking space. Anyway, the lines were short and thanks for the memories but I'm going to skip Pearl St Beverage next time I think. I'd rather drive to Winooski Beverage - better selection. I've thought about going in a few times over the past few years too and the crowd hanging around out front always looks a little too sketchy. Pass. read more

Probably the most rundown liquor/beer store in the Burlington area. Pretty dirty, inside and outside; watch fore heroin needles in the parking lot. Prices are higher than Winooski beverage; the cashiers are jaded due to the college kids. read more

If you're looking for a great selection of craft beer, look no further! Pearl Street Beverage has all the craft beer you need. If you're looking for liquor you can find just about anything here and there is a large wine selection. One of the best features: The growler bar! On your way to a party? Pick up a growler of beer fresh from the keg. They rotate beers frequently and try to put stuff on tap that you can't get in bottles. Attention Alchemist lovers: Pearl Street Beverage is one of the few places where you can get Heady Topper. But keep in mind that demand for these is really high. One time I even called ahead on my way over to reserve the last 4-pack. But fear not, fresh batch every Wednesday :) read more

Don't go on Friday Saturday nights while the UVM students are in Burlington! Crazy busy. Otherwise, it's a liquor store. It is what it is. read more

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The selection is okay, but the staff are extremely rude. I'm from out of state and have been going to this location for over 6 mos and two cashiers in particular make a big embarrassing show of "checking" my (actual) ID, saying how "good" it is and how it's "nearly perfect" except for a smudge on the signature or something similar, and *then* sell me alcohol. Other friends who don't have out of state ID's still complain about the cashiers here. read more

I've read through many of the criticisms of this place and I don't agree on everything. Service-wise, I have often been approached by a friendly employee wondering if they can help me find something. I'm not sure if this happens to others but *gasp*, it did to me! Their selection, while nowhere as robust as Beverage Warehouse, has improved by leaps and bounds over the years. PSB has the one thing that their competitor lacks and that's growler fills. PSB often has decent beers for take home in growlers and howlers at decent prices (when compared against Growler Garage and 802Brews). I have had one-offs from upstart Vermont breweries that were amazing on tap. Overall, PSB is an excellent stop if you're heading downtown or out of downtown and you want to see what's in store. read more

Oh, the downtown liquor store. It has served me well over the years. Lines can be sort of long at times, but I don't think that there is a lot that they can do about it. I appreciate all the little trinkets for sale by the register. Impulse-purchasing dice and ping-pong balls when really all I need is milk. Ah the good old days. All the liquor prices are controlled by the state, so I can't really criticize the prices based on their downtown monopoly. OK, I am just rambling now. read more

Well, looks like I'm not the first to experience horrible service here. Too bad I can't give zero stars. Hours should read Open - whenever our lazy employees feel like closing. I got there at 10:53, excited to be able to run in, grab what I needed, and make my purchase and be done before they were closed, so as not to inconvenience the people closing shop. The door was locked, I called, and was greeted with "Pearl St Beverage, we close at 11." "Yeah, I'm outside, you're closed, it's not 11." *quietly to other employee* "You're going to have to handle this." "Pearl St Beverage, we close at 11." "Uh... yeah, not 11, doors locked, what's up?" "My clock says 11." "Look at your phone. That's the real time, and it's not 11 yet." "Well our credit card machines are off." "Well I'm glad you guys get to go home a little early, why bother posting hours if you're not going to honor them?" and somewhere during that last part I was hung up on. I looked at my phone, and it was 10:55 I work in food service, I understand wanting to go home, but I think it's bull for even food service places to pull this kind of thing. A liquor store? No excuse. Like others have said, they've got a monopoly on the UVM/downtown/Burlington area and don't care about their customers. Go to Beverage Warehouse in Winooski. They're not open as late, but they're decent people. read more

I lived right across the street from this place (2000-2002), since I had two fridges in my apartment, they were like brothers to me.. case of budlight and a case of bud every weekend.. .. They are awesome.. long lines Thurs-Sun.. but they have all of your party needs at a decent price.. and.. if your house burns down, like mind did.. they will give you a free flashlight and a soda.. ;-) read more

If you're in the downtown Burlington area and need liquor, this is the place to go. They carry a diverse selection of beer, wine and liquor at half decent prices. The lines can sometimes be long and slow but be patient, this is Vermont. There is also a convenient parking lot adjacent to the building making for a semi-quick in-and-out stop. read more

Getting a keg here was a real hassle. I had to order it without knowing how much it would cost and was told to call back the next week to get the price. That was a little inconvenient but fine. I called back the next week, was put on hold, hung up on, lied to, the person who finally helped me sighed and said "oh god" when I asked how much it would be, then put me on hold again before someone could tell me how much money (cash mind you) to bring. I know it's a liquor store, but come on! I'm not getting a keg from here again. read more

Checkout is a less than desirable experience with the help being exceptionally rude. I guess verifying an out of state ID is like deciphering a Pakistani Passport. Decent selection of spirits and beer though. read more

As a weekly and mature loyal customer I went into Pearl st. Beverage this afternoon. I am in the process of moving to Maine and I saw that the customer in front of me had a box so I asked if I might be able to obtain a box for my purchase as well. I was told that they are only for paying customers, as i held 2 six packs and a pint but I brushed it off. I then asked if the pint that i had was what my boyfriend had asked for and it wasnt so she told me where to find it. I went to get it, came back and she had got a box for me which i thanked her (Holly) profusely. I was in an extremely cheerful mood and i think i made some sort of joke and apologized for being moderately high maintenance for I as well have worked in retail. When she (Holly) rung me through she had 2 slips for me to sign and i politely asked if she had inadvertently charged me twice. Like I said I had worked in retail and I know that it happens on accident. She (Holly) was extremely rude telling me that she was thoroughly offended that I would accuse her of stealing from me. I told her that was not the case but I needed to be sure since I was signing 2 credit slips and she again accused me of calling her a liar. This behavior from her came as a complete surprise sense she had cashed me through before and had always been very pleasant. When I got home I called her manager who explained to me that she had accidentally put in 2.13 instead of 12.13 so she had to run it again for the 10. Why couldnt she just explained that to me in the first place. The manager, who i did not get a name from also: and i couldnt believe it, told me that he had to be on the side of his employee even though he understood that her behavior was out of line. What the heck has happened to appropriate customer service????? Oh and it wasnt busy at all! Well there are plenty of liquor stores in Burlington and I will be patronizing them from here on out. I gave 2 stars for customer service but i would give 5 for variety. If i was the proprietor of this establishment I wouldnt fire her but I would think her to protest too much and have my eyeball on her and her cash drawer. read more

I walked in and the person working at the counter said, "You need to leave your bag at the front." When I asked why and offered to show her what was in the bag, she blatantly said, "store policy." I'm not sure if this is because I look young or because the employees at this place of business aren't taught to respect customers, but in a small town like Burlington, Vermont it's really unnacceptable to treat people this way. When you take away a customer's basic human right, like the right to their property, you need to be prepared to explain yourself. Telling me that it's just store policy is so out of place with the spirit of Vermont, so inhuman. Once I had explained to this middle aged woman that I was asking as a customer (I'm not sure in what capacity she thought I was asking her before.) She told me that it was because of theft. Then hilariously told me, "In all the time we've been doing this. We've never had a bag stolen. You don't need to worry." Maybe you guys should keep the alcohol at the front as well. Imagine going to a foreign country. A friend takes you to a local store where they ask for your bag. Your friend says this is totally normal, they do this at every store. You ask your friend why and he explains to you that its because of all the theft. You think to yourself, this country is fucked. Now, that's not a reality i want to live in, support, or help to create. I'm not sure why the owners of this establishment wish to create that reality. However, I don't think that matters if you can just show the customer enough respect to explain why you have such a policy. We are all empathetic people. We can respect a shop owners need to protect themselves from theft. There's no reason to treat me or anyone else like an idiot who should just do what they're told because it's some policy that the shop owner made up. Pearl street beverage is not Walmart. Learn how to treat your customers as human beings. Personally, I'll be going to Burlington Bay Market from now on, and I hope that people are willing to go the extra distance if it means not supporting such a shitty establishment. read more