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American Beer Distributing and Thrifty Beverage Center
Category: Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
256 Court StBrooklyn, NY 11231
Neighborhood: Cobble Hill
(718) 875-0226
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bergen St (F, G)
Carroll St (F, G)
- Hours:
Mon 2 pm - 7 pm
Tue-Thu 11 am - 7 pm
Fri 11 am - 8 pm
Sat 10:30 am - 6 pm
Sun 12 pm - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
36 reviews for American Beer Distributing and Thrifty Beverage Center
Review Highlights
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"Amazing selection of craft beers, hefeweizen, hard cider." In 3 reviews -
"Great place to find the hard-to-find." In 3 reviews
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"This place is a beer/ale drinkers dream." In 4 reviews
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36 reviews in English
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Review from Jules D.
Brooklyn, NY
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of the real hidden gems of Brooklyn. By far the most extensive selections of beer in the city and the best prices too.
Kegs, mini kegs, imports, you name it, they probably either have or can get it.
You could literally spend an hour in there looking at all the different brands. Plus they sell mixers as well. -
Review from Valery C.
1/9/2012
I have Beer Advocate to thank for pointing me to this beer distributor. Besides wanting to find a reliable beer purveyor with an interesting selection to satisfy my own home enjoyment, I was actually in a bit of a hurry to pick up a few Duvel gift sets to give away as a present for Christmas. Buying it online proved challenging. Getting to New Beer Distributors on Chrystie, which required finding parking nearby, was likewise challenging. Bierkraft gets all sorts of praise for selection, then heavy flak for pricing. Then guess what turns up? An unexpectedly spot in Cobble Hill, doesn't seem to fit in the neighborhood, but their wares are a win.
I drove over after work and pulled into a spot right up front. Looks like a warehouse, with requisite lift trucks moving beer in bulk around outside, and not inviting to the casual pedestrian. But if you know to walk right in, its bright and spacious inside, still sporting warehouse chic, nothing fancy. The beers are mostly stocked on the right side. I roamed up and down the aisles, very pleased with the selection I saw. Separated by region, they have big bottles for many of the imports, glass six-packs for most domestics, an impressive stock for both. The Duchesse de Bourgogne, Southamptons, Captain Lawrence, and just about all the Hitachino Nests, to name a few I don't see often. Staff are forthright, down-to-earth, and know what they have.
Prices seem reasonable to me. My new go-to place to pick up beers, not too far from home. And the recipient of the Duvel gift sets was quite pleased too. -
Review from Wes D.
Brooklyn, NY
2/1/2012
Best beer store/distributor in the park slop/gowannus/cobble hill area. They have a sizeable selection of craft, micro and macro brews at very reasonable prices. This is where I come to stock up on craft and microbrews.
They offer growler fills, singles, 6 packs and cases and do a good job of keeping up with the seasonal offerings. Prices here are much better than at specialty beer stores; but unlike the specialty shops they just sell beer. -
Review from Jonathan B.
Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY
2/18/2012
Great drafts
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Review from Donna F.
9/20/2011
I've passed by this store a million times, not thinking anything of it as it seemed to be some kind of warehouse and as a neighborhood, BoCoCa is teeming with wine shops but, beer? well, let's just say, I was going to Rite Aid for the stuff. Then I yelped Beer in Cobble Hill...
I, myself, am a snobby wine and beer drinker as I spent my college years in the finger lakes region surrounded by Finger Lake wineries and Ithaca breweries. Needless to say, a Bud doesn't quite do it for me. Thankfully Yelp heard my prayers with this place. A gem.
At the American Beer Center, you can pick and choose your beers or buy caseloads for a fraction of the price. I have been in a pumpkin ale mood lately and chose six types for me and some friends to sample over dinner. When we figured out which one we all loved, I got a couple of them for our next dinner and some more to sample. Perfection.
Along with the amazing selection of beers, ciders and some other thrifty beverages, the service is great, the sellers know their beer and always have a smile. Yelp, you do me proud. -
Review from Victor S.
10/31/2011 44 Check-ins Here
This is a candy store for adults. Captain Lawrence, Davidson, Avery at the growler station. Allagash, Chimay, Unibroue bottles.. Even PBR and High Life. As you can tell by the number of check-ins, I have a thing for candy.
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Review from gordon m.
Brooklyn, NY
10/23/2011
Chances are if you're on this page you already know the secret. Its a fantastic beer distributer where function trumps form. They sell beer. Period. Expect nothing fancy. The exterior is designed mostly as a loading dock and as such is about the most unwelcoming and generic storefront as to be invisible to most people walking by. Station people on the sidewalk a block up and down on court street and ask 100 people passing by "Did you pass a beer store?" and 90% will say "no." They could cutesify it but I dont really care, just improve the hours and keep prices low. The growlers are where its at.
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Review from Amber B.
Brooklyn, NY
4/9/2011
Forget the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, or even Serendipity. When my friends come to visit, THIS is the tourist attraction.
If they don't have it, they get it for you. If they have it, they'll go downstairs and get it COLD for you. Great specials, unbelievable selection, and carts you can take to schlep your selection(s) home with you. But who needs carts when you're as JACKED as me, and live right around the corner?
It's fine, be jealous. -
Review from Sharon C.
8/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great place to find the hard-to-find. Amazing selection of craft beers, hefeweizen, hard cider... domestic and imported... VERY interesting. Unfortunately, no bargains. And no air conditioning; odd for that neighborhood but common for a beverage distributor.
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Review from Peter D.
4/26/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Hooray beer!
Remember that Red Stripe commercial? That's all I can think about when I walk in the doors of this place.* It's a shrine of suds, a hallowed hall of hops, if you will. They have EVERYTHING.
Actually, that's not true. But out of all the different brews I've ever tried to find here, they've only let me down once, and it's because Dark Matter isn't available by bottle. But I'm not upset about that; because in reality, there are only two things that perturb me about American Beer Distributing and Thrifty Beverage.
1. The name. It's not catchy, and I'm into the whole brevity thing. From now on, I'm going to call it "Steve's." Not for any particular reason. I don't know what the owner's name is, but it could be Steve. Now that I think about it, it probably is Steve.
2. Steve's is not next door to my apartment, and I'm violently jealous of my friends that live around the corner. They don't deserve Steve's. Or my friendship. But then again, no one really does. Some people are just lucky enough that I deign to talk to them.
__________
*You know those bells that go off when you open the doors to certain establishments? Wouldn't it be great if a beer store just said, "Hooray Beer!" every time you opened the door? How has no one scooped me up and paid me millions for ideas like this? -
Review from Metsuc K.
Brooklyn, NY
This is a great place for hard to find beers and ciders! I found a belgium grimbergen beer here thats made by the monks. I havent been able to find that in years. Also carries numberous other beverages, but not wines.
Prices are very reasonable for the area.
Sells Kegs too. -
Review from Lisa Q.
6/15/2009
Oh my sweet universe.
I've died and gone to beer.
Sit back with your eyes closed. Not all the way, you have to read the rest of this. Now, imagine a spacious room with every type of beer in the world like in the Matrix where they can plug in a floppy disk and all the weapons would come out on metal shelves.
Okay, open your eyes. THIS IS ABDTB.
I can't believe I've found this place *hic*. You can't find better deals or better beers--- they have all the variations of dogfish head beer. Omfg, I want to move to Brooklyn and I want to live right above this store.
I'm not even joking, I've cleaned out my growlers and have started looking on Craigslist. If you're ever in the neighborhood you've GOT to stop in here... it's amazing--- you'll feel like Alice.
Just be cool, don't jump up and down and let out a high pitch squeal when you find Pivovar Basta like I did... they're too chill for that shiznit.
You really have to go, it's paradise.Listed in: If there is a heaven...
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Review from Justin L.
Brooklyn, NY
8/4/2010
It
Is not
Inviting
At all but go
For a wide beer selection on the cheap.Listed in: Court Street Guide, Growlers NYC
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Review from Matt E.
10/9/2008
Top 6 Tips on how the American Beer company could get 5 stars:
6. As great as the beer selection is, it's not amazing, there are a lot of fairly common beers that are missing here making this not a one stop beer shop.
5. Clean up your act a little more and feel less like a Beer Flea Market
4. Stay open more hours, like past 6 on a Saturday
3. While you are stocking things make some signs that tell people where things are (i.e. Belgium Beer, Greek Beer, Local Beer, above their respective places), you've got most things grouped together already why not let us appreciate it and help us out by making those signs.
2. Hire a friendly helpful staff.
1. Drop your prices a bit, $10 for a locally brewed 6 pack is perhaps not the greatest deal, if you had your beer priced at a great deal I'm sure you would have more than enough business to make money.
Top 5 reasons the American Beer Co has 4 stars...
5. They're in a beautiful area of Cobble Hill across from a nice movie theater and is only 2 blocks from the Bergen St F/G trains.
4. They have Kegs
3. They allow you to borrow a shopping cart to bring your heavy purchase to your car or home (if you're close) for free as long as you leave an ID
2. They take credit cards
1. They have a few beers on tap where you can buy a big glass jug (believe they have a 32 and 64oz bottles and maybe one smaller) and fill them up for a very very low price -
Review from Neilson A.
Brooklyn, NY
1/3/2007
Not as big a selection as Bierkraft but much better prices. They have a lot of good lesser known domestic micro-brews which are mostly reasonably priced and a pretty random selection of imports. Try the oatmeal stout made by the Anderson Valley Brewing Company, it's the only oatmeal stout as good as Samuel Smith's. They also have "growlers" (refillable glass jugs) which you can fill with one of two beers, usually including one made by the Sixpoint brewery, which is based in Red Hook.
The two drawbacks to this place are:
1) The prices are still a little steep.
2) They close really early on weekends. -
Review from Unhappy P.
Brooklyn, NY
1/26/2012
I shopped at this store for over ten years. Kegs for parties to specialty beers. I was treated unprofessionally and completely disrespected. I will never spend another dime here or refer them for any kind of business. Very upset and disappointed. Does anyone know a good craft beer store in carroll gardens / cobble hill area?
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Review from Castor T.
Brooklyn, NY
7/25/2011
Prices are average, but the selection is unbeatable!!!
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Review from J R.
Brooklyn, NY
7/27/2007
Craft beer! Whoever the buyer is actually likes beer. I found my favorite California micro-brew here (which is difficult to find even in Cali). When I was last there one of the guys was offering local suggestions based on what I like - two of his three suggestions made it into my beer pool (not an easy feat).
I dig it because it's close to one of my jobs, but they seriously need to look at staying open later, and expanding the selection just a smidge.
But, all in all, it's well worth a visit. -
Review from Matt M.
Brooklyn, NY
7/14/2010
Large beer selection.
$10 Growlers. Fresh beer and economical. -
Review from David N.
Brooklyn, NY
2/6/2011
So if you can't tell from my other reviews or the business I run, I'm a beer guy. Living close to this treasure is part of the reason I love this neighborhood. The beer is cheap and they carry a lot of great craft beer. Growler fills for $10 is pretty much as good as it gets too. My only complaint about this place is that I feel like they put some old beer in the retail section to unload and beer actually does need to be fresh, well most beer does. So I have picked up a few beers here that weren't as fresh as they could be. Nonetheless, this is a great resource and my go to place for beer.
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Review from dave c.
Brooklyn, NY
3/6/2008
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Review from Benjamin H.
Brooklyn, NY
2/5/2007
This place would easily get five stars if their hours didn't suck. Only open until 7pm during the week? And 6pm on Saturday? What's the point? They have an amazing selection and good prices, but I pretty much never go there because they're invariably closed when I need good beer.
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Review from A S.
Brooklyn, NY
7/7/2010
I can't even think of this company without my blood boiling. They may have a great selection, but their customer service is absolutely atrocious. My company spends upward of $1000 with this company a month - we order sodas and beer - and they act like they could care less about our business...so much so that I'm looking into taking it elsewhere. They are rude, dismissive and dishonest. You get what you pay for...
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Review from Christy V.
Boulder, CO
11/23/2005
If you love beer and you know it, get yourself on over to Thrifty's. If you don't live in the neighborhood, you'll need a car, or call a service, because you're going to want to stock up on not just the imports, but also all the fabulously-priced domestic beers on the shelf here. Plus, they have tons of great non-alcoholic drinks that you can't really find anywhere else. Like Fizz. I love that stuff. And tons of Canadian beer, although I can never find Sleeman's or Warthog. If someone knows how to get their hands on some of that stuff down here, let me know. I miss the Honey Brown Ale.
Listed in: Good Drinks Shopping
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Review from carl g.
Brooklyn, NY
6/26/2007
So you need a keg? Not a problem, right? Apparently it is a problem to the point that folks from all over this fine city need to come to Thrifty to get the goods. And they have a great selection to boot. I haven't even mentioned the entire Belgian aisle or the ridiculous amount of micro-brews available. And they have specials. And belgian ale glasses. And "Beer makes you schmart" stickers. This place is a beer/ale drinkers dream. And they deliver.
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Review from Jeff M.
Brooklyn, NY
10/21/2007
I defy the cognoscenti to tell me anywhere else in New York I can find a better range of Canadian beers. Forget Whole Foods: drag your growler down here where the help is cheerful, the prices verge on reasonable, and the attitude is minimal. I'm looking forward to spending more time in their aisles to see how the stock shifts over the seasons--this is a true alternative to Bierkraft. (With none of Bierkraft's clever in-store cheese etc. pairings.)
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Review from Anita B.
Brooklyn, NY
8/27/2007
What a great introduction to the neighborhood. We had just loaded our stuff into the apartment. Figured we needed a beer. Had read about this place on Yelp and walked past a million times. Time to go in. Walked out with Bohemia, Murphy's and some Czech beer. Noticed all sorts of varieties of Coopers in the corner. Was welcomed to the area by Cindy behind the checkout, who introduced herself by name. This didn't happen in our old 'hood. Could tell we'd picked just the right place...
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Review from Mark A.
Brooklyn, NY
8/26/2007
Fan-f'ing-tastic beer selection. Great specials. German apfelschorle and other hard-to-find non-alchoholic drinks & sodas. I love stopping by this place and building a case of favorites and unknowns from around the world. A superb collection of genuine beer glassware for the Belgian and German brews.
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Review from William O.
Brooklyn, NY
12/28/2005 1 photo
So much stout! So much porter! So much chocolate beer! The only thing I haven't been able to find here is JB's Double Dark Cream Porter. Out of many, they lack one. I mean if they had JB's DDCP, well I don't know what I would be able to say about them. If they had JB's DDCP by the keg, well that'd be too much like a little piece of heaven right there. Everything is oh so good and well organized to boot. It's time for the beer.
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Review from Philip V.
Brooklyn, NY
6/5/2011
Let me tell you how much I love this place. I've been going here from the time I lived a half block away 25 years ago. When I moved almost 2 miles away and didn't have a car, I'd take my shopping basket and walk back and forth (if the weather was good). Now that I live4 miles away I drive and hope for a parking space. I never buy beer anywhere else unless I'm vacationing. They have not only your favorite domestics, but importeds of every stripe. You can experiment with new ones, ones you never heard of and now they have a little bar set up. So if you're a beer lover and you live nearby, don't walk here, run here. The staff are very helpful.
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Review from Diane S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/5/2005
Everyone who consumes beverages -- particulary beer -- should know about this place. Though they also have a pretty big aisle for their "New Age" beverages, most of the store specializes in beer (from all over!) and at the lowest prices. They also let you borrow their carts for an hour so you can lug your haul back up to your place. The best part is they even offer gift certificates -- which makes a cool and very easy last-minute gift for the coach potatoes on your list.
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Review from Li M.
New York, NY
12/28/2005
The store itself is nice...but only for responsible drinkers, i.e., don't go with your irresponsible friends who will stock up on beer and drink till they can't remember their names...and then puke on YOUR carpet.
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Review from GG B.
Hoboken, NJ
12/12/2008
We LOVE Thrifty! Best beer selection we have found anywhere in the 5 boroughs, hands down. No offense to the other poster, but this place has a far wider selection than Bierkraft (which is also fantastic)...the people are wonderful, the manager is incredibly knowledgable about Belgiums in particular. All of the good smaller places in Manhattan buy from them. We come all the way from the UWS on a weekly basis to ponder the delightful offerings. (And, yes, we RUSH there so as to make it before 7 - but we don't care, its worth it!) Recently they have been offering Belgiums from smaller shops around villages in Belgium that are absolutely dynamite. Don't miss it - go to Thrifty!! And the staff is really wonderful as well - so sweet!
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Review from David S.
Brooklyn, NY
3/6/2011
Wow great! Best selection of beer I've seen in New York. My favorite thing is the growlers. So cheap and with such good options! Only downside is they close relatively early, so plan your drinking ahead, and service can be a touch surly. But hey, who judges a beer store for their service?
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Review from Richard D.
Brooklyn, NY
7/17/2006
As a Brit who is quite partial to some English ale this was my most exciting discovery after moving to the neighbourhood. Best selection of imported beer I've found anywhere in the US. Domestic beer selection is great too and some available in jug and keg. I think I cleaned them out of the finest English ale (Black Sheep bitter), but I'm hoping my request to get some more in didn't fall on deaf ears...
Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from james s.
Brooklyn, NY
2/2/2011
growler deals are excellent. $5 for a small one, $10 for a big one. selection changes a reasonable amount, though they seem to stick to favorite breweries.
overall, beer selection is the best i've seen in the neighborhood, and they have decent prices. (compared to other places where one can buy beer in the cobble hill / carroll gardens area
