Springfield finally has its own craft beer bottle shop. This past March, Chuck and Craig Torosian opened the Craft Beer Store on Baltimore Pike in the heart of Springfield. Since opening, the Craft Beer Store has been one of the area’s best places to find craft beer. The store offers beer to-go as well as a bar with 30 taps. They not do not only focus on craft beer, though. The Craft Beer Store has a large selection of cigars as well as hard ciders, sodas, hard sodas, cold-brew coffee and artisan food products.
The Bar
The friendly and knowledgeable staff greet you as soon as you walk in the door at the Craft Beer Store. The staff not only service the bottle shop, but they also run the store’s bar and lounge area. The staff hand-select the 30 different craft beers on tap, which are frequently updated and available on the store’s website. You can always try a sample of something before you get a pint, or you can purchase a flight of four beers on draught. All beers on tap are also available for purchase in 64-oz. growlers or 32-oz. crowlers. If you are unfamiliar with a crowler, it is a 32-oz. can that is filled by tap like a growler and can then be sealed on the spot. Crowlers are similar to growlers, but have the added benefit of keeping the beer fresher and fully carbonated for longer periods of time.
There is a small seating area in front of the bar, but if the weather is nice you can enjoy your beer on the back patio. The back patio has comfortable outdoor furniture and a full awning. It is also the perfect place to enjoy a cigar purchased from the bottle shop. The bar has happy hour specials from 3–5 p.m. on weekdays and also serves food from a small menu featuring small bites like artisan cheese plates, pita chips and hummus and cheese spread made with Levante beer. The Craft Beer Store also serves hot dogs, hot sausage and a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches including a black truffle grilled cheese.
The Bottle Shop
The bottle shop has an impressively large selection of approximately 2,000 quality craft beers. They sell single bottles, large bottles, six packs and 12 packs. Choose from the cold beer selection, which takes up 20 refrigerated doors and includes singles to mix and match. The bottle shop has even more beers available on unrefrigerated shelves if you cannot find what you want in the coolers.
Chuck and Craig have great taste in beer and they order the popular seasonal releases as well as many underrated delicious craft beers. The seasonal selection is always changing and they love to represent the area’s quality local beer. They also host brewery representatives on most Fridays for beer-sampling events. Equally knowledgeable about cigars, having owned several cigar stores, the owners stock the bottle shop with more than 23 feet of humidified cigar displays. They carry all of the highest-rated brands with a selection of more than 200 cigars.
The Craft Beer Store sets itself apart from other local beer shops with the quality and breadth of its selection. It is always a friendly, inviting place where you can look forward to visiting to chat with the staff or to just grab a glass of beer and a bite to eat.
Find the Craft Beer Store at 35 Baltimore Pike in Springfield; phone: (610) 990-3013.
- Photos: Arne Morin
