This is the 3rd time I have selected beer from the shelf and it's been a higher price at the register. Next time it happens I'm reporting them to ABC and the BBB. This time Stella $9.99 on the shelf, $14.99 at the register! read more

Their wine, spirits and sake section is best. They always get me hard to get items and of all they offer the best customer services in the area. read more

Aesthetically pleasing store, got a wide variety of wines, spirits, sakes, and beers. They never fail to offer me something I never imagined I'd like it. This will always be my go-to store. read more

I watch this store come into a unique staple in the community. The store is inving with a great selection. The staff are all super helpful. They are knowlegable. They know thrir inventory and are eager to assist. I brought some great 1/2 bottles that did not dissappoint! Cheers! read more

Large store with tall ceilings and huge windows. (I do wonder about the effect of the sun on the alcohol right by the window.) But anyway, the wine selection is good, and the prices are competitive. The beer area, which is probably the largest refrigerated area I've seen in a package store before, surprisingly didn't have anything that really stuck out to me. I've seen better curated beer selections at package stores in the Hartford area. Nonetheless, you'll find something to drink here, even if it's the usual. read more

Cork & Barrel - Cork & Barrel entrance - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

Updating my review. Still too many expired IPAs and obvious profiteering in the context of the craft beer boom. The have a KBS four pack on sale for $50, and Maine Brewing's Lunch (pictured) for $15.99. If you consider an beer to be essential, this is price gouging. Buyer beware!!! read more

Cork & Barrel - Over priced Lunch. Typically $7.99. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Hamden, Connecticut

Great wine selection. Knowledgeable staff. An absolute gem. Definitely one of Hamden's best stores.

I used to stop by here most Fridays to get a couple of 4 or 6 packs of IPAs. The people at check out were always pleasant; the beer room has a nice selection. One week I got home and noticed that out of a six pack of bottles, one bottle was empty and one was half filled; both were capped with non-twist off caps. This was obviously a bottling error at the brewery. I brought it back and went to the counter and explained this. The woman called for the guy in charge (manager? owner?) and I explained it again. He starts rooting around in my tote and wanted to know where the receipt was. As I was in there every week, I never got a receipt and figured they would recognize me as a regular customer. He then tries to twist off the caps; I told him they aren't twist offs. He gives my the stink eye and then scans the barcode and starts looking around in the back for something. He finally grunted that I could go get another one. I'm not sure what the problem was here; I felt like he was trying to figure out how I was scamming him, although I'm not sure what I would be getting out of this. I feel like if I buy a faulty product and then have to make a trip back to return it, an apology on the store's part would be nice, failing that they should at least be gracious about it and not treat the customer like a criminal. I can get overpriced beer anywhere, I won't be getting it here in the future. read more

When I saw that the former "Art's Service Center" gas station was going to be the new home of Cork'n barrel, I had trouble trying to imagine how they would make it work as a space. At the grand opening, I was pleasantly surprised at how nicely the inside was, and they had an immense walk-in cold-room. Kind of blew my mind. The feel if the space is quite inviting, and they often have people with samples to try. They have a lot of good stuff, for sure, and some neat food items by the door, and the people who work there are awesome. I only gave 4 stars because they never seem to have what I wanted, after numerous requests, and leaving my name and number. Also, I can easily get that stuff less than a mile away, and cheaper. So, there's that. BUT- that being said, I do love their new location. The parking is great, the vibe is great, and if the prices were just a little better, and they stock my favs, I'm theirs. Best of luck to the owners- they've had a couple of bad break-ins by jerks robbing the place. I hope they catch the bastards! read more

Very nice selection.. Great customer service.. knowledgeable clerks..not to mention asthetically pleasing to the eye. Plenty of parking, need better signage as if you aren't paying attention you will ride right by it. Definitely a "Go To" when I am in the area read more

See all

This is BY FAR my favorite liquor store. Their selection of wine is HUGE. They always have my favorite wines and a ton of new ones to try. The owners are SUPER nice and very knowledgeable about the various wine they sell. I can always trust their recommendations. Oh and as and added perk, this place always has vendors come in to do tastings of various wines and spirits. read more

Think about the best customer service you've ever received, and then be prepared to have the bar raised. The folks who run Cork & Barrel are as good as it gets. The selection is astounding, the prices comparable with any other store in the area, and they go out of their way to get you anything you want that might not be in stock. (No bad attitude like certain other stores in town where helping you seems to not be in their job description.) The new store is beautiful. The beer room wonderfully weird and great. You walk into the place and feel as if you've arrived in some sort of film noir/Humphrey Bogart/straight-up bourbon nirvana. I have completely stopped buying beer/wine/liquor anywhere else. Love this store! read more

I think I've found my go-to neighborhood liquor store. While the selection and prices aren't as great as its bigger counterparts, Cork & Barrel has everything I need in a pinch in terms of beer, hard liquor, and wine. It's conveniently located between where I work and live, and the staff is friendly, so I like stopping in. There's a walk-in beer cooler in the back that has a pretty decent selection of craft beers, and if there's anything you want and they don't have, the staff will gladly order it for you. Most recently, I stopped in to pick up some beers and asked about Tanduay Rum on the off-chance that they would have it because I needed a bottle at home after trying it at the Yelp Holiday Bazaar. The guy behind the counter immediately offered to order it for me. A few days later, I got a call that the rum was in, and I went back, picked up the rum, and found some new beers I was looking for, including the Gansett Autocrat Coffee Stout that was mentioned in a Yelp thread. Prices range from average to slightly higher than other places, but I like the convenience of this small store. Parking can be a little tough because there's no lot, but the side streets aren't bad. If you're looking for a good liquor store and you're in the neighborhood, I would recommend this one. read more

Good staff, friendly and knowledgeable. Very good selection of wines and a huge cooler well stocked with liquors wines and beer.

This place is the best! It's extremely inviting with a large, well-curated selection of wines, liquor and beer. The store is set up in a very, user-friendly and welcoming way. They have a gigantic beer cooler with a fantastic selection. They have an awesome bourbon selection. They also sell cheeses from Caseus and various other things you didn't even know you wanted or needed. Prashant and Varsha are super friendly, accommodating, and really make you feel at home. They frequently host wine tastings at night. Highly recommend this spot for your alcohol needs. read more

Great selection for wine and hard liquors! Huge refrigerated beer area and most importantly, amazing customer service and people are pretty knowledgeable about what they sell. read more

Have been going to Cork and Barrel since I moved to Hamden. They recently moved into their new digs across the road. Really nice and open space. Cold walk in room for beers and wines with very wide selection. Friendly staff! Easy parking. Definitely my go to wine and beer store. read more

I bought a cheese there that went bad in 3 days, it was very expensive. And I know from the way they treat their customers from previous experiences that I wouldn't get my money back. Bad customer service. read more

I visit once a week for beer and wine for our family and always look forward to it. It's a nice warm space and the owners and workers are always around, unbelievably friendly and helpful people. You get a nice community vibe from the other customers, deliverymen, and free-sample folks too in the main lobby. They have a large freezer room if you want anything chilled. The selection of beers and wines is as good as anything you will find in the greater New Haven area; a final selection of local brews and ciders. If there is any product you want, they will order it and send you a quick text as soon as it arrives, usually within a day or two. No ostentatious advertising. Please shop local and keep Cork and Barrel in business for a long time to come! read more

Very friendly staff. Very good selection. Great local neighborhood stop. Competitive pricing.

I decided to try Cork & Barrel for the first time about a month or so ago, and I'm glad I did. They have a wide selection (especially of wine) for a smaller store, and their pricing is within a dollar or two of other larger liquor places, if not the same. Despite being small, I've never felt like the employees were watching me hawkishly, which I have experienced at lots of other small liquor stores (and I hate, especially when I'm being indecisive about liquor, which happens often). I will be very interested to visit the new, larger store once it's open. Hopefully it will only improve on what is already great! read more

Cork and Barrel is a local gem. the store is small but offers a wide variety of wine spirits and beer. The staff is young and knowledgeable and were able to help me pick out wines based on what they have tried. The staff is friendly and want to help. The prices are competitive with other small stores that I have been to. The also have a walk in beer cooler with a wide range of beers from domestics to imported and crafts so you can find exactly what you are looking for. The store has a welcome feeling from its purple walls and wooden shelves. It doesn't feel like you are walking into a chain liquor store. I always go here when I am in the Hamden area. read more

Great ambience and great selection. There's a positive community-like vibe to the place, like a local cafe or library. If you have any interest in exploring different wines or beers, this is the place to go. The employees are amazingly well-informed and friendly. read more

I have been to many liquor stores and this is on the top of the list. There is a wide selection of wines available. They even had my favorite ice wine available which is hard to find. They are even able to order specific wines that you may need. I am very impressed by the extras available as well. There are chocolate, cheeses, and gift items in the store. You can have your entire party setup in this one store. They even have lemon and limes. The walk in fridge is amazing. This is not a common feature in many liquor stores. I have been to one of the wine tastings held there. They have a regular schedule of tastings as well. This place is more of an experience than a liquor store. read more