I'd first heard about this place from Dr. Dave Jalen about 13 years ago. As a guy that doesn't drink, doesn't buy wine, and isn't very fancy...I'm at a loss about anything alcoholic. Wine scares me. Dan has been my trusted advisor for the past 13 years. He's not only provided me very solid recommendations (with a 100% appreciation rate), he has also helped me buy some legendary wine for some dental legends (Dr. Carl Misch (Dentist to pope John Paul, RIP), Dr. Jeff Brucia). Some of his wines are impossible to get, even for the dentist of the pope. Thanks, Dan! read more

I do appreciate having a local store stocking a range of craft beer. Service is always friendly and every time I go, I find a new great, different beer (including a few from OR that I never got to try on my trips up that way). read more

Excellent selection of alcoholic beverages, with an owner operated setting and top notch service. This tiny store out does the other retailers in price, design and experience. Whether shopping for a gift, a dinner party or a date this store stands alone as the best of Alameda. read more

I only come here for the craft beer selection and they never let me down. They have crappy hours but are always punctual. Love that you can get singles of everything and they always have a decent selection of DIPA and TIPA. Street parking only BUT that end of Santa Clara is never that congested. I always get some Indian food next door and that makes me happy. read more

A perfect small wine shop, especially for consumers looking for those a.b.c,P! wines (anything but california, PUH-LEEZE!). Of course there's a selection of our own homegrown product. but if you're really sick of fermented juice from overripe grapes, or simply have a hard time finding authentic french, italian, greek and other imports that really aren't much available here, visit this place. it's especially well versed in a fine selection of red greek wines, about which i can talk a fair game based on maps but actually know very little else, which is unfortunate because that's what I needed to buy this particular day. fortunately i did some homework and found a guy worth the time to seek out here in alameda who really knows that territory, manager Dan Marshall. he speaks with an easy and refreshing informality that is hard to find in this business. and he obviously knows a lot about greece from apparent considerable travels into some of the backwoods regions where the best wines are usually found regardless of the country. funny how that works. Dan knows wines as evidenced by his inventory, which after all is up to him to buy in the first place. amazing how enjoyable it is talking with someone who knows something from personal experience rather than listening to some clerk repeat whatever the wine reviews have to say. rule of thumb about wine talk: the more someone actually knows, the less they need to show it. so i checked the shelves as i browsed around to see what else one finds here; all are very efficiently stocked and displayed, especially the italian and french departments. these definitely aren't the same wines you'll find at your local grocery or liquor/wine store and especially not in the major alcohol beverage warehouses. the buyer here knows and cares about what he's doing. this shop is a very good find, one i'll keep on my list of places to go to treat myself. i recommend it highly. read more

I can't say enough nice things about this small family-run business. They have beer and wine impossible to get elsewhere and seem open to ordering new things. I found this is the only place which has a particular Irish craft beer I cannot get anywhere else. I suggest calling the night before to ensure they have what you're looking for before you make the trip; since most people seem to not live in the local area. They'll box up however much you buy and help you if you're looking for something specific. You can't get any better service and there's two parking spaces located in the back. This property was residential at one time and not very large. If you get trapped on High Street because of the canal bridge being opened for boat traffic, you can make a right on to one of the residential streets followed by two lefts and eventually end up at the 98th Street onramp for 880 below the Coliseum. The owner is inquiring about ordering Beamish from Ireland, which is largely impossible to get outside Ireland and the UK, so I'm quite excited. It's also nice to see a place for small craft brewers to have their products sold that wouldn't exist otherwise. The folks who work here also value good beer and wine that's not easy to find, so it makes for a fun experience. read more

Great people with a good selection in a small shop. I usually make the mistake of showing up on the wrong day or the wrong hour, but that's not their fault. read more

So many beers to choose from over here. I'm currently drinking a can of Cocoa Cow Chocolate Milk Stout from Sunriver Brewing in Oregon. Really delicious and has the sweet, chocolate milk taste. I also bought some single cans of sour beers they had in stock. A neat thing I found out you can do is that you can create your own 4-pack of beers that have the same pricing on it and the top price on the label is the total amount you pay for a 4-pack. I'll keep that in mind the next time I'm back. read more

Amazing selection of curated mezcals! The owner was very well informed. We spent over an hour perusing the selections and came home with many fine spirits! read more

Yaasss! There aren't many places where you can get B. Nektar - my favorite meadery, by the way - by the bottle. CRAFT always has my favorite Zombie Killer as well as some other B. Nektar selections. It's a great spot to grab a bunch of more obscure different beers and wines, and the staff is awesome at giving recommendations without making you feel like you're uneducated about fermentation science. You don't have to be a sommelier to shop here - you can be a casual craft beer hipster and feel right at home! Tip: They also ship at a reasonable price. A case of Zombie Killers at my doorstep? Yes please! read more

CRAFT Beer & Wine - Yaassss got my Zombie! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Alameda, California

See all

Craft Beer was a "daju vu" and "a leopard can't change it's spots" flashback. upon entering, i recalled coming here during a sober moment. using search (not yelp) Du Vin Fine Wines popped up. the cashier/owner confirmed my thoughts as he pointed out sections of cali, foreign, and sour beers. there is still a vast wine section which i passed on cuz the meter was ticking. (shopping by the meter enforces shopping efficiency). brews: "Lost Coast" Imperial Stout" (5.99) 10% 22oz. -smooth, not a lot of body, no hoppy bitterness. buzzzzzzzzz. Faction "Imperial Stout" (6.49) 16.9 oz. -full bodied stout, 0 bitterness, amongst best stouts tasted -Pliny the Elder (5ish) available passed, since so many breweries republicate the same experience cheaper. -henhouse oyster stout (3.25) pt. 4.8% alc. ale with faint oyster taste, if any -"critical band", modern times, pt. (3.09) 6.7%alc. smooth, fruitish ipa. -"nut brown" ale brown (5.99) 22 oz. 5% smooth english style ale, slight nuttiness. on draught. -fab selection, owner says 400 beers available. maybe so. no time to count them all. -street parking, be ready to grab and go or get a "ticket" alameda meter readers more efficient than oaktown's. less space to cover,. -surprised to hear my name mentioned with a thanx attached. might be imagining things, not the first time this happened. -selection much better than BevMO. read more

Great selection of beers and wine! The great thing is that there are tasty options at all price range; we've gotten cheap bottles that were still really good. Knowledgeable owner as well. read more

Great selection of craft beer for the area. They've got everything you need from German beer to stouts, IPAs and ciders. Although I don't buy the liquor or wine there, they do have that as well. The only real downside is they are priced pretty high compared to the market right next store that also sells beer. Great for a single can or two, but the 4 packs are priced at a premium for sure. read more

How am I not surprised this place has 5 stars?! - truly --awesome-- people full of suggestions for what you re looking for. - amazing selection of wine, beer - well located - organizing cool events for wine lovers - great prices... - They even have a true sommelier working here some days of the week. Dude, love this place. read more

This place is amazing! It's a small shop but FILLED with beer/wine you typically don't find in your normal Total Wine and BevMo!! The customer service here is also amazing and always super friendly. If you're the type of person who likes to just try different bottles and not have to dedicate yourself to a whole six pack, this is definitely the place for you. :) read more

Small place but great selection of grown up juice. Owners were helpful and nice. I'm from out of state so they were kind enough to help me with my selection. Hit this place up if you want to bring California craft beer back home read more

I don't know much about wine, but the folks here were very helpful. I buy a couple bottles here ever so often. They always have great recommendations. read more

OMG, I enjoyed a very tasty cider at a local bar in Hollister and couldn't find it anywhere nearby. FINALLY found it at Craft Beer and Wine, B Nektar's Zombie Killer - Apply/Cherry/Tart/Sweet if you're into it, and it was reasonably priced at about $10 a bottle. Plus they were open relatively late for me to swing by that day. There were two staff there when I went and they were both good about having their masks on. Unfortunately I couldn't walk through the store and browse like the olden days, but the staff were great about walking back and forth to search for things for me, so.. bonus for that! read more

I love this shop and it's such a gem in our little town, not very personal wine shops around these days. I've been visiting since the beginning before the craft beer joined in (also such a great for the beer peeps). Dan is a little shy but so knowledgeable about wine and willing to help you choose something special and on occasion I've tasted an interesting wine somewhere else and taken a picture to see if Dan might be able to order it. He has every time. He'll let you peruse the wine solo but if you ask for assistance he's happy to give it. Love this place! read more

Amazing place to buy wines for any occasion! I've purchased wine here for many years and keep going back. They are extremely knowledgeable about wines all around the world, and have great customer service! read more

So happy this store opened near my house. They have an extremely friendly and knowledgeable staff and incredible variety and selection. It is my go to when I want to find something unusual to bring to gathering or for a gift, as well as, when I just want something delicious to drink for myself. I was overjoyed when they reopened for pick up service!! read more

I am leaving this review based on the following: -Selection & Price -Overall customer service -Owners & staff experience -Some general observations about my experience & staff 1. The selection and price is actually dangerously affordable. From Rum to Bubbles to beer. It's cool to have a local shop like this in the neighborhood. 2. The owners of this shop generally seem friendly and are quick to help if needed. 3. However, I noticed that two staff members they once had seem to have significantly different roles compared to their newest staff member, who was actually very knowledgeable in the BEER department and clearly a hard working young lady! I live locally and one day my father came home from the shop somewhat upset. He asked me who the "big tall guy" was working at the shop. He said he was very rude to him and this really caught me by surprise. My father is definitely a man of few words so for him to be thrown off by any person is a surprise. Furthermore, I noticed that between this staff member whom offended my father, and the young lady who once worked in the WINE department, it was very obvious these two staff members were allowed to play by a different set of rules. In short, they did and said what they wanted. I'm all for a knowledgeable sales associate, but the constant color commentary by the WINE girl became quite annoying after a few stops in the shop. Not once did I ever see her do anything that involved actual labor. She never stocked, put stickers on anything, or even rang someone at the register. The "big tall guy" had obviously got a slap on the wrist for being rude to customers, as I noticed some nervousness from the owners when he was around and customers would arrive. Now this is where the line gets drawn. As someone who has over 5 years in customer service experience in BOTH RETAIL AND FOOD & BEVERAGE, if you offend a customer where I come from it's over for you. There is no slap on the wrist. But apparently this staff member retained his job for the time he was there and when he moved on he was wished all the luck in the world. I'm not sure what people look for or expect when they go out for a booze run. Maybe you can call me crazy observant but these are some VERY obvious double standards in my opinion. It makes me think a lot more about what supporting local business actually means. I see one young lady who is knowledgeable, works hard and loves BEER! But what is it about her compared to the other two staff members? There is something not right there. Makes me hesitant to support certain business owners when I see this kind of stuff. Hang in there young BEER girl! Appreciate your hard work! Hope this review hits home and touches on something deeper to help this business for the better. Cheers! read more

Amazing spirit and beer selection. Particularly lovely rum selections. A nice spot to choose from all the boozy bounty Alameda has to offer. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Only wish the shop was bigger- I can only imagine what they'd do with room for a bigger inventory. That said, they do a great job of only stocking worthwhile picks. Close your eyes and point and you're in for a treat. read more

Rarely get a chance to stop by this place as it's not close to where I live. However, this might be a good thing. The last two times i've gone in there I wasn't greeted at all. They have a great selection and the reviews here seem to be on the 5 star side of things, but I wonder if these are all regulars? Maybe I'm old school but I tend to have the idea that every customer should be greeted, especially when it's slow like it was this last time. Wish them nothing but success, but i'll be giving my business to the many other bay area options that make a better first impression. Honestly the second and third was even without greeting. When does it get better? Do we have to reach a certain amount of money spent to be greeted? This last time I stood there looking around for 10 minutes. No greeting, no "do you have any questions?", you know the standard positivity that opens wallets. read more

This wine shop was highly recommended to all of my friends and family here in our area! Their staff was very responsible and friendly. The wine was also very delicious. It was such a fun and exciting place! The prices were pretty good also. It was a remarkable service that makes u feel like home! Thank a lot! read more

"It's easy to choose a good $50 bottle of wine. It's more challenging to choose a great $15 bottle. Du Vin Wines does this for you with a focus on good values." Above is how I reviewed Du Vin Wines before they re-branded as Craft Beer and Wine. My previous review still stands true. But now the owner has remodeled to also accommodate a top notch selection of craft beers! I highly recommend that you check out Craft Beer and Wine. read more

This place is a gem. In a small business area of Alameda, this place is perfect for beer lovers. I'm a big sour fan and they had a wide selection. A lot of good stouts and cider selection as well. The guys working were very helpful and knowledgeable which I appreciated. The place is a perfect size and you don't feel overwhelmed. The wine selection looked great but I didn't spend anytime there. I'll be making more trips in the near future read more

CRAFT Beer & Wine - Nice selection of sours - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Alameda, California

When we first moved here, they had just gotten their liquor license, which made it even better!!! So now it's our go to spot for beer, spirits, and wine! We love coming here before dinner parties because of the eclectic selection...definitely stuff that you won't always see at a supermarket or BevMo, and some stuff you will...but a good mix/selection nonetheless. We love their Wednesday and Saturday tastings...even though we don't get to come all the time because of our schedule, but when we can make it, it's never disappointing. The owners are great, super knowledgeable, and friendly!!! This is a gem! Love this place! read more

What was once a wine shop with a few beers is now one of the best beer stores in the East Bay. Great selection, fair prices and a good staff. Owner-operator Dan is really a good guy. Knowledgeable and very friendly. I stop by all the time for the great canned beer selection and hard-to-find beers. I hate to give up this secret, but there are two parking spots in the back. Go check CRAFT out and you will not be disappointed. Just stay out of my parking place! read more

I had a wonderful time at this store thanks to Kristen. She helped me pick the perfect Pinot for my holiday party. She is the sweetest girl that has educated me IMMENSELY in wine! I will be back to see her & get more wine. read more

Great wine and beer selection along with friendly and knowledgeable owners! The place to go in Alameda if you're looking for something either for a special occasion or just for a good bottle on a simple night in! read more

Craft was intially a wine shop. I make a special trip a few times a year to stock up on Retsina (that greek wine with pine tar accents), because sometimes I crave it mightily. Craft has 3 different varieties--the two biggies Malamatine (my favorite) and Kourtaki, and a lighter one called Ritinitis that I've never seen anywhere else. Retsina goes with any non-red wine cuisine, like Thai, and it's not that widely available in the Bay Area. I asked the proprietor if he was Greek and he laughed and said he was Irish. Now there is also BEER, and a really knowledgeable beer dude to go with the beautiful, evolving collection of beer from all places in the world. While obsessive at finding new beers, I have put some blinders on over the years. I've tried things on his recommendation that I wouldn't have touched otherwise and been sometimes horrified and other times delighted. I don't get to travel much as I did before I became a mother, and for me each new beer is an armchair escape. I just love this place. read more

What a Great local place! Talked with the owner I'm sorry I don't remember his name but he was a great guy very knowledgeable about the wine that I was wanting to buy. They have a huge selection of beer from all over the area. Will totally go back because the guy was so great and nice to talk with he made it a great buying experience. read more

Craft is simple a great store for both the wine lover and beer geek. They have an amazing selection of beer & even a huge awesome cider selection, and they're all cold in a huge wall sized cooler. What's more, all of the beers are on BeerMenus.com so you can always see an updated inventory. The wine selection is well chosen from around the world and there is obvious knowledge & passion behind the selections. Plus they do tastings every Wednesday and switch off, beer one week, and wine the next. Add in super friendly & knowledgeable service and an awesome neighborhood vibe and I can't imagine a better shop. Highly recommended! read more

Showed up and asked about 2 things, Bourbon & Cider. The owners (never go their names) are approachable, friendly, and new their stuff. The Bourbon selection was very good and we were able to purchase FIRST Batch Bourbon from a distillery that just opened up. Pretty cool! For the cider, they recommended a large cider bottle which is one of the owners favorites. We have yet to try and are giving the Bourbons as a gift to Bourbon fans. We will be back. Pricing and service were amazing and what I expect from fellow Alamedians. read more

Has a very good selection of wines. Beers. And if you have a question about wines he has the answer! Very nice people. Clean shop. read more

CRAFT Beer & Wine - He's got it! Desseet wine thats Amazing with chocolate. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Alameda, California

I haven't found too many craft shops around and I really dig this place. Gives me a reason to stop by Alameda and cruise the area on a nice day. The staff is super nice and ready to help. Keep in mind that they try to update their website constantly with their current selections. I find it helpful since there are a few beers I try to look for. Not going to say..cuz it's a secret and don't want too many people getting to it before I do and sell out. Let's help support this place as it's a little shop competing against BevMo and all these big timers. read more

Mostly beers and wines you won't find at the grocery, liquor store or bevmo. I quickly checked out the wine. I'm a fan of California wines and they have a few at each price point, but it's a small selection of each. I was happy to see some breweries I recognized and respect and a lot I didn't too. Prices are competitive and not over-inflated and brews each have a description posted. Another positive: singles at decent prices so you can experiment. I would give it 5 stars if it had a few more California wines under $20 to choose from. read more

I've been going to Dan for years (when he was just a wine shop) and now the store is even better with awesome selection of craft beer. These guys are cool and helpful.... and they listen to what you want! No snob attitude here. Just great selection and excellent service. read more

The old Du Vin Fine Wines has hopped on the brew bandwagon, rebranding themselves as Craft Beer & Wine, and giving up half of their real estate to fermented grains instead of grapes. Still plenty of wine with knowledgable, personalized service, but now the same can be said for beers too! From Belgian sours to local IPAs, they have a great range to select from, and the staff couldn't be more helpful. Definitely a great spot to check out if you're looking for something new, hard to find, or if you have no idea what you're looking for. They'll help! Plus - rumor has it they're applying for an "instructional tasting license" - so you may be able to try before you buy. read more