Can't go wrong with this place when looking for great beer selections. Unfortunately, the theme for all my NY recent posts is high prices. $40 for a 12 pack is highway robbery and not really the sellers fault. I was happy to find this special Ale I could not find in other stores. Even with the high price was worth it. read more

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Oliver's Beverage in Albany is an in-the-know type booze and wine store. It's best in the summer. The shelves are expertly marked by region and by category. Find German beer, soda, small bottle shooters, whiskey cask beer, French wines, Italian whites, 6 packs, singles and even a fountain (that I have not tried out yet) to fill beer-growlers with that good Winter Lager or IPA. It's a very large shop and it would be nice if there were (it's a Yelp tip Oliver's..) a place for pregnant moms and old folks to sit: inside or outside. The prices are a bit on the higher end but you find oddities and some nifty finds, only here. Pretty good assortment. Review: 5 read more

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Oliver's is THE go to store for beers, ciders, and soft drinks. They have two spacious walk in coolers- one with frosty cold widely distributed brands and the other with a super selection of craft beers/ciders. They also sell growlers and kegs. Naturally they have email wide selection of sodas and soft drinks. And I was happy to find that they also carry a generous selection of fine drink chasers read more

Every time I come in here, I find something new. As I walk up and down the aisles and roam the selection I get that kid in a candy store feeling. There are so many varieties of beers assorted out by brewing company and State that they are brewed in or country. There are some hard to find Imports, tons of local beers, and microbrews from around the country. They have sodas, hard ciders, seasonal favorites. There is always a great special going on available near the registers. There is a growler station, where you can fill up a growler with a variety of beers on tap. There are two walk-in coolers if you're looking for something cold. read more

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Beer from all over the world! Growlers galore and cool dudes. Get some of my favorite Belgian beers there.

Best beer selection in the area hands down. I am a huge fan of all sorts of IPAs; hoppy, hazy, juicy, DIPA, local, etc. If I want something new, if I'm looking for something specific, or I just want to browse, Oliver's has never disappointed me. With the growing popularity of craft beer, this place is essential. They have a huge walk in cooler filled with craft beers. They have everything you may need or want, from domestic to foreign to local craft to gift sets. For the holidays, we found an awesome German beer gift set with glasses for my grandfather and he loved it! It was a great unique gift for him and he was surprised. The staff is helpful and friendly, the location is super convenient with a small parking lot, and there's a liquor store right next store so it could be your one stop shop for you alcohol needs! Cheers! read more

The beer business has changed a lot in seven years. Oliver's has kept up with the trends. Most notably, their cider selection has grown tremendously. But they also have plenty of options from smaller, hot breweries. I'm not ready to say it is the best beer store in the entire Capital Region, but it's pretty darn good. One reason I go there is to find beers that are extraordinary for drinking in quiet contemplation. On these visits, I'll try to speak with a helpful and knowledgeable staff member to talk about what style I'm looking to buy, and a bit about my taste preferences. That recently led me to a four-pack of Ten-Fiddy which I enjoyed a lot. However, the availability of these individuals is occasionally spotty. Still, when left to my own devices, looking for a dark beer with a bit more brightness than an imperial stout, I discovered something called Lagunitas NightTime which really hit the spot. The other reason I go to Oliver's is when I'm looking to buy a lot of beer for a party. They often run some incredible in-store specials on six packs, twelve packs and cases that they are trying to move out quickly. I wasn't going to buy pumpkin beers in February, regardless how cheap they were, but I was happy to jump on the winter lager train with a half priced twelve pack. The place that's good for finding a beer to drink when you are only having one, turns out to be the same place that's good for finding the beer to drink when you are drinking more than one. That's a win-win for me, and it keeps me coming back. read more

This place has an incredible selection of beers. There are shelves/rows lined with various beers - organized by state. There is a wall of cooler doors for cold beer and then a large walk in cooler with more shelves of beer. This place is fun to even just walk around. There is so much to look through and explore. I was short on time and I still managed to buy more than I came for! You will definitely find something you already like - or something cool to try. I don't know how you could go wrong here (except if you buy too much and then have no money left, ha!) The only drawback is the parking lot. It's a little tight. read more

You name it, Olivers tries to have it. This store offers the best selection of beer I have encountered in up state NY to date. Whether you are looking for a cold, everyday beer like Coors Light from their refrigerated beer locker to a more exotic brew like Banana Bread Ale or Wells Chocolate Stout, you are well served to come here to look for it. One of my favorite things to do is grab a variety six pack and share with friends at an event. You get to pick and fill a six pack with whatever you like. Olivers also offers a craft beer selection and growlers with refills of on tap selections. The service has been on point whenever I visit and the place is kept clean and maintained well. The only thing I don't like about the location is that their parking lot is small and at times tricky to navigate into and back out of. Overall though, I recommend going here to get your beer. Especially if you are looking for something different. read more

We're SO lucky to have this place! Anyone who enjoys beer will have a great time exploring Oliver's. This is my go-to spot when I'm interested in trying something new or if I'm looking for a specific beer that isn't readily available; chances are Oliver's has what you're looking for, and if they don't, they're more than willing to see if they can order it for you! The organization of beer by country and state makes it easy to pinpoint something specific, or if you have some time to just wander and see what cool things you can find. Personally, I like to play a game of 'awesome can art' and just pick new things based off of that. Whatever your fancy, Oliver's can fulfill it! read more

I checked out Oliver's and Westmere on the same day for comparison purposes. (They are owned by the same folks.) Both have ten growler taps. There was not a single overlap in selection from one to the other. Both will put up a 32 ounce pour in a can for $1.50 extra... a great convenience. The beer selection is pretty similar as well. All the IPAs I expected and a few surprises but nothing outrageous. Oliver's appears to be bigger, but I think that's because extra stock is sitting on the floor rather than stored in back. Why go to Oliver's vs Westmere? Their growler selection is a little more eclectic (though I did not see anything that tempted me to buy a pour). It's more centrally located, near Honest Weight and Chester's Smokehouse and Popeye's Chicken. And--boom--there's a liquor store sharing the parking lot. How sweet is that? read more

I don't drink often, but when I do, I'm a snob. Budweiser, Coors, Miller... no American macrobrew has ever passed these lips. I make one trip to Brew Crew a year, for my birthday. I create my own six pack of my favorites and some that I've never tried before, plus a larger bottle or two. I have to limit myself to once a year, because this trip can easily cost $40 and could turn into a prohibitively expensive habit. I look forward to it every year. The only problem, and it's good a problem to have, is that there's too much choice! If I was weaker in the purse strings, this place could bankrupt me. So many attractive labels. So many interesting things to try, from all parts of the world. I always get something from Unibroue (Canada) and Founders (Michigan). Kudos! read more

I never thought to write a review for the only beverage center I buy from in the Capital Region. I'm correcting that oversight now. Only superlatives for Oliver's Brew Crew. #1 reason is their excellent customer service. Always greeted when you walk in, always have answers to your questions, and will walk you to the item that you're looking for that day. It's impossible to name all the 200+ brands they carry. I have been a customer for 20+ years. Their service and selection is so good that we had them supply all the beverages for our wedding in 2006. Also need to mention their selection is second to none. A distributor partner of local craft beers in bottles, cans, & growlers, plenty of stock on hand, kegs & taps, easy bottle & can redemption, ice, and assists in loading up your vehicle. Domestic, foreign, craft, local, and soft drinks. These guys know their stuff - true professionals. Stop wasting your time & money at supermarkets, convienent stores, gas stations, etc. Come to Oliver's and get excellent service and selection form the Brew Crew. No need to go anywhere else. Thanks guys. p.s. new layout is great. read more

I've noticed a trend I come here after a long days at work and I pick up the most amazing craft beers I can get my hands on. The gentleman here are very helpful for this trip I went I was looking for strictly sours and IPAs and I did a mix-and-match two cases of six packs and I can't wait to try the variety I chose. I think I spent close to $75 but I'm sure if I were to order each one of these at a bar, I would spend about double or even more per beer. I'm excited to pour these in the next warmer days of spring and find what I like most. Olivers is a great place for all your beer needs everything is organized by state I wish they had some small carts because I do live in Schenectady so when I come I mean I really do stock up, this place is clean there's a growler fill station and cold beers in the refrigerator area. Thanks Oliver's beverage center for existing truly. read more

This place is a magical wonderland of any kind of beer you'd hope to get in New York state. Coming from CT where distribution laws are.... let's say different, it was a blast walking through Oliver's and stocking up on Bell's and other hard to find brews. Aesthetically speaking, there's not much going on at Oliver's but the selection makes up for all of that. The store has more of a warehouse setup, categorized into beers and ciders by country as well as state in the US. My boyfriend and I were totally blown away and left with enough stock to get us through the winter! Highly recommend - it's the best beer selection I've seen in a while! read more

O...M...G. If you like artisan beer, you might have to restrain yourself. Really, I can't believe I had no idea this place existed. See, I'm still getting used to New York's liquor laws, which in many ways seem a lot stricter than the already strict Oregon liquor laws, and I still think it's kind of weird that you have to get wine at a liquor store, but while you're there, you can't pick up a brewski, too. I don't drink much beer, so it didn't immensely bother me, but sometimes when that craving hits, you want to pass on the Coronas, the Heinekens, and the Bud Lights. You need something more. Something that CLEARLY only Brew Crew can offer. When I walked in, I was struck by the sheer ginormosity of this place. Literally a Costco of beers. Floor to ceiling. In the refrigerated cases. From the tap (if you feel spunky enough to get a gallon at a time). Long aisles full of countless ciders (YESSSSSSSS!!!), brews that circumnavigate the globe (all over Europe, Asia, and probably more!), and guess what? OREGON MICROS. Holy crap, you have no idea how happy that made me. They had shelves and shelves of Rogue and a few other brands, and even a Rogue on tap. However, I noticed that these were pretty expensive--like around $7 for a 24-ish-ounce bottle. Is it worth it? Prolly. Then imagine all these beers and stuff...cold. I mean, the warehouse was chilly already, and smelled sort of like the way beer smells after it spills on the floor and you don't mop it up. BUT. Check that refrigerated section if you're planning on taking your beer and having it immediately go to your stomach. A. MAZ. ING. Nice staff, although my friend was looking for limited-edition Fall Woodchuck, and they were all out. Sad times. Good thing they had lots of other stuff for us to fall back on! read more

So much beer! Even if you really know beer, make use of the helpful and very knowledgable employees. Tell them what style you're looking for and then ask what just showed up in that style. You'll end up with delicious fresh beer without deciphering a single julian code. Don't miss the huge walk in beer cave. We don't have AC at home, so even though I most often come for a growler fill, I always make a spin through the cave to drop my body temp a few degrees. Growlers? Oh my! 18 taps! Something for everyone! Now that they've started adding links to the review sites on their site, I can efficiently take care of recon at home and show up knowing what I want. But wait... now they give tastes! Don't abuse it, but it doesn't hurt to have a taste of the one you picked at home to make sure it pleases. Maybe tip the growler fillers, too. $2 a growler and $1 a howler? You'll be a hero. I think I might be the only person doing this in ALB. I think it is standard operating procedure in other towns. Makes sense to me, anyway. Go! read more

This place has an amazing selection of craft beer. I was excited to see so many different options and breweries presented at Oliver's. Just moving from the west coast, I was excited to see some brews from out there that I wasn't sure I'd be able to continue getting in NY. The prices are pretty clearly marked on most items. What is even more great, is you have the option to make your own 6-pack. I've found some other places with decent selections, but you're stuck to a whole 6-pack, which stinks when you want to try new things. When you're shopping, be sure to look all the way down. I was looking for something in particular and didn't see it, but when I asked they had it tucked away on the bottom shelf. I found the staff to be friendly and knowledgeable, both about the beer and the inventory. The parking lot is tiny and kind of sucks to get in and out of, but I guess I'm thankful they even have parking. I see myself coming here frequently in the future. read more

Oliver's Beverage and I have been in a committed relationship for approximately eight months now. I have never been happier. I feel like she just gets me. Whenever I have a terrible day, I make the two minute commute to Olly's, purchasing all the craft beers that my debit card can afford. I love Olly so much. I feel that the only way to show my love is through a poem. So here it goes: Dearest Olly, Our love is great. It is like knowing all the lines to every Adam Sandler film or like Gryffindor winning a game of quidditch by capturing the golden snitch or like buying a cheeseburger with the right amount of medium rareness and moistness to it. If someone bit into that medium rare cheeseburger at a family picnic, they would say something like, "MY GOD, THAT IS A GODDAMN CHEESEBURGER!! WHERE DID YOU LEARN HOW TO COOK LIKE THAT? AND IT'S SO MOIST-- I CAN'T EVEN CONTROL THE JUICES THAT ARE DRIPPING FROM THE SIDE OF MY MOUTH-- THIS MUST BE SOME KINDA WITCHCRAFT OR SPELL-- TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER BECAUSE I AM NOT WORTHY!!" If our love was a body of water it would be like Bahamas temperature and you could jump right into it without sticking your foot in first, wondering if the water would be too cold. Dearest Olly, would you do me the honor in making you my bride? read more

I have been going to Oliver's for all my adult beverage needs for over a decade. They always seem to have what I want, even if I don't know what it is when I walk in the door. They have a good variety of beers of all types. From a full keg to a make-your-own six pack, they have plenty of options there too. I first started going here after a friend recommended Spaten Optimator, a German beer you'll not really find in a grocery store. We stopped in and they had it. They have done this with each and every beer I have asked for, save one, which is not yet available outside its local market. After the wife discovered her gluten allergy, Oliver's was asked to step up to the plate again. They have a pretty nice selection of gluten free beers, and made recommendations that made sense to my wife. She's never been a real big beer drinker, so the extra knowledge helped make certain the few times a summer she did get an itch it would be worthwhile. Additionally, they introduced her to a pretty big cider selection. Her current favorite, Strongbow, she discovered at the recommendation of someone at Oliver's. And, one last note for the Celiacs. We were told that the owner of Oliver's is about to come out with their own gluten free beer, which will of course be available in all of the Brew Crew locations. read more

This place is amazing! Being from Portland, OR, it is usually hard to impress me when it comes to beer selection, but this place does not disappoint! In fact, they put some of the local bottle shops at home to shame! They have everything you could think of here... I found so many beers I'd never seen, or heard of, and they've got a nice little system of how they organize their selection. There are signs that break down the breweries by state (or country of origin outside the US). All of the employees I've talked to know their stuff, and know exactly where their product is located within the store. Highly impressed. Wish this spot was in Portland! read more

This place. Is gigantic. I've never seen a beer selection as large as this. It's probably the holy grail of beer. Makes me wonder what NYC has to offer to compare. The staff is nice. I mean, what you would typically find at a beverage center. It's a mind-flip to imagine what these guys were doing 10 years ago. I mean, anything's possible. Too bad I have no appreciation for beer or anything in particular. If you had a beer one time a long time ago and you have been looking for it since, you can probably find it here. or mahars I guess... read more

The section is amazing, but the prices are a bit steep. That said, the two Oliver's locations (Colvin and Western Ave) are the only two places in Albany I shop for bottled beer. I'm a homebrewer, and I can spend a solid 30-45 minutes just browsing at Oliver's before making a selection. With that in mind, a few notes about beer buying and freshness: 1) You are never going to get something from a California brewery that isn't old (at any location in New York). Stone beers in particular tend to be quite oxidized. Sierra Nevada seems to fair better but remember: CA is almost as far from NY as London. 2) Anything with an extreme price is going to be old. That Eisbock from Germany has probably been there for a month or more. This isn't a symptom of the retailer having a huge selection, it's a symptom of people not wanting to spend $12 on a single bottle of beer. 3) Higher gravity beers that have been "bottle conditioned" will age better than lower gravity beers. Bottled conditioning just means the brewer added extra sugar to the beer after fermentation, and didn't filter it before bottling. The yeast left in the wort will convert the new sugar into alcohol and CO2, since the CO2 has noplace to go it dissolves into the beer and creates carbonation. A fantastic example of this would be Ommegang. Though, if you are buying Ommegang at Olivers, you can be pretty sure it's fresh. 4) Kegs are usually fresher, and also less susceptible to oxidation. Olivers is one of the few beer retailers that always has several kegs on tap, and you can buy a growlers (64oz) of a good variety of interesting beers. read more

Went into The Brew Crew today. Was looking forward to finding what I wanted. They had what I wanted. I like the redds flavored malted drinks. They had every flavor imaginable. However most of them where expired. What was worse was the prices. I went and told an employee the drinks where expired and he was like I know, we don't sell many of them. read more

Found this place because of Yelp, damn good find. Every time im in or driving through Albany I stop in to grab something ive been looking for. Oliver's selection is awesome, everyhting is separated by country or state. Almost every time ive stopped in I have found something I have been searching for elsewhere but never found. They also have a growler fill station and liquor store connected to them. Theres really nothing else to say other than stop by if your are close by......... read more

Oliver's Beverage Center is the gold standard of bevies. There beer selection is legendary the prices are fair. Let me be clear they typically have in stock what lesser beverage centers need to special order. The staff is fairly knowable and can help you around. I have been going there for years and it just keeps getting better and better. They also have a smaller sister store up on Western Ave near cross gates but the main location on Colvin Ave is where it's at. The bottom line: The best place to purchase your liquid refreshments in and around the Capital District. read more

Oliver's is the best beer store in the area, by far. I'm generally drinking on a budget and they always have a good 12 pack for $7.49. There's every beer you can think of and they also post new arrivals to their Facebook page which is really cool. There's also a growler filling station with rotating kegs (awesome) and the staff really knows their stuff. There's always several people working and they're all friendly and willing to help you out. read more

Found this place using the Yelp! Blackberry App while visiting the Capital Region. Although my local beverage store (Half Time in Poughkeepsie) can't be beat, I'm always curious to see if there are any unique brews that I might be missing out on. Oliver's has an A+ selection of Imports and US Microbrews. I wish I could give 4.5 stars because it's just that good. I picked up a few bottles while I was there to support the local economy;-) If I lived in the area this is where I would be going to get my brew! For anyone that really likes beer and doesn't mind doing a little driving, be sure to check out Half Time on Rt. 9 in Poughkeepsie. read more

I'm allergic to wheat and barley, so I can't drink commercial beer. This saddens me greatly. Luckily for me, the kind folks at Oliver's stock not one, not two, but FOUR types of gluten-free beer. They also have a large array of various types of hard cider. This place is fun to browse. In fact, it's one of the places I often go one tp when I need a quick birthday gift for someone - a carefully selected and personalized "six-pack sampler" is almost always appreciated! And you can buy and re-fill growlers here too. It's conveniently located next to a wine and liquor store, which makes for one-stop party shopping. read more

When I was in grad school, I would make frequent trips to this place. I called it the beer library. Literally, stacks and stacks of craft beer. From Vermont to Lousiana to California to New York, you will find it here. Staff were so helpful. I've compared every liquor store I have ever entered to this one. Fond memories... read more

The best Store for your beverage shopping needs in the Albany area. Especially beer Hands down best selection , sales and service .The workers are the best .Even the owners and supervisors are friendly and very helpful .they have what YOU WANT ! read more

Great selection, prices are a little higher, but not too bad. For anyone new to imports and microbrews, it can be overwhelming. You can bottles as singles, which can be fun and if you hate it, at least there aren't 5 more in the fridge. What dropped them to a 4 is the fact sometimes I just can't find what I'm looking for or there's no price for the beer. Considering the price range, this can be bad. I bought a bottle for nearly $5 because I didn't know how much it cost, I was glad I decided to buy just one instead of a 6 pack. read more

I went to Oliver's Beer Crew tonight for the first time. I was amazed by the craft beer selection. They had a whole stand of Mikkeller brews. They had a row of Nøgne Ø ales. They had Pannepot and a number of Belgian craft beers. I am pointing out these particular ales because they are hard to find. Their selection of US craft beers was equally amazing. One very nice thing about Oliver's is that they sell single bottles (10 and 12 oz) of beer that is normally sold in bombers. I will definitely be coming back! read more

I don't need to leave a lengthy review about this great place. It's only competition is it's sister store, Westmere Beverage. They offer a great bottle selection, a great growler selection (it seems more hop-heavy than Westmere's), and really knowledge/friendly staff. If you're anywhere near Albany/Latham and you're looking to take some good craft suds home, there's no reason to go elsewhere. read more

Great beer selection and knowledgeable staff. One of their staff was very helpful in showing me what me what beers I might like for mix & max 6 packs I was putting together. read more

I don't think I've ever spent more time in a store buying beer as I have at Oliver's. I'll walk up and down the aisles finding so many good beers in the process that easily a half hour will go by before I've made my selections. Moving up here from NYC a year ago I was so happy to find a store like this nearby. read more

This place is the shizzzzznit! Any kind of beer you can imagine they got it. The crew is always friendly and will suggest something if you got a question. Prices are good but be willing to drop some $ for a selection you won't be able to find any place close. Make this your go to stop on Fridays and all summer long... read more

Weow, this place is a beer lover's haven. With constant deals and growler changes and influx of craft beers, I always make sure to grab a little something every now and then. Oliver's is very active on facebook and always updates new beers and even free tastings. Check it out! read more

Oliver's boasts the best beer selection in the Capital District for import and microbrew bottles. You can find most anything you want here, though I find that a lot of the time what I am looking for is sold out. That can be a bummer. It's fun just to wander the aisles and put together a mix 6-pack here of curious and interesting sounding brews. Whether you're a beer snob or you're happy with a 6-er of your favorite lawnmower beer, you'll find it at Oliver's. read more

Definitely has the best selection of beer in the Albany area. Unfortunately, this place knows that they have the best selection in the area and raise their prices accordingly. I didn't notice this until I visited Half-Time in Poughkeepsie, located about an hour and a half south, and found a larger selection of beers for much less. Nevertheless, Brew Crew will suit most of your beer needs. read more