The Bottle Shop at Local 44

Love the selection, very friendly knowledgable staff and prices are actually pretty good in my opinion.

I love living next door to this place! They always have great beers and the selection is constantly changing. They’re right next to Local 44, so sometimes if Local has a beer on tap that I like I can pop in here to the Bottle Shop and buy a few to take home for later. They also have free weekly beer tastings. They’ll bring in a beer rep, have tastings of 4 or 5 different beers, and then the rep will talk about each one, its history, how it’s made, etc. It makes it really easy to hone in on your own taste in beer, figure out what you do and don’t like, and then take that knowledge with you when choosing a beer to drink later. Plus you can sound like a bit of a connoisseur when out with friends

Where do you go after a delightful (and boozy) brunch at Local 44?
You go next door to the Bottle Shop! Although they’re connected, you can’t walk through unfortunately. You gotta use the outside entrance.
I must have been too buzzed to notice this shop after a handful of brunches at Local 44, but my first time here was definitely not my last.
Every visit here I leave with something different to try, usually an IPA of some sort, or come here looking for a beer that I recently had at a bar. Super knowledgeable staff provides some beerducation and always has recommendations that never let me down.
The convenience of being able to just buy 1 bottle of something is awesome instead of being committed to a pack. Or if you want a pack, just let them know and they’ll set one up.
They also carry an assortment of specialty foods and some clothing/​accessories. I walked away with some dope hot sauce on one of my visits.
Just a teeny disclaimer — For some beers that you could find at a bigger chain shop, you’ll find that this place prices them slightly higher. But they stock so much beer that I consider «rare finds», and that’s priceless.
So to all my fellow beer lovers, this is a place to check out. Promise, you will not be disappointed.

Just moved to West Philly and live a block away from this place. Went for the first time last week and I can tell I will be coming back a lot. Great selection of craft brews. The knowlegable staff helped me find a couple sour beers that I have not tried before. They were delicious. I’m delighted that I live so close to this place.

Always a nice selection of gluten-​free beers and ciders. Not the largest selection you’ve ever seen for gluten-​free, but hand-​picked with the latest ciders and GF beers coming through. I can usually find some of my favorite standards here: Omission IPA, Samuel Smith’s Organic Cider, and Clos Normand Brut Cider.
Everyone I come through here with loves the selection as well (so many great beers if you’re allergy-​free!). I’m always happy to see 6-​packs of cans of Jack’s Cider, or Foxtail Gluten Free Ale.
You can also find the more expensive beautiful bottles of beers and ciders in the back (and sometimes see them on tap next-​door to try first!).
Thanks to this spot I’m a huge fan of the Virtu ciders now too. The staff is super friendly, and eager to make suggestions of their favorites. Love the Local 44 folks.
*Tip: Great summer activity is coming in here for some a/​c and opening a beer/​cider and having it inside after some sushi next door.

My go-​to beer spot. Fantastic selection. As others have said, a little pricey, but definitely worth it when you want something special. As a native Clevelander, I love them for having Great Lakes — usually 4 or 5 different options! Clearly they know what good beer is ;)
I’ve never been, but I hear they do donation-​based beer classes one Wednesday a month, as well as happy hours every Monday. I’ll make it to Beer School one of these days.
For a full West Philly experience: pick up some beers at the bottle shop, have them with dinner at Honest Tom’s or Tampopo, then finish out with a pop from Lil’ Pop Shop.

Large selection of take away beers and ciders, that are almost always seasonal. It is a convenient place in West Philly to grab a 6-​pack to take home. Although the people who work there are very knowledgeable and helpful, they are a little patrol-​ey and you can feel the eyes on you when you’re simply perusing the fridges for some delicious treats. Also a bit $$, for single bottles! However, they do have frequent tastings of a large selection of seasonal beers. Will be back due to sheer convience!

— Large stock of interesting beers. More in the back sometimes if you ask.
— The workers are helpful and gladly share their knowledge if you need recommendations.

Good selection; helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly staff. Weekly tastings Mondays 6 – 8: they take you through a few beers and explain them to you as well.

Get the cask. get a six pack.
Lovely place, lovely space, lovely help!
We’ll be back!

West Philly needs a little more healthy competition when it comes to the bottle shop market. If I’m going to buy beer, I want selection. If my end game was a Budweiser, then I suppose I could go to any market. But 9 times out of 10, I’m willing to spend a little more and try something new or foreign. There’s no doubt that Local 44’s new shop has cornered a burgeoning market in the west of 40^th arena. There is one other option, however, whose prices are much better but whose selection is much more limited: Pasqually’s Pizza, which has good pizza, great hoagies, and a surprisingly good offering of bottles.
My only point in mentioning that fact is to hopefully point out the one real flaw with the Bottle Shop: it’s a little pricey, to be sure. And not just in the typical Philadelphia way, in a little change on top of the «Philadelphia tax.» The cost of living is high in a place like this, and I think with just a little bit of adjustment in prices here, the Local 44 could ensure a long, healthy relationship with us West Philly yokels. My only other suggestion would be adding a few more regular ciders to their drink rack. While I’m more apt to try a stout or import ale, my girlfriend’s more into the apple sweetness. Even adding some Shock Top cider to the cooler would be a welcome inclusion.

The Bottle Shop at Local 44 answers the long-​awaited cry for a good beer store in University City. Their selection is very well-​rounded and their hours are ideal (noon to midnight, 7 days a week!). The place is comfortable and lacks the harsh lighting that you would normally associate with a post-​dinner beer run.
They have a reserve section with specialty beers that I’m not enough of a beer snob to be well educated on, but the staff is happy to explain the different selections to me (in other words — they don’t make me feel bad that I don’t know as much about beer as they do). Parking in the area is hit-​or-​miss so just bear that in mind if you think you want to make a quick stop.
Being attached to a bar/​restaurant is a great idea, because after a few drinks you are sure to make some excellent buying decisions here before you head home.

Not much to say that hasn’t already been said – awesome, eclectic selection of beers for all price ranges in a gorgeous, modern building.
The employees are absolutely charming, knowledgeable, and kind, and I never feel stupid for not being a beer aficionado here. It’s just a really down to earth place.
Just a note though: they don’t accept international IDs, except for passports. My friend from Hong Kong got straight up denied, even though he had a valid 21+ ID from Hong Kong. No one wants to carry around their passport. They should probably note that on the website to avoid disappointment and frustration.

This place is craft beer lover’s heaven. It’s in a beautiful building– clearly newly renovated and high ceilings, different levels and tons of brews. The employees get an A++++++++ for being extra friendly and very helpful. If you tell them what you like, they’ll find something for you. Prices are extremely reasonable for the city.
You can buy your bottle here and sit at tables and enjoy them. Apparently they have a different brewer come in every Monday 6 – 8 and do tastings, etc. I’ve never come across a place like this.
The Bottle Shop at Local 44 is essentially the foodery without the pretentiousness and jerk employees + a lot more space and bigger beer selection. Will definitely be back whenever in need of a 6 pack.

This bottle shop makes me like beer. Normally, I don’t like beer.
An extensive, tactile selection of beers fitting niches from blueberry-​flavored to gluten free to the dark Merry Monk’s. Take to go or sip and mingle. Definitely take tasting suggestions from the super helpful staff.

This is absolutely my go-​to for beer. I can enjoy sitting at the bar drinking a bottle or grabbing a six pack to go. The staff is always helpful and super-​knowledgeable. I like that I can go in knowing what brand of beer I just discovered I like, and they can match it up with something similar.
It has a unique selection of beers that are always changing. This can be great. My only dislike with that is that when I do find something I like, and I go back to get it again (maybe a few weeks later), it most likely has been switched out for something else. It’s really not a bad thing though. It’s a great place to go try something different.
I highly recommend this place. Great staff, great beer.

When I found out that one of my go to West Philly bars added a serious beer store into its equation, it instantly became a spot that I had to visit and pick up a six pack from. And overall it definitely proved to be a success.
with Local 44, Resurrection Ale House, and Memphis Tap Room among their list of bar inceptions; it goes without saying that Brendan Hartranft and Leigh Maida, knows what it takes to create a serious beer haven. So it a pretty serious plus that they added a take away shop beer shop to their list of successful endeavors. Even more so when you consider that its probably the only bottle shop that’s connected to a suds filled gastropub with a killer jukebox (
).
As far as a stand alone beer shop goes spots like Beer Haven, Bottle Shop, and Hawthorne’s do offer up a considerably larger variety. And the discounts they offer up on mix-​a-​six packs do make them a little more friendlier to the wallet than here. But the fact that $ 4 gets you a cask beer while you peruse their impressive selections of locals, Belgians, IPAs, dark beers, and then some is awesome. And its presence really gives Local 44 another edge in its mission to provide craft brews to the West Philly masses.

Nice place to be able to find all sorts of beer — international, craft, local. Definitely not the cheapest place to buy, but an accessible and likable place nonetheless.
If you’re a big belgian beer fan, you’ll find that one of the things that distinguishes this place from others (beside their huge selection), is they sell many beers in 11.2 oz or similar single serve sizes. I know that at least for me, sometimes I’m more reluctant to pop open a large bottle of La Trappe because I don’t plan to drink it all by myself in one night. However, with the smaller options, I’m good to go.
Also, LOVE that they have Monk’s flemish ale. It’s delish. It’s one of those wines that my wife and I equally enjoy. It has some tartness and slight fruitiness but a good balance and body to it.

A whole wall of beer in West Philly? That’s exactly what this neighborhood lacked. We’ve got our dingy beer distributors which only sell boxes of 30 bottles at a time, but no place to get an extensive collection of craft beers. The store’s walls are very well themed and put together, but (agreeing with Sameer) it seems like they forgot about the big space in the middle. It is a new shop, something awesome will show up there.
The Bottle Shop at Local 44 seems a little more expensive than The Fooderies in cc an no libs, but my only two real (ish) complaints about the place were actually very minimal. First, what’s upstairs? Are we allowed to go upstairs? Is that where they keep the wine? Do they sell wine bottles? My point is when a customer walks in nobody says hi have you been here before let me tell you about it. Maybe there’s nothing to tell, but letting a customer know you’re there if they need help is important. Second, a discount for mixed six pack wouldn’t kill you, Local 44. Even if it’s only 10%.
Also, thank you for recycling.

Ladies and gentlemen of Philadelphia, are you tired of the same old beers from the same old Beverage Center? Are your arms sore from carrying a massive case home, when all you really wanted was a couple of bottles? Do you crave variety? Do you crave TASTE? Well mark my words, your life is about to change for the tipsier.
The Bottle Shop at Local 44 is the long-​awaited answer to all of your ailments. They opened just a few days ago, and they have an impressive selection of beers and ciders at generally good prices. The refrigerator cases are labeled with the type of beer (Red & Hoppy, Belgian-​Inspired, and Actually Belgian are a few that I remember), and the staff are happy to help and make suggestions (but also happy to leave you alone to browse, if that’s your preference). There are also some quite fancy-​shmancy bottles that I’m sure are otherwise hard to find. Beers are sold by the bottle or six-​pack, and if you want to hang out and drink your selection there, you can do that too. Two downsides: seating is pretty limited, and the place has a loud echo. Don’t let that stop you, though — step right up and see for yourself.