San Diego's best bottle shops

What kind of beer do you crack open for refreshment when you get home at night? These are the best places in the county to stock your fridge or beer cellar.

Bottlecraft

The many positive qualities of these shops include great selection and knowledgeable staff happy to talk about beer. From a practical standpoint, being able to split four- and six-packs makes it a candy shop for the adventurous beer taster.

Brother’s Provisions

It’s tough to make it to the bottle-shop portion of this North County shop without getting caught up in the fancy meats and cheese on display by its deli. Best to order a sandwich and a pint on draft, then sip as you browse the comprehensive local, domestic, and international selection.

KnB Wine Cellars

You might pick up a nice bottle of wine here, if you’re into that sort of thing. You certainly won’t have any trouble locating quality craft brews. Expect a selection of creat beer produced in the Southwest and up the coast, including some lesser-known locals.

South Bay Liquor Store

Not much to look at on the approach, but this liquor store’s shelves are packed tight with rare, exotic, and bottle-conditioned beers, with plenty of imports.

Texas Wine & Spirits

Possibly the most valuable bottle collection in the county sits a few blocks from the ocean in this slightly dingy Carlsbad Village shop. It’s mighty impressive how obscure some of these beer labels get.