Eat & Drink
Inside the Beer Boutique
Will the new Beer Boutique in Liberty Village draw younger, hipper consumers? That's the idea behind this newly launched brand from the folks behind the Beer Store - not that they weren't already the default option for anyone looking to buy suds in this province.
Neverthless, this much hyped new retail concept is set to launch its first store in Liberty Village (21 Lynn William St.) tomorrow. Unlike the Beer Store which is pretty bare bones, the Beer Boutique actually allows consumers to grab beer off the shelves (think LCBO) and will host tasting and pairing events at a central chef's table. Notably, beer will be sold in singles as well as cases of 6, 12 and 24 plus an 8 pack mix and match option.
While the Beer Boutique may be less revolutionary than its creators may want us to believe, there's no denying the II by IV designed space sure looks good - as seen here last Friday when we were invited in for a sneak peek.
Photos by Dennis Marciniak
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it would really be nice if a 'beer boutique' featured some 'boutique beers'.
I love how the interior is trying to replicate the look of all the great old buildings they destroyed in liberty village to build the crap, big box neighbourhood, that is there now.
Take the beer off the shelf yourself?
WOW.
I guess the beer store on Spadina south of Bloor is a "Beer Boutique" too.
F this pathetic garbage.
Aside from the main Inglis complex, razed in the mid-90s, almost all of what WAS there 10 years ago is there now.
I agree, it was more charming as a wasteland, but I don't think any buildings got destroyed to build the little suburbia that's there now.
technically, the ground under this beer store was an auto impound lot before the recent wave of redevelopment, and a train car loading area before that (on the back of Irwin Toy).
while I agree the area is going 'big box', almost all the buildings from 20 years ago are still standing today. (yes, there are some exceptions like Inglis)
+
nondescript shelving
+
a dorky chandelier made from pipes
does not
=
refreshingly trendy interior
Look at the fifth photo and then look at the guy on the ladder in #2
It comes in sheets, like wallpaper. And it makes a 7-Eleven-like space look hip and urban.
I bet those "wooden" posts were added for effect, as well.
the strange thing - the building IS brick. I've been watching the construction and the outside brick walls are genuine. Not sure why they wouldn't just use the inside of those walls, unless they need more insulation and all that 'practical' stuff.
also, I've never heard of 'Yanjing' beer (photo#3). I'm please to find one brew in the flicks I hasn't heard of.
This Beer Boutique is a sad attempt to look charming and down to earth.
It's literally just another Beer Store with the same old crap brands, lousy selection of smaller beers, zero selection of unique craft beers.
A Beer Store location in Liberty Village = great idea. Who really cares about the interior?
The LCBO needs a more aggressive purchasing model, with a lot more flexibility and sensibility to both global/local trends and standards. At present they seem to be 8+ years in the dark with a very small amount of room for flux.
In fact I do believe that the LCBO has shortened their beer buying list of late and is relying more on their advertising to carry them. The Beer Store hasn't really gotten better or worse of late.
relax the liquor laws and that will be a story. this is a waste of time.
Also, I was contacted by whomever's representing their Twitter and told that their selection of provincial craft brands will improve this year.
Let's wait and see.
smd
They can kiss my ass. This private company is the reason we can't buy liquor in the corner store like most of the rest of the world.
No. The people who run the LCBO need to be arrested and thrown in jail. These are the modern mafia of Ontario
Still hoping they decide to start doing more with these stores then just selling the same boring product in a fancy store.
The conglomerates that run The Beer Store present craft brewers with prohibitive barriers (huge fees) to selling their goods in-store. This is anti-competitive behaviour that hurts consumers and they should NOT be rewarded with praise.
how is he still mayor?
we need to impeach him so that we can fix my blessed liberty village before it becomes the next burbs.
http://casiestewart.com/beerboutique-libertyvillage/
wow... Entertainment Tonight covered it? Must have been a slow "news" day.
When do we start the revolution?
Typical fucking coaster response, Mr. Good. You're a fucking coaster. Why are you commenting? Coaster.
It does, however, make buying beer a much more civil experience and this should be the model the Beer Store follows in similar neighbourhoods moving forward. Also, it is staffed by pretty girls, so win.
You seem to be ignoring the big single-storey, single-use Metro grocery store with surface parking lot and the strip mall right next to it.
I'm not saying these make the entire neighbourhood "suburban" (they don't), but these elements themselves are undeniably suburban in nature.
It's the gentrification/suburbanization and, basically, destruction of yet another unique spot in TO that is upsetting.
*clap*, *clap*, *clap*
The Hours are EXACTLY the same as the LCBO.
Mon-Sat 09:30am - 9:00pm
Sun 12:00pm - 5:00pm
so they don't take empties, don't offer extended hours (even on a sunday) and have less kinds of beer than the LCBO that's about 300 feet away. Seems kinda pointless to me.
But hey.... if you can have 3 banks within shouting distance (TD, BMO and now CIBC) then why not more of them same beer too?
I was so excited when I heard that the province was relaxing its liquor laws recently, thinking this would mean beer being available at corner stores. It turns out that this only meant I can now carry my beer outside of the 'beer tent' at outdoor events. Wow. I'm a big boy now.
I want to try it but I don't want to commit to a sixer. I just can't find it anywhere despite seeing it advertised. I'm going to be in Liberty Village tomorrow and I was just wondering if they stock it or if I can save myself the trip.