Boston's Best Beer: Where To Buy Your Brews

Boston has a wide variety of stores where you can buy beer, including liquor stores, grocery stores, and convenience stores. Some popular options include the 7-11 on Hanover Street, Federal Wine & Spirits, and Martignetti's Liquor Store. Additionally, some grocery stores like Star Market and Walgreens also sell beer. For those interested in craft beer, there are several bottle shops in the Boston area, such as Craft Beer Cellar, Social Wines, and Cambridge Spirits.

Liquor laws in Boston

Boston's liquor laws are notoriously confusing and restrictive, with Time Magazine ranking Massachusetts as one of the three states with the most restrictive alcohol laws.

Drinking Age

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to possess or purchase alcohol in Boston, with some exceptions. Those under 21 may drink if the alcohol is provided by a parent, guardian, grandparent, or legal-aged spouse.

Hours of Sale

Grocery and convenience stores can sell beer and wine from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, the sale of alcohol is permitted from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. No alcohol sales are allowed before noon on Sundays or at any time on election days while polls are open.

Bars and restaurants can serve alcohol from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sundays. Local officials can extend these hours to as late as 2 a.m.

Happy Hour

Happy hour and other promotions on alcoholic beverages are banned in Massachusetts. Establishments are prohibited from offering discounts, free drinks, or reduced prices on alcohol.

Open Container Law

The open container law in Boston prohibits open alcohol containers in the "passenger area" of a vehicle, which includes the driver's seat. Open containers must be kept in the trunk or a locked glove compartment.

Liquor Licenses

Massachusetts allows cities and towns to decide how to allocate liquor licenses. Some licenses may be limited to the sale of beer and wine, while others permit the sale of all types of alcohol.

Transportation of Alcohol

Individuals can transport up to 20 gallons of malt beverages, three gallons of any other alcoholic beverage, or one gallon of alcohol without a license. People under 21 cannot drive with alcohol in the vehicle, even if it belongs to someone over 21.

Driving Under the Influence

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a crime in Massachusetts, with penalties including fines and/or imprisonment. The maximum blood alcohol level is 0.08% for drivers and 0.02% for those under 21.

Dry Townships

It is important to note that some townships in Massachusetts, including Alford, Chilmark, Dunstable, and Montgomery, are "dry" and prohibit the sale of alcohol altogether.

Beer in grocery stores

In Massachusetts, grocery and convenience stores are permitted to sell beer and wine from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. However, alcohol sales cannot begin before noon on Sundays.

Although it is challenging to find beer in grocery stores in Boston, there are a few options available. One option is the Star Market at 53 Huntington Avenue, which carries a selection of wine and beer. Another option is Walgreens in the Financial District on School Street, which sells beer and liquor. Additionally, the Roche Bros grocery chain is said to have a great beer selection and an exceptional wine selection.

For those specifically seeking craft beer, there are several small liquor stores in Boston that offer a wide variety. The Craft Beer Cellar, with locations in Roslindale, Newton, Fort Point, and Fenway, is one such option. Social Wines in South Boston also offers a great selection of beer and cider from local breweries.

7-11 and Walmart beer sales

If you're looking to buy beer in Boston, Massachusetts, there are a few options available to you. Here is some information on 7-11 and Walmart beer sales in the area:

7-11 Beer Sales:

7-11 is a popular convenience store option for purchasing beer and other alcoholic beverages. The store typically has a wide range of options, including local and imported beers, as well as other drinks like wine, seltzers, and liquor. In Boston, 7-11 stores are permitted to sell alcoholic beverages during regular store hours, but the specific times may vary depending on state and local laws. For example, in Massachusetts, the sale of alcoholic beverages is restricted to between 8 am and 11 pm, while in Nevada, 7-11 stores can sell alcohol 24 hours a day. It's important to check the local laws and restrictions before heading out to your nearest 7-11 store.

Walmart Beer Sales:

Walmart also offers a wide range of beer options for customers in Boston. On their website, you can find various domestic and imported beers, with options for pickup or delivery. Walmart typically offers competitive prices on beer, making it a cost-effective option for stocking up on your favorite drinks. However, it is important to note that in Massachusetts, Walmart only sells alcohol in two outlets – Ware and Raynham. There are also other package stores within a two-mile radius of Walmart that offer beer and wine.

In addition to 7-11 and Walmart, there are also other options for purchasing beer in Boston, including local liquor stores, grocery stores, and convenience stores. These stores typically have a good selection of beers and other alcoholic beverages, and their operating hours may vary. It's always a good idea to check the specific store's website or give them a call to confirm their product availability and operating hours before heading out.

The Wine Emporium

The Tremont Street location is a multi-level store with Boston's largest wine cellar, offering 1,300+ labels from every corner of the world. The Columbus Avenue location has recently increased its selection to 1,000+ wines. Both locations also offer a wide variety of craft beers, spirits, and mixers. The Wine Emporium rotates its beer collection regularly, bringing in new and different craft beers weekly, and there is always a selection of domestic beers, micro-brews, and imported beers on sale.

The Emporium's liquor and spirits selection is impressive, with more than 50 brands of vodka, 65 different single malt scotches, and a broad assortment of whiskeys, rums, tequilas, bourbons, and gins. They also carry a wide variety of cordials, after-dinner liqueurs, aperitifs, cognacs, and eau de vies.

For customers' convenience, The Wine Emporium offers in-store wine tastings and door-to-door delivery service through its website and app.

Craft Beer Cellar

The Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont was so successful that Schalow and Baker expanded their business and created the country's first national chain of specialty beer stores. They now have 30 locations across the country, with a presence in more than a dozen states, and Schalow plans to be in all 50. The brand's website promised potential franchisees support with social media and marketing, real estate, ordering, and sales projections.

However, some franchisees have faced financial difficulties and criticized the founders for providing overly rosy financial projections and failing to help when franchises struggled. Several stores have closed in the past few years, and some franchisees have had to pay more than double the projected startup costs, which put them deep in debt even before they opened. There have also been complaints about the accuracy of sales projections and a lack of support from the brand.

In response to the criticisms, Schalow said that certain stores are "damaging the reputation" of the brand by not following the founders' philosophy and business model and neglecting to build their beer expertise. She also stated that franchisees decide how they run their business, and those choices can affect profits. Despite the challenges, Craft Beer Cellar remains a well-known brand in the specialty beer market.

Frequently asked questions