The Beer Dispensary

I visited The Beer Dispensary recently during the Peak City Pig Fest. The shop was very inviting because of the cool AC pouring out [it was 101 degrees outside!]. They had six beers on draft, all $ 5 for 12oz pour [not sure if this is typical or was a result of the festival]. You can also grab something out of the cooler for a $ 1 cork fee. I love the location of this bottle shop, right in downtown Apex. They have a beautiful bar area to the right of the front door, although there was no bar seating on our visit, again could’ve been because of the festival, they didn’t want people hanging out too long? Regardless, IF they put seating at the bar, I think it would be much more inviting and I could see myself actually hanging out rather then just grabbing a six pack. And, no separate tables/​seating for customers in the shop. That’s the impression I got from my visit though, that this is a beer SHOP but not a bar, maybe not a place you’ll build a reputation with the bartenders, etc., which is fine for some, but for me I’m definitely more a fan of the bar/​bottle shop combo. Again, first impression and during a festival, so I’ve got to give them another try to confirm this. SO… For Apex, The Beer Dispensary is a good place to pick up beer and go back to your house, but I didn’t get the impression that it’s your come in for a drink after work and socialize spot.

Great bottle shop /​tavern in Apex. Stopped in while visiting family in the Raleigh area. Picked up a few great local brews not found in the triad. Staff was very helpful and good selection on draft. Will visit again next time I’m in Apex.

Great place! Nice selection of brews. Knowledgable staff. Only wish they were open longer hours/​days.

These guys were great! I am pretty new to the world of beer and they were very helpful. They listened to the things I have and have not liked about the beers I’ve had and then helped me put together a great six pack to try.
They did not carry the beer I originally went in to get, but quickly looked it up and ordered it for me.
All in all a great place!

Pretty good selection of craft beer considering the area. Wish there were more West Coast beers, as I find the local brews weak and bland in comparison. Employees are knowledgeable. Prices are in line with other stores.

This place is awesome… They have a nice selection of bottle beers, they have coolers full of cold beers as well. What is nice is they have plenty of space to stop in and enjoy a cool beer from tap… They have something like 6 beers on tap and usually have a very nice selection…

I went here today and had a nice time. Good service and a wide variety.

Anytime I’ve been here I’ve found something unique and delicious to take home and surprise my husband with.
This is a great spot to pick up a few bottles and you could definitely spend time in here finding unique flavors.
There’s a bar where you can hang out and have a drink, although we haven’t done that yet.
The guys who work there are always friendly and knowledgeable.
I wish they filled growlers though. That would bump it up to 5 stars no doubt!

I went here today to pick up some beer for my husbands birthday.
The owner was very helpful by putting together a variety 6 pack for him. I told him a few that my husband likes and he did all the work!
Great location, great guy hangout spot, easy gift giving! Thanks!

Best beer selection around with growlers of many local brews. At the time of my visit you could also buy the Meathouse Steak Tips (house flavor only), which might be convenient for some. They are pricey, but if beer is your thing, you probably don’t mind that much. The one thing I found off putting was that as novice beer connoisseur, I found the staff not very helpful/​engaged in finding something I would like or should give a try.

When I first walked into the Beer Dispensary a year ago prior to its move I was a bit concerned about the longevity of the place.
Squirreled away with little parking to be found, we entered to classical music playing and Tim the owner quietly stocking shelves. A bit quiet for a sales forward business, but who am I to judge.
Fast forward a year and you can find me stopping in once every week or so to see Tim and company. My wife, and I stop in to have a pint with baby in tow, and pull a seat up to the custom wood bar.
Good bunch of guys with a lot of floor space. It’s larger than other local bottle shops, but has a great selection for a comparable price point as other local establishments.
I’m definitely a fan.
Keep up the good work guys.

Great beer bottle selection and they play dream theater on the speakers, super cute Downtown

This is a great concept. The owner has a small, rotating selection of taps and sells you a reasonably priced plastic cup of beer — more of a large sample than a beer you’d go out to drink. He’s knowledgeable and friendly. You can enjoy sipping your brew while ogling the extensive assortment of craft beers, bombers, and growlers.
The only reason I knocked it down a star is because I felt the prices are a wee bit high on some selections, and astronomical on others. He tries to keep profits up by selling stuff like logo pint glasses and beer advertising tins he likely gets free from the brewery.
I hope this shop makes it. I can get a fresh growler without having to make a trip to the brewery.

Wow my buddy at work told me about this place, and as we ate on Salem Street we figured we would check it out. It had so much of a selection — lots of local micro-​brews plus an interesting selection from around the country. There was some beer in the fridge and a cool service where they will recycle growler’s and give you $ 2 off your next growler. The guy working there was very nice and helpful and we got a nice little beer bottle opener key ring. We will go back!

I’d heard about this place on a couple beer sites, and it had been recommended to me as a good place to grab some beer when in the area.
And every one of those recommendations was right.
Probably the most difficult thing about this place is parking — on a busy Saturday, you might have to park up to an entire block away. And since that’s the hardest element to visiting this place, it’s well worth a visit.
The Beer Dispensary doesn’t have the inventory or selection that the bigger stores in the Triangle have (e.g., Tasty, Sam’s, Bottle Rev). But the selection is still excellent (~600 beers) and carefully selected to hit some very interesting niches. I’ve gone through several thousand beers in my day (hush, you), and had no problem finding a bunch of beers I’d never seen before.
Service was also amazing — I filled up a 12-​pack with mostly bombers, and they really helped me out. Helped packing the box, and sold me on a few things I didn’t think to look at (with no complaints).
All in all, probably about 4.5 stars. But I had a great experience there, and am rounding up. I like this place.

Want to find a beer you won’t find anywhere else? This is the place. Pretty big selection for how small the store is. And they regularly have stuff that you just are not going to get anywhere else without a good drive.
So why 3 stars? 1) Personally, I find the prices can be a bit high on items you can get at other locations locally. But if you’re in there getting some specialty stuff, a little extra so you don’t have to drive to another store is probably worth it. 2) The selection of cold beer is lacking.
I’d give it 3.5 if I could. And really, I probably should give it 4. So I just changed it to 4. The owner deserves the extra star for putting up with my kids roaming the store while I am in there as they are not the quietest around and like to touch things.

The Beer Dispensary is a welcome addition to southern Wake County residents, of whom I am numbered. Prior to the opening of the Beer Dispensary the winter before last, I was relegated to the luck of the draw at the local supermarkets’ smallish selection for take-​home brews. If I wanted to expand my horizons of beer experience (talking about beers for the fridge at home), I would have to travel to, for example, Peace Street in Raleigh. Thankfully I no longer need to travel far to find sought-​after beers or something new to drink.
But convenience/​location isn’t the main plus for this store. The beers are attractively presented in an easily-​navigable, wooden-​shelved environ. The atmosphere is comfortable and the focus is solely on beer. Tim, the owner, is always ready for recommendations or just to talk knowledgeable about beer.
The selection is fantastic: local craft brews, national craft brews, seasonals, extensive Belgians and imports from Germany, the UK (and Scotland!), South America, and elsewhere (like Norway, for example). You can purchase by the single bottle (as low as under $ 2 for some bottles, $ 15++ for really limited/​special offerings) or save by buying six of a single beer, for most beers. One impressive feature is the selection of canned brews: convenient for warm weather activities at the beach or community pool.
I have shopped here at least once a month, stocking my fridge and cellaring some, since February of last year, and look forward to The Beer Dispensary providing my beer for years to come.

If you are into great beer and are in the Apex area, you would be doing yourself a favor to check out the Beer Dispensary.
This relatively new store is focused on highly enjoyable micro, craft, and foreign brews. The floorspace is relatively small but well organized to display what is available. Each area is organized by style of beer and/​or brewery.
So far as I can tell, every beer in the place is available as a single bottle or you can purchase an entire six-​pack or 750ml bottle. Although there is a vast assortment on the shelves at room temperature, there is a set of coolers with many items chilled to perfection.
If you have any questions about any of the beers on hand, or even beers that aren’t on hand, the owner of the store is very knowledgeable and passionate about the product on his shelves. With just a few questions, he has been able to make some very solid suggestions that I have enjoyed very much.
Also, from time to time, The Beer Dispensary has tastings that frequently highlight special guests from breweries across the country. Just a few weeks ago, I attended one that had a representative from Stone Brewing (Escondido, CA), Terrapin Beer Co. (Athens, GA), and Triangle Brewing Co. (Durham, NC). With lots of knowledge and plenty of swag to give away, it was a great event for such a small venue.
If you are into good brew, it is great to know that there is another choice in the area. Check them out — it’s worth your time!

Calling all Beer Geeks! A friend told us about this place and we stopped to check it out a few weeks ago, only to find they are closed on Sunday (and Monday). We were intrigued enough about a specialty beer store to head back over to Apex on Saturday and give it a once over. It was worth it.
My husband knows a great deal more about beer than I do, but I know enough and enjoy craft brews enough to know this place has an awesome selection and good prices. They have a small section of canned beers and I’m not talking Coors or Natty Ice, sorry water drinkers;-) My husband grabbed a Dale’s Pale Ale, which comes in a sixer, but you can break out a single of anything you want… mostly for under $ 2 a beer. In addition to Dale’s he loaded up with Sublimely Self Righteous Ale (Stone), Fade to Black, vol.1 (Left Hand), Aprihop (Dogfish), Beer Geek Brunch (Mikkeller) and Trappistes Rochefort 10. My collection included one of my favs, Delirium Tremens, a Midas Touch (Dogfish) and Sweet Josie (Lonerider).
The owner was there and talked to us the whole time. In my opinion, if you’re going to own a business, especially a specialty one, you need to know what you’re doing (or selling) and engage with your customers. He gets an A in both. For the beer connoisseur, you will not be disappointed. For the beer novice, you will not be overwhelmed, but may be enlightened.

I’m beginning to like downtown Apex a whole lot more. The Beer Dispensary might just be responsible. When I walked in, I found a plethora of micro brews and craft beers. In fact, more than I’ve seen in one place in quite some time. And in Apex.
The Beer Dispensary reminded me of a winery (sans the brewery), but for beer. No big name brewery brands here of the kind you’ll find in any grocery store (except for a sprinkling of brands like Guinness and the like). Brands and breweries from all over the US (including here in NC) and outside the US appear to be well represented. The owners have helpfully placed a small card with a brief description under the brand. I overheard the owner telling another customer he might be able to order the particular brand the customer was seeking. That’s a nice added feature. It was also a plus to find the cooler in the back with some already chilled beer. That might be handy during the hot NC summer.
The Beer Dispensary, similar to some wine stores, have periodic beer tastings and a tasting bar.