What happened to the Wine Library?

When I moved to Maplewood 3 years ago, I discovered the Wine Libraryand was thrilled. A good wine selection, plus fairly-priced liquor, as well as a great curated beer collection? My husband and I nearly cried from happiness. Fast forward to today, and... man oh man. What HAPPENED to their beer section? The coolers were about 2/3 empty (no joke), the endcaps were close to bare, and what was there was uninspired. Did the beer manager get fired? Are they getting rid of beer altogether? I'm really disappointed, as the Wine Library was my go-to beer place, and I might need to find a new one now. Does anyone have any intel? To quote Otto in "A Fish Called Wanda": "DISAPPOINTED!"

Is this about the Wine Library or Total Wine? Last time I was at the Wine Library (a few weeks ago) they seemed to have the normal beer selection.

imonlysleeping said:
Is this about the Wine Library or Total Wine? Last time I was at the Wine Library (a few weeks ago) they seemed to have the normal beer selection.

I corrected my post. Wine Library. The last 2-3 times that I've been there, the beer selection has been very sparse.

I've never been that impressed by Wine Library's beer selection. We go there for wine and spirits, but go elsewhere for beer (and hard cider). Currently my go-to is the place on Eisenhower Circle or the one in Essex Green.

A&D on Valley has revamped. Quite a good beer selection.

You should ask - they are really responsive and there could be an explanation for why things are that way temporarily. Or maybe the feedback would help change things. I don't look at the beer selections often, so I'm not sure what the deal is.

meganlibrarian said:
When I moved to Maplewood 3 years ago, I discovered the Wine Libraryand was thrilled. A good wine selection, plus fairly-priced liquor, as well as a great curated beer collection? My husband and I nearly cried from happiness. Fast forward to today, and... man oh man. What HAPPENED to their beer section? The coolers were about 2/3 empty (no joke), the endcaps were close to bare, and what was there was uninspired. Did the beer manager get fired? Are they getting rid of beer altogether? I'm really disappointed, as the Wine Library was my go-to beer place, and I might need to find a new one now. Does anyone have any intel? To quote Otto in "A Fish Called Wanda": "DISAPPOINTED!"

I was there this weekend and I think they are having cooler issues. Basically, they did something with their fridge racks and now the beer is not sliding forward after people take them out so the racks look empty from the front but full from inside the cooler.

Alls you ever need is Guinness. What's the problem?

If you want beer, from a case of Caronitas to a 4 pack of Clown Shoes - there is no reason to go anywhere other then total Wine in Essex Green. It's a bonanza of beer goodness now.

I always thought Wine Library beer selection was very lacking.

(And I like the Guinness Blonde way more then I thought I would)

I really like Wine Library for wine -- picking and ordering a case or two online and picking up there is great -- and they definitely used to have beers I wouldn't find elsewhere, (including Total Wine) too, but especially since their expansion, Total Wine at Essex Green has a MUCH better selection of beer than Wine Library.

kenboy said:
I really like Wine Library for wine -- picking and ordering a case or two online and picking up there is great -

Well hey, I didn't know you could do that.

JCSO said:

kenboy said:
I really like Wine Library for wine -- picking and ordering a case or two online and picking up there is great -

Well hey, I didn't know you could do that.

you can do that at a lot of wine stores.

Totally agree with Total Wine for beer. It has a really terrific selection.

Don't get me wrong, folks – I do quite like Total Wine's beer selection in their West Orange location. However, as I live in SW Maplewood, a trip to the Essex Green equals a major expedition for which I need a few stops to make it worth my while . Meanwhile, the Wine Library is 10 minutes from my house. #lazy

meganlibrarian said:
Don't get me wrong, folks – I do quite like Total Wine's beer selection in their West Orange location. However, as I live in SW Maplewood, a trip to the Essex Green equals a major expedition for which I need a few stops to make it worth my while . Meanwhile, the Wine Library is 10 minutes from my house. #lazy

what about Total Wine on 22?

hankzona said:

meganlibrarian said:
Don't get me wrong, folks – I do quite like Total Wine's beer selection in their West Orange location. However, as I live in SW Maplewood, a trip to the Essex Green equals a major expedition for which I need a few stops to make it worth my while . Meanwhile, the Wine Library is 10 minutes from my house. #lazy

what about Total Wine on 22?

And here I thought you were a nice guy, HankZona.

ridski said:

hankzona said:

meganlibrarian said:
Don't get me wrong, folks – I do quite like Total Wine's beer selection in their West Orange location. However, as I live in SW Maplewood, a trip to the Essex Green equals a major expedition for which I need a few stops to make it worth my while . Meanwhile, the Wine Library is 10 minutes from my house. #lazy

what about Total Wine on 22?

And here I thought you were a nice guy, HankZona.

lol I find it quicker to get to 22 from where we are in town than to get to Essex Green and Rt. 10. And once on 22, its NJ's roller coaster ride for drivers!

they still have more stock than many places but in a recent discussion here, although its not as apparent as it is with the beer, they don't have the range of offerings they once had. That said, when someone asked me for recommendations recently for Lebanese wines, they had 7 or 8 different ones on the shelf.

but that may be the state of retail these days...even the huge places that say they provide one stop shopping -- I find they even don't meet all my needs. So I don't find as much overall success any longer at one place. Wine and beer are definitely examples of that, and basic grocery shopping, for me and a lot of others, is the same.

Just curious, since I haven't been to either: Which are the beers that are stocked at Essex Green or A&D that you can't find at WL?

Wine Library's sparkling wine selection has deteriorated too.

mickey said:
Wine Library's sparkling wine selection has deteriorated too.

I noticed. They have a couple of grower Champagnes, but the better domestic selection isn't what it used to be. They are selling what people want to buy though...Prosecco and Moscato. I see a big difference when I do a sparkling wine tasting...real Champagne, which used to be the baseline taste for the majority of sparkling wine drinkers, is now too heavy for many who are used to lighter fizz, extra dry (which is actually not dry) Prosecco. They do carry my favorite sparkling wine value, Raventos rose cava (technically not a cava any longer), for the best price anywhere, after being more expensive than other places, but they must be selling it at right above cost.

I've mentioned this in another thread but I've noticed that the wine library's inventory shrinks quite a bit during the summer months. You'll see 50 bottles of the same wine taking up a whole shelf sometimes.

skadave said:
I've mentioned this in another thread but I've noticed that the wine library's inventory shrinks quite a bit during the summer months. You'll see 50 bottles of the same wine taking up a whole shelf sometimes.

you are right...that is partially due to it being summer and the industry makes most of its money in the last quarter of the year so shelves get fully restocked once summer is over. I also think in general they have less variety and fill up the shelf space with more of the same wine than they did in the past.

Since hints of cat pee is considered a good thing in the wine world, why not battery acid and vomit?

insombob said:
A&D on Valley has revamped. Quite a good beer selection.

+1 and the guys that work there are open to getting new types of craft beer if you ask.