The Barrel and Bottle–North Market

The Barrel and Bottle is a beer and wine store located inside the North Market.  If you're in the parking lot and enter through the main doors in the center of the building, it's down the left-hand walkway, across from CaJohn's hot sauces.  Compared to a number of the Columbus area retailers I've profiled here, it's one of the physically smaller shops.  Don't rule it out on that basis, however.  It has a lot to offer.

Just outside the shop (as pictured at the left) you'll see a nice selection of craft beers.  This includes local beers like those from Elevator Brewing Co., regional beers like Great Lakes Brewing Company's products, beers from across the U.S., and from overseas.  All this in a fairly confined space.
On my visit in June 2013, I saw beers from Unibroue, Kentucky Ale, Heavy Seas, Elevator, Great Lakes, St. Peter's, Samuel Smith, Chimay, St. bernardus, La Chouffe, Westmalle, La Trappe, and quite a few others.

Many of the beers are sitting at room temperature on the shelves, but a good number are available chilled in a refrigerator unit.  The refrigerated options during my visit included beers from Bear Republic, North Coast, Mad River Brewing, Abita, Harpoon, Founder's, Hinterland, Goose Island, Weyerbacher, Mission Brewery, Shiner, and more.
The Barrel and Bottle also features a growler filling station where 32-ounce "flip top" or "beer buddy" bottles and 64-ounce growlers can be filled.  Samples can be purchased, typically for $1 each.  Growler pricing is based on the beer offered at the time. During my visit, it ranged from $10.99 to $21.99.  That's a pretty reasonable price from what I've seen.  Drafts available during my visit included Seventh Son Humulus Nimbus (a "super pale ale"), Seventh Son Old Stone Fort (an oat brown ale), Victory Dark Lager (a Dunkel), Jackie O's Dark Apparition (a Russian Imperial Stout), and Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster (an Imperial IPA).

Larger "bomber" sized bottles, 4-packs, 6-packs, and a few individual (smaller) bottles are available for purchase.

Not pictured here (because I'm not terribly knowledgeable about wines and can't tell you much about them) is their relatively large wine selection.  Also available are several craft ciders.

Owners Jen Burton and Collin Castore have done a great job with the shop.  It's inviting, cozy but not crowded, and offers a well-chosen beer selection.  I saw many of my favorite beers on the shelves there, including Karmeleit Tripel, St. Bernardus Abt. 12, Gulden Draak, Gulden Draak 9000, Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu (not easy to find), Hoppin' Frog BORIS the Crusher, Unibroue La Fin Du Monde, and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. 

If you're at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Nationwide Arena, or in the vicinity for any other reason, you'll want to check the shop out.  While you're there, you'll be able to sample the many other sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the North Market.

The Barrel and Bottle
North Market
Phone: 614-221-5550

Growler Filling Station

Some of the bottled beer selection

Refrigerated selections

Other bottled selections