Space Am Beverage

Have always felt that you can tell a lot about a neighborhood by their local grocers and what they drink. Have been driving by this store for over 6 years without stopping, as it’s in a boring looking gas station shopping center and I don’t drink liquor but always thought the name was cute. When visiting a friend that lives right by here today he mentioned that they have a good selection of wines and beers. Considering that this right by the richest neighborhood in Bryan, and .2 miles from where the new gargantuan Wal-​Mart is under construction, I stopped in for a peek.
It appears as if liquor is front and foremost but I can’t help with that as I don’t consume it. Beer & wine however I do and can help there;
Beer) Selection is over 50% premiums with Karbach from Houston, Paulaner from Germany (ironically their two lower sellers, the now year round October Fest and the Salvador, missing the #1 seller, Hefe-​Weizen) but they do have Hoegaarden from Belgium at $ 10 a six pack.
Wine) Wines seems to be from 10% to 40% higher than Specs but if you look very carefully you can find some interesting older reds. Picked up a 2004 Wolf Blass President’s Shiraz from Australia for $ 22, and a 2008 Lindemans Bin 55 Shiraz /​Cab for $ 8. Not another vendor in Aggieland stocks those.
With the 2004 Shiraz that I am drinking now, that was really risky as you have to trust that a wine that old was stored properly for that long and not corked. Shiraz bottle aged that old is a coin flip as that’s about it’s peak life. $ 22 to have someone grow the grapes, make you a wine in Australia, ship it to the US, ship it to Texas, store it for 8 years and then only get $ 22 for it? In this case it worked. It’s a world class Shiraz (Syrah) sold at the national average price, impossible to find anywhere else without travel to Houston or Austin. It tastes stellar.
The store is very clean an well presented and I found fun and friendly help by a local that works there. She didn’t know much about wine and smiled while admitting it but she made the visit fun. And along with the name of the store, there’s a giant domed ceiling with a painting of space surrounded by neon lighting. Looks way better on the inside than the out. 4 stars for being where the rich locals buy their booze, even if more expensive than Specs and Twin Liquors, and another star added for being a local non chain with friendly service and some rare older red wines that the mega chains don’t bring here.