Kelly’s Liquor Store

Basically ditto what everyone has said — they have an awesome selection of beers that are unique and/​or hard to find. Love that you can mix and match pints in a 6 pack.
I recommend coming here to shop for your beer lover on their birthday or special occasion.

This liquor store is only a block away from where I live and we usually come here to grab beer and wine and occasionally snacks.
I also like the fact that this place sells milk and butter. I was in need of milk and butter for one of my baking frenzies and was able to purchase some here for reasonable prices.
The funny part was that the guy is so used to carding people for alcohol that he asked for my ID when I was purchasing milk and butter! LOL

Looks can often be deceiving! Kelly’s looks like every other liquor store scattered around San Jose but what they do best is offer great beer at affordable prices. If you’re looking for craft beers look no further than Kelly’s. They have a great selection of California craft beer and other breweries. They also carry the usual liquor store offerings including hard liquor, cheap alcohol, and some snacks.
Definitely stop by if you’re in North San Jose or near Japantown and feel like craft beer.

OH MY GOD! THE BEER SELECTION HERE IS AWESOME.
It looks like a regular liquor store outside but when you go inside, walk straight and to your left… the almighty beers that you’re thirsty for. Stouts, IPAS, Porters, Belgians, etc. they have it here. I’m a huge fan of stout/​porter beers so that’s generally what I get. The last time I was here which was yesterday (¹⁰⁄₂₅)… THEY HAD THE KARL STRAUSS PEANUTBUTTER CUP PORTER! So I was very ecstatic to have it. OMFG. Delish AF.
People working here are also nice. Major plus!

This place is awesome. Been going here since I was a boy. Brandon always has a good word to say. Even a guy who used to work there, Jake, still stops and speaks everyone I see him in the neighborhood. There’s not too many places like this anymore.

Kelly’s Liquor Store is your average liquor store for last minute booze and snack shopping. We came for vodka and the cashier was really cool. He talked to us about vodka and his favorite kinds. Like any liquor store, prices are marked up so it can be pricey. What I like about Kelly’s is the atmosphere. Most liquor stores are really shady and questionable but we came around 12am and felt safe. They also have an ATM machine by the front door.

Friendly service plus great selection of micro beers. Thirsty these guys have the coldest beers in town!

I love beer. (I’m drinking some right now, in fact.) And given the choice between going to a BevMo, with its giant beer inventory spread across a half dozen aisles, and Kelly’s Liquors, a tiny corner store with just a few coolers, I’ll pick Kelly’s every time.
Why? Curation. Kelly’s is run by people who love craft beer, and know a lot about it. They get the good stuff. The kind of beer you’re excited to see in the cooler. The kind of stuff that you might want to leave work early to snag.
Follow them on Facebook and you’ll get updates on what’s new and good. Go into the store and ask about a beer they carry, chances are the staff will have had it or at least know something about it.
The craft beer world is huge and growing every day. A store like BevMo gets a lot of it, and that’s great, but it’s not the kind of place that carries beer that’s really interesting, or new, or rare. Kelly’s does. And they’re an independent store that’s been in business since 1938, so that’s just an added bonus to shopping there.
Stop in. If you like craft beer, you’ll be glad you did.

Is there a minus 5 star option?
I just can’t believe how this brainless guy who works there talks to customers. (White tall guy, long beard) Who hired this guy? An absolute moron! I’ve been to this store on numerous times and I always get a mix and match six pack of beer, at least, but after today I will never step a foot in that store again and obviously will never recommend to people I know, I’ll make sure however to tell my friends and family to never come to that store, word of mouth goes a long way and I hope the owners pay attention, small business can’t afford to lose customer because stupid employees.
I walked into the store just as a delivery guy is dropping a shipment of various brands of beer, am about to start choosing my beers when I overheard how they didn’t get any «Pliny the Elder», so I asked: «Oh, you didn’t get any?»
Simple question, right? The employee answers with such condescending tone:
«you too? People been calling all day asking, I don’t even care for that damn beer»
So I go, when are you getting it?
He goes with out even looking at me:
«Never!»
Absolutely no reason for such attitude.
I just couldn’t believe this dumb a**.
It goes without saying I just walked out and didn’t buy anything anymore, would you have???
I don’t think this employee cares whether people choose to come to this store or the other dozens of liquor stores around the area. As for the selection of beer? It’s smaller and smaller every time.
Much better stocked stores out there, as for customer service, anything will be better than this brainless employee’s, that’s for sure.

Now, I may be biased because I come from Oakland/​San Francisco where the craft beer scene is flying, but Kelly’s fails.
I just moved to San Jose and from what I have gathered (going to other liquor stores, ISO Beers, OG etc…) Kelly’s has a decent selection of beer for the area. My problem is that I have been there three times now and each time I have purchased a different beer that has ended up tasting totally off.
I am an avid homebrewer and I love all sorts of beers. I have purchased Drake’s Denoginzer, Oskar Blues Pilsner, and Guiness American Lager. Each has tasted über skunky. Kelly’s is obviously not taking care of their beers. The beers each had off notes not normally associated with these beers and are usually attributed to contact with light.
This makes me really sad, because I live 1 block away. Maybe if someone from the store reads this they can help me understand why this keeps happening.
I love Drakes Denog and it is undrinkable. Lots of money wasted here.
Selection is important, but if you can’t take care of your beers than you have nothing.

Complete shit! Don’t bother coming here. Selection is small and the workers there are extremely rude. If you are looking for a beer, you won’t find it here.

This is my go-​to shop for buying craft beer. As folks have mentioned, from the outside Kelly’s looks like your neighborhood bottle shop and connivence store. The goods are in the back where you’ll find local craft beers and others from around the country. Beers are available as singles and empty six packs sit in a crate waiting to be filled.

Being a resident of Japantown going on eight years, I have seen Kelly’s evolve. I remember moving out here from the East and wanting to try more New Belgium after being introduced to Fat Tire.
Supermarkets did not carry that much craft beer at the time and so I found it down the street @ Kelly’s. Just living close by, I’ve randomly walked in and bought different beers on a whim like Sierra Nevada’s Torpedo before drinking craft beer was a ‘thing’.
There is new a new cast of characters there now that are keeping that spirit going and contributing to the beer community. They know their beer but they now do a better job alerting their regulars to what comes in stock via Facebook.
Kelly’s is not a gigantic store but you can get great beer/​wine options ranging from cheap to amazing. If it’s convenient for you, this should be a part of your rotation.
Corrections:
1. Due to my own ignorance, I would like to state that I am wrong in stating that Kelly’s is expensive. I would say it’s normal compared to similar stores now that I have more experience in bottle shops.
2. Within the last 7 months of my first review, I will say that without thinking… I’ve become a weekly regular again. At one time, I would say that I shopped for beer at Kelly’s exclusively … then due to some options near my work place and where I hung out — things changed. Kelly’s is part of my secret beer trifecta.
The bottom line:
Kelly’s is the best North San Jose option for craft beer and especially for fresh/​local stock like IPAs. Follow their social media for updates so you know when the more limited stuff comes in.

Warm night. Ice cold Game of Thrones beer. In a huge bottle to share. VERY fun, I love Kelly’s. Excellent selection. Wonderful.

Much better than your average overpriced liquor store but it sure has a small selection compared to the liquor store that I go to in Santa Clara.
Friendly guys working. One guy walked me to the IPA area and showed me what they have. Disappointed that they did not have Pliny the Elder but was filled w/​excitement when I saw Lagunitas Sucks; Craig’s all time favorite beer. Or at least one of his favorite beers.
Located near Japantown, parking can be hellish but luckily I parked right in front. The front is a green zone so it is limited, meant for curing quick alcohol fixes.
He loves beer more than me, I think =P

Everyone and their mama knows that I am obsessed with always finding some good craft brew to sip on. After moving into Japan town, this liquor store is my go to spot to find some of the most awesome brewskies. It is so amazing that you can create your own mix-​n-​match six pack of craft beers there. Though the beers can be a little on the pricey side, I’m all about paying for quality over quantity. The guys that work there are super friendly and hilarious to chat with. These guys definitely know their beers, so don’t be intimidated to ask for their suggestions. If you’re ever in the area and can’t decide which liquor store to hit up, definitely make your way to Kelly’s.

From the outside Kelly looks like any other generic liquor store in the area. Heck I think there is one across the street from it.
And initially walking in looks like your run of the mill convenience store: an aisle of snacks, a case of non-​alcoholic drinks, booze and crap domestic beer.
But turn that corner and now I know why that girl recommended it: a great selection of craft beers, ranging from solid seasonals, choice classics, and even some rare stuff like Vertical Epic 12. Ballast Point, Deschuttes, Stone and more.
The staff is also helpful and great to chat with. Regulars of all walks of life will be remembered and it is worth returning to.

The boy brought me here for the first time because he wanted some craft beer. I’m not a beer connoisseur, but supposedly they have a good selection of craft beers? Looks like a regular 7 – 11 to me with no nachos or taquitos :/

What a gem to discover in a mostly residential downtown neighborhood. Unbelievable rotation of domestic and imported craft brews. Its like a little candy shop for beer enthusiasts. The store manager Brandon is a awesome guy, who is enthusiastic about beers & unique, special finds in particular… totally knows his stuff. He was so cool to us and made us feel very welcome. How great to talk to someone who loves beer and really top shelf belgiums too, was really fun for me. I plan to return again and again… fun seeing what we may find next time. Plus live walking distance… so even better… :)

Five Stars for a Liquor Store, yeah I usually don’t do that unless they have great taste in the products they choose to sell, which is why Kelly’s makes the cut.
If you are a lover of fine craft beers, you’ll love Kelly’s. They have great selections and Supurb Seasonal brews, which is important this time of year. As soon as I saw the Delirium Noël, I put down my first selection and convinced my guy that it would be great even though it’s a little pricey. It’s worth every sip.
We also tried one of the newer ones from the New Belgium Brewery, something with orange essance. Both were delicious and we were happy we made the little detour to find Kelly’s.