Went on adventure today to pick up some Jameson Black Barrel a favorite of hubby and I. Parking was easy, in front on Forest Avenue or in adjacent parking lot. Entrance is on Forest and is clearly marked. You walk in and there is sooo much to see! Cue the candy store memories as a child. I quickly lifted my jaw and stepped to the side and started taking pictures. This store is nicely set up with wood, glass, and some brass accents for a nice look. They truly have a VAST selection of all spirits offered. Some items, that are rare, or higher priced are locked in glass cases. All the information you need is right there in the open. There were two clerks working the front. When no one was waiting to check out, they walked the floor looking in on all to see if we had any questions. Saw one man go to counter and ask questions, the clerk was friendly and knowledgeable about the offerings he was looking for. I found my Jameson with a few variations to choose from. Cask-mates stout is a favorite but not always available. Black label was on the shelf with two sizes to choose from. Now for a beverage for a holiday gathering. Looking for something on the berry side but not loaded with sugar. They had a huge of beers, seltzers, ales, and ciders to choose from. Wasn't feeling the seltzers which I do enjoy, today I was feeling a cider. I chose the BRLO Berlin Cider "Dark and Wild" mixed berries. Then an Ale caught my eye in a tall off white bottle with a swivel cork top. Delirium Red; Belgian ale with cherry and elderberry!! Yes please! They have other flavors too. Checking out was easy. A few registers with last minute adds for review. Best one; they had an Advent calendar of Beers and Ales genius! If you are looking for a special gift, a tried and true, or up for an adventure; head to Bow Street beverage on Forest Ave. in Portland, minutes from 295 too! read more

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This is my go to store in Greater Portland for my alcohol. Actually, if we're being totally honest, it's part of my weekly grocery shop. I always end here before heading home! Why do I like it? + It's really clean. + The staff is knowledgeable to an extent and usually pretty forthright when they don't know something (although, over the past year I've been told a few times they "don't carry" a particular brand when I had literally purchased said brand a week ago - actually, it just happened today. I asked about a specific thing, I was told "we've been out of that for months", only I bought two bottles of it just last week, and my partner would end up going back the next night and getting a few more bottles. Sooooooo?); they've also been very willing to check with distributors for something specific when asked! + They do tasting events and in-store sampling (check their online schedule FMI). + The prices are competitive to other places. + They have parking. + They don't linger when they see you spending an hour standing in the whiskey section combing through reviews online to find your new favorite bottle, AND ALSO... + They will talk to you about whiskey if you ask/want the help/they've got the time. + They don't judge you (at least not externally) for your horrible taste. + The staff is really good at time management. Is that a strange observation? Sometimes it gets REALLY BUSY here. It has seemed to me they drop what they're doing stocking/cleaning/inventorying and get over to the cash registers ASAP to keep the queue moving. I've come here just for a single can of diet Gosling's ginger beer, I've come here to restock my home bar entirely, I've come here to be one of those fancy people who gets something from the locked glass cabinet. With that... Dear Bow Street in Portland, Thanks for always having GlenX available! And thanks for carrying Edinburgh Gin (Seaside), it's my fave! Please get more Lagavulin. I won't ask about Weller anymore. Your Suntory Whisky rec is your best so far. read more

Bow Street Beverage - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Portland, Maine

I concur with the reviews that Bow Street Beverage has a terrific selection of liquor, beer, and mixers. Their wine selection is good, although the Bow Street Market in Freeport has a more varied selection. My disappointment is with the staff supporting wine area. I found her to be unhelpful and brusque in answering questions. When asked for products, she would point in the general direction without assisting customers to find the item. When asked about Greek Rose, she gave a terse response but failed to mention that the Greek Rose is not kept in the Greek section until further inquiries were made. I am used to Bow Street staff being kind and generous with their help, and this person was not. read more

An amazing alcohol store with great wine, beer and liquor. Super clean and great service. They are always walking around asking if you need help or if you can fine anything. This review is also for the fun wine tasting we did the other night. For 10 dollars you got to try 6 different wines and had some snacks. A vendor came in and talked about the wines and did the tasting. Such a fun experience and they are supposed to have another in February. read more

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Ah yes, the Pied Piper calls me to the gates where spirits dwell once again. For those of you that are old like me, you might remember the absolute joy of walking into a Toys R Us and seeing the wall of board games and aisles upon aisles of toys. This is the alcoholic's version of that. There is such a vast array of spirits, wine, and beer that is very intuitively arranged. There is also an incredible choice of each. When I went into the bourbon/whisky aisle assuming there would be a few things to choose from, I ended up being stuck with my rassoodock unable to come up with a choice from a selection of several I'd never even tried before. Ended up buying based on branding. You either discover gold or pyrite that way. The employees are really friendly as well and will help guide your path to enlightenment as best they can. They may not have every single thing you want, but they are definitely stocked plenty. Great place to browse. Like a kid in a candy store. Drink responsibly-ish. read more

Every encounter has been meet with immediate. welcoming and knowledgeable service. By far the beet retailer in Portland, Maine. Manager, Ryan is especially helpful and generous with their expertise. As solely a collector, I learn something new every time I visit. That's a trip in town, well worth taking. read more

We had a really good experience here. The place was clean and well-maintained. I love to see the shelves that were backlit like curio cabinets. It's easy to run a liquor store and just throw bottles on the shelf, but this place took the time to create a gorgeous design that makes the shopping experience enjoyable. We were super stoked to find a wide selection of gluten-free options. Sometimes it sucks to have to avoid gluten because you don't get to drink delicious things. That's not the case here. They have something for every one and we were happy to see it! There was a guy in the refrigerated section who was eager to help us find something to fit our taste and need. And the other staff member at the checkout counter was incredibly pleasant and was happy to see us there. Will be sure to pop in here anytime we're in the area. read more

LOVING this addition to Forest Ave. (especially since they have such a big parking lot)! I have stopped in a few times for beer and was amazed by their vast selection of local, craft beer. There was a whole wall of made in Maine craft beer - very impressive. I have been able to find some rare releases and hard-to-find beers. And, they have beers from all over Maine, not just the Portland breweries. Now, what makes me write this review is the staff. They are so helpful, offer great recommendations and are willing to literally 'hold my beer' while I juggle stuff/children in my arms. The space is newly updated, open, bright, and welcoming. I also love that they offer tastings, seminars, and other free events! I have yet to find the time attend one of these events, but have stopped during events and see their side room full of interested guests. Plus, parking is plenty and they are in a mostly convenient location. Although they are so popular, that I think they created a traffic flow issue with people turning in/out of their lot!! Forest Ave. has its fair share of beverage stores, and I already had a favorite, but I will certainly be stopping into Bow Street Beverage on the regular. read more

Bow Street Beverage - Look at all this Maine beer!! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Portland, Maine

Being that I have a Type A personality, I respect and cherish establishments that get what it means to keep things organized and clean. When placing something somewhere, it should be meaningful and make sense to the overall structure and of the facility. Bow Street Beverage totally gets where I am coming from. Bow Street Beverage is a perfect place to purchase a variety of alcohols due to their organization and pricing. Everything is organized in a way that makes sense. All the wines are together and are clearly labeled. All the liquors are placed together and also clearly labeled. They have an extensive selection of beers...and if you don't find what you are looking for, don't forget to check their walk-in fridge! The staff at Bow Street Beverage are always top-notch. I will sometimes walk into other liquor and wine stores and feel anxious about asking for help, however, the staff at Bow Street are always kind and willing to help or answer your questions. Going to have a wine night with some friends? They also house a variety of cheeses and crackers for you to take with you for the perfect cheese board and wine night! I absolutely love Bow Street Beverage! Definitely some place to check out! read more

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They only care about wholesale customers. Other places with same or larger selection as well as ability to get allocated products. RSVP is 2 minutes away Oak Hill is close by read more

A very excellent retail outlet boasting over 1000 different beers on hand and an excellent selection of bourbon, rum, gin, wine and all manner of things in between. Really, do stop here if you're looking for something because if they don't have it, they may know where to find it. Friendly and engaging staff members pointed me to a new to me beer "South Porter- by Boothbay Craft Brewery. Delicious! read more

Bow Street Beverage - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Portland, Maine

Wow, this place has everything to meet your beverage needs! EXCELLENT selection of craft beers - local and international varieties. This is typically the reason why we stop by this location - PLUS, they have a parking lot!! Score! I love that the most about this place. Also, FRIENDLY and Fun staff. Follow them on social media - keep up with the offerings and beverage tastings! FREE beverage tastings. I am not a wine drinker but in looking around, the selection seems vast. I have purchased gifts here, staff and shelf labels won't steer you wrong. You just need to know what your friends like/don't like and you can find it here. They have hard liquor options GALORE! - Fancy vodkas, topshelf (expensive) tequilas, rare/expensive bourbon whiskey and whisky. :) If you are having a spur of the moment gathering and need a variety of beverages and yummy snack foods - THIS IS YOUR PLACE! read more

RIP Bier Cellar. You were a craft beer institution and beloved for many years. But there's no surviving the tsunami that is Bow Street Beverage. All I can say is "wow!" Located on Forest Avenue, not far from Burger King (with a full parking lot), Bow Street looks like a big city store that somehow was transported to Portland. It's beautiful, with immaculately organized aisles, gleaming hardwood, and bright lights. The beer selection is unmatched in Maine. You can buy nearly anything from the local breweries. The store even has two full shelves of Epiphany from Foundation. That's almost unheard of. There must be three times the beer selection here as Bier Cellar or Craft Beer Cellar. But beer is just one aspect of the store. The liquor and wine selection are at least equal to RSVP, if not more expansive. Even the snack selection is decent, with cheese plates and charcuterie. Bow Street is basically the Whole Foods to RSVP's Shaws. And there's simply no reason to go anywhere else. read more

Bow Street Beverage is a nouveau retail wine, beer and spirits joint that indulges upon the excess. By that I mean they've too many choices and many are exotic and pricey. An "alcoholophile" will liken their visit to the proverbial penny candy store from yesteryear where boys and girls eyes would light up. If you're a "have" this establishment is for you, e.g. "have to have", "can afford to have". Decide for yourself. Me? I'll stay loyal to RSVP. read more

I'm an admitted craft brew snob and Bow Street has the best selection of craft brews from Washington County to Oxford County (East to West) and Penobscot County to York County (North to South) and some from away. It saves me a lot on gasoline! read more

Formerly a big fan, however, today was disappointing. We went in looking for Guinness. At a local retail establishment, it is usual to ask for help to find something. This is not a big box store. In previous visits, the staff has always been incredibly helpful and friendly. Today was the opposite. The person working could not answer the most basic questions, and could not make eye contact. I will pause for a while to go back, there are way too many other places to do business. I do appreciate the wonderful selection, but the attitude was distasteful today. read more

Unfortunately for my liver and my wallet, I am a fan of alcohol in all of its many forms. Beer, wine, fortified wine, hard liquor, sake...I enjoy them all. However, I'm insufferably picky within each of those categories. For example, in this IPA-heavy town I'm always on the hunt for non-hoppy beer with lots of character. I want options of Puglian reds and Montrachet-like whites without the Montrachet price tag. I want more than one option of sake (that's as far as I'll demand in Maine). And I'll always judge a liquor section based on how many options of Mezcal there are. Before I came to Bow Street, I simply didn't think it was possible to meet alllll of my demanding alcohol-related hopes and dreams in one shop. This place takes the cake in all of those areas. Oh and you know how you want to try new things but not have to buy a whole expensive bottle in order to do so? Well, they have solutions for that too by offering MULTIPLE tastings on a weekly basis (follow them on facebook to find out details). Some are free, some are ~$6. Went for the first time to a FREE tasting last night and it blew me away!! I approached the tasting table and saw a list of 15 different wines and assumed I was supposed to pick 2 or 3 to taste. I was taken aback when the very knowledgeable, and friendly Thomas offered me a taste of sparkling wine and then proceeded to tell me all about it. He then started talking about the progression of wines for the evening and I realized OMG, he's going to let me try alllll of these and going to tell me a story about how he stayed with the winemakers in the hills of Tuscany for each one?!? Inside I was flipping out in disbelief, but outside I played it cool and acted like it was nbd because I'm classy af (I'm not). You could tell he had put so much thought into the options and the order, I loved the huge variety in flavor profiles AND in price (everything from $14.99 to $60). I thought I knew a decent amount about wine but half of the options I had to ask which part of the name was the grape variety because I hadn't even heard of them! Thomas was such an entertaining storyteller but also taught me a lot about the wines and how to taste them. I was having such a good time talking with him that as new people came up and he poured wines for them he generously gave me another taste of whatever they were having...I may or may not have left there slightly tipsy. I see having a DD accompany here in my future. In terms of prices, this place has a full range, but it seemed like everything was either at the same or lower than I have seen anywhere else and they had TONS of things marked down throughout the store. Looks like their website is also updated with current markdowns. I got a sense from Thomas that they take great care in stocking their store with high-quality products. I tend to buy $10 or less wines and I realize that for that same price or a couple bucks more here, I am getting infinitely better value than some of the mass-produced things I get at grocery stores. My poor liver and wallet...I think this place is going to do a number on them. read more

Bow Street Beverage - Diverse variety of sake (sparkling, cloudy, cheap, higher end) - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Great, welcome addition to Portland. Fantastic selection of local and "from away" beers, plus wine and spirits. Pro-active crew that knows their stuff but is still friendly to those with questions. Plus there's an actual parking lot you can get to, no matter if you're going inbound or outbound on Forest Ave.! read more

Portland has a lot of great places to shop for beer, wine and spirits. I mean, seriously it's been voted one of the best beer destinations in the world, and of course good beer attracts people who may also like good wine and/or good booze. So where to go if you're heading out to stock up for the home? Now if you're reading this and thinking "I'll just go to WF's or TJ's", stop reading right now, and check to see if your health plan offers quality mental health care, because if you'd go to either of those over Bow Street? You need serious help, and they're gonna need hazard pay. First of all, Bow Street has a fantastic selection of all the three major food... errr.... beverage groups. Beer selection? Got it. Wine selection? Yup. Spirits? You betcha. It's also bright, sparklingly clean, the prices are pretty good (yes you'll find some beers cheaper at the more low frills places, but you won't find the selection), but most importantly you'll find staff who know their stuff. Even better? They have a tasting room, and on their FB page they'll announce specific tasting events. Sometimes it's wines, a particular region or a particular kind. Sometimes it's spirits. On one occasion, when I was in with my GF looking over whiskey (she's partial to Scotch, while I'm very much a bourbon or rye kinda guy), a gentleman named Isaac spent the better part of 40min helping us choose and even brought us into the tasting room to try different brands. And lemme tell you, Isaac KNOWS HIS STUFF. He doesn't do the "Well I like this so you'll like this" show. He asked each of us what our tastes were, brand and type, and in very short order had me sold on my now favorite rye (Rittenhouse). Parking is easy as they have ample parking in the lot, but it's also right along Forest Ave, where you can easily find a spot on most days. Staff have all been extremely friendly when I've been in, and I've never heard one of them NOT be willing to take time to discuss a products. If someone there doesn't know a product, they'll ask someone who does. Personally I suggest the tasting events. Along with getting to try different products, there's always friendly folk from the area taking part as well. Invariably when I've been in, despite my curmudgeonly, laconic nature, I've wound up in enjoyable conversation. read more

I really like going to this store to get my beverages they have a really good variety of selections. I will always come here to get my beverage needs and the staff it's nice as well. read more

Very clean and modern! Good selection of wines and my hubby found his 12 year old Macallen! Nice employees! read more

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Gorgeous space with parking! What more do I have to say? Oh they have a pretty good beer selection (lots of chilled beer) and a wall of bottle options. My boyfriend noted they did not have a great sour bottle selection. I opted for wine and asked for suggestions. One of the gentleman explained the various wines and price ranges in great detail. I'm no expert and could barely keep up with his explanation. Ultimately I opted for the high quality fines with a mid level price. The wine was impressive and the suggestions were on point. Not bad for special occasion beverages. read more

During covid we all need alcohol right? This is the place to go. It's certainly clearer than RSVP down the road, the craft beer selection is huge. I like the variety of spirits they have, not just the classic Grey Goose or Tito's but I also found Split Rock and Maine Craft spirits carried here so I was pretty impressed. The staff also give really good recommendations. Rather than go for another spiked seltzer drink someone recommended the Absolut seltzer variations that were delicious. My only real compliant is if your driving down Forest Ave heading in town it stinks to take a left turn into the parking lot here. You're much better off coming along the Boulevard and taking the side street. read more

The best thing about this place is that, while the selection isn't huge--it's diverse. They emphasize local products while still stocking the good stuff from other areas. So you'll find what you're looking for and then some. Good parking situation is a plus! I came in to find some local gin, and the employees were happy to talk to me about what I like, and steer me in the right direction. I always appreciate that. The employees also recommended some places to stop during our trip to Maine. Great bottle shop with helpful employees to boot. Highly recommend. read more

Ample parking and nice clean/bright interior. Wine section is decent, but not overwhelming. Couple nitpicks on the wine area....bottles aren't individually priced, and the label indicating make, model, and price isn't necessarily aligned with the bottle layout. Equally, most every retail ergonomic marketing of wine/spirits has higher priced items at eye level, with less expensive sequentially lower....not here, as many of the top wines were on the bottom rack at floor level. This I found very awkward browsing wise. The bourbon and scotch isle was very impressive...50 plus selections of each. Equally, there were 25 plus tequila offerings. The craft beer selection is very impressive, and probably the best in Maine. There is also a nice cheese and charcuterie section which I mulled through. All in all, a decent liquor, wine, and beer spot. Staff was friendly, albeit, when quizzed on most wine stuff, which I consider myself at least above average on, they whiffed on a couple questions asked. A solid 4 star spot for me....I'll be back. read more

So I just happened upon this place recently since all the Forest Ave construction has me avoiding my typical beverage store, and I was getting ready to take my typical detour when I was the "Liquor"! sign - and I was amazed I'd never ever heard of this place! It was 7 minutes til close (I didn't realize they close at 8pm) but the guy behind the counter was awesome. I was buying tequila, that I don't usually buy, and trying to make some tequila drinks without all the sugary blahhh. He was super informative, described the differences in the colors/aging of the tequilas, and then even suggested non-sugary mixers that turned out awesome. And to top it off, as I was paying, another employee came out and tossed some free limes in my bag! Huge selection, knowledge staff that really seem to care about what they're selling & customer satisfaction - all around stand up dudes and my new go-to booze store. read more

Great selection! We looked everywhere for a mid coastal Tuscan wine we enjoyed on a trip to Italy, but finally found it at Bow Street. We were pleasantly surprised at their selection! Highly recommended read more

10/10 best service i ever had the staff had knowledgable very much knew what every beer was very helpfull!

yeah, these folks know their business. I get a lesson in multiple methods of artful intoxication every I enter this place. Never too busy to share the knowledge, staff is always friendly and helpful. The fact that I can walk to this place probably means I won't ever move again.... read more

We are from upstate ny and think this is the best beverage center we've ever been in. We were ESPECIALLY HAPPY with the knowledge and customer service we received from Jacob. He's the best! Can't wait for our next trip to Portland. read more

Their new location is the best all around beverage store in the greater Portland area. A beer cave big enough to push a shopping cart thru with all the local offerings and lots of great craft imports from the Mid-Atlantic and west coast and the old reliable cases of macros like PBR/Bud/Miller. They have an entire aisle of Belgians. They have aisle of wine, whisky, tequila and spirits. The have bar tending supplies for people who do this professionally and need something in a pinch, like speed pours, shaker tins, bar mats, fruit trays. They sell ice and fruit. They have a full selections of mixes, juices, bitters. On top of all that the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. read more

Nate was GREAT!! I stopped in to grab some local beers to take home to my beer loving Honey in Oregon. I know nothing about the Maine beer scene so I asked for suggestions. Nate took the time to learn what my husband liked, explained why he was making the recommendations he made and I walked out with an arm full of beers I am sure will be well received back home. Thank you Nate! read more

Never thought I would get excited about going into a liquor store. Went to Bow Street Beverage for the first time & I could have spent hours in there. Incredible selection of beer, wine & liquor. Clean, organized, facility. Friendly & helpful staff. Free parking. No need to go anywhere else. Wow! Just WOW! read more

This wine shop on Forest Ave., and their store in Freeport, has been highly disappointing. A $17 bottle was sour; and we have had at least 3 bottles with moldy corks that overwhelm the bouquet when ready to sip. We tried, but are going to stick with RSVP or Old Port Wine. read more

Poor customer service. The staff lacked basic beer knowledge and two employees had difficulty using the computer/cash register. When i asked for a dolly to get a half barrel keg to the car, I was met with blank stares. They didn't know what a dolly is! Some beer store! The place has an attractive, glitzy interior, but the selection is underwhelming. I won't be back. read more