The best place in the area for beer, wine, or spirits - and a great staff…read more
Beer: the selection is diverse and deep. Still want some summers even though the pumpkins/Oktoberfests are out? Shouldn't be a problem. Good selection of cold items, too. I find pretty much anything I want to find here - and more because they do enough business with vendors to get a few of the rare items. I see below someone was upset they couldn't get 2 of a rare item. Why? Because this location has regulars like me that ask them to save a bottle when it comes in. And they do - without asking for anything in return. If I ran the business, I would save special items for my regulars, too. I am sorry you can't get what you want when you show up for the first time but this is a perk of remaining loyal to a vendor. Plus, I always enjoy talking with the beer guys to narrow down my list for the day/week ( I stop in multiple times/week), and they enjoy the chats as well.
Wine: one of our first stops when we moved to the area was to get some help choosing the wine for our rehearsal dinner. The owner helped us pick it all out, taking the time to listen to our likes and wants and pair it up. This is what earned our loyalty. And when we gave a price range there was zero pushback, it was part of the fun and challenge. Fast forward a couple of years and we exchange greetings every time I come into the store. When I am looking for a wine, he knows what we like and our price range. It's always a fun experience and we learn a lot, too. I was interested in trying a different prosecco brut than our usual and asked to factor in how much my wife loves Veuve Clicquot champagne; I was presented 3 options in my usual price range and chose the lesser-known brand from the Cristal producer. Had no clue there even was one but this is the kind of things you learn from a staff that enjoy their jobs. To address another user comment, maybe not everything in the store has a price on it almost everything does; items on the top shelf don't because they are found elsewhere below so be sure to look around. Can't find it? Ask, I always do and every single person working here grabs it and comes back to me with the price. It's a non-issue, really. I've been there when new beer arrives and I see the individual bottles not labeled yet so I ask and - boom - I find... and am among the 1st to walk out with the new Evil Twin or latest Exit from Flying Fish.
Spirits: I am a scotch guy first and have to say this place has the best selection of single malts in the area at most often the best prices (and when not the best, definitely fair). I shop around for whiskey to try to get my hands on various things and I always wind up coming back here, the selection is just that good. Sure, I can probably find a certain item $5 cheaper on sale out in Chester but it isn't worth it when it builds the relationship here. In addition to the owner, there are 2 whiskey guys here that enjoy the chat. We always have a good exchange and a laugh or 2. I was able to pick up some 2015 Cairdeas before it disappeared and get some Bruichladdich at the best price around. Plus, as a regular, I also get a couple of special hard-to-find items saved for the wife and me when the come in - I would mention it here but we were asked not to shout it from the rooftops. I also enjoy tequila & mescal, and a particular staff member always comes out to chat on these and share some stories. Lastly, my in-laws are in Europe so we always bring a couple of gifts with us when we go, always a small batch bourbon. I hate the stuff and have to rely on the staff to steer us right and they have never let us down. Last trip we took a Four Roses that was well received. Interesting twist - this Buy Rite has since had their own bottling of the stuff.
Overall, this is definitely the best place in the area for beer, wine, and spirits. Yes, I have been to Gary's and go there 1/mo or so but mostly for cheese, bread, oil, vinegar, and the like. It's across town to me and I find their prices to average higher for beer and whiskey, with only an average selection of spirits. That being said, it's a great store whose strength is food and wine. And so is the Wine Library a few towns away. Still, the Buy Rite deserves to be your regular destination.
