Great store with great selection! Lots of kosher wine options and wines from all different regions! This is my go-to place because they have great prices, great, helpful and friendly service, and a great selection in a well organized, clean and easy to navigate store. read more

The size is super amazing. I mean, with a name like "maximum," you'd expect the size to be large, right? They have some interesting wines, but I didn't find their selection larger than, say, M&R. Also, their beer selection, while robust, did not have many interesting or unique beers, so that was a little bit of a disappointment. Also, their champagne and bubbly sections were just ok. I appreciate the size of, say, the aisles, but the selection is only ok. I did spontaneously choose some wines I had not tried before here, but they did not carry much that was supremely different. Also, just a personal touch I like - I prefer places with more descriptions from the store and people who work here. Most of the aisle of wine had very few personal reviews. read more

This is my go-to liquor store in West Hartford. There are soo many options and the staff has never been anything but friendly and helpful. It's extremely well laid out inside, everything is easy to find. They have all kinds of alcohol, including a large selection of refrigerated beer/cider, cigars and mixers. Every time I go to check out, there's a rack that has very cheap nips. It's great. They also have a refrigerated section with cheese and meat as soon as you walk in, which is unique to any of the liquor stores I've been to in the area. It's also very reasonably priced. If you're in the area and looking for a bottle of wine, or something to bring to a housewarming party, they have anything you could want! read more

I get worried when I go to any old package store because they may not have what I'm thirsty for, but Maximum has it all, seriously! The nicest store I've ever been to, with the most educated staff. I've thought about buying some of their pre-wrapped baskets for gifts (wine&beer) but end up with a few suggested bottles of bubbly, wine, or 6-packs from their *beer and wine specialists* I could spend an hour inside trying to figure out what to get, or what new to try, but there are so many options it's almost impossible. Staff is happy to help you choose! Knowing where exactly everything is so you're not wasting your time (especially if you're in the 10-minute parking spaces). From what I saw you can even take part in wine-tasings, and get anything from the classics, to some of the best, most expensive bottles around. They even have accessories for sale, shakers, mixing bitters, juices, etc but don't even try to come inside if you're not 21+ they are extremely professional, and I know many university of Hartford students that had fake ID's taken on the spot! read more

Maximum Beverage - Not a bad price - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

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After driving an hour to attend an Elite event held here, I was expecting quite a bit. Maximum Beverage delivered! First, it's not the average package store. While I don't rate based on appearances, I must say that this store is beautiful! Lots of dark wood shelving, gilded signage, and enough light to read labels, but not so bright that you get a headache after ten minutes. That said, let's move on to the important things: Service and Selection. The facilitators of the tasting (whose names I should remember, but, hey, it was a wine tasting), were friendly and knew a lot about the wines they were serving. Lots of smiles and suggestions were offered. They also had a good knowledge of their stock, so if you were looking for something similar to what you tasted, they could guide you to the right bottle. Even the young lady at the checkout was smiling. When your employees smile while they're working, it says a lot about the company. Now, walking in, the first thing I saw was a case of cheeses. A decent selection of different hand-cut varieties, unlike some stores that have the basic, mass produced, pre-packaged cheddar, Havarti, and a few bleus. Looking onward, a humidor filled with a good selection of cigars. The prices were reasonable, and there was enough of a variety for even the pickiest aficionado. Wines were grouped by variety, and the prices were what I would consider reasonable. I am familiar with many of the vineyards and their products, and I considered the prices better than the average in my area. While some of the more well-known (and over-hyped) brands were represented, there were some great offerings by lesser-known producers. There was also a display of Kosher wines, and the selection was quite astounding. At many places, you'll just find bottles of Baron Herzog and Manischewitz. Here, there were a number of quality wines, both white and red. (I'm often asked to have a bottle of Kosher wine at tastings I run, so I'm happy there's a place I can find some different offerings). On the liquor side, there are the basic groups, but it's a lot more select than most liquor stores. The bias is for premium brands, but that's okay; I wouldn't expect to find Fleischmann's or Bukov's here. There's a whole wall of single malt scotches, some of which I only knew of from reviews and never had seen in a store before. My sole gripe here--I didn't see any Suntory Japanese whiskeys, but I just may not have been looking in the right spot (or I tasted a bit too much wine). What really endeared the store to me is the wide selection of bitters. I used to have a supplier for all the Fee Brother's bitters, but they reduced their stock to orange, and mint. I counted twelve different Fee bitter flavors, plus about a half-dozen more obscure bitters from other manufacturers. I stocked up while I could. Also in this area, just about every mixer one could ask for. All in all, this was one of the most enjoyable visits to a liquor store I could remember. While, because of distance, this isn't going to be a regular stop for me, but when I'm in the area, I'll make it a point to go in and find a few select bottles. read more

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I am very - very impressed. The folks here are wildly customer centric. I have been greeted cheerfully every time I have visited. It seems like there is a wine tasting going on every time I am there. I requested a special order. They executed flawlessly. All this and their prices are as good or better than other local similar businesses. Try them out.. read more

Maximum Beverage - Wine Tasting - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

1.) Introduction: Pardon me for the 5 stars on the past couple reviews. I'm not the type to normally throw out 5 stars (look at my rating distribution). But if you're a business owner, and you and your staff are friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable of what your business sells, then by all means you are getting a high rating from me. If I were to own a business, that's what I'd focus a lot on..........CUSTOMER SERVICE. I'd make sure that I treat my client/customers with kindness and respect, and I'd make sure that I follow through with what my customers request. Most importantly I will go over and beyond at being super knowledgeable in the product I am selling. 2.) The Situation: I came here to sample some beer and wine. I sampled a Dog Fish Head Chicory Stout. I ended up buying it. I had a Christmas Ale. That was good. Then I had a Chianti and a Cabernet. I was more focused on the beer, that I ended up talking to one of the beer managers there. I picked his brain for a little while, and just straight up talked beer that it was great. I thought the best thing about this place was that I was able to walk around their store freely with my sample tasting in hand. They serve their beer in a wine glass, so I felt very happy and comfortable walking around the store, talking to the staff and checking out their selection of craft brews. Seth, one of the co-owners there is always an awesome guy, very helpful and engaging. 3.) Impressions: This is my place to go to sample, purchase new craft beer, and pick staff's brains. I'm a beer zombie......I WANT YOUR BRAINS!! read more

Great selection and knowledgeable staff make it a good spot if you have questions. The cheese selection offers a wide variety from which to choose. read more

Amazing liquor store! I've been a customer for years and it's one of my favorite liquor stores. They routinely do tastings, and the staff is really knowledgeable and always offer great selections. This past week they went above and beyond for customer service. I am a recent cancer survivor so I'm staying put right now, and we called them up to see if they'd do a delivery even though we're out of the normal range, and they hooked us up! We asked for a variety of wines and let them pick, I can't wait to try their selections! read more

I've been going here a lot ever since getting into wine. The employees are knowledgeable not only about wine, but about saké and shōchū, which is pretty impressive. The prices are good, the selection is solid, and the employees are very polite. The only complaint I have is sometimes the shelves are not always stocked, so sometimes I'll be looking for something and they are out. That said, it's a really nice little store with good people working there so I can overlook occasional inventory issues. I've never had anything but good experiences in there and I'd recommend it to anyone. read more

Its a full service winery. We had a lovely reception there for business and they were kind enough to serve us primo tequila tastings. Very friendly, wide selection, good prices. Pretty much what you want out of a liquor store. read more

Maximum Beverage lives up to its name. It's pretty much "max" level in many different categories, from size to service. My wife and I aren't really huge wine drinkers, but from what I understand, they have a truly impressive selection, and they're very helpful when I've asked for recommendations. Their beer selection is top-notch, too, along with the "hard stuff." You can tell they take cocktails seriously, because they stock Luxardo maraschino cherries...which any true mixologist prefers over the day-glow supermarket variety. Prices are fine, too. I think people tend to assume they're more expensive because the store is so nice, but I haven't found a real difference between their prices and other West Hartford stores. My only criticism isn't their fault at all. The parking in their plaza is an absolute nightmare. My recommendation is to park in the far calmer lot behind/underneath and take the stairs up...you'll proactively burn off a few of the calories you'll be imbibing after coming here. read more

Yes, I say, yes. First off, the store is beautiful. Yes, I know aesthetics are obsolete when the selection is subpar but Maximum Bev has the best of both worlds. A lovely wine selection, excellent craft beer options (hey, they had some Stout Trooper stashed in the back, so that meets my criteria), and decent whisk(e)y aisle, which I was perusing as it's my week to host whisky night. Charter Oak was hosting a beer tasting, Stephen and the other staff were extremely helpful, and the store was organized beyond belief. Perfect Saturday destination and a wonderful local liquor store. All in all, a joy. read more

Formally Dot Com wines across the street in the big y plaza, but they recently changed the name and moved to a MUCH larger space. The wine, beer, and liquor sections have been significantly increased. The amount of facings and overall layout and ambiance are greatly improved. You can't tell from the outside but the place us huge and it's what the old place should've been. Of you were a customer before you'll be happy, and if you didn't shop with them now is the time to start. Friendly, knowledgable or staff, willing to special order what I can't find, and do tastings every week. I'm excited for them and anybody that actually knows/enjoys good wine need to check this place out. read more

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I really like Maximum Beverage. This was my first time seeing a package store with a wide selection including beverages but also cheeses, honeys, jellies and other culinary delights. I also love the fact that they hold events like wine tastings. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about their products. If I lived closer, I'd definitely spend a lot more time here. read more

Our go-to liquor store! So many fantastic options!!! The manager was extremely friendly, was willing to make recommendations and helped us find everything we wanted! read more

We attended a wine tasting here on a Tuesday evening and I felt compelled to rate the store. This liquor store is spacious, clean, classy, and has a vast selection. From a huge selection of wine, liquor, and beer to large selections of hand cut cheeses, cigars, and mixers, this store has it all. The staff was also knowledgeable and very friendly. The wine tasting itself was well done, the pourers had fantastic charisma and knowledge. The store was designed to be able to host tastings right in the middle of it, which I found quite charming. The selection here is not only quite astounding, but very reasonably priced as well. Not only was I able to get my wine at a wonderful price but there was a check-in coupon for 10% off the selections from the tasting, goodie goodie! There is some distance between this store and myself but I do find myself in this part of Connecticut from time to time and I will not be caught simply driving by Maximum Beverage. read more

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Talk about cognitive dissonance between the name of a business and its presentation. A name like "Maximum Beverage" conjures images of concrete floors, bare rafters, neon sale signs, racks of beer constructed into a gigantic pyramid, and wacky-waving inflatable arm-flailing tube men. Nothing of the sort characterizes this place. I don't think I've been in a more pleasant beverage store of this size. Beautifully presented, incredible selection, high tech information devices, a tasting table with REAL wine glasses, and a professional, well-dressed staff. They got a bit sales-y when I tasted the wine, but I guess that's their job. I didn't buy anything, but the prices looked quite good. I'll be back to actually purchase something someday for sure. read more

Never have I been compelled to review a liquor store as I frequent them most weekends for my side job hosting tastings but, Max Bev has it all! Whereas at most liquor stores I am forced to set up a tasting area with my crappy little side table and dollar store tablecloth, at Max Bev, they not only have a permanent tasting area with real glassware and a dishwasher but they also have beer taps, wine-erators, coffee machines and an automated kiosk to find out what you should be drinking to match your taste preferences! On top of that, their extremely knowledgeable and personable staff made it a pleasure to host a tasting there for a few hours and their selection of goods is not only impressive but, fairly priced. Thanks Max Bev for setting my bar of what to expect out of package stores a little higher read more

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How am I the duke here? Duke of Earl? Duke of Hurl by the end of the night after shopping here! Haha Joe; you're disgusting. Incredibly friendly service and very, very knowledgable about their wines, champagnas, beers and liquors. Introduced by Rolf L., and he wasn't lying about how great they are! Many tasting events and always helpful. Never had a bad experience here and I don't think I ever will! Keep up the fantastic job! read more

I'll have to give an update. Upon the last visit the staff and selections have improved. Thanks for your response to original observations. read more

This place gets five stars for the customer service! My mom and I went in yesterday for the first time. We asked an employee for a suggestion on how to pair a bizarre cheese we just bought with a red wine. He immediately brought us over to a few different wines that he thought would pair well. He explained why he believed they would pair well too. We went with one of his selections and plan on drinking it tonight. The other small customer service touch was simply a man asking if we would like him to put our wine selections up at the cashier so we didn't have to carry it around the store as we shopped. That was just super nice of him. I'm going to come here from now on because they are just nice people. read more

Update: My latest pick is Justin Cabernet Sauvignon. It's from Paso Robles, CA. While I'm normally a Napa Valley fan, this wine is great- full-bodied, ready to drink now, with dark fruit tastes and a fruity, spicy aroma. At 24.99/bottle, it's priced at par with some of the discount locations in CT and MA. Pick up a few bottles and see what you think! Previous review: Maximum Beverage has a nice selection of wine and beer (and other malt beverages and ciders), and a spacious, elegant layout. There is a center counter at which the tastings are held, and even some outdoor seating (I haven't seen anyone out there, but I'm curious whether people buy some beer or a bottle of wine and sit there and drink it... ) I noticed that for the most part the wines are about average-priced for CT, but there are a few that are marked above average and a few that are pretty good deals (I actually went through about 25 different red wines using a number of wine apps and my notes on previous purchases at other locations to determine this). The Honig cabernet is a pretty good deal here, if you're looking for a good quality red :) There's also a Silver Oak that's well-priced for CT (although if you go out of state you can actually find it at Costco for even less). I was a little annoyed that nobody working there had any idea about the yelp check-in deal they had posted, which was that you received 10% off bottles they were tasting for checking in and sharing a picture on Facebook (weird requirement, but what they hey). I did the tasting on a Friday and thought one of the wines was pretty good. It was a buck or two below the average price already, so I thought I'd buy it with the 10% off and get a pretty good deal. However, nobody, including someone who identified himself as a manager, knew anything about it, and so I ended up not buying the wine rather than making a big deal about it. I'll likely be back to browse the wine selections again, and hopefully the staff will be more familiar with their social media promotions by then! read more

Great customer service, the staff is always friendly and informative. They have a sizable inventory that is as equally as diverse -- you'll find it really easy to try something new and different! The store's staff provides friendly, knowledgeable service with abundant samples. On any given night, at least ten different wines are available for sampling, thanks to the store's 'Cruvinet' dispensers. These units can keep a bottle of wine fresh for as long as six weeks, which eliminate spoilage and waste. There are craft beers on tap to sample as well. Aisles are wide and easy to navigate and check out is cinch! read more

Large store with: --excellent wine selection --really good beer selection --GREAT cheese selection (best I've seen at ANY package store) --upscale feel (wood accents throughout) --helpful and knowledgeable staff --nice cigar selection (considering it's a package store) --nice glassware selection --some high-end Scotches --slightly better than average spirits selection (rum, vodka, and the like) These observations are based on the size and caliber store it is; not hole-in-the-wall package store, but it's also not a mega-mart. I didn't take a star off for this, but the two things I'm going to say I noticed was missing were beverage ratings (such as Wine Spectator scoring for the wines, Beer Advocate scoring for the beers, and similar scoring for the whiskeys) and staff picks. The beverage ratings and staff picks are both tremendously useful tools when exploring new brands or flavors. Bottom line: Would I go to Maximum Beverage again? Absolutely. read more

My favorite wine and beverage store in the area, and I have tried many. The staff are friendly without being pushy. Very knowledgable about wines of all price ranges. I catered a few parties at my home and went there for the wine. They stayed within my price and selected a very nice array of wines. I am not a beer drinker but my son tells me the seletion is also good. With the new store they have expanded thier liquors and spirits. Defenitely worth a vist and they have frequent tastings. read more

I've heard a lot of good things about Maximum Beverage, but I have to say, I was very disappointed on their beer selection. Compared to some other large package stores, Maximum Beverage only had one small row of coolers dedicated to beer. Even the beers they did carry where not very unique. I'm usually looking for micro brews, not your typical mass brewers which I can buy anywhere. I'm not a huge wine drinker, but it seems like this is where Maximum Beverage focuses their sales. The selection of wines seemed very extensive. I won't come back for beer, but would consider if I'm picking up some wine. read more

An above average liquor store with lots of wine and many craft beers. The staff is friendly and they're willing to order something for you if they don't normally stock it. Overall it's a good place. read more

Maximum Beverage - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

Very good package store. Clean, organized and tons of variety. They also do wine tastings and offer thoughts and suggestions about what they're serving. If you ever have a question, the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. I'd agree with some of the others that the parking lot can be crazy, but the location is right in Bishops Corner, pretty convenient to get to. read more

As Mr Shane has so well described the price point of this store.... living in towns with (bend me over kind of taxes) I'm well lubed up and not surprised at the higher price tag. I understand what needs to be done to keep a store open and pay that plaza rental. On that note I was pleasantly surprised at the amazing wine and beer selection offered and overall look of the place. It's really open and organized, It was easy to find what I was looking for. Costumer service is great and the staff here is very knowledgeable on all their goods. Quick to offer some great choices for Pinot Noir I enjoyed that night with my steak. Looking forward to checking out their wine tasting event. read more

Was recommended this place by coworkers. Also read great reviews. I went in there looking for specific sized bottles for my bar and the gentleman at the cashier (blonde with a beard) was rude and responded in a way as if I didn't know what I was talking about. I'm in the industry, I knew exactly what I was looking for. Maybe I caught him on a bad day, but that one day cost you a repetitive customer. With so many other options, I won't be recommending this place. read more

Excellent, upscale package store. I love the section of mixers and unusual sodas, that they carry Ripe cocktail mixer, and a large selection of bitters. The cheese case is also well thought out, though I wish they had tasting notes posted with the cheese. Staff is also very friendly and helpful. I wish they had a dessert wine section, all I saw was the standard port/sherries that any store carries. Store also carries a nice selection of cigars and glassware, has an excellent variety of craft and import beers, and a good selection of wines (this is where they seem to shine). read more

Believe it or not, this was my first visit to Maximum Beverage. I live on the other side of WH and don't get over that way a lot. This store is fantastic. Spacious, clean, comfortable, easy to navigate. There is a large tasting area, and they are always putting on events and tastings to better educate the consumer. There is an incredible variety of wines, both in brand/varietal and price point. There is really something for everyone. They also have a huge selection of delicious cheese to bring home with your wine. They have a cigar area and obviously other liquor and beer to choose from, but I was really focused on wine for this visit. The owners and staff are so passionate and really take the time to listen to what you are looking for, and make fantastic suggestions. They really are experts and have deep knowledge about the products they sell. I also love that they are so involved with the community. Seems like the Maximum Beverage team always involved and sponsoring some fundraiser or event. I'm excited to attend the first annual West Hartford Wine & Food festival on June 17. Google it! It's going to be a great event. I will definitely return up Maximum Beverage to stock up on wine and liquor. I was completely impressed with my experience. Pop in to see them---you won't be disappointed! read more

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nice beverage store - on the beer front they had a lot of bottles that were harder to find and out of the ordinary and some of the more common ones were $3-$4 less than i have seen them at other stores, so price and selection were pretty good when i stopped in. read more

Maximum Beverage - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

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Huge selection and always has some sort of tasting going on. More times than not, I'm going to buy something I taste. Wines are well-organized and the staff is very helpful. Doesn't hurt that it's on my way home from work either :) read more

Very cool liquor store. I was visiting home for the week (I now live in San Francisco) and was delighted to find this spacious, modern shop in Bishop's Corner. The staff helped me select some wines for a dinner party (there were sooo many to choose from!) and then offered to carry them out for me. They don't make stores like this in SF - I felt so spoiled! I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town. read more

Selection is fair to poor. The shopping experience is cold and impersonal, and the relentless video advertising displays are just annoying. Service is bad -- the people here know very little about wine and are arrogant and rude to boot. Sorry, I'll take the mom and pop store across the street any day. read more

I have never thought 'hey, if we find ourselves with extra time this weekend we should spend an hour at the liquor store' until I found Maximum Beverage. I just love it here - everything about it. The team are truly experts. We find ourselves working with Paul mostly and he has come to know exactly what to recommend. We typically go in once a month for a case of wine and beer. But now you can also make Maximum your go-to place for cheese too. The new store in Farmington is doing some special things. Literally they have made the liquor store a destination activity. You probably think that is crazy but, that's fine, you'll see. read more

Definitely one of the better wine and spirit shops out there. When I ventured in here for the first time a few months ago I was surprised to see how competitive the prices were-considering how clean and upscale the place looks! Usually it's either a fancy shop or cheap prices--over here it's definitely both. I've been in a few dozen times and the staff is always pleasant asking if I need help finding anything, but they definitely don't hound me which is always nice. I special ordered some Pinot Noir that I had at a restaurant and couldn't find any place else and they got it in the next day without any issues. read more

One of the best wine selections in town. Best beer selection hands down, you can find almost every type from sour to local IPA's, to interesting Belgium varieties. Staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Great place to buy your booze! read more