Ledger's Liquors

Store

1399 University Ave
Berkeley, California, 94702-1710
United States

(510) 540-9243 | map
ledgersliquors.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.32
Reviews:
54
Ratings:
61
pDev:
8.56%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of BarrelAgedG
Reviewed by BarrelAgedG from California

3.97/5  rDev -8.1%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 3.75
As stated in previous posts it’s a bit “chaotic”... there were a few gems but for the most part I was disappointed for such a highly rated spot. Didn’t have much in the way of Bay Area fresh hops which is probly what was most disappointing. Maybe I caught them on a thin week
Aug 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.61 by Hophazzard from California

Sep 02, 2017
 
Rated: 4.38 by Boilerup from Maryland

Jul 08, 2016
Photo of elNopalero
Reviewed by elNopalero from Michigan

4.21/5  rDev -2.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5
Oh goodness, this place is a mess. As in, pure chaos. You’re going to see dust. A lot of dust. But you’ll also find the freshest IPAs in the neighborhood. (They’ll even let you know—I saw signs in the refrigerated section saying “This was bottled 2 days ago.”) The up-sell feels a little too pushy, but the beer selection made the visit worth it.
Jun 30, 2015
Photo of WiggyKGB
Rated by WiggyKGB from Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
These guys are awesome. Great selection (Russian River) and friendly service. Very welcoming to an out-of-towner looking for good local craft beers.
Apr 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.75 by Tamigleo from California

Oct 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.33 by wethorseblanket from California

Sep 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by brywhite from California

Sep 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by atpca from California

Jul 17, 2014
Photo of RblWthACoz
Reviewed by RblWthACoz from Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -7.9%
vibe: 3.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
There is certainly a lot of beer going on here. My only complaint would be that there seems to be a haphazard style of organizing it for display. Stuff here, stuff there, stuff everywhere. Don't be too let down when you walk in and the place seems old and run down. There certainly is a lot here that will keep you happy. But if you live in San Francisco, or this is out of your way, I can't really suggest the trek. It is 1.5 miles from Jupiter though, if you feel like doing the two-fer thing.
Jun 20, 2013
Photo of Tiburon
Reviewed by Tiburon from Wisconsin

4.21/5  rDev -2.5%
vibe: 3.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
I must say that this establishment met all my expectations regarding being highly disorganized and also a gold mine of beer. I was lucky enough to be witness to a Pliny the Elder beer event. I entered the store at about 4:30pm on a Wednesday. I first noticed a case of Blind Pig sitting in an aisle, opened but no price tags on the bottles. I immediately knew this was a significant find, after having searching various San Fran liquor stores for Pliny/ RR and only scoring a bottle of Damnation at Whole Foods on Haight Street.

So I keep searching through the train wreck of beer selection at Ledger, and eventually find a case of Pliny which still had about 15 bottles left, w a price tag of $4.18. So I grab one bottle, mindful of the fact that my checked luggage only has so much room before I reach the 50 pound limit. Also factoring in that I enjoy my home state New Glarus beers much more that Pliny. So I know I am sitting on a gold mine, and I keep searching.

Then I start talking to an older guy in the store w his 20 something college? kid. He tells me that earlier this year he stood in line for 5 hours at a Pliny the Younger event, etc etc. I grab a second bottle as I see a frenzy developing. Meanwhile an older foreign dude that works at the place said he just put the case of Pliny out an hour ago, and that he has one more that his is shelving that day. So dude’s kid gets a hand basket and puts maybe four bottles in, after asking jefe if there is a limit on bottles. Then some other bozo comes in and swoops up the remainder of the case, which at that point was about 8. So I talk w my guy for a while longer, then head for the check out. I cashed out, then look at the glassware at the store entrance for a short time. I go to my car, and see another patron giving the stink eye to the guy who walked out w the 8 pack of Pliny. He pulls out in his Subaru, and I follow shortly afterwards. I come around the corner in the parking lot, and I am blocked in. I say WTF, then see the Pliny pig walk to the back of his vehicle holding the front headlight ensemble for his vehicle. I believe he made a wide and hasty turn, bumped into the guard rail and knocked out his head light…..

Anyway, Ledger has a ginormous selection of beer and other spirits. Be patient while you search through the shelves, and you will find something good. I did visit at 10am the next day, and the aisles were clear. I believe they stock the shelves during the day, and get interrupted by the waves of customers coming through. So it depends on what time of day that you come through. They have a dedicated parking lot also, which is a definite plus in Berkeley. There is a Trader Joe’s a couple blocks down the street, which has a decent selection of beer and their own parking lot.
Jan 19, 2013
Photo of CommanderOfAwesome
Reviewed by CommanderOfAwesome from California

4.31/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 5
Recently moved to the area and have been looking around without success for a great craft beer store. I heard about this store from a friend whose also into craft beer.

Rode my bike to check it out, and their selection is massive. Bring some spare time when you're there because you're going to have to dig. There's very little organization to the store other than most belgians are on one side of one of the aisles. Also be careful about what you buy, particularly with IPAs. They don't really rotate their stock or remove old beers (least not that I could tell). But the price tags all say when they got the beer which is nice. Prices are some of the best I've seen, and pretty reasonable with a great selection.

I wouldn't say the staff is all that knowledgeable, I asked about when/if they would be getting certain beers like Double Bastard, Darkness, or Firestone Walker Anniversary beers and they didn't know even when they were usually released let alone when they'd be getting it.

Overall best selection I've come across in the Bay Area and that includes SF. friendly staff and prices are right in line. In the area I'd highly suggest checking it out.
Oct 12, 2012
Photo of Seanibus
Reviewed by Seanibus from California

3.85/5  rDev -10.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
A fairly run-of-the-mill liquor store that just happens to have an amazing, if extremely disorganized, beer selection. There is an aisle of imports and a couple of islands of domestics, with a good selection of regionals and locals, but a scattering of good East Coast offerings (Including some oddballs that are hard to find out West, such as Victory's Otto). Did I mention that it was disorganized? Because it is - take some time and pick through the selection carefully because there are treasures back in there somewhere. I didn't speak with the staff, but I overheard some conversations with customers that suggested they are friendly and knowledgeable and love beer themselves.
Jan 08, 2012
Photo of coldriver
Reviewed by coldriver from Texas

4.1/5  rDev -5.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
visited on December 23. Pretty non-descript look from the outside, but what a joy on the inside. Two aisles of beer seemingly randomly dispersed. It would easy to spend at least an hour digging through the inventory, but the 20 minutes I had was very enjoyable. Very high quality selections from Russian River, Alesmith, Belgians, etc. Some selections were a bit dusty, which in a way is a good thing (you know it might be a little old rather than trying to guess among dusted bottles). Prices were reasonable. A very solid east Bay bottle shop.
Dec 24, 2011
Photo of Heavenisbeer
Reviewed by Heavenisbeer from Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Unlike any liquor store I've ever been to; it's like your grandfather's basement with stuff filling every possible space, leaving just enough room for mobility. But imagine that the stuff was booze.

Fine selection of brews from all over the world and some excellent local stuff. They've get tons of RR, some FW, the Bruery, Alesmith, etc. They also had SA Infinium which I had never seen in person. Great selection of glassware as well.

It's a lot like a great used clothing store where most of the stuff is actually pretty good but you've got to dig through a lot of it to find the gems.

Some folks have mentioned the mold in the coolers, and I noticed it too. Don't know what's going on with it, but luckily it didn't affect anything I bought or wanted anyways.
Glad I stopped in while staying in Berkeley. Will def be go to when back in the area.
Dec 20, 2011
Photo of TheStove
Reviewed by TheStove from Illinois

3.74/5  rDev -13.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
Worth your time if you're around Berkeley and need some beer.

Impressive selection of Belgians for sure. Tons of stuff from Witkap to Petrus to Chouffe to a few I didn't even know. Prices are decent and stuff can be scattered which is kind of bad if you are in a rush but great if you're looking to do a little beer hunting and see what's around.

Good selection of craft stuff; definitely didn't recognize some bottles on the shelf and was unfortunately on foot so couldn't buy too much. Great selection of beer glasses too if you're looking to build a beer den. Prices are about on par, if not a dollar better, than most other places.

Service was good; received a greeting upon entering and I think I was helped by the one guy who knows where every beer in the store is. Recommended if you're in the area or considering "quality of earest liquor store" while apartment hunting.
Oct 06, 2011
Photo of BerkeleyBeerMan
Reviewed by BerkeleyBeerMan from California

4.44/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5
Looks like any other liquor store on the outside but is a treasure trove of cool finds when you enter.
This quickly becoming my go to place in the Berkeley area. The selection is diverse and huge. No matter what mood you are in you will find something to suit you here. The shelved beer isles are the place to seek new beers. They have an incredible selection of crafts, Belgians, and Uk beers. I am especially fond of the English ales they have on the shelves. They always have something new in the coolers. I did notice some dust covered beers on the bottom shelves which could be rotated. The prices are average. I don't find the staff to be as paranoiac as some of the other reviewers have. Young looking people are treated with a certain level of suspicion at any place that sells liquor. Once you show your ID you are fine. Cool place that also gives away free beer newspapers and magazines.
Aug 28, 2011
Photo of magictacosinus
Reviewed by magictacosinus from California

4.41/5  rDev +2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
This is by far one of the wildest corner stores I've ever stumbled upon. Any review on Yelp will immediately tell you that it's a messy yet incredibly overwhelming place to buy drinks, and they're not kidding. Ledger's Liquors has no isles, but rather crates of different beers stacked over each other in the middle of room to create passageways. However, this messy vibe only enhances the charm of this store. In fact, I wouldn't dare come close to criticizing this store for anything due to them holding by the far the most diverse, colorful and well stocked collection of beers that I've seen yet. Any corner store with a Samuel Adams' Utopia for sale seems worth a shot!

There's a lot of amazing beers to choose here, that's for sure. However, a lot of light enters this store and it concerns me when that does for the beers that are always sitting out in the open. Their coolers are nice and dark to maintain beer quality, although I did find a bottle of Scaldis Prestige inside one of them that was covered with mold... haven't seen that before, and hope that is taken care of by now. Despite that, the staff is very helpful, and they especially know their glassware and aged ales - the most helpful combination of knowledge, if you ask me!

Its funky vibe is part of its fun, and with the ridiculous selection of beverages, how could I not return? Overall, a great corner filled with good prices!
Jul 20, 2011
Photo of eyeenjoybeer
Reviewed by eyeenjoybeer from Seychelles

3.74/5  rDev -13.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
I visit this place every time I visit friends in Berkeley.

The store is a nondescript front on University, and the inside pretty much bottles, bottles, bottles. The selection includes all of the Bay Area favorites: RR, 21st Amendment, Lagunitas, Moylan's, et al. as well as many other California brews. Beyond this, they have fun stuff like Jolly Pumpkin and a slew of other domestics. Their foreign collection is pretty good as well. However, I am curious about how long some of the bottles have been there on the floor.

The staff has been friendly, unlike some notes of the previous posters who have claimed a paranoid response from whoever is working. Their prices for PtE, for example, are the best I have ever found. The rest of their pricing is very reasonable.

I will always stop by here when in the area.
Jul 02, 2011
Photo of NorCalgrowler
Reviewed by NorCalgrowler from California

4.4/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
All in all this is the best beer and liquor store in the East Bay. Ed and his staff have made a great name for themselves here. Dont let the initial clutter get to you. Often it is only when new stock comes in. There is often older stock that is no longer available anywhere else that is fair market price. The beer selection is spectacular. Lots of craft brews, supports Russian River huge! Always the freshest Pliny and Blind Pig. And where else can you get a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue for $139??? This is the only store I go to for beer
May 05, 2011
Photo of nataku00
Reviewed by nataku00 from California

4.44/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5
Fairly close to my alma mater on University Ave in Berkeley, I stopped by to see if they had any of the recent releases available. Really typical corner liquor store filled to the max with liquor, wine and of course beer, boxes everywhere in the aisles and on the shelves. Well lit but the store is still a bit disorderly and you do have to look closely to find some beers, but there's a great selection of domestic and foreign beers. The owner behind the counter keeps a stoic face and will answer questions curtly, but I don't expect glowing service from this type of store.

Their selection of local brewers like Drakes, Lagunitas, and Russian River is very good, they allow people to break up six pack type beers into singles, though with a small increase in price for that convenience, and there are just so many types of beers available that you have to spend some time looking carefully to make sure you don't miss anything interesting.
Mar 19, 2011
Photo of DaveJanssen
Reviewed by DaveJanssen from Germany

3.56/5  rDev -17.6%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
They had a great selection, though it was clear that much of it was very old and may not have been taken care of. Some coolers had significant amounts of mold growing on labels. There was not much organization, so they may have what you're looking for, but it might be hidden behind a jumble of other random beers you'll find in three other places throughout the store. They still had the jubel 2010, old guardian 2010 and mirror mirror in the coolers, which was surprising. All in all a great selection, but Im concerned how well they care for their beer.
Mar 11, 2011
Photo of veinless
Reviewed by veinless from Ohio

4.2/5  rDev -2.8%
Don't let the shady environs, initially paranoid Indian guy, and disorganization get to you - this is a great beer store. Good selection of Russian river, along with limited releases from locals like firestone walker. I picked up hoptimum there, and they also have a great selection of Deschutes and Colorado beers. Tougher to find east coast stuff, but you cant have everything I guess. Lots of glassware too. Prices are reasonable, similar to those at Berkeley bowl west. This is your local spot if you go to Berkeley.

UPDATE: My roommate tried buying beer there, as he turned 21 in December. He was told his license had expired and therefore his id must be a fake. Ten minutes of arguing + paperwork for his temporary license until he gets a new license yielded no results. These guys are flat out paranoid, so build a good rapport early if you can.

UPDATE AGAIN: They really warm up once you go a couple times, that initial paranoia is irritating though. As a young beer lover it puts me off a bit that store owners wouldn't be excited for people to bypass the dumb binge drinking phase and truly appreciate beer, but they may have had some bad experiences in the past so they deserve the benefit of the doubt.
Jan 22, 2011
Photo of RBassSFHOPit2ME
Reviewed by RBassSFHOPit2ME from California

4.6/5  rDev +6.5%
When it comes to the quality, I state "good" because from the outside, it looks like a hole in the wall and that it may have been robbed a few times.

That's the beauty of it once you walk inside. Everything opposite. Arguably the best selection in the east bay and less expensive than the known beer stores in the city. (Healthy Spirits to name one)

The best aspect of this store front is the owner Ed. He's more than happy to spend time with you, educate you and just make you feel welcome. Selection is fantastic including all the latest releases. $15.99 for Parabola when at Toronado sells it for $20 and Perry's liquor sells it for $28.99 (LMFAO!) Just one example.

The second example is a conversation Ed and I had about vintage beers meaning 2009 and 2008 Barleywines, RIS's and other older Barrel Aged Beers that's stuck around on his shelves some. Keep in mind other beer stores look to profit off these and upcharge for them once they feel the age is right (less than a year in most cases) Can you say City Beer and Perry's Liquor to name a few...

The conversation went like this when I asked about keeping his prices the same on vintages:

"If they stayed on the shelves, I still payed the same price for them. The price shouldn't change on the consumer just because it's still on my shelf".

I can't tell you how many times he's thrown a extra in my bag after a decent haul. Not cheap extra's either let me tell you. After plenty experience in shopping beer in SF and the greater Bay Area, I can honestly say Ed is looking for your continued business and loyalty. He's not caught up in getting the most $$ out of your wallet and over charging rarities.

I highly recommend Ledger's as hands down my favorite. A better experience than every location in SF in my experience.
Jan 06, 2011
Photo of MilwaukeeCrusher
Reviewed by MilwaukeeCrusher from Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +15.7%
I heard good things about this place so I decided to stop in and everything I heard was true. Tons of bombers and other singles to choose from, and the man who worked there was genuinely interested in send me off happy. He helped me with some choices, gave me publications as to events in the area and around California, and even threw in a few free beers for me since I was from out of the area. It seemed to be an old place but you can't judge a book by its cover. While it had some beers in the cooler, some where on the floor but considering the outstanding service there turnover is probably brisk and not an issue... I mean they excelled at everything else so they must know what they're doing.
Jan 04, 2011
Photo of WOTO97
Reviewed by WOTO97 from California

4.65/5  rDev +7.6%
In terms of quality and quantity, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better bottle shop in the east bay, or maybe anywhere in the bay area.

The number of beers on the shelves and in the cold boxes is pretty impressive. They generally get most new releases and have on hand many rarer bottles. I've managed to find a bottle of the Alaskan Balkan Porter here not to long ago, which I hadn't seen anywhere else. Anytime I visit, I always manage to pick up something I didn't expect to find.

Service is a perfect balance. The staff really let's you figure out your own shit; allowing you to meander for quite a while without pestering you. Nonetheless, most of the folks, namely the owner, is stoked to talk shop and help you out if you need it. My visits are always very pleasant.

Selection is very solid. Organization could use some work, but that is part of the charm of the place. In fact, digging around for those gems is part of the fun here.

Prices are bit steep, but nothing that would preclude a purchase.

If you are in the area, I highly recommend visiting this spot.
Aug 23, 2010
Photo of scottfrie
Reviewed by scottfrie from California

4.35/5  rDev +0.7%
I've lived in Oakland most of my life and I've just now finally made it to Ledger's. They have a great easy to find location, a great beer selection, and competitive prices. Their beer is kept in the far back of the store away from most of the light from the windows. There is a fairly large wall of cooler but another couple row of room temp bottles of shelves. The selection is of that of similar big named stores of the greater bay area (Bottle Barn, Perry's, Monument, etc), and there are always a few brews that you can find only at any one store. Pricing is very good, and closer to a store like Bevmo than a specialty bottle shop. One thing of note is they had fresh Pliny for $4.18 a bottle which is cheaper than most places. They the normal RR sours there as well. Overall, a great store for the area with a great bottle selection and friendly service. They had a pretty good selection of glassware as well. I highly recommend hunting here if you're in the area.
Aug 21, 2010
Photo of sfprint
Reviewed by sfprint from Germany

4.35/5  rDev +0.7%
Great place. Very unorganized but I don't mind that. It's fun to dig for treasures there, and the selection is pretty great, ranging from all over the world to many great local breweries. I found it to be a bit pricey, but not too much so. Grocery stores like the Berkeley Bowl and even Andronico's offer some better prices, but dont come close with the selection. I wish the whole store was beer rather only 1/3 being for beer. Imagine the possibilities! The people there seemed nice enough too. Perhaps the best place in Berkeley.
Jun 22, 2010
Photo of Beerandraiderfan
Reviewed by Beerandraiderfan from Nevada

4.1/5  rDev -5.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Quality, lots of it. No problems there, lots of high end and limited quantity stuff.

Service, I've never had anyone ask to help me, but no big deal, I like looking around and I'll ask if I need help.

Selection: Problems. Where are the six packs? They carry like less than a dozen six packs. Its all bombers and the like. Sure, that has its place, but the 6er should not be an endangered species.

The organization is highly lacking. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to the arrangement of bottles. Its a small place, but that should mean they should have the place organized better, to maximize the limited floorspace. Gotta love that selection that close to campus though.

EDIT: The owner was running almost 1/2 hour late before the IPA festival, I almost gave up hope. Dude gave me 10% off on my order to make it up to me, without asking. Gotta bump up the service points for that.

But I will repeat: Dude, 6 packs.
Mar 11, 2010
Photo of PeprSprYoFace
Reviewed by PeprSprYoFace from California

4.05/5  rDev -6.3%
Ok my 3.0 on quality is not because they don't take care of the beer but because... It's every where. They literally have boxes on the floor stacked up and made to look like a display but you have to search through the boxes and open some and check lables just to make sure your not missing out on anything good. I almost missed the Abyss because it wasn't opened and buried under a couple other boxes. Also I'm pretty sure they are suppose to be cold storing the Pliney and Blind pig but it was out with the other beers. There was also a bottle of Cuvee de Tomme I had to move some bottles around to find.

You do have to check this place out though if you wanna find some rare beers and a nice selection of beers you won't find else where. But it's just bad business to not take care ogf your stock. They would sell so much more if it was there and you could see it without having to search.

Staff was helpful in helping us locate a Utopias. They seemed to be knowledgable enough too.

Prices were very fair too. They weren't trying to stick you with extra cost for the more rare offerings.

Allin all. Go check it out. Yull find some awesome beers. I just wish they would get it together so you don't have to search.
Jan 12, 2010
Photo of biggbossmanng
Reviewed by biggbossmanng from California

3.85/5  rDev -10.9%
I visited Ledger's after having it recommended by a few friends and coworkers as a quality liquor store. What I found was a mish-mash array of quality brews from everywhere, commingled and (sometimes)dusty and otherwise waiting to be scoured. While the approach of the store requires a bit of work, it would be hard to complain about combing through a collection of beer. I walked out of Ledger's sporting a new tote bag awarded at the time of my purchase, which was filled with a few imported bottles of Bierre de Garde, a 750mL bottle of Duchesse de Borgogne, and some lemon bitters(the impetus of my visit). A fun place to find some new treasures, I'll be back...
Jan 07, 2010
Photo of htomsirveaux
Reviewed by htomsirveaux from Texas

4.65/5  rDev +7.6%
This is my regular bottle shop when I am in the area. Looks like nothing much from the outside (well except for that confusingly awesome new adult swim ad painted on the side of the building) but the inside is filled with beery goodness. The guys at the store will leave you alone but are helpful if you ask. Selection is good, prices are good, service if you need it. Layout is a little haphazard. Logoed glassware at the front for sale.

Not much else to add that hasn't already been said. Go. Buy a case of beer. Get the discount.
Dec 04, 2009
Photo of Falcon91Wolvrn03
Reviewed by Falcon91Wolvrn03 from California

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Ledger's is one of the biggest surprises I've found in the San Francisco Bay Area. From the outside, it doesn't look like much; in fact, it doesn't look like much from the inside either. It looks like a typical "hole-in-the-wall" liquor store.

But the beer selection IS very impressive. In fact, I'd rate it the #3 beer store in the entire San Francisco Bay Area; it's probably on par with Healthy Spirits in San Francisco in terms of overall selection, but Ledger's has better prices. Only Perry's in Livermore (#1) and Monument in Concord (#2) have more beer in my estimation.

The owner pretty much leaves you to browse unless you have questions for him, which I like, and then he's very helpful. You'll find some very nice surprises here. However, it'd be really nice if they updated their website to list their beer selection, as many other big beer stores do.

All in all, an excellent beer store.
Nov 14, 2009
Photo of redbird
Reviewed by redbird from Missouri

4.65/5  rDev +7.6%
What else can be said about this place? It's amazing. One of the best beer stores I've been in. They carry just about everything you could possibly want. One great thing that they do is the price sticker on every bottle has a month on it, so for all those bottles that don't have a born on date, you at least know when they got it.

The only knock I would have them is that the bottles are really scattered around, meaning not all the bottles from one brewery, or even the same beer, are in one place. This just means you need to really look hard and you could possibly find a hidden gem.

I didn't catch his name, but I had a great conversation with the guy working the counter, and he gave me a recipe for some beer pancakes that I can't wait to try out.

If I ever find myself in San Fran again, I'll definitely be going back.
Sep 06, 2009
Photo of excal
Reviewed by excal from California

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
I went to Ledger's about a week ago in very much a RR mood. There just wasn't anywhere nearby (outside of the city, which I hate to drive into) that had ANY RR. The closest to me was Petaluma market, which was A) not that close and B) kinda pricey (5 bucks for a Pliny) so I went to Berkeley specifically looking on stocking my fridge up with Pliny. Well I did find some VERY fresh Pliny (this was a Saturday, "bottled on" date was the Monday of THAT WEEK), but I also left there with some oak-aged Damnation 23, Consecration and Beatification, and a BB XXI that had just come in that week to boot. I could have also had some regular Damnation, Temptation, Blind Pig and at least one other 'ation I can't remember. I don't have too much to add to what other reviewers have mentioned, (and if I did, it wouldn't be too coherent, as I've got most of the 750mL Damnation in me right now,) but this is very definitely a great place for beer.
Jul 17, 2009
Photo of DaveHS
Reviewed by DaveHS from California

4.2/5  rDev -2.8%
Ledger's is a little out of the way (unless you live in Berkeley) but it's always worth the trip. Whenever I go here, I find things I thought were completely gone. For instance, last time I went in I saw a dozen or so bottles of Angel's Share. They were in the refrigerator. That's the thing about Ledger's...you can find all sorts of rare and interesting beers, but they are completely disorganized. I get the impression that most of the people who work there don't know a whole lot about beer. Ledger's has been around for a long time, and they have serious connections. Last year they were selling Lost Abbey Red Poppy and Older Viscosity from behind the counter.
So overall, a great beer spot, but you will need some time to poke around.
Mar 24, 2009
Photo of mjl21
Reviewed by mjl21 from California

4.85/5  rDev +12.3%
Every time I go in to Ledger's Liquors I always think about how many times I drove by this place not knowing what was inside.

When you walk in to Ledgers you are greeted by a very loud bell, the kind that you hear in a corner liquor store where you sole purpose is condoms, King Cobra, and Swisher Sweets. But don't let that ring fool you. Immediately to the right of the entrance and in front of you are cases stocked with all kinds of cool glassware. There are rows stocked with tons of good booze and towards the back is where the beer is located. They have a coolers along the wall which are stocked with everything. All of the popular guys are here including RR, HOTD, Port/Lost Abbey, Stone, Deschutes, The Bruery, et. al. You can slo find limited stuff from smaller guys such as Iron Springs and Schooner's.

Besides the beer in coolers there is beer in boxes on the floor and along several shelves. It is always fun to go through the shelves because there is always something new and interesting. They also have shelves dedicated to the Euro offerings. In the back is where they keep the Belgians.

Another nice feature is you can make your own six packs from any of their beers so you are not left feeling burned if you try a beer that you do not like.

The service is outstanding. Ed owns the place and Sonny is his right hand man. Both guys are extremely amiable. I have been told Ledger's is also frequented by bartenders for their rare liquor selection.

If you are visiting this is a must stop as Ledger's has great prices and selection.
Mar 09, 2009
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Reviewed by Arbitrator from California

4.14/5  rDev -4.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Hard to beat Ledger's Liquors in the Bay Area. I've been frustrated with grocery stores (poor selection) and BevMo (exposure to sunlight), so it's nice to find a store that seems to take its beers seriously.

The quality is top-notch: beer is stored carefully in the back, away from the sun. Several coolers are dedicated just to beer.

The service is excellent. If the staff isn't busy, they'll talk beer with you for a long time.

The selection is great for such a small store. Hair of the Dog, Russian River, imported Belgians. All found here.

I'm very impressed, and more than willing to make the long drive out here to buy stuff. A price comparison against BevMo finds BevMo cheaper for the stuff they do carry, but I'd trust this store to assure quality, and I'm willing to pay the $1 or so premium to get that.
Feb 04, 2009
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Reviewed by lhaqq from California

4.15/5  rDev -3.9%
The best selection I've found so far in Berkeley. A decent selection of good beer and a huge selection of whiskey. The staff was pretty helpful and knowledgeable. Went to the store right when I moved to the area and one of the men working helped me figure out some good local brews to try. They also have a deal for a lot of their beers that you can make your own six pack for a certain price (I think around $8). Haven't been there too many times because it is a bit far from my place, so I end up scrapping up good beers from a few other places that have good beers here and there.
Dec 28, 2008
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Reviewed by BrewerB from North Carolina

4.65/5  rDev +7.6%
My go-to East Bay beer store.

The selection is top notch and they seem to have an "in" with the hard-to-find distributors. Prices are very reasonable compared with other shops.

I've found quite a few hard to track down beers including RR sours, old JW Lee's Harvest Ales, and limited edition Port Brewing.

The staff is friendly and more than willing to talk beer with you if you've got the time. They often give you a head's up on what beers might be in stock down the road if you ask the right questions.

Parking is free, too if you park in their lot (enter off University Ave.)
Dec 11, 2008
Ledger's Liquors in Berkeley, CA
Place rating: 4.32 out of 5 with 61 ratings