Wine & Beverage Depot

Wine & Beverage DepotWine & Beverage Depot
Wine & Beverage DepotWine & Beverage Depot
Store

823 Riverview Dr
Totowa, New Jersey, 07512-1119
United States

(973) 785-1007 | map
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.14
Reviews:
30
Ratings:
38
pDev:
11.59%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Iamstryker:
Photo of Iamstryker
Reviewed by Iamstryker from New Jersey

4.66/5  rDev +12.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.75
Having just moved into Essex county, I find myself shopping here more and more. Well staffed, and friendly with helping match you to what beer you are looking for. Everytime I walk in, you are greeted with a smile and a hello. Selection is very well organized, the front wood structure is normally reserved for new bottles, and a very large seasonal selection located to the left of the registers.

Having bought many kegs here as well, they are very fast with communication and do everything in their power to get what I'm looking for.

As others have said, they tend to be a buck or two higher than some in the area, but they also have more than the whole area, so for many of the beers in question, it is not an apples to apples comparison.
Aug 08, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 2.86 by Walleybeer from New Jersey

Jul 02, 2016
 
Rated: 3.48 by ArkyVaughan from New Jersey

Sep 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.66 by deleted_user_722966 from New Hampshire

Dec 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Vivs85 from New York

Nov 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by mk_ultra from New Jersey

Jun 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Latarnik from New Jersey

May 26, 2014
Photo of lbraschi
Reviewed by lbraschi from New Jersey

5/5  rDev +20.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
The best beer store I've found in NJ. Great staff, always on top of the new stuff they get in, and a pretty glorious selection of bombers and single bottles. They get in some harder-to-find stuff, but you have to get lucky, as it goes quick. I was able to get a bottle of Dogfish Head 120 Minute, but missed out on the Stone Enjoy By 4/20 IPA.
May 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by RobDB from New Jersey

Oct 27, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by djrn2 from New Jersey

Oct 22, 2013
Photo of koopa
Reviewed by koopa from New Jersey

3.86/5  rDev -6.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Typical dirty and dingy highway style liquor store with a big selection of craft sitting out on a warm floor and a much smaller amount of that beer stored in coolers. My cold 6 pack of Flower Power was fairly reasonable for the area at $11.99, but it was definitely not very fresh. I didn't see much staff on the floor but the cashier was very nice and helpful. I wouldn't go out of my way to shop here unless I know when to ask for something limited they may have (not on the shelf) at the time. Then again I have other options that are more convenient so that is probably a factor. This store does indeed have a good selection. If I was in the area and wanted some craft beer I'd stop again. If my next hoppy beer purchase lacks freshness, I might avoid this place for future hoppy purchases.
Jul 26, 2013
Photo of MAN615
Reviewed by MAN615 from New Jersey

4.21/5  rDev +1.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75
This is a very solid beer store, awesome selection of bombers, large floor piles of stock, usually has or gets those rarities that I am sometimes looking for. The cashiers are always ultra friendly, as are most of the employees.

I used to travel hare from many miles away since it was the best I could find for all of those attributes, along with several friends. I have since found a closer and comparable store closer to home which has lessened my need to travel here.

The main issue I have here are the prices, have found some bombers here that are 2-6 bucks more that the same stuff I get near my home, almost seems like price gouging sometimes. Can't comment on the fairly popular stuff, other than their Sam prices are very good.

A very nice store overall.
May 11, 2013
Photo of JoeyBeerBelly
Reviewed by JoeyBeerBelly from New York

4.14/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
I hit this place on the way home from a wake in Rockaway.
There was a young girl and guy behind the counter when I walked in and they both said hello as I walked in. Being from Long Island I was there for Flying Fish beers and whatever else I can't get locally. The guy asked me if I needed help and I told him I was looking for Flying Fish. He came from behind the counter and led me to the beer. He told me that if I didn't want to commit to a 6 pack I could get the beers from their single section. The single section was well organized and had prices marked for single bottles. I got myself a nice selection of Flying Fish as well as several other beers I normally couldn't get at home. If I ever find myself near Totowa again, I'll be sure to stop here for more beer.
Jan 07, 2013
Photo of abcdefghijkyle
Reviewed by abcdefghijkyle from New Jersey

4.66/5  rDev +12.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5
I've been coming here for 4 years to load up on craft brews. They have a selection that's better than just about any other liquor store I've been to. The main selling point for me is that they let you do mixed 6 packs and they have a nice selection of single beers to choose from. There also a massive amount of brown bombers and six packs to choose from. The prices can be a bit steep but it's well worth stopping in. For me, walking into this place now is like the equivalent of 6 year-old me walking into a candy store.
Oct 26, 2012
Photo of Demer
Reviewed by Demer from New Jersey

4.74/5  rDev +14.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Wine and Beverage Depot is my go to store in North Jersey. The selection is unrivaled. The wall of bombers always has something new and interesting on it. In North Jersey if there is a rare or special release they will always get it. My only complaint is that special releases tend to fly out of there with in hours of arrival. However thats not something you can fault the store for that just means they are running a successful store I never leave empty handed. The shop is big and roomy and the staff have always asked if I needed help fairly quickly. Every time I have walked in there its been pleasant and enjoyable.
Sep 07, 2011
Photo of tobelerone
Reviewed by tobelerone from New Jersey

3.86/5  rDev -6.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
Just got back from a stop off here and thought I'd add my two cents. The staff might not be top notch in the manners department but this is north Jersey....they always have been cool with me here. I asked about breaking up some sixers to take singles and the beer guy asked the manager for me...I was given the green light without hesitation, which was super cool. They have a good assortment of craft and imports, with all of the usual suspects represented, lots of Jersey and NY beers, did find Rock Art, Keegan, and others that aren't always so available. In the end I got a bomber of Hop Stoopid (4.49), and singles of Ithica flower power, cascazilla, and apricot wheat..Allagash triple, Victory Prima Pils, and Founder's Centennial and Red's Rye PA. The whole thing cost me 26 bucks. Nice!

This place is highly recommended if you're in the area.
Jul 08, 2011
Photo of Paul68
Reviewed by Paul68 from New Jersey

4.78/5  rDev +15.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
This is one of my go to places in the area. Very large selection of bombers, six and four packs. Single bottles are also available near the cooler. I like how they have all the newer and quality beers right up in front of the cash register. You can't help but stop and check out what's there before you even get to the main beer area.

They also have a great sixtel selection. If something is not already on their list, just ask and they will try and get for you.

Check them out if you haven't yet.
May 05, 2011
Photo of buyBinboaVodka
Reviewed by buyBinboaVodka from New Jersey

4.14/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
This place is about 2 miles away from my house so I stop there fairly often(like twice a week). I have been going here for about 5 years now and I am still impressed with the selection they have.

They a have a really nice selection of the microbrews that include 4,6 packs as well as 750/22/24 bottles. They have a small selection of singles that you can grab as well. The cold section is nicely stocked with a decent selection as well. The two guys who are usually there when I go seem to know there beer really well and always tell me whats new and when they should be getting stuff in. They also tell me if they think they won't be getting anything in for a while so that I can stock up.

They have pretty good prices on most of their beers, but sometimes they are a dollar higher or lower. Either way, its still a good deal.

I recommend that everybody who is into craft beer stop there and take a look around.
Apr 28, 2011
Photo of cvito
Reviewed by cvito from North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
I visited this place over the Thanksgiving holiday to get some Founders. When I walked in, I thought I was walking into a warehouse. The wine and beer are nicely separated. This place is very organized with many macrobrews in the refrigerators. Breweries like Founders, Stone, Rogue, and Great Divide were in the aisles, and there aren't any high shelves so there's no reaching for any beers. The staff asks if you need any help, and they know their stuff. Overall, I would definitely recommend this place if you're in north Jersey loooking for some pretty good brews.
Nov 29, 2010
Photo of BeerdedEric
Reviewed by BeerdedEric from New Jersey

4/5  rDev -3.4%
Checked This Store Out on 10-23-10

While I walked through the door, a young lady at the register greeted me, which is nice. I went to the back of the store to the where the coolers are; they had a decent amount of micro's and craft beers cold. I like how the Macro beers were segregated from the Microbreweries. To the side of the coolers there is a tiny little section of single beers, which I like because sometimes a sixer is too much if you don't enjoy the beer. Then to the right of that is another section of all kind of beers, mostly 22oz, bombers and just the bigger bottles in general of Smuttynose, Stone, Troegs, Cricket Hill, Samuel Smith's and Dogfish Head, just to name a few. This is the closest place I have seen that is like Oak Tree Discount. They have a whole isle six packs as well.

The workers there were really nice. They answered questions to the best of their knowledge. They did ask how I was doing and if I needed any help.

Overall, this is a great place and is a lot closer to me than Oak Tree. I think I found a new beer destination. If you are in the area, you should definitely check it out for yourself.
Nov 24, 2010
Photo of richbrew
Reviewed by richbrew from New Jersey

4.44/5  rDev +7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Great shop, service & beers. Good selection with new stuff always rolling in weekly. Always have someone asking me if I'm looking for anything specific and or they'll give the heads up if it is coming in. The guys I talk to know their stuff well as they are craft drinkers. Strong mix of your standards with surprises poppin in and out. Selection of 12oz singles is small, decent selection of 750's/22's/24's placed in the back right corner. Nice amount of 4's and 6er's - 2 rows, domestic on the right, imports on the left of the last aisle. New arrival bottles, 4/6 packs are up front. Cold selection is good also when you're on the go. Good store!
Jan 07, 2010
Photo of r0nyn
Reviewed by r0nyn from New York

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
Right off US-46 in the middle of a busy section lined with strip malls and department stores, this store can be a bit tricky to get to, but it's well worth it to make the trip.

The store itself is big and spacious, with most of the floorspace being dominated by spirits and wines. However, there are quite a few craft beer displays up front, and if you follow them, they actually lead to the section where the rest of them are stored. There's a wall filled with bottles of different brews; breweries represented include Stone, Rogue, Great Divide, Chimay, Unibroue and more. There's also a rack off the side with single 12 oz bottles to purchase if you want to mix and match a sixer. Regular six packs are nearby on some low shelves. Lots of good selections there, from Founders, Troegs, DFH and a bunch of others. Everything I checked was fresh, 2009 for most of them. The one older brew I found was a bottle of DFH Raison D'Extra, which makes sense because it hasn't been brewed in a few years.

The staff I came in contact with were friendly and personable, asking me if I needed any help with anything and offering me a few deals at the counter. A very pleasant experience.

Prices are reasonable, which is a good sign. Nothing was more expensive than I've seen anywhere else, so I wasn't surprised. The single 12 oz bottles were priced reasonably as well, so it's a nice place to sample some different beers rather than committing to a whole sixer of the same thing.

A really nice store with a good selection of brews is always a recipe for happiness and I certainly was happy when I left. Definitely deserves the high score.
Sep 29, 2009
Photo of donniecuffs
Reviewed by donniecuffs from New Jersey

3.1/5  rDev -25.1%
***PLEASE, PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW***

I do my best to keep my BA journalistic integrity at the highest level, therefore I can not rate this store lowly in the categories of quality or selection, for it is certainly a highly-rated store in those aspects. However, I NEED to spend some time to describe the experience...and service...I received after visiting this establishment for the first time last night. In short, the service was downright appalling, but you should please read on, and decide for yourself...

After picking up a few nice finds, which included a 12oz 4-pack of Great Divide Yeti Imp. Stout, I made my way over to check out, and after completing the transaction, noticed that I had been charged $13.99 for the Yeti, when on the shelf it had been marked at $11.99. Since my wife was picking up some wine for another family party she had to attend the next day and I had some time to kill, I decided to head back over to the aisle to make sure that I hadn't made a mistake. Sure enough, clear as day, $11.99. I then proceeded to inform the young woman whom I had dealt with at checkout who, truthfully, was very nice, albeit unhelpful. She informed another young man (caucasian, mid-20's, skinny, parted brown hair, acne), who apparently must have been the shift manager. After the woman kindly checked the shelf herself and informed him that I was right, here is a near-replica of the conversation that transpired:

Him: (belligerently) Ya see, it doesn't matter what the shelf says..what's in the computer, is in the computer. That's what you pay. You either exchange the beer for a complete refund, or live with it.

Me: (kindly) But what about the tag on the shelf? Do you mean that you're going to leave a deceiving pricetag on the shelf?

Him: (stand-offishly) Oh no, I'm going to switch it...after you leave.

Me: (disbelief) Wha...

Him: (cutting in) Like I said pal, I can't do nuttin' for ya. You gotta deal with it.

Me: (in resignation) You know, this is the first time that I've ever been to a store, liquor or not, where the store made no effort to fix a price discrepancy.

Him: (stand-offishly) Whatever. That's the way it is, dude.

Me: (now annoyed, and leaving) Ok. Don't hurt yourself working too hard.

Him: (under his breath, walking away) Don't worry...I won't.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE take heed of this deplorable display of ridiculously poor and insulting service. My wife, who is an angel and can't hurt a fly, stood there, mouth agape in disbelief at what this guy/kid was saying. Don't get me wrong..$2 in the grand economic scheme of things is nothing; I'm no miser, and wasn't planning on having a seizure over it. But at the very least, the hired help could have acted a little more cooperatively, e.g. something to the effect of, "Hey man, I'm so, so sorry about this, but I'm not authorized to make price changes, and I feel very bad about this. Can I at least give you a free bottle opener or something?", or something remotely similar. I would have refused a free opener, and in all likelihood, whatever he offered, but at least I would have appreciated the token effort, and it would have made a solid first impression, hence making me want to become a repeat customer. In the end, the exact opposite happened. I don't care if this store surpasses Oak Tree and Boonton as the pre-eminent purveyor of fine beer in NJ....I will NEVER...repeat NEVER...go back and spend a nickel. Fellow beer geeks, please take heed, and when you are treated like this, please let others KNOW about it. In short, this type of service, regardless whether it's at a 4-star restaurant or liquor store, should NOT be tolerated. This is, by far, the angriest review I have ever written on BA.

Goodbye, Totowa.
Aug 30, 2009
Photo of njmoons
Reviewed by njmoons from New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
I live nearby so I stopped in one day when I had some time to 'kill'. On the way in they have a sign in the window NJ's Best Craft and Import Beer Store (or something like that), I was a bit skeptical.

However once inside I was pleasently surprised a nice selection of micros, imports, in 6/4 packs, 750's, bombers, singles, etc. A very nice selection including locals (although they seemed to be missing area brewery Ramstein?), national micros, and european imports. They also had an extensive selection in the cooler which is always a bonus if stopping on the way home.

Overall among the best stops in Northern NJ, I will be by again.
Aug 25, 2009
Photo of Kegatron
Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.4%
My fellow BA, BACTAdam usually takes us shopping here whenever we are in town visiting.

Quality: Quality presentation here. Clean, bright, and well organized. The bulk of the beer is situated along the back right of the store, with some additional selections displayed in the front. Six packs take up one aisle, while imports take up another. There is a separate shelf for bombers and 750 mls. They also carry keep a pretty good selection in the cooler, plus they also have a more limited singles shelf for mixing and matching.

Service: We always have someone ask us if we need help whenever we are perusing. The workers seem pretty knowledgeable on the beer that they carry.

Selection: Good selection of regional fare like Victory, Highpoint, Boaks, Southampton, Flying Fish, Brooklyn, Sly fox, plus I've seen the occasional Captain Lawrence offering as well. Really solid American craft selections too, with both The Bruery and Laughing Dog being new since our last visit. I'd called the import selection solid but nothing too spectacular. Prices kind of fluctuated depending on what it was, but I would call them mostly reasonable for the area.

A solid all around stop (my understanding is especially for North Jersey). I usually don't leave here without at least a few choice selections.
Jul 28, 2009
Photo of Yetiman420
Reviewed by Yetiman420 from Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
I was in Jersey on business and had a morning to bounce around to a couple of the better BA beer stores in the area.

I was looking for some of the rare Captain Lawrence beers or a gem or two to add to my cellar.

This one is well worth it's A rating. It carries all of the great local and regional brews as well as a large selection of imports.

I had the opportunity to chat up the muscular-looking dude who was stocking the shelves. He was helpful to the point that I felt bad without buying anything so I picked up two Long Trail Reserve Coffee Porters (for less than $4 each!!!)

Given this convenient location in north central Jersey, this could be a regular stop for me when I'm in town.
Mar 15, 2009
Photo of baldycmu
Reviewed by baldycmu from Texas

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
I have driven by this place a number of times and for some reason never stopped in. I was thoroughly impressed with the selection and service. From single bottles to six packs they have a ton of different micros. Lots of the newer beers had nice descriptions to go along with them. They have a lot of different ratings on the beers as well. I had a fridge full of beer at home and still found myslef spending a hundred bucks on some stuff I haven't seen at my local craft place. Its no oak tree buy right as far as the signle bottle selection goes, but I will definitly be back since its about half as far away.
Dec 13, 2008
Photo of Lupe
Reviewed by Lupe from New York

3.7/5  rDev -10.6%
Stopped by this place while in the area after checking what was around in Beerfly. Decent beer section with a nice cold selection. Small section singles of regional beers. Nice amount of regional beers from Victory, Stoudt's, Brooklyn, Flying Fish, and Southampton. Some quality imports and a few other micros like Stone and Rogue. I was most impressed by the 3 or 4 Jolly Pumpkin beers in stock. Service was non-existent, but I did not ask for any. Prices seemed fair.

Nothing special, but a good stop if in the area.
Dec 30, 2007
Photo of dsa7783
Reviewed by dsa7783 from New Jersey

4.8/5  rDev +15.9%
After searching high and low for a beer like Allagash White... found this spot on Google and decided to check it out even though it was a little bit of a hike from my house... Definitely glad I made the trip... This big place has the best selection of beer that I've ever seen... everything and anything you could imagine I was able to find here (except interestingly enough any brews from Wychwood, which I am able to find almost anywhere else)... otherwise, I saw beers here for sale that I never saw any other place... Allagash White, all types of Hitachino offerings... various Rogue bombers... Franziskaner Heffweissen... Blanche dex Bruxelles, Skull-Splitter, a huge selection of single offerings, bombers, and seasonal varieties... the service was excellent... It's a mom-and-pop shop owned by a few relatively young guys who greeted me immediately when I walked through the door and made me feel at home, constantly asking me if I needed any help finding anything and pointing out interesting selections... they also sell $2 pint glasses, which I thought was pretty cool... The only downside to this awesome establishment is that it is very, very pricey... Even a four-pack of Allagash ran me about $9 bucks, and typical six packs are anywhere from $1 - $2 more expensive than I've seen anywhere else... If you don't mind paying a couple more bucks on average, than this place is definitely recommended.. especially if you're looking for that rare, hard-to-find beer...
Dec 16, 2007
Photo of Mikeyboxx
Reviewed by Mikeyboxx from New York

4.05/5  rDev -2.2%
This place stocks 1/6 kegs!!! When I called they have 2 Dogfish Head 60 min, 1 Blue Moon, 1 Smuttynose IPA, and 1 Southhampton Double White. Gentlemen on the phone seemed really helpful and friendly. Jeff offered to hold two sixtels for me. What a store!

Guys from Hunterdon Brewing Company (NJ Distrubitor) sent me here. They said this place has lots of great beers. I can't wait to see for myself.

Just stocked up...Victory Saison, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Stouts Fat Dog and Double IPA, Weyerbacher Sicome IPA, Rogue Mocha Porter, Chimay, Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter and Snake Dog IPA.

I asked if they would provide some discounts if buying a bunch of stuff, but they would not discount if buying in bulk...
Dec 07, 2007
Photo of jaluria
Reviewed by jaluria from Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev -7%
Stopped by this place a few weeks ago when I saw it listed in Beerfly. The beer section is quite extensive with a few beers in coolers, but the majority located to the right side of the store. The back right also has singles of various regional beers like Southampton. The 6-packs are not that interesting; standard stuff for an above-average store; Victory Hop Devil, Oktoberfest beers from local/regional breweries like Stoudt's, Victory, Brooklyn. The German and English imports are quite limited in that only the largest breweries are represented; Fullers, Young's, and Spaten. The Belgian section is more impressive with an assortment of 750mL bottles available.

Overall, I like this store and would certainly stop by when I'm on Rt. 46 with a few minutes to spare. The store probably has the most expansive selection of the stores I've seen in Northern NJ, but I'd like to see more singles available and a greater variety of 6-packs.
Oct 25, 2007
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4/5  rDev -3.4%
I love this place. I grew up about 5 minutes away, so for me, I used to go here years ago before they really had any kind of quality selections. Now to go back and see what it has become is just fantastic. They have pretty much everything I could want at the store. Allagash, DFH, Stouts, Smuttynose, they have all been mentioned so I do not need to repeat, but you get it, great selection. Prices are a little high, but they are really the only game in town, so can you blame them. And it’s not absurd priced either, you should see what we pay in NC for some of this stuff. But overall if you are in the county go for, you really cannot do any better as far as variety that I have seen and I lived here for 20+ years. Great store, and the staff aren’t too bad, they are just quiet.
Oct 23, 2007
Photo of apintofknowledge
Reviewed by apintofknowledge from Connecticut

3.4/5  rDev -17.9%
A great alternative for those of us in Northern Jersey when Oak Tree or Super Saver are just too far to drive. I went in almost two years ago when the ownership was changing, and while some good beers could be found, the selection was hit or miss, and the organization of the place was utter chaos.

Returned again the other day, and the new ownership has made a dramatic difference. Well stocked, well organized section dedicated soley to craft beer. Multiple styles from just about every brewery, with new stuff from Lagunitas, and just about every style made by North Coast / Acme and Allagash. Dogfish Head, Stoudts, Troegs, Southampton and Smuttynose were among many great American breweries well represented here. And the Belgian selection is very good, not amazing, but very good.

Another nice touch was the selection of single 12oz bottles available by the register. Most for about $1.99 a bottle... nice option when you are trying something new, and aren't going to commit to a whole six-pack.

Prices were a mixed bag... a few great deals, some average, and some high. I can't say too much about service because I knew what I was looking for, and had a cashier who seemed to look a little strangely at my selections... I have a feeling that craft beer isn't the majority of their business but I give the owners kudos for keeping a nice selection in stock.

Overall, not a beer destination (i.e. worthy of a special trip of an hour or more), but a great find for those of us in Northern Jersey.
Feb 04, 2007
Photo of hiphops
Reviewed by hiphops from New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -17.9%
you'll always find something worth drinking here. if you don't mind paying higher prices than anywhere else. panil bariquee was 16.99 i've paid 13.99 for it. that 3 dollars could buy me another beer. the staff here isnt very friendly or helpful. and the creepy stock guy weirded out my girlfriend. they have a good selection jolly pumpkin, allagash, stone, rogue, victory, weyerbacher, avery, ottercreek, stoudts, lots of belgians including de dolle which makes me happy and foreigns. no six packs really worth buying here cuz they are more money than anywhere else except the stoudts double ipa. thats usually ten bucks when ever i can find it. this place would be great if it werent such a clip joint. did i mention it was expensive??
Oct 10, 2006
Photo of Nutleybeer
Reviewed by Nutleybeer from New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
This is a quality liquor store...I can only comment re the beer selection, though...wines choices seem decent.

They carry a nice amount of microbrews I have not seen anywhere else in the area...Barley Creek, Left Hand, Boulder, and a few more I can't think of at the moment...on top of this, a good selection of Belgian, German, English beers too. Some single bottles in the cooler and a wall of warm choices.

I have seen a few places in NJ with as large, if not larger (not too many though), amounts of beer available, but as noted, this place offers some unique brands. This past week, aside from some 22 oz Otter Creeks, they had sampler cases from Boulder and Left Hand.
Sep 17, 2006
Photo of slander
Reviewed by slander from New York

4.05/5  rDev -2.2%
Day 91.
Jed said, "Ive got a new beer store".
"Yeah, huh?"
"Yep. It's good, they've got a much better selection than that other place, I don't even go there anymore, I go here".
"Cool".
"The only thing is..."
"What?"
"What?"
"The only thing is, what?"
"I don't like their sign".
"You don't like their sign?'
"No".
"What's the matter with their sign?"
"Improper punctuation".
"Yeah, huh?'
"You'll see".
And then we get there, and I see the sign reads "Wine & Beverage Depot - Specializing In Fine Wines & Spirits Microbrews Domestic & Imported Beers".
I really can't argue the bad punctuation. That shit making me mad. There had damn well better be good beer here...

Well, they've got wine here, lots of it, and over there to the far side, beer. A very nice selection of micros, some 3 dozen breweries represented, good local (Heavyweight, Riverhorse, Cricket Hill, Flying Fish), regional (Southampton, Brooklyn, Weyerbacher, Victory, Lancaster, Stoudts, Barley Creek, Yards, Troegs, Lake Placid, Cooperstown, Ommegang, Saranac, Long Trail, Otter Creek/Wolavers, Magic Hat, Gearys, Allagash, Smutty, Sam Adams, DogFishHead), and beyond (Flying Dog, Boulder, Left Hand, Avery, North Coast/ACME), most of which are in six packs on a long shelving unit along with some of the standard imports (Sam Smith, Fullers, Youngs, Duvel, Leffe, Maredsous 8 & 10). Over your shoulder, back there, the large shelving units of imports, with a good focus on Belgians (Cantillion, Drie Fonteinen, Fantome, De Ranke, Saison De Pipaix, Guldenberg, De Dolle) and American micro 22's and 750's (Heavyweight, Smutty, Jolly Pumpkin, Allagash, Avery, Sly Fox, Cisco, Victory, Southampton, Three Floyds, Stone, DogFishHead and a dozen varieties of Rogue bombers). A good deal of these bombers also found in the coolers around the bend towards the rear.
Jed was good enough to stand on a 12 pack of Erdinger to reach for two bottles of Ste-ve on the top shelf. Service... maybe I just caught 'em on a bad day. At the counter...
"Do you have any of this cold?"
"No" (not even sure he looked up to see what I was talking about).
"Do you have any more of these?"
"No" (same thing).
But both times I 've been there, someone out in the aisles asked if I needed anything so we're square.
Great beer store, bad punctuation.
Aug 09, 2006
Photo of jimmack
Reviewed by jimmack from New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
This place gets better every time I go in there. New owners took over around a year ago and are really making this a go to place for good beers. Excellent selection of European beers. They were one of the first in NJ to carry the BFM beers like Bon Chien from Switzerland. Other notables include Fantome, Cantillon, Drie Fonteinen. The owner is very helpful and takes a lot of customers' suggestions and rolls with them, keeping the selection always updated. It may not be Somerville Super Savers, but in North Jersey it is one of the best.
Aug 08, 2006
Photo of ElGuapo
Reviewed by ElGuapo from New Jersey

4.65/5  rDev +12.3%
This place is right accross from Home Depot on Riverview Drive. It is recently under new ownership, and they have done very well. They are renovating with new displays for liquor, beer, and wine. The selection of all 3 is fantastic! I will not go much into the wine and liquor, since that is not what we are here for, but if you dabble, ... you will not be disappointed.

Their micro selection is growing, as well as their imports. Southhampton, Troegs, Victory, Dogfish Head, Cisco, Avery, Rogue, and a few 3 Floyds (most of these are covered extensively) and the beat goes on. The large bottle selections include: your usual belgians, Rodenbach, Abbaye des Rocs, Baladin, some Flemish sours, and a few odd seasonal items. When my mind is with me, I will update and give a more detailed list. I will say that this place is the real deal. They have aisles of micros, and the expansion is weekly.

The employees are very helpful, and a few are on the ball with the info. They are very quick to order anything they can get their hands on for you. This is a must stop shop if you are in the area.
Feb 14, 2006
Wine & Beverage Depot in Totowa, NJ
Place rating: 4.14 out of 5 with 38 ratings