Park Lane Liquor

Park Lane LiquorPark Lane Liquor
Park Lane LiquorPark Lane Liquor
Store

2073 W Avenue K
Lancaster, California, 93536-5234
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.11
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
16
pDev:
10.71%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by Callenak:
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Reviewed by Callenak from California

4.65/5  rDev +13.1%
You wouldn't know it by looking at it but this place is a gold mine. Beers of every breadth and scope. Tons of great California beers (Bear Republic, AleSmith, Lagunitas, Russian River, every Stone, etc) plus great beers from around the world (most Trappist, lots of Germans and Belgians). Racks and racks. I've been to the Bev & More in Valencia and I think this place holds its own on the beer department. Plus every hard liquor you can think of.

It's a little whole in the wall but it's got hundreds of beers. I still don't understand it. Nobody is ever there buying these goodies. People walk in there grab some bud light and walk out. The only problem with the place is that since nobody else is buying the good stuff, it ends up sitting on the shelf for a long time. The slow turn around means some of the beers have been sitting there for a long time and gone bad. I now steer clear of some of the less popular beers because of several bad ones I've gotten. Nothing like opening up a bad St. Bernardus. It's heartbreak. I'm familiar enough that I can tell what's new so I keep an eye out. The people who work there don't seem to know much about the beer and don't speak English very well, but they're more than friendly. I think the guy behind the counter's brother owns the place and is an alcohol snob. I've yet to see him though. Sure would like to talk to him.

Any BA'ers hiding in the Antelope Valley, definitely worth checking out. I actually want more people there shopping so they start turning some of these beers around.
Feb 17, 2006
More User Ratings:
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Reviewed by ASANCHEZ982 from California

3.61/5  rDev -12.2%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3 | selection: 4
I am new to the AV and heard from other post on BA that this is the store to go to for craft beer and you guys weren't lying

yes there is one guy there during the day who doesn't know anything about the beer selection or when the shipments come in.

but when I went back a few days later and in the evening there was a guy with long hair who seemed to know what he is talking about.

I feel that there is a better selection of beer at Park Lane compared to BevMo.

this is definitely my number one stop in the AV for craft brew
Oct 10, 2013
Photo of trancesk8er
Reviewed by trancesk8er from California

3.71/5  rDev -9.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 5
Great dive with a massive selection of craft beer as well as a huge import section. The guy who does the beer ordering is good at finding your request. Unfortunately he is the only one of the staff that has any beer knowelege and is very rarely there. I love that they're stock is always being updated. You are able to find the new beers here as soon as they come out. Over the past 5 years they have turned from a convenience store to a dedicated liquor store with a heavy beer foot. Some bad points are that they have isles of UN-refrigerated beer, normally not a big deal. Although, that on top of it being an open air store is a bad thing. I have yet to EVER see the door closed. Keep in mind that at this time of year we are seeing an average temperature of 90, with a avg low below 70. This is not good for beer. Be careful what you buy, and give it a good eye over. There is a lot of beer that I've seen there for years and never move. I wouldn't want to waste my cash on that. Last to the cost. I marked this place as a bit pricey because they do a generous markup on big names. ESPECIALLY Firestone beers. Example is this years parabola. The standard price in stores is $15.99. I passed on some of these in san diego last week because I didn't feel like transporting it back to the AV after a day with the kids at sea world. I walked into parklane wednesday and could've kicked myself for that decision when I saw 12 boxes on the shelf marked up to $25.99!!! If this was a fluke I would have marked them reasonable, however like I said before they like to mark these up. Expect the same for anything by the Bruery or Rogue. That said there are some good deals in here from time to time and is always worth a stop.
Jun 09, 2012
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Reviewed by Alucard4 from California

3.86/5  rDev -6.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
In the AV this is pretty much the stop to find good craft beer. There is a Bevmo here but lets face it the people that work there are usually god damn idiots and never can go out of there way to get anything for you. That is not the case with Park Lane. I have been going here for years and the buy who orders beer with usually go out of his way to try and get whatever you are looking for. The only thing you have to worry about is sometimes their stuff is not the freshest and you have to pick and choose what you think is still good and what is no good anymore, especially with the foreign stuff. That being said this is a place stop usually a couple times a week
Jul 17, 2011
Photo of DarthKostrizer
Reviewed by DarthKostrizer from California

4/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
Living in the Antelope Valley this place has been the only place to get HTF craft beers in the AV for the past several years before BevMo moved up here.

When you walk in this place could be a bit off putting because well its a liquor so you most likely have some one ask you for change if you know what I mean. Also food section is a bit crowded but if you go there what I do then you head straight to the back of the store where they keep the goodies.

There are overall about 15 shelves about ten feet long that store the warm beer. about 10 of the shelves store most of the imports. They have a really good selection of Belgian beers and other beers from Europe but their Belgian selection really stands out. The other 5 shelves are filled mostly with craft beer from the U.S. while their selection is vast please please please make sure you purchase with caution because there is alot of stock that is out of date or has a nice layer of dust on them. With that being said as long as you pass up on those you should find just what your looking for and even ones that your not. For instance I was there saturday and they had a few Vertical Epic 06's. I would say they have a few hundred different beers at all time which can satisfy any want.

The store also has about 10 sections of coolers with a great selection of European and local favorites that are prime and ready to drink. Except the Twilight summer ale it had a best by date of 09/10 so might wanna pass on that but apart from that everything else in the coolers is good and fresh.

Overall I absolutely love this place the workers are always friend and the guy who orders stuff will go out of his way to find whatever you are looking for well at least he is for my brother and I. If you are ever in the AV this is a must if you are a beer lover.
Jun 27, 2011
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Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

3.55/5  rDev -13.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 5
Visited Park Lane Liquor today on a road trip with the wife to see friends. This is located in a strip mall and it's a pretty decent sized place. Walking in there is a HUGE section of beer in the back. Some is refrigerated and some is not. There are beers from all over the world and all over the US. Like others have said, some of the beer is old and probably should be purchased and consumed with "caution" as to the quality. However, there are also beers that can hold their own with age and are still good for purchase. I was able to find some rare gems here: Stone Vertical Epic 07.07.07 and 2005 Thomas Hardy's Ale to name a few. I also got a Sam Adams Triple Bock just to experience this one for myself after reading so much about it on BA. Overall, there are about 6 coolers of craft beer, 2 coolers of BMC and well-known imports, and 3 huge shelves of craft beers from around the world. Overall, this is a great place to check out if you can hunt out the good from the old.
Apr 18, 2011
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Reviewed by GRG1313 from California

3.33/5  rDev -19%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 4
Wow. There is a huge selection of beer from all over the world. There are domestic beers that I've never seen in California as well as imports that I've never seen anywhere. This place is like "an antique store" of full bottles of beer.

I say the foregoing since there is clearly no rotation. There are bottles on the shelves of beers long retired, some even have dust on the caps. Of course, that didn't stop me from purchasing old brews that I've not seen for a while to try. I.e., Sam Adams Triple Bock, Hardy's Ale 2005, Lagunitas Saison Style Sonoma Farmhouse, etc. So, the purchases here while fun and almost historic, is done with a gamble.

Prices are high but the selection is great. Again, problem is one of freshness or beer that can take the age still being stored properly. The vast majority of the bottles are on the shelves at room temperature. And, the staff knows nothing about the beer. I.e., "It's my Uncles collection," a lovely young Cambodian girl pronounced when I commented on the large selection. "Uncle" was not there and the staff was less than clueless.

Note: There are a number of bottles that I bought that I will not review as it would not be fair to the beer, i.e., the Lagunitas Saison Style, among many others. Many of the bottles I purchased were way over the hill; a beer that should likely not have been aged in the first place and should have long ago been removed from any reputable stores shelves. Question: Is keeping clearly old and outdated brews on the shelf fair to an uneducated public? I took a chance, knowingly, on many bottles. "Joe Public" may walk in, see what he believes are some great things to try and end up drinking a 4 year old IPA!

Based on all of the above, my grade must stand.
Mar 19, 2011
Photo of GarthDanielson
Reviewed by GarthDanielson from Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
I was surprised by this place. Walking in, the joint is a bit overcrowded, with the aisles packed pretty close together, but once you get to the back, it's all worth it.

They had a pretty decent selection of beers from all over the US, and their imports were pretty numerous, as well. Some of the beers looked a little dusty, so they got left behind. Others were a tad bit overpriced, so they, too, were skipped over. Once those few were weeded out, it was a decent score.

I spent about $80, but carried out a pretty big box plus a bag of bombers and loose bottles. It was a mix of some German and Belgian imports, as well as some favorites from Decshuttes, Rogue, and North Coast. Decent pick up, and I will definitely be making a return trip at some point.
Jan 23, 2011
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Reviewed by Gorefiendus from California

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
Being an A.V. native, this place is a needle in a haystack, a diamond in the rough if you will. I'm somewhat of a regular and get to chat up with the buyer every now and then. Great People. I've been offered stuff that they don't even carry. But i digress. Selection is great, and broken up into regions. 3 Shelves for American, 1 for German, 1 for Belgian, etc, etc. Prices are on par for what I've seen around most of Los Angeles. Only turn off about this place is how long stuff sits on the shelves. If it has dust on it, Move On. Other than that, great beer, great prices, great service. I keep going back, so that must say something.
Mar 13, 2010
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Reviewed by JBogan from California

4.65/5  rDev +13.1%
Thanks to Beerfly or I would have never known about this gem located off the beaten path.

Just a standard looking liquor store from the outside, but walk straight towards the back and there are racks of imports and craft beers to your right, double sided racks to your left and a half dozen cooler doors as well.

Nice mix of some of the better known craft beers along with some obscure ones. All were priced about the same as I'd seen elsewhere. A small area is dedicated to two or three dozen different branded glassware.

Service was excellent. I was greeted with a friendly hello when entering. Upon checking out, the register person chatted me up and even spent a good while giving me recommendations and directions to a number of other southern California area liquor stores which carry good beer.

If you live in the area or just passing through, this place is absolutely worth a stop. Some beer stores in the southland get more attention, but this one is as good as just about any of them.
Feb 13, 2010
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Reviewed by HaggisIBM from California

5/5  rDev +21.7%
I can't believe the selection of this place! WOW! A world class selection from beers around the world. This place is the Beer Mecca of the 661.

Local Brews (Indian Wells and Kern River BC), other Californian breweries (Greenflash, Rubicon, Pizza Port, Anderson Valley), other US Breweries, Belgian Breweries, Scottish Breweries, German Breweries, etc...,

They also have a small, but very nice selection of Glassware to purchase.

I would put their beer selection up against BevMo and Hi Times Wine Cellars selection anytime.
Jan 01, 2010
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Reviewed by FLBeerGuy from Florida

3.95/5  rDev -3.9%
This place rocks, it's my favorite place to pick up some micro brew in the AV. A little quickie mart looking place from the outside, but great micro brew selection on the inside. Some hard to find stuff like the Stone 060606 & 070707. They have both domestic and imports. Very good selection of California beers. Prices are very reasonable, almost always cheaper than BevMo. If you're looking for Anderson Valley, they have a good selection on the bombers at a good price. Only downside is the people that run it don't speak the best English so communication can be a problem.
Apr 06, 2008
Photo of gpogo
Reviewed by gpogo from California

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
Amazing variety of different brews. A lot of selections are in the coolers too(not just bmc). One concern I found was there was no discernible form of organization; many stores will put beer from the same country together, however I had trouble finding any sort of organization in this manner.

The times I have been, the employees are not the best at speaking english. They are however very friendly, but language barrier may be a problem if you want to ask specific questions about brews.

Price is decent other stores have some of the same selection for a little more or less.

If you are in Antelope Valley make sure to stop by, it's right off of 14 so it is very convenient.
Jan 19, 2008
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Reviewed by Dogbrick from Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
Stopped by here on a trip from Mission Viejo to Tehachapi. Park Lane Liquor is located at the end of a strip mall on Avenue K a mile or so from the freeway. Parking is plentiful in the lot.

The store should consider adding "Beer" to their name, because based on outward appearances and their name alone a person would not expect the almost staggering amount of beer available in the store. The layout is typical for a convenience store, cramped and full of products. However I couldn't really complain about the amount of beer crammed into the shop. The beer is in the rear of the store and there were a couple aisles and coolers devoted to beer. The beer is segregated somewhat by region, which makes it easy to hit the Western US, Imports, etc.

As for the beer selection, it is too numerous to list. Suffice it to say I was able to easily get 2 suitcases worth of beers not available in my home state without even trying. Brewers like Port, Sequoia, Speakasy, Nimbus etc are plentiful, as are the better known craft brewers like Stone, Sierra Nevada etc. There is also a very thorough selection of imports from the UK, Belgium and Germany plus other countries scattered around.

There is also a shelf full of glassware, and they even carry some beer-related food items like Stone hot sauce.

Service here is good. Despite some language barrier issues the women behind the counter were helpful and understanding of my taking advantage of California's "make singles out of whatever you want" policy.

Overall I was pleasantly surprised with what a literal oasis of beer this place is out in the desert. I will definitely stop here any time I am in the Lancaster/Tehachapi/Bakersfield area.
Dec 10, 2007
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Reviewed by IntriqKen from California

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
So here I am stuck in Lancaster for the weekend in 110 degree plus temps. I check out the BeerFly guide...see this store and figure...well..maybe I might find something.
Unbelievable!
Incredible!
Outstanding!
I've reviewed over 800 different brews and tried many more than that.
I walk into this little tiny mini-mart and head to the beer section and find 3 gondolas stuffed with single rows of different beers from all over the world. Many...and I mean MANY very hard to get. Plust you may find 2 or 3 vintages of some. Fullers Vintage Ale they have in '04,'05, &' '06, for example. They literally had hunderds...perhaps 4 to 5 hundred...different beers and dozens that I had never even heard of before. 2 walls of coolers stock the usuals and a few crafts while a center row of coolers is filled with mostly Belgiums.
This is a store worth the hour and a half drive to get there. I stopped myself at $50 today but tomorrow will probably have to return.
Prices, surprisingly are also very reasonable.
Jul 06, 2007
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Reviewed by harpus from Alabama

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
I read the previous review for this place and went it prepared to see a few beers that I have not tried, I was stunded when i got to the beer section. The outside looks like a liquor store mini mart but they have great beer selection. I dont know how many different beers they have in this store it has to be a good 300 or more. They have beers from Germany, Belgium, Scotland, France, Austria, and of course US Micros. The Micros from local California, Colorado, Ney York and Louisiana. By the looks of the outside of the store I would jave never guessed the great selection of good beers hiding on the inside. If I am in the Palmdale or even the North LA area I will make a special trip up to this store again and stock up.
Oct 25, 2006
Park Lane Liquor in Lancaster, CA
Place rating: 4.11 out of 5 with 16 ratings