Rodman's

Rodman'sRodman's
Rodman'sRodman's
Store

5100 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, District of Columbia, 20016-4119
United States

(202) 363-3466 | map
rodmans.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.29
Reviews:
28
Ratings:
43
pDev:
13.29%
View: Place Reviews
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Photo of VABA
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25
For a drugstore, I was impressed with their selection! ;) :). I had a good selection of both domestic and foreign, as well as some hidden gems, so it is worth a visit.
Jan 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4.11 by Iamjeff6 from Virginia

Dec 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.32 by Kramerbarthomer from Colorado

Jul 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.82 by Highbury09 from North Carolina

Jul 06, 2015
Photo of rhmitchel2
Reviewed by rhmitchel2 from Maryland

3.04/5  rDev -29.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 1 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Major price gouging on Hopslam. Which is quite ironic given Rodman's facebook "Cover Photo!? (Stating that back whenever Rodman's would "Meet or Beat any Advertised Price - Only Rodman's Dares")

Otherwise, good selection, though some stuff is old.
Feb 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.89 by duceswild from Heard & McDonald Islands

Jan 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by oskinker from Maryland

Nov 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Cook82 from Maryland

Nov 17, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by DDrake from Virginia

Aug 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by pmarlowe from Virginia

Jul 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by macesq from California

Jun 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by DavidHume from Virginia

Jun 04, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by cj8311 from Maryland

Apr 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Bevitore from Maryland

Apr 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by jtladner from District of Columbia

Mar 09, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by bryanbullock from District of Columbia

Mar 01, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by polopaul20 from Maryland

Nov 15, 2013
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Reviewed by DCgolfpro from Maryland

3.69/5  rDev -14%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4.75
Rodman's is a convenience store on Wisconsin ave. in DC. They do a good job of advertising limited releases on twitter which is nice because you don't have bombard them with phone calls. Unfortunately, customer service in the beer department can be hard to find. My biggest gripe about the place is on two recent occasions they've advertised a set purchase limit per person and changed that limit within the amount of time to drive to the store. They did it to me with Black Note AND Bourbon County last season once they were running out. They used to use the honor system and put limited beer on the shelf with a note saying, "One per person please" or something of the like, but I noticed with Backwoods bastard last week you had to find someone that works in the beer department (which took 10 minutes) and ask for it because it was hiding in the back. I think their new policy is better considering I've seen people look at the "one per person sign", peek around and see if anyone is watching, then take more than the allotted amount. I would love this place if they had better customer service but unfortunately it's almost non existent.
Nov 12, 2013
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Reviewed by Daniellobo from District of Columbia

2.98/5  rDev -30.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 3.5
What once was a reference for craft beer in the region lost its grip for a while, but seemed to pick it up after a couple of slips with the new management. But a gimmicky policy with special releases, and an unprofessional exchange in social networks with some inappropriate remarks made it for me.

The price gauging seemed to be a sign of an early management attitude that was called out and corrected. There was more than one instance, but it seemed that they had recuperated a reasonable price bracket. Now, the rambling announcement on social media about receiving special releases was quite nice, and whether one got it or not, it helped to keep an eye out. Recently with one particular release, they showed it off, said it was sold out in an hour, but actually had kept a few bottles aside to set up a sophomoric marketing raffle for a chance to buy a bottle. And while I disliked the gimmick, it was the disrespectful answer I received to my critique that really did it. Quite spectacular... Maybe the new guy will do well with his crowd but the underlying attitude I've felt does not work for me. What a swing... Luckily there is more than this to the region and to my neighborhood.
Jan 24, 2012
Photo of jsprain1
Reviewed by jsprain1 from Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev -20.7%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 4.5
A- Narrow halls, lots of groceries, beer is back in a corner.
Q- Lots of good beer, enough of it refrigerated. No freshness problems in my times visiting. Lighting is a problem though as there seems to be a good bit of light hitting the beer.
Ser- Neither particularly friendly nor helpful. I've been there about six times and no one has ever asked me if I need help.
Sel- Lots of good stuff. Victory, Racer 5, Goose Island, Troegs, Harpoon, Great Lakes, Dogfish Head, I think Founder's and/or Bell's, other's as well. Mostly six packs, but a fair number of bombers as well.
Decent prices on most of their stuff, and I would definitely go for the beer, because the experience is otherwise lacking.
Jun 23, 2011
Photo of mi6234
Reviewed by mi6234 from District of Columbia

3.06/5  rDev -28.7%
vibe: 2 | quality: 4 | service: 1.5 | selection: 4
This use to be my go to store. They use to have the best craft specials in town. If you looked at the monthly flier you could get deep deep discounts on craft. That hasn't been the case for a long time now. Craft is never on sale and so I am never in there.

They basically have the same selection as Total Wine and higher prices. It's easier to get to than Total Wine if you're in DC but I make the effort to go to VA on the weekends to save $$$.

The staff isn't particularly knowledgeable as far as I can tell. I've asked questions and get very minimal answers. Or they go grab the "beer guy" who also gives a minimal answer. About all they can help with is where something is.

There are stores with a better selection in the area and lower prices just across the river. Not a bad place if it's close to you but not worth seeking out either.
Jun 09, 2011
Photo of CuriousMonk
Reviewed by CuriousMonk from District of Columbia

2.94/5  rDev -31.5%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3.5
I expected more out of this place as I heard good reviews on this site as well as others. I by a huge margin, prefer Total Wine and Whole Foods over this place. The beer selection is quite expansive but mostly of traditional cratft beer that you can find anywhere else. Granted, this place may receive some Hopslam or KBS which is a huge plus especially for such a small shop like this one. I think they are allotted one case of the good stuff so you just have to keep calling the store checking when they'll be stocked with the good stuff. I have to do the same thing with the other local beer shops anyway. Staff mostly worked the produce/food section. Very crowded and not designed well for navigation throughout. Can't remember the prices of the beers bc I was bummed out- so I put down reasonable.
Mar 29, 2011
Photo of Smakawhat
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland

3.85/5  rDev -10.3%
Rodman's is a discount grocery store that has a very surprising selection of beers. Lots of the stuff though is unboxed but you can luckily see everything. It is a bit chaotic in the back though wandering through the boxes.

This is however in a very pricey neighborhood so depending on what you're buying it's going to reflect that in the price. The work staff also goofs around a lot I notice as well, but they will answer questions and are quite pleasant.

One quick to note is they have cash registers in the back. So if you are stuck in the front of the store at one of the two tills, there are more in the back of the store.
Jan 14, 2011
Photo of malloyca
Reviewed by malloyca from District of Columbia

3.85/5  rDev -10.3%
Rodmans packs a lot of variety into a small space, and does a good job of rotating their center display to include European brews and the latest releases from U.S. craft brewers. Lagunitas, Great Lakes, Oskar Blues and Bells seemingly are always featured prominently, which is a plus. Unlike some other beer stores with a wider selection, it is easy to quickly assess what's available at Rodmans. Prices are very reasonable (by D.C. standards, at least). They have a decent selection of large format bottles from US and European breweries. I have shied away from some of the European bottles on the back shelf because they are sometimes dust covered, and freshness may be suspect.
Jul 09, 2010
Photo of Arithmeticus
Reviewed by Arithmeticus from Maryland

4.7/5  rDev +9.6%
Rodman's is my favorite beer store in Washington, DC. The selection is enormous, for a small space, and the beers have been creatively chosen. Imports are the forte of the store as a whole (check out their chocolates and wines while you're there), and that comes through in the beers as well.

The beer buyer, Dave, knows his stock very well, and made excellent recommendations, and (surprisingly) suggested that I put back something that had sat on the shelf a bit too long. He engaged me where I was at in my beer knowledge, explaining simcoe hops and the circumstances that make them both prized and expensive.

As with most other stores, you will be greeted by an island of industrial beer with a smattering of craft beers inserted, but do not be deterred by their understandable pitch to the general public. Keep going and you'll see some gems on the shelves and in the cooler.
Jun 17, 2010
Photo of cmaude
Reviewed by cmaude from District of Columbia

4.7/5  rDev +9.6%
Fantastic local store with an amazing beer manager and great selection. Their sales are unbeatable for DC - they frequently have sixers of Great Lakes, Founders, Lagunitas, Bells, or the like on sale for 7.99. Even at regular price, they typically are underselling every other shop in the district by at least a dollar. Craft beer is featured prominently - you have to actively seek out BMC. (I think it lives in the bottom of one cooler...maybe) Bottle selection is similarly excellet - American craft, Belgian, and actually a lot of brews from the UK available individually at excellent prices.

"Hoppy Dave," the beer guy, is one of the best customer service type people I have ever met. He posts signs all over the store explaining beer styles and listing BA reviews and rankings - very helpful to a relatively new beer drinker. He's always up for a chat too, or at least to gush about something new and fantastic he's found. They also usually have a couple of cool glasses on sale for about three bucks.

The rest of the store is also worth a look, from the cool import foods to the flea market-like basement. The cashiers are idiots, however. Or at least the language barrier seems to be impermeable.
May 24, 2010
Photo of silver0rlead
Reviewed by silver0rlead from North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +0.2%
This place fucking rocks, plain and simple. If you can only stop at one beer store in DC, this should be it. The selection is crowded, but excellent as it's tucked away in the corner. The beer guy at this store is really cool and let me break a 4 pack of Bourbon County Stout...he definitely knows his stuff. As far as the brands they carry I saw Goose Island, Troegs, Great Lakes, Rogue, Oscar Blues, 21st Amendment, Stone, Cisco, DuClaw, Founders, Schalfly and Lagunitas among others, as well as some Belgians and other Euro imports. I didn't see any Southern Tier here though which was kind of curious. The prices were very cheap, especially for the city (I scored a sixer of Troegs Hopback Amber for $7.49 which was $3 cheaper than at Whole Foods).
Apr 04, 2010
Photo of damjadi
Reviewed by damjadi from Oregon

5/5  rDev +16.6%
A hidden gem. The store is unremarkable from the outside. Inside, there is an excellent selection of both international and microbrews. The microbrews run the gamut from great nationally recognized brands to a wide selection of local beers. The prices are pretty good for the DC area, and if you get a sale beer it is that much better. Hoppy Dave is an excellent resource, as well as a great beer conversationalist. He will steer you in the directions of beer that will fit your pallet without emptying your wallet (too much). Definitely the place to stop to replenish the beer cellar in DC.
Mar 31, 2010
Photo of TMoney2591
Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
After looking for a good beer selection in the District and reading the preceding reviews, I had to check this place out. Upon entering and being greeted with a pyramid of macros, I began to worry, but a quick few steps further in enlightened me. Though the space allotted for beer is small, every inch of space is utilized to the fullest. Although the selection itself may not be the largest I've seen, it is overwhelmingly of sterling quality, including things I could not find before around the NOVA area. In terms of service, the only term I can use is "top-notch". I was politely asked if I were looking for anything in particular; after a bit more browsing, I asked for certain brands, was directed thereto, and was then introduced to some beers I've not thought of trying before. He even went so far as to show me a recent news article concerning a certain brew. To top things off, the prices were more than fair, and they apparently always have some good sales going on. I will definitely be making this place one of my usual haunts from now on.
Mar 02, 2010
Photo of alysmith4
Reviewed by alysmith4 from District of Columbia

4.3/5  rDev +0.2%
Definitely one of my favorite places to buy beer in DC. The selection is great, and they have everything well organized. Most of the beer is seperated into "American" or "Imported" and they have singles, 6-packs, and larger beers. There is also a nice (big) cold case full of all the popular selections. This was my go-to place for HopSlam this year, and actually I would have never discovered it all those years ago had the sales-person not introduced me to it. (Note: They have an excellent selection of wine as well.)
Feb 25, 2010
Photo of pzrhsau
Reviewed by pzrhsau from District of Columbia

5/5  rDev +16.6%
Quality: Stacks and shelves filled with everything from foreign beers to domestics. You just walk in the front and turn right and can pretty much find any type of beer that you could want.
Service: The people who work there really know their beer. They really have a passion for promoting American brews but can also steer you towards something from another country if you are feeling adventurous.
Selection: Clearly a well thought out selection. The only real knock on the place is they don't have the ideal amount of floor space that the manager wants.
Value: Always weekly deals, never felt overpriced on anything.
Feb 21, 2010
Photo of drabmuh
Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

4.3/5  rDev +0.2%
Rodman's is a gourmet grocery store at the Friendship Heights station (if you take the south exit from the station its only a block from the elevator). It's a little small but it packs a lot of stuff into the store. The primary draw for me is the beer / wine selection.

About 1/4 of the store is devoted to beer and wine. The wine selection is impressive and extensive. Several hundred (pushing 1000) different bottles of wine at any time. A helpful and attentive staff. There is also a great craft beer section. There is a beer director at the store and he's always willing to help. He'll tell you when special beers are arriving and when is the best time to get there to get them. They even have an email list you can get on to reserve special beers. A very very cool place.
Jan 14, 2010
Photo of postman0913
Reviewed by postman0913 from District of Columbia

4.7/5  rDev +9.6%
I truly admire Rodman's. They have a great selection for the DC area, but where Rodman's really shines is their general overall prices and their specials. Counter-intuitive to how sales work in most establishments Rodman's sales usually include awesome beers that are on the more difficult side to find in DC and charges several dollars less on a 750ml or six pack then any other place (DC and closer Maryland suburbs). From what I can tell there usually seems to be an upsurge in the number of beers on display if that particular beer is on sale so I assume the stuff is fresh and have never noticed any spoilage in the 100 or so purchases I've had. I've had several conversations with Hoppy Dave. he's been extremely helpful and personal which contrasts against the surprising amount of rude comments I get at other establishments when enquiring about beer (I'm 22 and could definitely go for 18 I assume is why I get treated so curtly). Other reviewers have commented that the rest of the service isn't that great however there is another individual who I honestly don't understand half the stuff he says but asks me if I need any help and has often gone out of his way to do get me a lower price on a particular beer if it has recently gone up or down.
Jan 13, 2010
Photo of macpapi
Reviewed by macpapi from Oregon

3.7/5  rDev -13.8%
Rodman's is an ethnic grocery store that carries foods, beverages, and miscellania from many different countries in Europe, South, and Latin America. There are several locations around the D.C. area, but the Wisconsin Avenue location is the only one worth going out of your way to visit for beer.

Entering the front (Wisconsin Ave) entrance, the beer department is off to the right side of the floor. It comprises a very small amount of total square footage, but packs a lot of high quality brews into that area. Rodman's carries a pretty nice and solid representation of American craft brews. Both regional and national brands are pretty well represented. There is a pretty good distribution of different well-respected American sources. Founders, Bells, Victory, Lagunitas, Stone, Ommegang, Goose Island, Clipper City, Oskar Blues, and many others are represented-many with both regular and seasonal offerings.

There are also many respectable Belgian and other European brews from the usual suspects (Gouden Carolus, St. Bernardus, Schneider and Sohn, Duvel, Weihenstephaner, Chimay, and others) as well as several unique and rarer bottles that I had rarely or never seen elsewhere. Many of these are sold in 11.2 oz single bottles, but (as I found to my dismay when trying to buy a single Urthel Samaranth) they will not break all six/four packs for individual sale no matter the cost. This is a definite drawback and puts them at a disadvantage when compared to competitors such as Chevy Chase Wine and Spirits and Olney Beer and Wine, at least in my opinion. Still a good selection.

Prices are very reasonable. There always seems to be something good on sale. This can range from a good six-pack at 2-3 dollars off (got a sixer of Founders Dirty Bastard for the 2001-like price of $7.99 recently) to Belgian 750s at a reduced rate (as seen with another recent purchase of Delirum Noel and Gouden Carolus Noel for $7.99 a piece.) Outside of sale prices, Rodman's is a good 10-20% cheaper than local competitors' costs in general. Score one for this store due to the fact that despite being located in a particular pricy region they manage to effectively keep costs down.

Service is mediocre at best. I've never met the beer manager, which, based on past reviews of Rodman's, is unfortunate. Regular employees have been much more interested in stocking the shelves than helping out customers during my visits. In fact the already cramped conditions of Rodman's beer department along with the regular employee attitude often make me feel like I'm in the way of their seemingly more important work when I've been visiting. The set- up and vibe of this department is one that, unfortunately, is not really conducive to browsing.

On the whole, based on what they have and prices, Rodman's is a very good place to purchase good craft and imported beer. There are some definite drawbacks, but compared to the other local options this is one of the go-to places in D.C.
Dec 14, 2009
Photo of deereless
Reviewed by deereless from Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
Having visited the two Rodman's stores in Maryland, I had assumed the DC location would follow suit. To note, the DC location blows away the selection and quality of the White Flint location (which is only so-so) and is quite a bit better than the location in Wheaton. I finally made it down to DC over the lunch hour and I was glad to have stopped by. The DC store is only a couple of blocks from the Friendship Heights Metro stop on the red line. They had a great selection of some quality beers including Stone, Founders, Bell's, Oskar Blues and some of the specialty beers from Allagash, Otter Creek and Southern Tier. There were several beers that I had not tried and that leads me to my only negative comment about the place - they do not sell single bottles of most of their stock which in my opinion is a serious drawback as it limits the ability to try new brews when I am unwilling to commit to a six-pack of an unknown.

While perusing the beer section, I was approached by 'Hoppy' Dave (as his nametag noted) who offered to answer any questions or help find any beers. He was very personal and extremely knowledgeable and was able to direct me to a couple of beers that were dead on to what I was seeking. Prices seemed quite reasonable, especially by DC standards. Though there are a couple of other places that are relatively nearby that have a larger selection, the prices and quality of what Rodman's carries make it a great destination when I need to stock my fridge with my 'go-to' beers. I will be back.
Jul 02, 2009
Photo of badbassrandy
Reviewed by badbassrandy from Maryland

4.7/5  rDev +9.6%
This has become one of my go-to stores because of the tremendous selection, including a few brands I cannot purchase in Maryland. Their prices are wonderful compared to the piracy I've seen in Maryland, and also high prices in D.C. This place has great bargains, including sales all the time on beer that's fantastic (ie, Two Hearted Ale cases for $34), and some of the better prices I've seen anywhere near me on craft sixers, cases and bombers.

Hoppy Dave is their beer guru and he is one hell of a guy. Super nice and knowledgable. He even displays some prime rarities you can't even buy around here, like Dreadnaught and Pliny the Elder empty bottles.

Hands down, my favorite beer store right now.
Jun 08, 2009
Photo of tatoodkelt
Reviewed by tatoodkelt from Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
stopped by on my lunch break to check out what they had to offer and wow! They have an amazing selction compared most any place else in the District. I spotted alot of things that I cant get out in MD where I live. The prices werent as high as I might have thought being in upper NW DC but seemed right in line with basically anywhere else. Finally found some place that has Bells! They even have Oberon in mini kegs in the cooler ready to go! Aventinus, Allagash, Stone just to name a few that havent been mentioned before. The staff in the beer area was very helpful. Definitely will be spending more lunches there!
May 21, 2009
Photo of qchic
Reviewed by qchic from Maryland

4.65/5  rDev +8.4%
Wow, what a great place. It is not at all convenient for me, but I look forward to returning after discovering this gem. I pretty much did not want to leave the beer corner of this funky grocery store! Found a number a beers that were new to the state so I would guess that there is good turnover, especially with such reasonable prices. Gotta love sale prices! Hoppy Dave was helpful with honest opinions and fun to "talk beer" with. The cashiers were friendly, too, so I walked out with great beer and a smile.
Mar 29, 2009
Photo of jamesdantes13
Reviewed by jamesdantes13 from Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
This store's selection and prices will surprise you. Although they only have a small portion of the store for beer, it is packed with cases, 4-6 packs, and singles. They carry mostly American craft beer, but also some Belgian, English, and German beers.

A few of the beers they carry: Stone, DFH, Bell's, Troegs, Victory, Sierra Nevada, Sam Adams, Brooklyn, Oskar Blues, Nøgne, Trappist Rochefort, St. Bernardus, etc.

They have rotating sales of different beers weekly and pretty good prices on the cases.

The people in charge of the beer section are very knowledgeable and familiar with beeradvocate. Good recommendations and well versed in different styles of beer.

Not the largest selection of beer in the area (Chevy Chase Wine and Spirits has more), but they often have most of the good craft beers that are distributed in the area at cheap/reasonable prices.

This and Village Pump (near UMD) are my favorite stores in the area.
Feb 12, 2009
Photo of TLove
Reviewed by TLove from District of Columbia

3.95/5  rDev -7.9%
Rodmans is first and foremost a neighborhood grocer and pharmacy. Its beer selection is much a reflection of its quirky grocery offerings, which tend to range from the necessary to the abstract. It has all of the necessary offerings that will sell (sam adams, bud, etc.) and also contains some fantastic seasonals and more obscure big bottles for the more adventurous. The service is decent (except for the Ethiopians clerks who think that a 1985 birthdate means that you are 19 years old). But the most appealing part of Rodmans is its rotating weekly big bottle discounts ($6 for Duvel a month ago, $6 for Delerium Tremens and Nocturnum two weeks ago, etc.). If Rodmans is walkable or well within your reach by car, it is certainly worth the stop.
Nov 29, 2008
Rodman's in Washington, DC
Place rating: 4.29 out of 5 with 43 ratings