R & L Liquors

R & L LiquorsR & L Liquors
R & L LiquorsR & L Liquors
Store

207 2nd St
Lewes, Delaware, 19958-1325
United States

(302) 645-9183 | map
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.82
Reviews:
52
Ratings:
74
pDev:
7.05%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by rjsonner:
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Reviewed by rjsonner from New Jersey

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
During my recent trip to the Dogfish Inn, I had the pleasure of stopping at R & L Liquors in Lewes. My girlfriend's and my first indication that this liquor store was unlike any other was the welcome we received from Tom. His warm and charismatic personality had us both laughing throughout the entire time we browsed the immense variety of liquid heaven. His sense of humor and knowledge was second to none as he steered us in the right direction to fantastic local and sought after beers (the Mikkeller selection had me blown away). I will most certainly be returning to this gem of a liquor store!
Jun 09, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.23 by TimG_0913 from Delaware

Mar 05, 2021
 
Rated: 3.97 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

Oct 25, 2018
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Reviewed by smbcdgam from North Carolina

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Go there! It's worth it even if it's just to meet Tom. The guy is great, his passion is contagious. He got me some of the special beers he kept in his basement and then proceeded to tell me about all the nice places I should visit around there. Almost an hour had passed when i got out of the store, it seemed like it was a minute. Wow!
May 14, 2018
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Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -11.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25
Another good beer store near the beach. I was not overly impressed with their selection, but they were giving out samples and the staff was very knowledgeable about all the beers in stock.
Aug 13, 2017
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Reviewed by BillK98 from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
if you're not from the area, you could do far worse than making this your first stop. You'll probably encounter Tom... he'll probably describe himself as a pest. He's a character in the best sense of the word. If you tell him what you're after he can let you know what you might like. If you tell him where you're from he can tell you what you can't get there. As for the store, it's smaller than others, to be sure, but they've got a very good selection of belgians and other craft beers. With it being my first visit to the rehoboth/lewes area, i stopped in some of the larger stores and found the prices to be on par, sometimes less, sometimes more, but never more than maybe a buck per 4/6 pack. I'll gladly pay an extra buck for decent and knowledgeable service. Another reviewer suggested bringing him some unique stuff from where you live... i will totally do that next time i head to the beach.
May 02, 2017
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Reviewed by skinzzfan25 from Maryland

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Laid back store with a great selection. Tom's a great guy and will for sure point you in the right direction. Competitive prices and better selection than the bigger places on route 1.
Apr 22, 2017
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Reviewed by patfranklin from New Jersey

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I stopped by R&L on the way to the ferry today. I was not disappointed. They have a great selection of Mikkeler and other imports. I met Tom, he knows his beer and is passionate about it.
Apr 20, 2017
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Reviewed by ryanwoody from Tennessee

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I visit Lewes fairly frequently for work and I love going into this place. Tom is super knowledgeable and never hesitates to strike up a conversation. They have a wide variety of craft beer, wine and spirits and you can always find something new on the shelf!
Mar 02, 2017
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Rated by Pmasur from Delaware

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Easily the best liquor store I've ever been to! The owner Tom is a beer geek amongst beer geeks and his selection shows it! Can't wait to go back!
Feb 03, 2017
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Reviewed by Valavicius from Colorado

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Amazing place with a huge variety!
Tom the owner is a beer geek and that already tells you something, a lot of barrel aged sours, belgium beers and american hops from all over, best of all worlds.
If you visit from far make sure to bring this guy some cans, he will take good care of you!
Oct 25, 2016
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Reviewed by gerrard21 from Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
My wife and I just got back from a several day Delaware/MD brewery trip, all around the state. We were staying for a couple nights in Rehoboth, and thanks to BeerAdv I found this gem of a liquor store! I stopped in to snag some great local craft brews that we cant get back home, and it turned into a great full on experience as soon as we entered the doors and were greeted by Tom. Toms a beer geek fanatic and he instantly was showing and telling us everything we came for and then some. From local recommendations, to pictures on his phone, to all the trades hes done, Tom is a great guy! Long story short, this is the place to come if your a beer lover in the Lewes area. Stop on by and meet Tom and your bound to leave with something unexpected (in a good way!). Great local store and vibe, some good beers hard to find, and a lot of great stories. Bring some beer to trade from where your from, Tom will love it! Certainly plan to keep in touch with Tom and will most certainly visit again the next time were back to the area!
Oct 25, 2016
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Reviewed by J455K from Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev -2.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
This the spot to hit up if you are ever in the area. Great selection of brews especially for a beach area. The owner Tom was awesome to deal with, very outgoing and knowledgeable. He asked a lot of questions and pointed me in the right direction for everything i was searching for and more through helpful suggestions. Vibe is laid back. He is also very knowledgeable of the area and places to visit while there not only for beer and food but for recreational activities. Do yourself a favor and hit this shop up!
Jul 19, 2016
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Reviewed by DovGibor from New York

4.79/5  rDev -0.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5
Great little spot to pickup a wide variety of beers. An impressively wide selection of craft, imports and macro are crammed into their shelves. The owner is an awesome and funny character. He'll talk your ear off if you let him, and let him you should. He knows what's good and will give you solid recommendations along with brand history and assorted trivia. Wine & beer samples are sometimes shared, and he has a decent cellar of vintage stuff he digs into on occasion.
Highly recommended!
Mar 23, 2016
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Rated by HSCShark from Virginia

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
A passion for beer that I haven't seen matched in another retailer.
Feb 06, 2016
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Rated by Dopesauce9182

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Amazing selection. Very knowledgeable and friendly!! Love this place.
Dec 11, 2015
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Reviewed by Choppr from New Jersey

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
There are two reasons one would want to visit R&L. One of them is to meet Tom and the other is to access what is very likely the best selection of crafts around. Either of these two reasons is enough to warrant the visit on its own, but together, they make a great experience.
Nov 10, 2015
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Rated by dan144

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Tom is incredible. Amazing selection. I learned a ton in the hour....yes hour...he spent with us....thanks.
Oct 03, 2015
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Reviewed by captaincups from Colorado

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
After a 30 hour solo road trip to find great beer and visit amazing breweries and coming up with very few finds, I found this place by happenstance while staying at Dogfish Inn. Tom the owner was just as an eager and enthusiastic beer nerd as myself. He led me to East Coast beers I had only seen on reddit and in my nerdy beer dreams. Also had a great recommendation for a nearby brewery Burley Oak. Great small place, great service and such a surprising selection. A definite stop if you are in the Rehoboth Beach area.
Oct 02, 2015
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Reviewed by buckeye1275 from Delaware

4.84/5  rDev +0.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I've been in to see Tom a few times since this summer when I first found his store. This is not your big highway store and that's what I like about it. Tom will show you beers that fit your style and introduce you to new beers. If you spend a little bit of money and want something from the cellar, you just might get lucky. If you don't see what you want, ask about it and he might just have it downstairs.
Oct 01, 2015
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Rated by dontbugmeSIW from Massachusetts

4.88/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Tom is super hyper.
Tom is super smart.
Tom has great taste in beer.
Tom has a great beer selection
Sep 25, 2015
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Reviewed by srgehl from New Jersey

3.71/5  rDev -23%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 5 | selection: 3
Stopped in on my way home from a stay at the Dewey Beach. Tom the owner is a really nice guy. Very high enegery. Don't expect to just casually walk in and browse the store. You're going to get a tour and "shopping partner" out of Tom. If you're more of an introvert it might be a little off putting, but I'm not and I wasn't bothered by it.
The store is a small shop which is typical of a beach town liquor store. The quality of beers for such a small place was good. Nice mix of imports and domestics. I found a couple of good bottles I hadn't seen before by me. Wasn't like the sheleves were lined with limited edition bottles and whales, but who would really expect that to be the case. It was the only liquor store I stopped at in Delaware so I can only compare the selection to other places I have been. I would say if you're going to Dogfish Head or staying at one of the local beaches definitely worth the stop. But if it was going to be 30 minutes or more out of my way maybe I'd pass.
Sep 01, 2015
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Reviewed by gobuccos from Ohio

4.97/5  rDev +3.1%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
My wife and I stopped in and I can say we were pleased with our visit. Tom gave us the tour, as others have pointed out. We quickly filled a cart with beers we cannot find in Ohio. After seeing what we had amassed, Tom got us a beer out of his cellar, which we definitely appreciated. I wish I had taken some beers to trade. Next years visit, we will bring some Ohio beers up to trade. Thanks again.
Aug 07, 2015
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Reviewed by KRubes from North Carolina

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Like many, I enjoy seeking out craft beer establishments when I travel. I did some research on BA prior to last week's family vacation to Dewey Beach and it was recommended to check out R&L in Lewes. I couldn't be happier that I did. Tom engaged me soon after I walked into the store and began checking out one of his bomber shelves. He also asked if I had something to trade (which I decided last minute to bring with me). What I thought would be a 20 minute store visit quickly turned into an hour. He walked me through all his beers, the ratings, his empty "whales," his beer apps on his iPhone, his photos, and even the storage in his basement. I got my hands on quite a few beers that aren't available in NC. We even managed to trade a few brews. Tom's passion for craft beer is second to none and it was great to just talk all things beer. It was an extremely enjoyable experience. If you're vacationing in the area, be sure to check them out. A true diamond in the rough and something all BAs would appreciate. Looking forward to another trip next year.
Jul 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.16 by bcgeiman from Maryland

Jul 17, 2015
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Reviewed by MikeBush_AZ from Arizona

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Just had a 3 day dogfish oriented trip for my fiance's birthday in Lewes. We visited this shop 3 times to stock up for the evenings. My great experience with Tom and as well as the other main staff guy added a lot of fun to our vacation and prompted me to create a beer advocate account just to let others know about this place. Dogfish peeps sent me here, and I walked in wearing a RR t shirt and no timeline. Before i took 1 step this launched me into a 30 minute high-energy conversation that included craft beer, rare beers, displaying some rare bottles/cans, and where to go and what to eat in Lewes to have the best experience. The conversation and pure passion and enthusiasm for craft beer put a smile on both our faces, and the food tips added even more fun to our amazing vacation. My only recommendation is to go in here when you are not in a hurry and if you get Tom and let him know somehow you are a craft beer person, just enjoy the ride!
Jun 24, 2015
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Reviewed by All_Hopped_Up1 from Florida

4.94/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
On a business trip from Florida, I traveled through Delaware and had to make a stop at Dogfish Head. We asked the bartenders where to find rare bottles of Dogfish Head and they sent me right to R&L Liquors in Lewes, DE. I had the pleasure of meeting the infamous Tom. He proceeded to show me his rare collection of fine craft brews and show off his rare beer porn on his phone. His beer knowledge was unreal, not to mention he was very customer friendly. I received one of the last 120 minute IPA from 2014 and was very delighted by the low price compared to other stores. I highly recommend R&L to anyone stopping through the Milton/Lewes areas.
Jun 19, 2015
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Reviewed by craftbeerbabe from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Great place. Every time my husband and I visit Lewes we have to make a visit here. We are craft beer fanatics and it's always fun to talk to the owner about what's new and what he has available, as he tends to carry some really diverse beer.

And seriously ABV Freak, there is no such thing as an "Allagash shelf turd". If you know beer, you know that's not real. Like unicorns and good Miller light. Also, it's okay to not like every beer you buy. Am not a huge fan of Schwartzbiers, but I never blame the establishment or the beer.

Awesome place, always a great visit. Keep up the amazing work.
-Love from Philly.
May 25, 2015
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Reviewed by WyeOakBrewingCo from Maryland

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Take great care of their customers...idiot below from Virginia probably missed out on a bottle and decided to post a bad review...too bad buddy...if you're going to the Delaware beaches make sure you check this place out.
May 11, 2015
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Reviewed by shannonlharris76

4.63/5  rDev -3.9%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
What a gem! Walked in to just browse and had the fortune to have Tom help me out. So knowledgeable and such a warm personality. Fantastic selection and some great stuff I can't find in ATL. Just spent the first of many $ here as I'll be back everyday this weekend looking to smuggle a lot of goodies home
May 07, 2015
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Reviewed by Jemes21 from New Jersey

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Huge selection for a small store. Tom was friendly and let me try a delicious aged Allagash. He helped pick out some beers that I hadn't tried yet. Recommend stopping in.
May 02, 2015
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Reviewed by emloose409 from Delaware

4.83/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
R & L is hands-down one of the best craft beer stores I've had the pleasure of frequenting. While distribution in Delaware is somewhat limited, Tom more than compensates for this by making sure that the selection is up-to-date, interesting, and that his customers are well-informed.

If you find yourself in DE looking for the usual Dogfish Head, you'll be pleased by the prices and selection; however, if you're looking for more uncommon offerings from both Europe and all over the East Coast, you're likely to be pleasantly surprised.

Moreover, the customer service is unparalleled. The owner loves talking beer, and is more than happy to share his thoughts on the store's rarer fare. R & L is a beer-lover's store put together by a beer-lover.
Apr 17, 2015
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Rated by TGCarr from Maryland

4.94/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Great selection of craft beers. Tom was fun, knowledgeable and taught this craft beer guy a few new beer app tricks.
Apr 10, 2015
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Reviewed by lexaus from District of Columbia

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Ok, last time I had such a great experience was in Keene, NH - placed was called Brewtopia - check it out!

Tom is a fantastic host. His knowledge of beer is exceptional. Plus, he is a force! Witty, knowledgable fella.
I really enjoyed his shop and left with two boxes of beer.
This place is a gem and everyone going to the coast should stop by there. Skip big outlet-liquor-shops and go there. You won't be disappointed!

lex
Apr 08, 2015
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Reviewed by FatBoyGotSwagger from Pennsylvania

4.86/5  rDev +0.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 5
This is a gem of a beer store(they sell liquor also) right by the beach. The space isn't massive but the selection is second to none. When I was there they had over a dozen Mikkeller hard to find ales and more hard to find ale than I ever expected. Of course they have a ton of local and regional stuff as well. The staff is very up to date on the beer scene and if you have some time they will tell you all about everything. The best part is they have great pricing on everything I saw. From single bottles to 4 packs, six packs and even 12 packs the prices were right in line with what I expect. If you are in the area or just passing through I highly recommend stopping by and checking out the selection.
If you are lucky enough to run into Tom he will tell you more about beer than you ever imagined.
Apr 06, 2015
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Reviewed by shangwang from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Great spot. Super friendly and helpful staff. Great selection, much more interesting choices than a lot of the outlet stores. Been going to Rehoboth for many years and stopped in downtown Lewes during my last trip for the first time to check out R&L. I'll be returning many more times.
Apr 06, 2015
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Reviewed by BeermanEspo from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
This place is awesome for anyone who Is a beer lover. If you are in town to visit Dogfish Head, this place is a must visit. Tom is crazy and hilarious, to say that he is enthusiastic about beer is an understatement. Meeting him is an experience in and of itself. The selection of beer here is really incredible. They have singles and 6 packs that you won't find anywhere else. They also have a lot of cool Dogfish merchandise for sale. Do yourself a favor and check it out for yourself, you won't be disappointed!
Apr 04, 2015
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Reviewed by BierCH from Switzerland

4.64/5  rDev -3.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
As a regular visitor to Lewes, I have been to R&L many times over the years. Tom is a knowledgable and highly enthusiastic presence. I usually focus on the comprehensive array of Dogfish Head craft ales, but the overall selection is quite outstanding. When I was last there, I mentioned what I thought was a fairly obscure Swiss brewery; moments later, Tom pulled two varieties off the shelf! If you are in the area and want to find a beer that's a bit different, this place is worth a visit.
Mar 31, 2015
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Reviewed by Hopfensaft from Delaware

4.37/5  rDev -9.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25
Wonderful beer store tucked away in Lewes, DE. The store is one of the smallest around, but boasts one of the best beer selections in the state of Delaware.
Mar 22, 2015
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Rated by Crome55 from Arizona

5/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Phenomenal Store great people very knowledgeable.
Mar 16, 2015
R & L Liquors in Lewes, DE
Place rating: 4.82 out of 5 with 74 ratings