Broadway Variety

Broadway VarietyBroadway Variety
Broadway VarietyBroadway Variety
Store

771 Broadway
South Portland, Maine, 04106-4409
United States

(207) 767-2577 | map
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.82
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
6
pDev:
7.33%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.64/5  rDev -4.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75
After being stationed in South Portland, Maine, and often gliding past this place every so often, a couple of times, I had to check it out. Their selection is pretty good - I will admit that. From the likes of Dogfish Head, Victory, Ommegang, Unibroue, Stone, Smuttynose and Mayflower to the locals such as Allagash, Maine Beer Company, Rising Tide and Shipyard. They thought about doing mix-a-sixers, not sure if they ever did, but it's decent stop, just look at dates as they keep some older stuff on the shelves.
Jun 11, 2017
Photo of BlessedBeBeer
Reviewed by BlessedBeBeer from Maine

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
Just visited for the first time today. Tiny place (almost missed it) and even smaller on the inside. Walked in and noticed a Utopias box signed by Jim Koch (just the box) on top of one of the coolers along with a couple of other interesting teasers (also empty boxes). There was some of the New England standards but a few diamonds in the rough all domestic. The cashier noticed my selection (DFH WWS) struck up a brief conversation in true BA style as well as offering to order whatever I couldn't find. If you're looking for an oddball or rare regional beer you just might find it tucked away here. My kind of place!
Feb 27, 2010
Photo of Winch
Reviewed by Winch from Maine

4.2/5  rDev +9.9%
I'd like to throw in a few good words about Broadway Variety.
-Selection is good for the limited space. Sean(the beer purchaser) devotes a third of his cooler space to craft.
-Broadway doesn't overwhelm you with tons of brands, they surprise you with the deep cuts from these breweries Stone(RIS,13th) Victory(wallop,wilddevil) Smutty(baltic) DFH(palo,festina) Allagash(hugh malone) SierraNevada(torpedo,southern hem) Rouge(too many IMHO), Brooklyn(local 1)
-All the craft is kept cold. Stored in a walk-in, all displayed in a cooler. No seasonal ipa's getting warm on some dusty endcap.
-Its a locals store. Yes, old guys buying 18packs and scratch tickets and dilly chips. I like it, makes it feel like a hidden gem.
-Sean will order beer for you, and it seems like he has a couple good distributor reps pointing him in the right direction.
-Good value! Equal or lesser than other area stores, especially on high$$ stuff. Palo Santo Marron was only $12++. Thats good anywhere besides deleware.
Aug 16, 2009
Photo of ToasterChef
Reviewed by ToasterChef from Maine

3.35/5  rDev -12.3%
While there are many better beer stores in the Portland area, Broadway Variety is the closest to my house. I shop here because of its convenience and proximity, not because it is a better store. Although a lot of cooler space is dedicated to macros and malt beverages, they do have a couple of coolers devoted to craft beers. You can find a number of locals, including some of the specialties, like Gritty's 21 IPA and Sebago Full Throttle. They also stock some of the better out of state breweries, like Stone, Victory, Brooklyn and Smuttynose (in fact, they often have a number of Smutty's 22oz bottles). Things seem a little expensive, considering that there is no one who knows about beer here and you have to deal with the kind of customers who buy scratch tickets, scratch them, and redeem their winnings while you are waiting in line behind them, but I guess there are rude people everywhere. You aren't going to run into a fellow beer geek while waiting to check out though. All in all, it's a fine place to stop on your way home from work if you need a six pack, but when I want to make a larger beer purchase, I go elsewhere.
Apr 15, 2009
Photo of indiapaleale
Reviewed by indiapaleale from Maine

4/5  rDev +4.7%
I lived down the street from this place for years and here are the goods and bads...

Goods:

- When beer is "out of season" it goes on sale for dirt cheap. I was drinking $5.99 12-packs of Jinx well into March at one point.

- Very fairly priced beer overall, nothing is going to be overpriced

- Very convenient place to buy good beer, 5 cooler doors dedicated to good beer and some 12 packs warm on the floor as well.

- They always have copies of Yankee Brew News

Bads:

- Nobody knows squat about beer here

- Nobody buys anything but cigs, lottery tix and Bud Light so sometimes the good beer is way outdated

- There is always a crew of chainsmoking townies hanging out on the bench in front.

Overall, I must have dropped a fair share of cash in this place out of convenience as it did have Smutty, Brooklyn, Dogfish etc..and all the Maine locals as well. Decent place, I sort of miss it.
Mar 21, 2009
Photo of ecoboy
Reviewed by ecoboy from Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +4.7%
A newly reopened "variety" store that is actually cleaner than RSVP, more expansive than Maine Beer and Beverage and completely convenient for South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, and the million dollar bridge crossers.

Not snobby, Broadway Variety simply has everything expected and a few nice bonusses. Every Maine brewer was represented on my visit; a half dozen Lindemann's and a couple of other Belgians. Good number of British choices beyond the usual suspects. Once again, not snobby: it has the best selection of forty's just a couple of cases down. Prices were good: a few "specials" kept this Yankee pleased. (Sparhawk at $4.99 a sixer? SOLD)

Always a plus: the two ladies working the counter were adamant that "if we don't have it, we'll get it for you." That's the spirit, girls!
Mar 12, 2004
Broadway Variety in South Portland, ME
Place rating: 3.82 out of 5 with 6 ratings