Eagle River Liquor

This place is very interesting. From the outside It looks like a service station or something with a garage open on both sides, but it's actually a drive-thru for the liquor store.

Inside everything is densely packed in but comfortable to navigate. The craft beer is towards the back, on an end cap and one aisle. There are all kinds of good beers, vintage Belgians, full lineup of Founders, Jolly Pumpkin, Prairie, Struise, De Molen, Courage RIS, Juliet, Halia, and many other eclectic things you wouldn't expect to find. Not much in the cooler, but it's probably just what sells...30 packs of Busch Light, etc. Considering the location it's an impressive selection.

Brad the beer guy was there and he was super friendly and helpful. We chatted about beer and Fobab for a bit, which was great.

A cool shop in an unlikely place... Next time I'll check out some of the other local business in the area.

Best beer store around if you live in the area. Great selection of Stone, Founders, Great Lakes, Lagunitas, Two Brothers, and Belgians. The majority of the staff doesn't know anything about beer, but they're always nice and seem to enjoy working there. The major downside to this place is that a lot of their beers are old. There's been quite a few times where I've realized I bought old bottles and wasted my money.

Other than that, I stop here almost every weekend. Great place!

Definately one of the best places in the area to go on a craft beer run. Every time we stop in, there are always new, harder to find selections to chose from that always catch our interest and keep us coming back. The prices are very reasonable also. Happy to have discovered such a great place with quality products.

Can definately tell the owner shares an interest in higher end craft beers and keeping a fine rotating selection for new and repeat customers.

Great place to hit up on a Sunday drive and stop for a bite to eat at Bombfire Pizza after... yummy!

7-13-08 EDIT:
If you live in Clinton, Sterling, Rock Falls, Morrison, or even the QCA, you absolutley MUST visit this place. It's the only good beer store for miles and the guy in charge of the beer really knows his stuff. The selection rotates but it's always solid. Prices are always great.

Eagle River feels more like a family grocery store than a liquor store. Maybe it's just because I went there on X-mas eve, but everybody there was in high spirits, there wasn't that seedy, depressing atmosphere that you find in most country grocery stores.

As for the selection, it's more of the quality than the quantity that counts. There were between 35 and 40 crafts and imports there, including a wide variety of reasonably priced Belgians, including Duvel, Chimay, and Unibroue, along with a wide selection of Three Floyds and Rogues.

Service was knowledgeable and friendly. They saw what I was buying and recommended other beers and then talked to me about my home town for a while. Genuine, high-spirited conversation. Very nice.

Drive Through service is also available, and, even though I didn't use it, it's nice to know of a place where I can go to buy Duvel and not have to leave my car.

Edit:
The selection has gotten better in recent months, and becaus this place is so unknown, good beer sits around for a while. They still had Burboun county stout in stock a few weeks ago. Now they're selling a few Founders beers along wtih Okocim porter, Allagash, and Dogfish head 90 minutes

Second Edit:

Even more beers. Great Lakes, Bear Republic, and more. Really a great little store!