Blue Max Liquors
Reviews: 96
| Ratings: 114
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Reviews by djhowell:
djhowell from Wisconsin
4.28/5 rDev -4.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Apr 30, 2015
4.28/5 rDev -4.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Apr 30, 2015
More User Reviews:
nruhlig from Minnesota
4.75/5 rDev +6%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75
Stopped by for the secret stache event on 3/16/2019. Staff was great, store was clean, and selection was awesome. Will be stopping again when in the area.
Mar 22, 2019
4.75/5 rDev +6%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75
Stopped by for the secret stache event on 3/16/2019. Staff was great, store was clean, and selection was awesome. Will be stopping again when in the area.
Mar 22, 2019
NickSMpls from Washington
4.28/5 rDev -4.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75
We have been patrons of Blue Max for 30 years, right after moving back to MN from a miserable year living in Dallas. Good beer stock, but check the dates on imports and the more obscure brews Help is friendly, but you need to ask for Jim for the best info on beer.
Nov 21, 2016
4.28/5 rDev -4.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75
We have been patrons of Blue Max for 30 years, right after moving back to MN from a miserable year living in Dallas. Good beer stock, but check the dates on imports and the more obscure brews Help is friendly, but you need to ask for Jim for the best info on beer.
Nov 21, 2016
MPLS-Beer-Hound from Minnesota
4.78/5 rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Jul 29, 2016
4.78/5 rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Jul 29, 2016
Dms844 from Minnesota
4.35/5 rDev -2.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75
Jun 21, 2016
4.35/5 rDev -2.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75
Jun 21, 2016
MonkeyPilates from Minnesota
4.5/5 rDev +0.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Sep 13, 2015
4.5/5 rDev +0.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Sep 13, 2015
Taybeh from Minnesota
4.22/5 rDev -5.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25
Apr 06, 2015
4.22/5 rDev -5.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25
Apr 06, 2015
XmnwildX12 from Minnesota
4.54/5 rDev +1.3%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Feb 23, 2015
4.54/5 rDev +1.3%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Feb 23, 2015
pat61 from Minnesota
4.64/5 rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
They have probably the best selection in Minnesota and the staff are friendly enough but they have some beers that are a few years old that should not be - especially some of their Belgians.
Jan 19, 2015
4.64/5 rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
They have probably the best selection in Minnesota and the staff are friendly enough but they have some beers that are a few years old that should not be - especially some of their Belgians.
Jan 19, 2015
BeerSnobRobinson from Minnesota
4.88/5 rDev +8.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Oct 03, 2014
4.88/5 rDev +8.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Oct 03, 2014
Sludgeman from District of Columbia
4.26/5 rDev -4.9%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5
Blue Max Liquors Minneapolis MN
Visited on during a business trip on a Tuesday around noon. Well worth the time I spent before I had to jump on a plane for home. If you are out by the airport you are probably only fifteen minutes away. Easy to get to you of South 35E.
Vibe – Clean and well lit, but a typical liquor store vibe. Signs tout themselves as best beer selection in Minneapolis. Most beers in coolers. Signs indicating countries. 3.75
Quality – Most beer in coolers. Did not find out dated beer. 4
Service – I was asked twice for if I needed help. Everyone was friendly giving me the time I needed to look around. 4
Selection – Excellent selection. Local breweries well represented. A tremendous variety of foreign brews. I was particularly impressed with their selection of English beers. They had all four varieties of the J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (regular and three barrel aged varieties) in at least four different vintages. Purchased some Surly Furious and Pentagram, Fulton War & Peace and Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire 4.5
Food – N/A
Price – $$$ - average to slightly above on the pricing.
Jul 22, 2014
4.26/5 rDev -4.9%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5
Blue Max Liquors Minneapolis MN
Visited on during a business trip on a Tuesday around noon. Well worth the time I spent before I had to jump on a plane for home. If you are out by the airport you are probably only fifteen minutes away. Easy to get to you of South 35E.
Vibe – Clean and well lit, but a typical liquor store vibe. Signs tout themselves as best beer selection in Minneapolis. Most beers in coolers. Signs indicating countries. 3.75
Quality – Most beer in coolers. Did not find out dated beer. 4
Service – I was asked twice for if I needed help. Everyone was friendly giving me the time I needed to look around. 4
Selection – Excellent selection. Local breweries well represented. A tremendous variety of foreign brews. I was particularly impressed with their selection of English beers. They had all four varieties of the J.W. Lees Harvest Ale (regular and three barrel aged varieties) in at least four different vintages. Purchased some Surly Furious and Pentagram, Fulton War & Peace and Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire 4.5
Food – N/A
Price – $$$ - average to slightly above on the pricing.
Jul 22, 2014
MNBeerGeek from Minnesota
3.84/5 rDev -14.3%
vibe: 3.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75
I was seriously pumped to finally hit up Blue Max. I'd read about it for a long time, but it's a solid 30 minute drive for me (with great beer stores very close to my place). I had the day off and made the hike. Perhaps I was just on the hunt for other things, but I was a bit disappointed. Don't get me wrong, their selection is fabulous and I love that it is all in coolers. However, it is not much above some of the other beer stores around the Twin Cities these days. For certain things you would certainly be pleased: some less distributed imports, New Holland, Epic, etc.
I was definitely disappointed by the stock (or lack thereof) of MN beer. Very little for bombers. Regardless, I do not mean this to be negative in tone. Nice folks working, impressive selection, and reasonable prices. Just not worth the hike from Minneapolis, in my opinion.
Still walked out with a decent haul.
Aug 02, 2013
3.84/5 rDev -14.3%
vibe: 3.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75
I was seriously pumped to finally hit up Blue Max. I'd read about it for a long time, but it's a solid 30 minute drive for me (with great beer stores very close to my place). I had the day off and made the hike. Perhaps I was just on the hunt for other things, but I was a bit disappointed. Don't get me wrong, their selection is fabulous and I love that it is all in coolers. However, it is not much above some of the other beer stores around the Twin Cities these days. For certain things you would certainly be pleased: some less distributed imports, New Holland, Epic, etc.
I was definitely disappointed by the stock (or lack thereof) of MN beer. Very little for bombers. Regardless, I do not mean this to be negative in tone. Nice folks working, impressive selection, and reasonable prices. Just not worth the hike from Minneapolis, in my opinion.
Still walked out with a decent haul.
Aug 02, 2013
JamesShoemaker from Michigan
4.49/5 rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Blue Max is another "must" destination in the Twin Cities, along with Zipp's and Four Firkins. Located between Burnsville and Apple Valley, it's a bit of a hike from Minneapolis, but it's definitely worth it.
The store is unimpressive looking in an unimpressive location, but things are laid out very carefully. All of their imports are refrigerated and the aisles are spacious, which is good because the store is ALWAYS busy. The selection is pretty good, particularly if you're looking for hard-to-find European imports, but don't expect a slam dunk from the domestic section. They have a lot of Minnesota locals of course, but only a smattering of everything else. High volume of Epic and New Holland Lips of Faith series, but nothing to really write home about.
The service, however, is phenomenal. The time before last that I was there, Abrasive had just come out, but they informed me that they were sold out. Well, as luck would have it, someone called and cancelled their hold on three four packs, so an employee came and hand delivered them to my cart. I asked someone if they had anything special in the back, and he brought out a bottle of Big John for me. The last time I was in there, I bought four different vintages of Celebration and, when I remarked on how cool it was that they had so many different years, they explained to me that their beer distributor auctions vintages like that from time to time. Very informative, very polite.
I like stopping in every time I go to the cities just to chat with the employees and pick up whatever Surly staple may be in season. A good store and a decent value.
May 25, 2013
4.49/5 rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Blue Max is another "must" destination in the Twin Cities, along with Zipp's and Four Firkins. Located between Burnsville and Apple Valley, it's a bit of a hike from Minneapolis, but it's definitely worth it.
The store is unimpressive looking in an unimpressive location, but things are laid out very carefully. All of their imports are refrigerated and the aisles are spacious, which is good because the store is ALWAYS busy. The selection is pretty good, particularly if you're looking for hard-to-find European imports, but don't expect a slam dunk from the domestic section. They have a lot of Minnesota locals of course, but only a smattering of everything else. High volume of Epic and New Holland Lips of Faith series, but nothing to really write home about.
The service, however, is phenomenal. The time before last that I was there, Abrasive had just come out, but they informed me that they were sold out. Well, as luck would have it, someone called and cancelled their hold on three four packs, so an employee came and hand delivered them to my cart. I asked someone if they had anything special in the back, and he brought out a bottle of Big John for me. The last time I was in there, I bought four different vintages of Celebration and, when I remarked on how cool it was that they had so many different years, they explained to me that their beer distributor auctions vintages like that from time to time. Very informative, very polite.
I like stopping in every time I go to the cities just to chat with the employees and pick up whatever Surly staple may be in season. A good store and a decent value.
May 25, 2013
emerge077 from Illinois
4.29/5 rDev -4.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Best thing about Blue Max was the very competitive prices on Surly cans across the board. This was the place I was told to stock up, and wasn't disappointed.
The beer selection winds around the first aisle, around the corner and opposite the coolers in the back. First up were a few Belgian coolers, where there were a few traditional lambics but not many. Noticed Hanssens Exp. Raspberry here, but no Gueuze or Kriek for example. Staff was helpful in directing me to a numbered cooler where the Surly was (#10 I think). Current seasonals like Overrated and Bitter Brewer (which Heritage hadn't received yet). A dozen Jolly Pumpkin varieties, which was impressive. Noticed a sale shelf with discounted winter seasonals and obscure imports.
I overheard the staff recommending wild/sour ales, and pointed them to the JP's. Two beer guys were on the floor, helping customers, stocking, and manning the registers. Good service, friendly guys that made themselves available. Lots of senior citizens in here on a saturday afternoon, and I noticed a guy helping a lady to her car with a purchase.
Overall a great store, lots of obscure imports and fresh MN seasonals. A recommended destination.
May 20, 2013
4.29/5 rDev -4.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Best thing about Blue Max was the very competitive prices on Surly cans across the board. This was the place I was told to stock up, and wasn't disappointed.
The beer selection winds around the first aisle, around the corner and opposite the coolers in the back. First up were a few Belgian coolers, where there were a few traditional lambics but not many. Noticed Hanssens Exp. Raspberry here, but no Gueuze or Kriek for example. Staff was helpful in directing me to a numbered cooler where the Surly was (#10 I think). Current seasonals like Overrated and Bitter Brewer (which Heritage hadn't received yet). A dozen Jolly Pumpkin varieties, which was impressive. Noticed a sale shelf with discounted winter seasonals and obscure imports.
I overheard the staff recommending wild/sour ales, and pointed them to the JP's. Two beer guys were on the floor, helping customers, stocking, and manning the registers. Good service, friendly guys that made themselves available. Lots of senior citizens in here on a saturday afternoon, and I noticed a guy helping a lady to her car with a purchase.
Overall a great store, lots of obscure imports and fresh MN seasonals. A recommended destination.
May 20, 2013
Blue Max Liquors in Burnsville, MN
Place rating:
4.48 out of
5 with
114 ratings
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