Dimension Liquor

HIDDEN GEM!

From the outside it looks like a normal liquor, but when you enter you find one the best beer selections in Orange County! This establishment has one the of largest craft beer selections I have ever seen from many local and breweries big name breweries (INCLUDING RUSSIAN RIVER!). Employees were well informed on their selection and were able to give me some good recommendations. Seems like they have remodeled recently and increased their selection.

Absolutely recommend this selection to any beer lover lover out there...you will for sure find a beer you like!

Dimension Liquor is located in a small strip mall near the foothills of Lake Forest.

From the exterior it looks like your standard liquor store, but once inside you find a robust selection of craft beers from your local craft beers to ones you don't find often. They carried limited releases, sours from Russian River, etc. Dimension Liquor is a very nice bottle shop in this area.

If you are in the area, give this place a try... you'll probably find beers you will enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

Wandered into this place as I work in OC now and then. Was pleasantly surprised the first time I went, he'd just gotten some new stuff and had the Dayman almost a week before my regular store. The only gripe I would have about the place is that the guy whom I see there most often doesn't drink. He was very accommodating otherwise, but couldn't really answer my questions about some beers that I had not had. His nephew on the other hand is pretty knowledgeable, but I've only seen him once. This place is one of the few that I will consistently give my business. In all...they good.

On the southwest corner of Dimension Dr and Lake Forest Blvd is this sizeable liquor store. All the beer is kept in refrigerators, marked prices are visible on each beer, and the beer selection is solid with a few surprises. Maybe three to four coolers hold craft type beer. For starters, there are "standards" like Unibroue, Anderson Valley, Chimay, and Stone. For a little harder to find, you'll be glad to spot AleSmith and Tripel Karmeliet. And for something completely different, Oro di Milano (Italian beer!) is available. Having never seen Oro di Milano and its fancy presentation, I bought both varieties they carried. Not a bad trip.

Continuing my Lake Forest quest, I happened upon this little unassuming liquor store in the northern part of the city, thankfully this is much easier to find than the BevMo was, it's literally just off Lake Forest Drive. Why do they call it a Drive if it's 10+ miles long? All the Drives around here are like 1000 ft. I also can't figure out why every street practically is called a Parkway in South County.

Anyway walking in the beer is all refrigerated and seems to be in good condition. There's Stone, Widmer, lots of Bear Republic, pretty standard BeerFly liquor store, although there were a couple beers I've never seen before. I was also surprised to see the appearance of an old friend Young's Old Nick, best by '06, but if anyone wants to take a chance on them, they are there. This store has a much better selection than you're going to find at 95% of liquor stores, but it's not wowing at all, nothing real rare, but solid. Check it out if your in North Lake Forest.

I finally decided to drive here when i was supposed to be going to the gym. (nice drive by the way, Irvine Blvd back behind the old Marine Air Base, open, hilly and green. I though i might see Bilbo Baggins).

This place is tucked away a tad in the foothills of Lake Forest where you know you're not going to see any good brew selections. It's on the corner of Dimension and Lake Forest in a nice clean market place/strip mall. The beer cooler is straight back as you walk in a little to the left. There's also a good amount of wine and liquor with cigars and nice gift packs of assorted goodly sins.

The quality/selection was solid... and here's why. Well, all the beer is cold but i found a summer edition Yulesmith from 2 summers ago in the cooler (has the red foil on the cap) right next to last years summer along with the winter versions. I bought one to test it and it was fricken superb. I need to get back and buy more. I also picked up some Stone 9th annivs and bought some as well. Needless to say the beer is kept in the coolers. Service is quite friendly. I was greeted as I entered and asked if i needed any help. When i checked out the guys behind the counter cracked joked with me... nice and friendly here. The selection was great ie Stone, Alesmith, Rogue, Avery, Lindemans, Unibroue, Fullers, Youngs,... the usually suspects however the portfolio of each was quite full. There were also many more belgians, english and german brews. About 3 and a half glass doors of craft/micro brew.

Now, the selection here isnt Bevmo or Hi-times, but this place isnt a bevmo/hi-times... it's a little liquor store in an out of the way place in dry Orange County. My scores reflect that.

Unfortunately, Orange County has slim pickings for good retail outlets for Craft Brews. Dimension Liquor is one of the exceptions.
Store is average sized and upon entering appears like most corner liquor stores with several rows of wines and hard alcohol, but with a nice mix of "Gift" packs and cigars up front. The difference is when you walk to the beer coolers lining the entire back wall. Last night I counted over 100 different craft brews from Avery's to Rogue and everything in between as well as a full line of imports like Youngs, etc. Most offerings are in the popular bomber size which means you can try them one bottle at a time...meads, doubles, triples, quads, barley wines, you name it. Plus Beer gift packs (this week I saw a 6 pk assorted of Abbey beers and the Hobgoblin gift pack with glasses...both under $12). And naturally, whatever current seasonals are available in 6'ers. Another pleasant change is that the owners (apparently 2 guys always behind the counter) know their brews and are willing to handle special orders for you. I know that 2 guys doesn't seem like much, but most stores only have one guy behind the counter and no help on the floor so again, a pleasant change.
Each visit to Dimension Liquor becomes an adventure.