Big Red Liquors

Big Red LiquorsBig Red Liquors
Big Red LiquorsBig Red Liquors
Store

418 N College Ave
Bloomington, Indiana, 47404-3829
United States

(812) 332-0653 | map
bigredliquors.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.2
Reviews:
28
Ratings:
49
pDev:
11.19%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

3.97/5  rDev -5.5%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Pretty good selection all around. Full service LQ with small off street parking. Beer is cold. Domestic and craft. Service is very good and the folks are friendly. Bloomington is a college town so there's a slight tilt sales-wize towards the IU folks. It works well. You'll find good product at this store.
Dec 04, 2023
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

3.9/5  rDev -7.1%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4
Stopped in on a trip through Bloomington. Clean, well laid out store. Good variety of imports (for Indiana) and good craft variety. Lots of singles available and clearly priced. The liquor and wine side looked pretty impressive at a glance if you're traveling with someone who is not into beer. The sale prices were outstanding & I've heard this is normal. As good of place as you will find in Indiana, especially southern Indiana.
Nov 21, 2020
 
Rated: 4.29 by BigGold from Mississippi

Dec 02, 2018
 
Rated: 3.89 by ovaltine from Indiana

Jan 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4.6 by wdberkley from Illinois

Nov 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by heysuz from Indiana

Jul 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4.24 by chrismattlin from Ohio

Jun 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.22 by TargaFlorio from Indiana

Jan 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.29 by Rado from California

Dec 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.32 by JasonEdelson from Illinois

Dec 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by hoosier222002 from Illinois

Nov 30, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by ToddGingerich from Indiana

Jul 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by samsbinky from Illinois

Jul 07, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by homerman9 from Indiana

Jul 06, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by mattknueven from Indiana

Jun 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by fredmugs from Indiana

Jun 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by mrjmann from Indiana

Jun 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by delyea from Indiana

Jun 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by DAdams from Indiana

Apr 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by MikeFox from Indiana

Mar 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by zrab11 from Indiana

Jan 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by target88 from Kentucky

Dec 05, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by emwild12 from Illinois

Nov 29, 2013
Photo of JISurfer
Reviewed by JISurfer from Utah

3.96/5  rDev -5.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
I'm spoiled with the Charleston Beer Exchange (look it up). With that said, I thought this was a decent place. They had a healthy local selection of 3Fs and Upland, as well as regional brews. Their selection of Goose Island was very nice, they had most of their "special" brews. Most of that stuff, we don't get down in the Charleston area. They also had a good selection Belgians, as well as beers from the UK and Germany. Store was clean and very well organized. They also had a large selection in the fridgerated area.
Jun 27, 2012
Photo of mgeraci
Reviewed by mgeraci from Indiana

4.86/5  rDev +15.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
This Big Red is awesome. If your a Bloomingtonian you know Big Red is all over the place, but know that or not this is the one to go to regardless of the others. The layout is huge and well organized. The beer selection is great from the commoners to some very good rare brews. I have been working on a list of some of the must try best beers in the world and they had a nice selection of some of these rare brews. This store will have my regular patronage. Keep it up Big Red you do well for a chain!
Feb 16, 2012
Photo of thomcatr3t
Reviewed by thomcatr3t from Indiana

3.13/5  rDev -25.5%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 4.5
It seems to me that this store is most frequently used as a last second shop to pick up a 30 rack of keystone light or some cheap vodka, which is a shame because their beer selection is second to none in Bloomington. A great offering of craft beers that is rotated with some frequency.

The only knock I have with this store is that the employees are 1) not the quickest to help a patron that is looking for craft beer, or 2) when they offer help with craft beer they are often times uneducated.

Edited: They handled the release of CBS atrociously. The fact that their employees are not very helpful to craft beer enthusiasts became even more apparent during this debacle.
Jul 07, 2011
Photo of eyeenjoybeer
Reviewed by eyeenjoybeer from Seychelles

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
This review is for the mothership store, downtown on College Ave.

I remember this store in 1998, when they had bins full of fun Belgian and other imports. Those days are gone. However, in the meantime, the store has been renovated and the selection is likely more catered to the college drinkers (duh) and a few of us beer geeks.

They always have a good selection of Midwest beers: FFF, Founders, Bell's, Two Brothers, etc. as well as fine beers from the West Coast. The workers could stand to be a little better trained about beer styles and availability. Their internet/FB customer service has always been great. Also, they get some special release beers due their high volume of turnover. This makes it worthwhile to look for fun stuff. This is also the place to pick up a cold sixer due to Indiana laws.
Jul 06, 2011
Photo of jmarsh123
Reviewed by jmarsh123 from Indiana

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
The biggest Big Red in town has the best selection. There is a giant beer cave walk in cooler where you can get a large variety of cold sixers, cases and variety packs.

There's a row of single bottles/bombers as well as a refrigerator that has a small selection cold that are pretty good. Nothing too ultra rare, but other than Sahara Mart, it's the best selection in town.

Everytime I've inquired about a particular beer or new release, they've been able to answer my questions or lead me to another on-duty employee to do so.
Jun 28, 2011
Photo of bamadog
Reviewed by bamadog from Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -11.9%
I got to go visit a friend in Bloomington recently and she was kind enough to take me here so I could check out the beer selection available in the area. Pretty solid place overall, and the best find was definitely some Adam from Hair of the Dog. Woot.

Quality: Nice, a good size store with a decent beer selection -- nice regionals (plenty of Upland, 3F, some stuff from Michigan, some stuff from Missouri like Boulevard), stuff from across the country (Rogue, Stone, etc.) as well as some imports (Rocheforts et. al.).

Service: Didn't really get any help from anybody because I pretty much feel that in a store like this, what you see is what you get. But I feel that if I asked where something may be or about a specific style, they could have referred me just fine or may have a "beer guy/girl" that does the ordering and is more aware that they could have directed me to.

Selection: As mentioned under quality, a nice selection from all over. Not much more to add here.

Value: Like most decent stores with decent selections, you get what you pay for and I feel that it was pretty reasonable. I walked out with a couple of Adams and a 1554 for a buddy and paid like 12 bones for it, which I can live with since HOTD isn't available any closer to me. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.
Mar 28, 2010
Photo of backfat
Reviewed by backfat from Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
been wanting to go to this beer emporium for quite some time now. when i visited bloomington, i would ask people where a good place to buy brews could be found (as i often do), and big red was always mentioned. i had gone to big reds smaller locations but never got around to going to this one. wow. beverage depot. i was greeted right away and asked if i could be helped finding something. i kinda went blank and thought about asking for something ridiculous like apocalypse cow from FFF, but i just asked to see what new beers they had. excellent selection, especially warm. new holland (which is a rare one to find in Indiana) was there. founders, FFF, bells, victory, sierra nevada, boulder, dark horse, and a variety of indiana beers. great place. cheers!
Jan 07, 2010
Photo of erz316
Reviewed by erz316 from Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
This is the standard joint I go to to purchase beer and other liquor. Having frequented here once a week for many weeks, the staff has come to recognize me and have ceased with the nagging questions when I present two ID's (except on weekends of course). The selection of cold beer does not really interest me, as it is mostly huge blocks of Keystone, PBR, or other such party assets. They always have someone staffed in there for your convenience to help you find your beer quickly and get out of the cold. While browsing the warm beer someone always will eventually ask you if you are finding everything alright. Though not always as knowledgeable on the certain type of beers you are perusing at the time, they do, however, have one man who seems to know damn near everything about Belgians. One thing I really like about Big Red is the selection of glassware they have. though not big enough to deserve a whole section unto itself, they do stock many nice glasses for popular and good brands of beer that need particular types of glassware. They have a good selection of Belgian Trappist ales, a decent variety of weiss beer, and they stock some important standard UK brewers like S. Smith, Harviestoun, and Fuller's. Aside from A good selection of imports, the American beers (craft) are enough to satisfy most; having many of the top California breweries (Rogue, Stone...ktl). I have yet to run out of good, quality beer (or exciting glasses) from this establishment.
Jan 09, 2009
Photo of adamhdv
Reviewed by adamhdv from Indiana

4.3/5  rDev +2.4%
This Big Red has always had what I was looking for in stock (that is, if they carry it). Freshness seems to not really be much of an issue as the location of this place keeps it busy. Has a great selection of 6ers and 12 packs, a lot of which are cold too. Pretty big grocery isle row filled with singles too! The service has been good, always offering to help me find something.

Although, if you're not 40...make sure to bring two ID's and answer questions, gets annoying. Especially when the students are in town, dammit.

Worth a look if you're in town!
Jan 03, 2009
Photo of mightyjoemoon
Reviewed by mightyjoemoon from Indiana

4.65/5  rDev +10.7%
I'm mainly writing this review to point out to Bloomington drinker's how lucky they are that they have two (including Sahara mart) beer venders which carry an impressive selection of imports and crafts. Big Red has the cold beer and also a better selection of micro brews of the two. The prices are a bit higher here as well but not on everything. I was reading reviews of a liquor store in Fayetteville Arkansas (my wife's home town) and was shocked at how their biggest liquor store had the same rating as Big Red. Big Red carries an order of magnitude more selection of beer than the comparable store in Fayetteville. I also don't know of a comparably good liqour store in Knoxville, Tennesse (my home town).

Big Red carries all the trappists available in the states including the full run of Rochefort and Chimay. They have a good selection of UK ales, German lagers and wheats, Czech pilsners and lagers, and the previously mentioned seasonally rotating and excellent coverage of micros. Basically they have a wide enough selection of beer here that you could come in regularly for 6 years picking out bottles that are new to you and not run out of options.

Sure you have to provide two forms of ID on weekends, fight past hordes of douche bags, and walk through the shadows cast by monuments built out of keystone cases but if you love beer you are lucky that you can come to a store with such a good selection. The staff is also helpful, knowledgeable and friendly.
Nov 22, 2008
Photo of maskaggs
Reviewed by maskaggs from Indiana

4.15/5  rDev -1.2%
I enjoy going to Big Red Liquors when I have something besides the standard fare (Bud Light, etc) in mind. When knowledgeable is on shift (which isn't all the time), they're extremely helpful. Their wine selection is impressive, and they carry a good selection of beers. The spirits they have in stock are pretty run of the mill for a store of this size.

BRL also has some great sales, and I've picked up more than one gem on a good bargain here. The prices are definitely reasonable and on a par with the other liquors stores in town; the only annoying thing about shopping at Big Red is frat guys on weekends yelling how f*** hammered they're going to get off Keystone and Heaven Hill vodka. Other than that, a pleasant shopping experience.
Nov 13, 2008
Photo of orbitalr0x
Reviewed by orbitalr0x from Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.8%
Stopped in here while in Bloomington recently for a trip to Upland. My main reason for stopping was my buddy altering me to the fact that they had Boon Oude Kriek here! Upon entering I was carded quite hard, must be a college town thing, but they wanted two forms of ID!

The beer selection was a good mix of locals and micros with plenty of imports as well. I picked up some Mad River brews I can't get in IL along with some others. Grabbed my Boon Oude Kriek and noticed that they had glassware next to bottles on the shelves which was a nice touch. Just before I left I saw some Barley Island barrel aged bombers in the cooler! Score!

Overall, a good beer store with good variety if you're in the area. The clerk on the floor even took the time to tell me about an upcoming beer fest. I'll stop in here again if I'm in the area.
Oct 26, 2008
Photo of jerelwhall
Reviewed by jerelwhall from Indiana

3.3/5  rDev -21.4%
Big Red is THE liquor store for much of the area surrounding Bloomington. Their main purpose is to supply massive quantities of cheap, fizzy yellow to football and racing fans alike. However, their craft and high-quality import selection has become more impressive over the past two years.

A ton of mix-your-own six pack selections and a well-stocked fridge of mid-west craft brew is a huge bonus, not to mention the glassware retail and the fact that you can buy a bottle of great bourbon while pondering your beer selection (or vice verse). They will sometimes get a case or so of really allocated product, and stock enough esoteric stuff year round to constitute regular visitation, but stopping in for beer only is usually an after-thought.

Expect to be asked a dozen obnoxious questions regarding your two forms of ID (even though you may go there once or twice a week), as per the Hoosier law.

Prices are about $1.50 more expensive than their main competition, Sahara Mart, but in a jam, cold beer is golden.
Oct 21, 2008
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

4.15/5  rDev -1.2%
Clean and well organized store. I came in here looking for Indiana beer, and left with quite a bit of it. Staff was friendly and helpful. Beer is pretty easy to find here, 1st aisle on the left, and in the left side coolers. Found stuff from Upland, Oaken Barrel, Mad Anthony, 3 Floyds, Mishawaka, also Thirsty Dog, Stone, & Mad River, which I hadn't seen before. Everything wasn't available as singles, but i'd say at least 2/3 were. Good selection of Lambics, snagged a Boon Oude Kriek here, there were also several Hanssens and Cantillon selections. Lots of German, UK, and Belgian beer to be found. One cool thing about this place was that they had branded glassware (even Chimay mini-chalices) on the shelf next to the appropriate beer.

The rare find for me was the Barley Island Bourbon Barrel stout, in bombers for around $6. Overall a great shop for all your beer needs. Check this location out if you're in town.
Jun 23, 2008
Photo of toolbrew
Reviewed by toolbrew from Indiana

4.7/5  rDev +11.9%
I frequented this store while living in Bloomington for 3.5 years. Please note that there are ten(?) other satellite stores in Bloomington, but this is the largest, with the best beer selection, and a walk-in beer cooler.

Also keep in mind that Bloomington is home to Indiana University, and as such, there are loads of Bud, Miller, and other cheaper beers that mean you get more buzz for less money.

Aside from those beers, Big Red has a great selection of microbrews and craft brews. I used to order beer for a restaurant there so I know the distributors they go through and what they have at their disposal.

The walk-in cooler that I spoke of has six packs of just about everything they sell warm. One wall is microbrews, the other are more commercial brews for college kids. In between are kegs and 30-pack cases.

There are several reach-in coolers that have single bottles of about everything they offer. And bombers (22oz) bottles too. Then of course the 40oz bottles. There are also warm singles.

Big Red does a great representation of Stone, Bell's, Upland, Two Brothers, many Colorado brews (not New Belgium), and many other Indiana brews.

They typically have one person working who is in charge of the beer stocking and is very knowledgeable about what you are looking for.

Big Red offers beer tastings here and there. And they also have a great selection of liquor and wine.

For the money I spent I got great bargains. I only wish there were a place here in Michigan that was that cheap. Of course Michigan tax laws are huge.
Mar 01, 2008
Photo of BeerBelcher
Reviewed by BeerBelcher from Ohio

2.45/5  rDev -41.7%
I had to double-check the address when I got back in the car to make sure I was at the same address as the others who've reviewed this Big Red Liquors (there is more than one store by that name in Bloomington), as I was extremely unimpressed with their selection of crafts and imports. This small-ish liquor store offered two cooler doors of import and craft multipacks with Sam Adams, Heineken, and Corona taking up most of that space. There was an additional cooler door of large single bottles, but most of that space was the same run-of-the-mill brands in multipacks. Highlights of the multipacks were some Upland beers (brewed in Bloomington) and two six-packs from Brooklyn Brewery. In singles, there was Sam Smith, but not much else interesting.

I believe the other Big Red on College (418 N. College) is bigger and I will head over there next. In fact, it would not surprise me if some of the positive reviews for this store on the site were intended for the other store.

The staff asked me if I needed anything, but it was plain to see from the get-go that their selection was interesting so I declined an offer for assistance and headed for the door empty-handed.
Nov 29, 2007
Photo of JamesS
Reviewed by JamesS from Indiana

4.3/5  rDev +2.4%
Came in to pick up supplies for a buddy's bachelor party and ended up spending quite a bit more for my own beer selection. They have a wonderful selection of beers from all over the world in a variety of sizes. Singles and six-packs, cold and non-refridgerated, you can find the best of begian ales and scottish ales to a wonderful selection of US beers, including many Indiana brewed. The employees were also excellent with their help, even if they did not have intimate knowledge of all of their hundreds of beers.
Oct 09, 2007
Big Red Liquors in Bloomington, IN
Place rating: 4.2 out of 5 with 49 ratings