Alkali Rye - Oakland's Beverage Shop

This is a bottle shop with the funnest events. Their curation is very cool and new-age, and you can grab a glass and a bottle to enjoy in their upstairs space.

What do you call a beautifully curated bottle shop? Alkali Rye!! They have an amazing selection of spirits that are stylishly displayed. The place is well appointed with attention to details. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable + they have tastings on select days. Wander outside and check out their neighbors for great shopping and eats.

Perfection in every detail! Jess and the crew are always there for you! It’s like Cheers but black and queer and down as hell!

beautiful well-kept shop; stop in to shop gifts or something for yourself enjoy a seat upstairs and check their calendar for upcoming events their events often include tastings and a live dj !

Alkali Rye isn't what I'd consider your "normal" liquor store. They have a wide selection of wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks (coffee, teas, etc.) and other items that are more unique that going to a normal liquor store. They really try to feature women-owned/people of color-owned businesses as well as local businesses. They have a range of different priced items to match different occasions. When I've been the owners and staff seem pretty knowledgeable about the different items and have helped me and others to make good recommendations and not just trying to upsell the most expensive items. I'm a whiskey fan, so I'll put it this way, if you just want a bottle of Jack and Jim, you probably wouldn't go here. But if you want a good bottle that you couldn't get at a Safeway, come here!

Excellent customer service. Delivery without any issues. Care in packaging. Much appreciated. Will buy again! Thank you!

Great selection of specialty bevs and bottles with a respectable mezcal section, nice space and nice people :)

Great local place with really interesting alcoholic and NA beverages. Staff is really helpful too. We need more places like this!

Great selection of unusual alcoholic and non-alcoholic bottles along with an exciting food selection

It's all about the esthetics here! They have managed to incorporate lots of selection in an order that is easy to decipher and items that compliment each other.

I love supporting small local businesses in my neighborhood and this was my first time coming here. It's nice and well organized. My only issue with this place were the prices. There weren't any prices on any bottles, so if you wanted to know you had to ask. I was in a rush one day and since this was the closest liquor store to me I bought a familiar bottle that I'd purchase before from a different store. When I purchased it, they didn't tell me the price they just told me to "tap when ready" and as I'm leaving I saw the the bottle was twice the price of regular retail from BevMo or even a grocery store. (I do take the blame for not asking before I purchased) I wasn't expecting them to match the exact price of bigger name brand businesses and I knew they were gonna charge a little more than normal but double the price? That's crazy.

I'm so happy they've kept the same layout. I love coming here. This tiny shop has a lot of big and local brands in store. With a wide selection of liquor for everyone. The prices are decent too! I came in to buy some bottles as gift and the sales associate also offered to tissue wrap it for put a little bow on it with a bag to send as a gift. Now if that's not a great seller than I don't know what is. I highly recommend coming here to support small businesses and to check out their great selection.

Let's start with the positives. The founding concept of supporting BIPOC and women owned breweries and distilleries is of course, fantastic. Also, the store is beautiful inside, somehow the bottles are arranged by color spectrum across the large wall so it is very aesthetically pleasing. Here's my mini gripe. Maybe I don't know much about prices for canned wine spritzers and ciders, but 2 of those for $19 bucks wasn't really much up my alley - but I admit, I can take that fault that on myself for not inquiring. But compared to 2 guests and 4 floor employees that were present during my entire visit - the lack of any intention to offer help at any point seemed uninviting. No reason to avoid necessarily, but also not many reasons to be back. In this sense, I actually would much prefer the small business liquor store near the Rose Garden/ACE.

Alkali Rye replaces Alchemy Bottle Shop with a the same offerings plus tea, coffee, and alcohol/beer made by and for minority communities. Came here initially to check on the Rintaro bento boxes. unfortunately, it's here only thursdays, has to be pre-ordered. brew: BPLB hazy ipa by Crown & Hops (4/$18) 6.5% -BPLB means Black & Brown People Love Beer -saw the black can, never seen/heard this beer before, really surprised at quality. dark like a stout, heavy body like imperial stout, had an sharp edge like strong ipa or the sharp edge of cognac. -would go great with bbq meats, curries, heavy spicy foods -not the usual hazy brew,

This place is a welcome addition to the community, in the Grand Lake/Lakeshore Commercial District in walking distance from Grand Lake Theater and Lake Merritt. This location used to be Alchemy Bottle Shop, some new owners are here. The owners seem to be homegrown Oaklanders of color who were affiliated among other things with local Red Bay Coffee. This place has a pretty eclectic collection of wine and spirits. One of the owners, Kori, was mentioning that in their wine section they're trying to promote less known people of color owned wineries which I think is really cool. It was just Kori working when I was there but he seemed very knowledgeable with questions about wine and about whiskey (which is my jam), I really appreciate folks who are passionate about their craft. More so focusing on their whiskey/scotch section, they had a great selection, including local Oakland based distillery Wright & Brown. They also have different types of Whiskey (Irish, Bourbon, Japanese, Taiwanese). I can't comment on what their prices are compared to other places but I also wouldn't mind spending a little more to support a local business as opposed to a chain like Bevmo. I ended up getting a bottle of Kavalan, Taiwanese Whiskey, which I've always wanted to try but never got a chance to. My supplies are running low as a result of Shelter In Place so this is good timing. They are currently open during this COVID time, limiting the number of people inside to maintain social distancing. Support them, and DRINK RESPONSIBLY!

I am generally a teetotaler but sometimes I want to create a cocktail! There are mixers galore. There are spiritd from all over. The owners help me refine my recipes. They are truly amazing. Today I discovered they have Kombucha and other beverages for those of us who sip more water than spirits! I found this Kombucha to be much more smooth than what is normally found in a supermarket. I am thrilled! There is even drinking chocolate during the colder months!

Kori is a beautiful knowledgeable human who is born and raised in Oakland. The shop has a very wide selection and the staff know the history of every producer and can you tell you what makes each item so special. You can tell that they were deliberate in who and what they stock. If they don't have what'd you'd like, feel comfortable knowing they'll steer you in the right direction. It's a great place to pick up a gift or a personal bottle. You'll always be greeted feeling welcome and leave with knowledge to share. Support local businesses, especially those that give back to the community, have deep local roots and global knowledge! I happily support AR!

I absolutely love this bottle shop and I'm shocked to realize it's taken me so long to right a review. Located right on Grand Ave in a beautiful location with huge windows in the front, it's hard to miss if you're hanging downtown. They have a wonderful selection of different alcohols and wines - plenty I've seen and enjoyed, and so many I've never heard of! The owner of the store is wonderful and really helpful with suggestions. She actually helped me and my friend find ingredients for our new favorite cocktail with a cucumber and grapefruit gin, elderflower tonic, lavender bitters and some sparkling water. You can tell the owner's really know their stuff, and put together a really beautiful shop for people to enjoy the full shopping experience. In non-COVID times they've had some pretty awesome tastings in the back area, although when we stopped by this weekend there was a DJ which was awesome! Highly recommend for interesting, delicious and great alcohol finds at a great local shop!

This place is AMAZING!! The owners are super friendly and crazy knowledgeable so you can rest assured that if you're not sure what you're looking for, they can help you figure it out! They have a great selection of really cool bottles from lots of different producers not to mention they have a nice collection of wine as well. And for the non-alcoholic drinkers, they have some great tea and coffee options as well. OH, and the price? MAD DECENT!! We got two cans of wine and a small bottle of mezcal and were shocked at how affordable it all was. Very cool to see a new spot open on Grand avenue that feels true to the Oakland that I grew up in. It's a new spot but it's got that old school Oakland vibe. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

I love coming to this liquor store to browse for new BIPOC produced bottles. I still have a college mind set when it comes to drinking alcohol (haha), so I appreciate Jessica + staff taking their time to suggest bottles for me. I feel like my taste palette is getting better and better every time I go in! Also, they are selling a day rum blend that my friend Susan Eggett created with Sequoia Gold. For each bottle sold Sequoia Gold will be making a donation to the #KeepItCaring Fund, supported by Oakland Cocktail Week and administered in partnership by the Oakland Indie Alliance and Working Solutions towards their $1.5 million fundraising goal.  Funds raised will be issued as grants to small businesses in Oakland, especially bars that have been unable to open during the COVID 19 pandemic. It's pretty dope to buy alcohol from a POC business and also to support small businesses in Oakland!

Very well chosen beverages designedly displayed and intelligently described and discussed. Always look forward to discovering more there.

Who knew a beverage shop could blow your mind? SERVICE: Jessica and Kori, the owners, are phenomenal. Jessica has a background in wine and events. Kori has a background in coffee and matcha. They both have experience in dining and the food industry. Together, they are extremely knowledgeable about all of their products and different tastes/preferences. They are Oakland natives, huge on the community, and just great people. STORE: The shop is clean and hip. They layout and decor have an approachable art gallery-like feel, allowing each product to stand out. They also have an upstairs for classes and/or events. The location is great. It is just a quick walk from Lake Merritt. PRODUCTS: They carry matcha, Red Bay coffee, wine, beer, and liquor. It is truly a one-stop shop. Best of all, they hand select each product they carry and every product comes with a story and specific reason Alakali carries the product. OVERALL: Alakali has quickly become one of my favorite spots in Oakland and the only spot I need for any beverage.

Whether you're looking for booze, beer, wine, tea, or coffee, this spot is incredible. They carry local and minority owned products. They are extremely friendly, passionate, and knowledgeable.

Pretty cool boutique booze shop. The selection is good, small, and curated. I think if you know that you want a general type of booze (whisky, gin, vodka) or are interested in a smaller but guaranteed good selection of beer, this is a really great spot.

This is a fantastic local business, run by fantastic people. If you're looking to try some new wine, beer, or liquor that you have never heard of, and need guidance, this is the place. The staff is very knowledgeable and makes excellent suggestions. On a recent visit, we were introduced to a special rum, a different amaro, and not-your-average whisky, to add to our collection. They staff knows not just about how the beverage tastes, but how it was made and by whom. The only problem is, I'm running out of room in my liquor cabinet. And, they do deliver locally, or ship nationally. Very convenient!

I loveeeeeeee this business. Everything about it. Yesterday we popped in with 10 of our girlfriends. Service was top of the line from beginning to end. Tequin was incredible!!!!!!! Her energy was very inviting, she knew her stuff so well. I always go here to buy from the biggest selection of bottles. Mezcal is my go to and I was happy to find the classic mezcal glasses. I will forever support Alkali

I love this bottle shop. They carry a nice selection of hard to find alcohol and some fun accessories. It's my go-to for gifts to my Booz loving friends

Gorgeous shop, beautiful products (& they taste good too). The best to ever do it. Hands down.

Beautifully curated selection of interesting spirits and mixers. The people are nice and the store has a great ambiance

Not your typical liquor store! The first thing you will notice is the beautiful decoré and open, welcoming layout. The owners, Kori and Jessica, welcomed us right away and gave us a detailed tour of their inventory. I was impressed by their knowledge of spirits and the effort that they have put into stocking items from BIPOC producers. Definitely check this place out if you are near Lake Merritt!

This business has a very well curated selection and is a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. They have some great high quality but not overly expensive wines and they support some great mission driven and diverse beverage producers. Their online platform and delivery service work great and their selection makes great gifts they have some fantastic bottles that are really hard to find.

Alkali Rye is my tried and true go-to when looking for special gifts for friends (and the occasional special drink for myself). They're still open during COVID and taking extra steps by requiring masks, having hand sanitizer available, and limiting the number of people in the shop at any given time. Beyond that, nothing has changed and they still have friendly and knowledgeable staff and an excellent selection, so please go check it out!

A great place to start expanding your wine & spirit palates. You will have a hard time finding a shop that has as unique a selection of wine/spirits as you will here. The staff is very knowledgeable about the products they carry and will give you great recommendations based on the info you give them. I especially appreciate its efforts at promoting BIPOC producers. And as a reviewer already mentioned, this is also the perfect place to pick up a bottle for a gift because of their mindfully curated selection.

Wonderful selection of unique and quality spirits, wine and liquor. They also have great accessories to go with your favorite drinks and their customer service is always excellent. I love getting gifts from this place.

Best bottle shop in Oakland, the owners are great people with excellent taste!!!!