West Lakeview Liquors

Wonderful neighborhood liquor store with an extensive wine and beer collection as well. The owner is extremely knowledgeable and generous with information. The interior dark wood panels and cinematic lighting make shopping there lovely. I highly recommend as part of your evening plans.

This is my favorite liquor store since today. The owner is very friendly and creates her own unique style for the store. I will definitely come back as much as I can to try more drinks from different countries, I didn’t see this much variety of drinks for a really long time!!! The prices really pleased me. And they have honey wine! Be sure to try it!

Not your ordinary liquor store. Quite the varied selection of aged/obscure beers, as well as liquors that you certainly don't see every day! A previous reviewer alluded to this store as closed - they're winding down business but are still regularly open, and very much worth stopping by. I only wish I had done so sooner!

Excellent shop with great selections of craft beer, whiskey, wine, mezcal, and more. Lots of unusual obscure imports and specialty beers. There's always something new every time I stop by. Knowledgeable owner, always willing to chat or help out. Specialized in every way, something you will never find at big box stores.

They have been pretty good about communication but this last time I ordered some beer from them that tasted oddly bad and it was older than you'd expect from a beer that flies off the shelf. I contacted their shipping and their general store emails wondering if anyone else was complaining about the certain beer tasting terrible compared to normal. I know they cant get stuff any quicker from their distributors but their lack of response to my emails is what caused me to give them the lower rating. It's worth giving them a call and asking about how old some items are before ordering. Other websites I use have dates in the description so I know. Now I know for next time.

Really glad to see this shop fully re-opened! They have a wonderful variety of beer/wine/liquor and the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. It's always refreshing to see a hands on owner who makes a point to listen to her customer's desires.

I don't know how anyone could go here and not find seven to ten beers they have never seen before. Went for a brew release party and it was great. They just keep pouring the tastings and you can wander the store while you drink. Ended up with a box full of beers and a smile on my face. Can't wait to go back and see what new weird beers they have in stock.

I was looking for a rare beer that I know the store received. I have bought from this place numerous times, but would not consider myself a weekly customer. I have heard that they hold the special beers for the friends/regulars, fine.... When I asked about it I got lied to. I nicely called the guy out on it, inquiring if they are releasing it to the public or holding it for their regulars. The reply was something to the effect of, "they didn't tell me but check the web site for release info." I again inquired, even stating I was just looking for some truth. I could tell his conscience was (maybe) affecting him (shame on the owners for putting their employees in this situation) and he again repeated himself. All in all, one star for being liars. Totally inexcusable. If you want to save and only give the hard to find beers to yourself or your regulars, then fine. BUT be HONEST about it. If I was the owner of a brewery would think twice about supplying this shady place my specialty brews.

I wanted to let the owner know that the red wine she recommended to me is astounding! I had a great experience coming to this store. The owner was exceptional. Speaking with her, my ears perked up when she described her pride in the $12 and under section of her store. I was struck by the depth of her knowledge over her selections of affordable wine. As someone who opts for the occasional bottle, the quality and value of this stuff is insane. I'm completely blown away! Great store, nice ambiance, knowledgeable staff, and a FANTASTIC value. What more could you want? We'll be back!

Accidentally stumbled upon this place today, and doing so resulted in an absolutely wonderful experience. We live fairly close by, and it seems usually closed, but found out today that they are open from Thursday through Sunday. And the experience... Kristina was great and just insanely knowledgeable. She got me exactly what I wanted plus more. They have a large selection of craft beers, I saw single barrel whiskeys, and there is a terrific variety of high-end mezcal options. It's not cheap, but good things aren't these days.

This is my neighborhood liquor store. They have a small but really well curated selection of wines & beers. I don't shop much for spirits, but they seem to have a good selection. Prices are very reasonable & the service is amazing. The owners are knowledgeable & almost always there.

How could I not wander in here when it's connected to the A&L Grocer? They have tons of beer and wine and liquor...and the prices aren't bad. The place is small so it can get a big congested when it's busy. $10 and under wine section - Awesome! $6 for 6-pack Miller Lite - Not a bad price for convenience. I'm sure nobody else come here for Miller Lite, so I appreciate them having it in stock just for me :) If you want to shop both liquor and food, you'll have to pay separately even though it seems like one big place.

This place sucks. Nobody should shop here. There are very rude & nasty. They have a horrible selection of liquor. I went here while I was vacationing because it was convenient to where I was staying. After dealing with the horrible selection and the nasty rude owner, I opted to take an Uber to another place. The other place turned out to be 100% better. Buyer beware. Stay away from this place.

It absolutely pains me to write this update. Not because I'm downgrading West Lakeview Liquors, oh no, no, no. They're fabulous! I just liked my prior review so much... it was one of my last ROTDs before becoming a CM, and I'm admittedly very sentimental. But it has to be mentioned: WLL takes good care of me despite my sometimes erratic requests. De Landtsheer's Malheur 12? They were out. Short of going to Belgium to find it, they'd do just about anything to put an obscure find into your hands. The shelves were searched and the basement frisked over before delivering the empty news to one woeful me. Cue the country music! The empathetic sales associate did try to get me in the arms of a comparable other. But, I wasn't having it. Instead of giving me the "you're crazy" eye, she suggested I leave my information so they could call me when a new shipment arrived. Almost too quickly, my name and number were scrawled out by an inconsolable beer junkie (me) who hadn't had her smack fix in two days. Two days! What have you done to me, Malheur 12? My name is Jelena, and I'm addicted to a Quadrupel Belgian.

I have been to some awesome liquor stores in my young life, but this one has definitely shot up there near the top of the list. They have almost every imported beer you can imagine (yep, Im a beer lover). They have them sectioned off by country in the back of the store. The selections are very overwhelming which is cool because I like to check out many different beers. Wine selection here is pretty good as well. The staff was very helpful in helping me find an 18.2% alcohol beer by the name of BrewDog Tokio (from the UK). West LAkeview Liquors deliver, but make sure you are in their delivery range...Im not :( Its good that I do not live nearby because I would probably spend all of my money here

I would not recommend this establishment if it was the last liquor store on earth. The owner is rude and the selection of alcohol is mediocre. She doesn't know how to work her register. She's manic and bitter as the red wine she sells. Don't waste your time or your money here.

Many of you may have heard about locavore movement, y'know purchasing goods that "have not moved long distances to market". Well, I'm starting somethin' called bein' a lazyvore. I will frequent an establishment way more if I know I can waddle on over in sweatpants while suffering from the worst hangover of my life with minimal judgement from employees. One morning I was near death after five too many whiskey diets, but still had the arduous task of buying liquor for a friend's birthday party that I was having at my apartment. I was still determined to create a special cocktail for her called "The Honey Badger" http://www.designlovefest.com/2011/06/food-03/ but was perplexed on where to buy St. Germain. Since I had absolutely no energy to make the journey to Binny's, I figured I'd check out West Lakeview Liquors. Sister and I was very surprised to the amazing selection of beer, wine, and liquor. Sister found beer she had been searching for since her trip to New Zealand and I found my St. Germain (And yes, the Honey Badger was a hit!) I heard I paid quite a bit more for my liquor than I would've at Binny's, but it really can't beat the convenience and knowledgeable staff of WLL. Oh, and they have ginger beer! Try it...because ginger ale is for wussies.

I'm used to ordering beer from this store over the Internet, so when I visited Chicago, I just had to come visit this store with the iconic red awning. Yes, they do take online orders and will ship beer and liquor, in my case all the way to Florida. My beer friends and I down here love West Lakeview for the ease with which we can get Goose Island, Three Floyds, Dark Horse, Half Acre, Two Brothers, etc - plenty of great beers that aren't distributed to the South. So I was pretty excited to come here. I even took a picture of myself in front of the store as if it was some kind of tourist attraction (well, for me, it *was*)! I'd heard that the place was small, and that is no joke, it's tiny. Given its small size, I have no idea how they manage such a huge selection of beer, wine and spirits. The people who run this store are absolute masters of space utilization, because not only do they have tons of stuff, the store doesn't even feel cramped and haphazard. The organization and arrangement is impeccable. While prices may seem high, I think this is more due to the fact that they carry mostly high-end stuff than to any concerted effort to gouge the customer. For most of these bottles, you're pretty much getting the going price. Sadly, in recognition of the unfortunate truth that I'd have to leave room in my suitcase for my clothes, I only picked up 5 bottles - and a couple of those I drank before I even left Chicago. No problem...I can always hit up westlakeviewliquors.com! Top-notch liquor store.

This place is an Alcoholics "Wet Dream"-- Must have at least 200 different Craft Beers from all over the world! Everything from Great Lakes "Blackout Stout" to Coopers "Sparkling Lager" to St. Andrews "Ale", they have it all! Coolers packed with "Singles" as well as sixers of all different varieties.. Also have Large Liquor Dept as well as wine. Just opened store next door and its like a mini Whole Foods, Deli/Fresh Baked Goods/etc! Great Neighborhood Spot-HIDDEN GEM!!

So cute! I would have liked the staff to be a smidge more talkative about wine, but in all fairness, I didn't really ask anything and I like to poke around in wine stores, so I was happy to just hang out there for a while I browsed. There's a good selection of wine and beer and a nice range of prices. Great spot in a great neighborhood!!!

Attempted to stop here twice during normal hours in the afternoon or early evening and place is closed and dark inside with no sign or explanation. They must be going out of business or something.

Nothing worse than walking into any place of business and being treated like it pains them to have to deal with you. Couple that with an ever dwindling inventory and almost nonexistent hours of operation and you have a business that should get no business at all. This place cannot close fast enough

I originally learned about this place when seeking out a certain brand of unusual pop (Dry Soda Co.); at the time it was the only place in the city that carried it, according to the soda company's web site. Since it's far from home for me I didn't get a chance to visit until recently, but was very pleased when I did with the ambiance, the selection and the staff. It's a small space, but they manage to cram lots of variety into it: all the standards, plus some unique brands I hadn't seen before. Lots of liquers, *lots* of beer (I didn't pay much attention to this because I am a cocktail person, but I did notice the space devoted to it, and recognized some of the brands/labels of microbrewers that I'm familiar with), and a great assortment of unique sodas, including Dry, Boylans, Fizzy Lizzy and Fever Tree; these are increasingly being used as mixers by discerning cocktail enthusiasts who don't want to taint their elixirs with high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors. I came in with an ambitious "grocery list" (including Tuaca, limoncello, Charbay vanilla rum, cherry schnapps, and the real challenge, Three Olives brand Root Beer vodka, which I'd read about in the cooking section of the Fort Worth,TX paper this week). Frankly, I didn't expect to find everything given the size of the store, but I certainly wasn't disappointed by what they did have, and the staff was very helpful in letting me know what they would and wouldn't have on hand. The woman to whom everyone was directing the most difficult questions (I assume the proprietor?) told me, "Your list is amazing!" She was definitely on top of what they had; she knew that they had two other types of the Three Olives vodka (regular and grape), but alas, not the elusive root beer. Also, when I was deliberating over the two brands of limoncello that they carried, she was able to tell me that one was more acidic and one was sweeter, thereby giving me an insight into which might work better for my purposes (again, it also shows that she knows her stock). The four staff members with whom I interacted were friendly and knowledgeable and made it a great shopping experience. I wish that this was my neighborhood liquor store. I'll definitely stop in again the next time I'm in Lakeview. Looking at their website, it looks like they have occasional events -- I think it would be worth the trip.

Beer haven with local, nation-wide, and international beers. There's a whole section with Belgian beers too (no Cantillon during our visit though). All are arranged in an orderly fashion making your shopping experience very easy. If you can't find what you are looking for, you can always ask a very knowledgeable and friendly staff member. They are very patient with you and even if you don't ask, they'll provide extra insight in regards to tasting notes of the beer you are showing interest in. It was a quick stop and we didn't even take anything home with us, but nothing but good vibes from this place.

This place has like 4 options for chilled wine and like 5 options for chilled beer. Did I miss a room or something? The refrigerators were practically bare. The guy could have been a little bit more friendly too.

EPIC FAILURE and some of the worst customer service I have experienced in my life. Completely unprofessional to the point that I can not believe how they have the rating they currently do. Seriously, you burned me big time on this one, Yelp. I ordered a keg to be delivered for a party. It was to arrive at 9pm. At 5:30pm that day, I get a phone call saying that they are extremely busy and I will need to pick my keg up. I say that since I do not own a car and they are giving me no notice, this will not be possible. I am then told my keg can be delivered earlier and they will give me some extra bags of ice to make up for it having to sit out longer. At 9:15pm, there is no sign of my keg, so I begin calling the store every 15 minutes, always getting the answering machine (even though they are open until 11pm on Fridays). I left two messages basically begging for someone to just let me know if I am getting my keg or not. At 11pm, I send my friends on a beer run and try to enjoy the rest of the party. I got a phone call the next morning saying that "they were sorry they missed my order and could "maybe" discount my next one". I say this is completely unacceptable and ask to speak to a manager. I am told "Christina is busy but I'll have her call you." Nobody calls on Sunday nor Monday. I call on Tuesday, ask to speak to her, am put on hold and then told she's not there. "Why did the other employee just tell me she was?" "Well, she is here but she is in a meeting. Call back tomorrow." So I call first thing Wednesday morning and finally get to speak to Christina. Her response was "We were really busy that night and my employee should have never taken your order. He's kinda flakey and I will need to discuss that with him." ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? You no call/no showed an order and your response is "my employee should have never took the order". No apology and no attempt to rectify the situation. Just "I need to talk to Emmitt (the person who took my order) and I will have him call you. Well, Emmitt just called me and gave me a lame, half-ass apology and a "discount on a future order". I said that wasn't good enough and when he asked what would make me happy, I said "You SHOULD be giving me my keg for free. I'll pay the tax and leave a deposit for the tapper, but that is the only thing that would make this situation right." To which he responded "Yeah, that will never happen." So, I then said "Fine, sell me my keg at cost." Nope. Since this business has their heads so far up each other's asses that they can't see how big of a problem it is to no call/ no show a keg for a party and then take no responsibility for it whatsoever, I will never consider giving them my business and I will seriously go out of my way to make sure the rest of my industry/event planning/alcoholic friends do the same.

I live in the neighborhood and I have purchased beer from this store in the past. Overall, everyone that works there is really friendly. Unfortunately, I had a bad experience today with a person that works there as the manager/store owner. They had a 6 pack of Rogue Juniper Pale Ale for $9.99. I went to the counter to check out and they scanned the item...the register indicated $12.99. The salesperson was very nice and asked me to wait patiently so that he could contact the manager to override the price. He even verified that the price was $9.99 by looking at the price tag stuck to the bottom of the 6 pack. The manager came and told me that she was sorry but if she charged me $9.99, she would be paying me to drink it and that they own a small, stand alone store. A couple of things... 1.) You can't run a store where the margins on your product are less than 20%. That's a high risk gamble. I also don't believe they would lose money by selling me this item for that price. 2.) When a retailer makes an error they should accept the error within reason and allow the customer to purchase the item. We're talking $3! In this situation, the retailer could establish goodwill with the customer and customer would greatly appreciate it. 3.) The retailer should never tell the customer that they would be doing you a favor if you purchased their product at the price that is listed (even though it was incorrect). Last time as a customer and I wish them well. Terrible move and I will share this story with anyone that mentions this store.

I'm really regretting not coming to Yelp before ordering online from these guys. I always like to opt for local when I buy, and so I was excited to find a seemingly nice place in town where I could order some local beer to send to a friend out of state. Terrible mistake. The selection is really great, I just don't understand how a business could care less about their customers. Suffice to say, I will not be returning, and will warn everyone. First of all, it took two full weeks for the order to even finish processing. Well, that's okay. This isn't Amazon, right? But then, after two attempts of trying to deliver, my friend wasn't able to get the timing right (middle of a work day), so I scheduled it to be dropped at a location where he could pick it up at a time that was more convenient. I'm stoked. He's stoked. Everyone's excited to try new beer. That never happened because Lakeview called back the package without notifying me, or even attempting to reach out do decide next steps even though I'd just paid to ship across the country. For an additional two weeks I try to get a hold of them to figure out why they had recalled the package, hopeful that I could stop it before it got back to the Midwest. They never answer their phone or return messages. Turns out it got damaged, and instead of asking how I'd like to proceed they just thought it best to return back to the store. But oh wait, if I want to, I could pay again to have it reshipped back to the west coast. There was no, "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, here's a refund or discount for a later purchase to try and retain your business", or anything. I asked about shipping insurance, and they claim that after the first delivery attempt they are no longer liable.... My question is, if you are no longer willing to ensure the completion of a customer's order after one delivery attempt (which is almost always not at a time where anyone is home), then why do you feel that you had the right to take my purchase and not even refund me any part of my payment? TLDR; I'm out almost $100 after four weeks of almost ZERO communication. Don't do it, whatever you do.

I chose to use WLVL to order my keg for St. Patrick's day. I called over a week ahead of time in order to assure my keg came in on time as I was having 50+ people coming to my house for the holiday. Also, I'm all about supporting local businesses and stickin' it to the man, and since this shop is right in my neighborhood, I decided it was the perfect place for my purchase. The guy on the phone when I called to order was polite and I figured everything would go smoothly. After all, it's just one keg, should be easy enough right? Wrong. I get a phone call the day before St. Paddy's saying that my keg of Killians did not come in but, they had a keg of PBR on hand if I wanted that instead. Now, don't get me wrong, I'll drink PBR every so often but, it's been somewhat of a tradition to get an Irish brew for the holiday among my friends and family. They also said they had a 1/6 barrel of Great Lakes Irish brew, so I begrudgingly added it to my order making my bill $40-50 more than I had originally intended. So, I am less than thrilled by this news, and ask if there is any way I could get a deal/discount being that the order was not filled. I was told that they couldn't do it because "technically it's not our fault". Now, granted I'm not in the liquor business but, I have worked with many shipping orders and there should be a communication between the customer and the distributor saying that the order will not be completely filled, and I believe that as the establishment selling the product, you should contact your customer informing them, so they can make other arrangements. It's not good customer service to call the day before and offer a downgraded keg because there was an error in communication between the store and distributor. When I go to pick up my kegs on St. Patrick's day, I gave my name to the employee behind the register who proceeds to laugh in my face saying, "So you're the one who got screwed over by the distributor." Really, dude? I don't find it that funny. I told him next time they take keg orders that they should probably get a second choice from their customer so they're not stuck with sub par brew on the day of a special event. He answers saying, "Oh, no one did that?" Obviously no one did that, or I wouldn't be stuck in this predicament. Now, I'd like to say this was the end of my dissatisfaction with WLVL but, upon returning the kegs there was an employee standing right by the front door as I'm trying to lug the kegs back into the store. He clearly saw me, struggling with them, yet didn't open the door for me. Just stood there, chillin. Come on guys! If you want to keep your business up, improve your customer service. You have a cool little store but, I will say that everyone in attendance at my party now knows of your sub par service. And I can't say that I'll be recommending your establishment to anyone. Step it up a little.

So you're just about to head off to an area BYOB restaurant....and you need some booze. Where to go?? Why West Lakeview Liquors, of course!! This shop is tiny, but holds a great selection of mirco brews...Score! Lots of single bottles to mix & match, which is great if you're in the mood to try a bunch of different beers, or in the mood to get plastered. Either way, it's a win-win situation. Nice selection of wine too. They get my vote for having one of my favorites--Pomelo wine. So good! And it was $12.95, which is a good price considering I've seen it for more at other stores. Friendly & helpful staff, too. The guy asked if I needed my wine chilled. A+ for customer service ;) Aren't you jealous I live so close to this hot little gem? Now get on over to West Lakeview Liquors and support your local business!

I just do not know how to rate this place. We are locals, we LOVE spending our money at small owned businesses. West Lakeview is a conveniently located liquor store with a good variety of beer, and there is also hard alcohol and wine if that is your thing. We have NO problem paying a buck or two more to support our area owners......and here lies the problem.....the owner. The owner is mean, mean, mean, condescending to her staff, seems to not appreciate her customers and mean. So due to the convenience we do go there from time to time, but now if we see the owner we go elsewhere. Be nice lady, lighten up, enjoy life, geesh. Besides that the staff is always nice and the beer selection is great.

Please do not order online from this business!! I placed an online order one month ago but have yet to receive my order although my bank account was charged $234. Repeated attempts to call and email have been completely ignored. I can't get anyone on the phone nor get a call back after leaving a message. I can't even get a simple email reply to any of the several follow up emails requesting an update. At this point, I'm assuming they intentionally ripped me off and have no intention of ever shipping my order despite taking my money. Even filing a complaint through PayPal has gotten me no response from them. I have a friend who has had at least two orders with similar issues. I highly recommend finding another business to buy your craft beer because this is by far the worst business I've encountered online. I've ordered from several craft beer shops in the last several months and I've never had any issues until I ordered from West Lakeview.

This little storefront crams more booze into a small space than a 10lb salami in a five pound skin. I the bourbon selection beats Binnys hands down and there a plethora of beers and microbrews too. Oh yeah, and wine. And lots of tequila. And scotch. And Vodka. Oh...all the boozes. And did I mention the bourbons? :) I snuck some real absinthe back from Italy only to find that they carry several, pretty damn good selections here! Could saved me some stress and suitcase space had I known at the time..... If you are looking for boutique label booze, teeny tiny microbrews, and well informed staffers, this place is terrific.

I gave it more than 1 star because this place really does have a fabulous selection of really great craft beers. The caveat is you should only buy what they have on premises...that is, the bottles and cans. You should NOT buy kegs from them. Why you ask? They simply can't handle it. WLVL has a policy of asking you for a 2nd and a 3rd choice when you order a keg. For some reason, very rarely can they actually get you the keg your want, sometimes they might get your 2nd choice, usually it's the 3rd choice. I don't know about you, but when I call ahead to order a specific beer, it's because I really want that beer. So it's frustrating - - especially considering that you will not know which beer you're going to get until the day you go to pick it up - - they're not going to call you with any info. I've also had the experience of showing up to pick up my keg on the date they said it would be ready only to find out it wasn't there. That was "the distributor's fault", but again, would a phone call to me been so hard? So to summarize, great selection of beer in bottles and cans; do NOT try to order kegs - - it's just not worth the hassle, disappointment and lack of responsibility by store management.

UNBELIEVABLE SERVICE! We ordered a keg and the delivery men (soooo nice) were on-time and walked the keg all the way up to our third floor apartment with a smile on their face. They called 30 mins before they arrived asking if we needed them to bring any additional cups or ice. The tap and the bucket were included in the price. At 12:00 the tap broke (someone played around with it) and at 12:35 the owner arrived with a new one! The shop closes at 11:00! I will always shop here and will recommend it to everyone. Thanks for saving the party WLL!

LOVE IT!!!!! So excited about the grocery they're opening next door. They say in the next week or so. The people here are so nice and helpful. As I'm buying wine, they tell me all about it in "wine talk". I understand none of it, but they don't make me feel bad about it. Good selection of wine bottle gift bags, so you can just stop here before a party, and you'll be all set. Great beer selection too. The store is very neat and organized, down to the candies at the counter. And they have the pretzels I like. Perfect, perfect, perfect!

Beer is quickly catching up to wine in terms of sophistication and complexity. This is made clear at West Lakeview. They have the bottles lined up high and tight and individually priced just like wine, and they have an entire side shop that specializes in food pairings and particularly shaped glassware. I originally stopped by out of curiosity after reading about how the shop used to employ the guys who started Pipeworks Brewing. I also read that it was the city's mecca for those with the most heightened sense of beer tastes. The guys who work here are pros, experts at the forefront of a growing movement in Chicago. They're also willing to demonstrate their knowledge with answers to even the most obscure brewing questions. It lived up to its reputation, and I was treated to a storekeeper's discourse on the various types of yeast used by Stone vs. Dogfishhead vs. Victory. Once you stumble into a straight faced conversation on the merits of different yeast strains, you know you've walked into beergeek country. The bottles are packed tight on the shelves, so choose wisely AND carefully because they're all pretty expensive. A shelving avalanche may bankrupt you. Go here if you are looking for quality, not quantity in your malty beverages.

Attn - The guy that looks like Dave Grohl.... you are the man. Thanks for the advice, conversation and tips on what you have in stock. I wish all beer stores were filled with cool people working there instead of those that simply think they are cool.

West Lakeview Liquors, how did I not know about you sooner? Oh right, because every time my boyfriend has stopped here, I've sat in the car thinking it was just a run of the mill liquor store. I was so wrong. This place is awesome! It's small, but filled with great bottles of wines, interesting microbrews, and hard to find liquors-- like Pimm's, apricot brandy, and different types of infused vodka! The prices seem pretty reasonable, and the guys that work here are knowledgeable and helpful, without seeming pretentious.

Always have a great experience whenever I go here. Today I went to W.L. Liquors in search of the Game of Thrones beer. Yes,that's probably the nerdiest way I've ever started a review. I guess it's time to admit I'm a little bit of nerd and embrace my inner nerdom. Anyway, the lady at the counter was so nice, when she went in the back to get the beer, she even brought me a Games of Thrones beer glass (a nice glass) as a bonus. The staff is always helpful and the selection is outstanding. Even if they don't have the exact beer I'm looking for they usually have something from the same company and/or can recommend a similar style of beer. Moreover, they don't give off the pretentious vibe, like some of the specialty Liquor stores. Next time your looking for a beer be sure to check West Lakeview Liquors.

This is an excellent liquor store. It has a great beer selection, great spirits, etc. I have had great, friendly customer service . The beer selection, in particular, is outstanding, with a great selection of local and other US craft beers, some great foreign beers.

A really convenient stop for drinks. They are open till really late at night and they have a great selection. Service is really friendly too!

Sorry, Binny's, this is my new liquor store of choice. How in the world have I lived in Chicago for two years and it took a write up in Chicago Mag for me to find out about this place?!?!? If you drink beer (no, Budweiser is not beer) this is the place to go. If you enjoy hard to find beer, or enjoy an educated recommendation for a new-to-you beer, this is the mecca you have been looking for. I went to search out a few selections for a beer tasting party I am going to having and ended up writing down so many other selections for later ventures to this wonderful store. The staff know there stuff, and I was super happy to find out that the owner, Kristina, is also a big fan of sour beer (like myself). Ultimately, if you want to try something that you found hiding in the beer bible at Hopleaf or the Map Room (or even Fountainhead) but don't want to commit to the cost of drinking it at these fine establishments, chances are West Lakeview Liquors has it in stock and it is a far cheaper price to swallow than normal bar or restaurant markups.

Got off the Addison station and took a little bus ride and you got yourself a incredible neighborhood liquor-store here. Unassuming from the outside, pot of gold the inside, this is one of the best stores I've visited. I got my first taste of Founders Breakfast Stout here, got some DFH, etc... Great service, the dude at the desk assisted with my inquiries on Mid-west rarities and gave me a free pint glass that I've regrettably broken later... All in all I'll go back in a heartbeat next time I'm in the neighborhood.

WHAT A GREAT PLACE!! I needed two kegs this Saturday and didn't know where to turn. WLL was there for me, helped me order, gave me a great deal and even helped me put them in the back of my car. The best part - was no deposit for the tins or taps. I won't go anywhere else for kegs, world class beers, different liquors and great service! I can't wait to order again and use their delivery service!

Once again, it's time for Uncle Jack's Customer Service Awards! And mostly for the informative, open and friendly reception I got on my fist phone call there. Where others had failed, West Lakeview Liquors helped me find and order a South American Pale Ale I had had over the holidays but could not locate. They agreed to order it, and all I had to do is follow up in a couple of weeks to get it. Their location is convenient, street parking is pretty easy (well, perhaps with the exception of Cubs day games) and for those who like them, they specialize in South American brews. The one I was looking for is a South American Pale Ale (Eisenbahn.) You may want to check that out, too. Great peeps. Great shop. And superb libations. As long as there's a passage in my throat, and drink at West Lakeview, I am sure to be a regular customer.

Short: 5 stars for the best beer selection in Chicago. Long: I will start by writing a small haiku about the store... autumn leaves fall, rain dances and runs and my thirst abates with love. Anyway, epic beer section! I used to think Binny's was the cats pajamas for beer selection, but I have a new standard.. West Lakeview Liquors. I've had many a friend and acquaintance reccomend that I stop in there, and frankly the gnome in the grocery side of the store has tried to catch my eye more than once when I drive by. Spurred by a desire to find a Scottish beer that is not distributed in Chicago, I stopped by, toddler in tow. *Orchestral music intro* Awesome selection. I could not take it all in. I mumbled to myself as I wondered from tight shelf to the next, "pale ale... microbrew... double chocolate..." 45 minutes later I found myself sitting in my vehicle, unable to recall the last 40 minutes of my life. I looked over to my right and saw a large paper bag... many many beers. I then remembered that I had brought one of my sons to the store... my head whipsawed backwards and I spied him in the back seat staring at me... Today on Thanksgiving I had a few wonderful beers to try. I'll try to hold off until 4pm. I'll be back.

Ya know... I've lived in the Roscoe village are for many many years and never once set foot in the door. I just thought it was another corner liquor store. Boy oh boy was I ever wrong. The store so so clean and set up so well. The beer selection was SUPERB. Nice upscale beers. The liquor was great too. They had everything from basic vodka to absinthe and chartreuse. Seriously, I searched all over the city for Blue Curacao and NO ONE had it. Well, these guys did. And I gleefully had Blue Hawaiians all night long! I am really bummed I never took advantage of this place when I lived close but I am not too far away now to go back and back!

My experience here is one of the reasons I love Yelp. I was hosting a party this past weekend and needed to get a keg on short notice (i.e. early Friday afternoon). My first call went to Gold Coast Liquors. "We are really busy", the woman answered. Took my name and number and promised a call shortly. An hour and a half later, nothing. Called Kegs to Go at Lincoln and Wrightwood (which happens to be a block from my apartment). No answer. At this point, I was scrambling... Googled and Bing'ed (is that an accepted verb yet?) my heart out until I turned to Yelp. Found West Lakeview Liquors with superb reviews. A short phone call later, my order was complete. I was actually surprised by the price considering this place looked pretty upscale when I picked up the keg. $104 for a keg of Bud Light, but with the bucket and tap included for free (competitive with most keg rentals in the area), but combined with their helpfulness and the lack of any sort of hassle, it was well worth it. I will not hesitate to come back here again the next time I am in need of a keg.

A haiku: This place is heaven If you love drinking beer and Hate having money

I live like 350 feet from this place. Which direction? Below. Muahahaha. First time: I walk in, look at the gruffy cashier, and say "I'm a big guy and need a strong brew to get me feelin' good. A good bang for my buck, if you will." He proceeded to walk me over to the beer cooler and presented me with various delicious beers, such as Blackout Stout, Sam Adam's Winter Lager, and Dark Horse Scotty Karate. All fine choices that I became intimately familiar with over the course of my illustrious relationship with WVL. I've been back to WVL probably close to nine thousand times (+- 2). My single complaint is that this place is becoming so popular that they run out of specialty stuff very quickly. Obviously, that isn't there fault; I just like to feel privileged. Basically, there isn't a better beer selection anywhere. No, not even Binny's. The beers at WVL are quality. Though not necessarily cheap, you are repaid incrementally on your investment. -Cheeers-

Knowledgeable, friendly staff. This is one of those cozy neighborhood spots that just makes you feel good about shopping there. I used to see the hubby and wife that run the place work here all the time with their adorable chocolate-colored dogs (labs?) hanging out by the door. A friend of mine lives a block away from here, which makes weekly visits mandatory. Great alky suggestions at every price point along with a great selection of snacks. They have a nice discount section of affordable, but tasty wines and beers along with weekly tastings. The staff has also been helpful in suggesting beers and wines that have helped sophisticate my philistine tongue. They also opened up a little grocery and sandwich shop next door. They have frequent deliveries of fresh bread (the bakery is local, but I can't remember which one) and has a schweet assortment of snacks and apps. I always make a beeline for the blueberry sorbet. Yum!

I came in here on a recommendation from a friend who lives in Brookfield, IL, but still comes back here to get his best booze. The shop is small, but they do a fantastic job of selecting some of the best quality wine, beer, and liquor...AND they listen to their customer's requests to stock-up their shelves. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and I've only had one experience where a staff guy seemed a little short/annoyed with me, but that was when I called after they closed...so I'll let that one pass. The prices are not the cheapest, but are well within the range of any neighborhood alcohol shop. PROS: Staff, Selection, Atmosphere, Website (Check their website, as they do a great job of updating new products coming to their shelves or that are no longer available). CONS: Parking can sometimes be a pain, but it is free, no-permit parking on the street.

Very knowledgeable staff and amazing selection. I also love supporting WLL because it is a small family business and they remember their regulars. If you need some yummy cheese or bread the store is connected to a little grocery store. I have been tempted a few times to indulge in some new imported sweet or crackers from the wonderful selection.

I've only been in once - the boy has been in twice and was charmed by their selection of unusual offerings, and the knowledgeable staff. He wished we had discovered it early enough to be a regular customer! I like all the little cards under many of the bottles with comments describing the products. It's nice to be able to just read about, say, the bottle of port that we bought, instead of having to take a wild guess at which one is the best. Yes we got a bottle of port, we are old men, thanks very much. But it was a great choice, the comment cards did not lie! I would take my business here again in a heartbeat if I wasn't moving. It's just a fun store to be in, everything looks well-chosen and appealing. And that grocery store next door....mmmm.....

Heh, I haven't even bothered looking at the grocery store part of this place yet. I do think I stared at their beer shelf for about 30 minutes last time I was there, though. I remember looking in the fridge the first time I came upon this place and thinking "Yeah, that's pretty good, I guess." Then I turned around. Good God. I've never seen most of these types of beer. The best part is the guys that work there will help you sort through everything to find what you like. They'll still give you a mound of options, but it's nice to have a recommendation on four or five different types of beer rather than having to blindly pick from the gigantic amount there. They're a bit on the expensive side, but I'm willing to pay a bit extra to help keep a quality small business running. It's a payday splurge place, for sure. Looks as though they had a pretty decent scotch selection as well, which I tried to pull myself away from before I ended up blowing $80 on a bottle of something like an idiot. Support these guys.

So not that this place needs any more 5 star reviews but what the hell, right? I needed kegs. I needed them cheap and I needed them fast. $110 for a keg of miller (or bud) light and that included tap and bucket. There is no deposit, you just have to bring them back on time. So of course I totally forgot to drop the kegs off on time (and they give you like 4 days to do it, and you can call if you're going to be late and they won't charge you) But yeah so i forgot to call too. I brought them back a day late and they still didn't charge me! They were very nice about it. Also my roommate wondered aloud if they had kegs of magners. Well out came a little book and a pleasant surprise - yes they do. The staff couldn't be better. Neither could the beer selection. Amazing.