Best Value Liquors -Cicero - Craft Beer Destination

I happened to visit Best Value Liquors in Cicero and I was astonished. It looks very drab,gritty and boring outside but I was amazed at the selection of craft beers this store has. I don't think anyone knows about it. So if you are looking for hard to find beers, try this place. I bet you can find it here.

Unfortunately their beermenus menu is not updated to reflect more current selection.

Best Value Liquors
6105 W. Roosevelt Rd.
Cicero,IL. 60804
(708) 652-0114

Best Value Liquors
6105 W. Roosevelt Rd.
Cicero,IL. 60804
(708) 652-0114

Love to hear some examples of what they stock. As production and distribution gets better, I've gone on a few boondoggles to remote liquor stores of promise only to find craft selections slightly better than my local Walgreen's!

http://www.beermenus.com/places/2685-best-value-liquors

...this is outdated unfortunately.

Bells , Flying Dogs, Great Lakes...I have to go back and write them all down... which maybe I will do. Not sure why the owner doesn't update his beermenus.

Noticed that the Sam Adams Utopia goes for $299..... I am wondering about that price. I know it is expensive but wondering if this is a typo.

jane franklin wrote:Noticed that the Sam Adams Utopia goes for $299..... I am wondering about that price. I know it is expensive but wondering if this is a typo.

It retails for about $200, so it may not be out of line as there aren't many left.

spinynorman99 wrote:

jane franklin wrote:Noticed that the Sam Adams Utopia goes for $299..... I am wondering about that price. I know it is expensive but wondering if this is a typo.

It retails for about $200, so it may not be out of line as there aren't many left.

I was going to say the opposite -- that's it's 50% higher there than what it typically sells for, which is a red flag. I'd be curious how their other prices compare. But I wouldn't likely check this store out unless I was already nearby . . . unless someone who really knows beer recommended I do so.

=R=

About the only luck (as such) I've had with these off the beaten path beer stops is that sometimes they have one or two bottles of harder to find hype beers - KBS, say, or Parabola or Hopslam or whatever - at an inflated price. Or dusty and hidden away somewhere. But that's nowhere near as satisfying as finding a rare bottle of bourbon sitting on a shelf somewhere, which of course doesn't happen often anymore.

I read somewhere the owner can negotiate the price down..not sure if that is accurate info.

I guess if you are in the vicinity then this would be a good place to visit. I only happened to stop by because I was trying to stay off the Eisenhower from my stint as a juror at the 26th and California. I needed a drink and I happen to see this place.

But yea... I guess I can find most of these beers closer to home.

ronnie_suburban wrote:spinynorman99 wrote:
jane franklin wrote:Noticed that the Sam Adams Utopia goes for $299..... I am wondering about that price. I know it is expensive but wondering if this is a typo.


It retails for about $200, so it may not be out of line as there aren't many left.

I was going to say the opposite -- that's it's 50% higher there than what it typically sells for, which is a red flag. I'd be curious how their other prices compare. But I wouldn't likely check this store out unless I was already nearby . . . unless someone who really knows beer recommended I do so.

I was going to suggest that you look at the bourbon selection here:
http://www.2020wines.com/spirits/americ ... on-whiskey

but now I suspect that you may not like it.

I read the owners comments about the price of Sam Adams Utopia. He sold the six or so bottles he had for a lower price ($170 to 199)

So his prices are not that high. He just had one bottle that was not sold and put that up on Beermenus to see what happens.

Some guy from 200 miles away drove in...and since he bought some other stuff,,, the price was lowered for him. So the price is negotiable.

Honestly this place has a great selection and if looking for something, the owner will try to find it for you thru his contacts.

Currently has Dark Lord and Bramble.

Popped in here the other day. The owner (I think) knew what was up, but to a fault. He knows the value of hard to find stuff and pumps up the prices accordingly. Worse, he eagerly tried to foist off some pretty eh beer on me, claiming customers were clamoring for it and buying it by the case. Short story: yeah, not a bad selection, but not worth the trip, seems like you can find some hard to find stuff if he shows you the cellared selection, but you'll be paying for it.

sorry to hear that.

But don't most liquor stores try to get away with that?

Only the ones that can get away with it, which are largely the off the beaten path places that beer geeks don't haunt. I've seen people selling Zombie Dust (really not that hard to find) for $25 a pack in places like this, or breaking up bourbon county stout into individual massively inflated single-bottle prices. Granted, it's a seller's market, and anyone desperate for a special beer (or whatever) at any price is at least able to get it, for a price. And obviously a disconcerting number of people who buy at a fair price flip online. But to tell you the truth, I got more of a wheeler-dealer vibe here than I've found at most similar places. Still, like I said, guy knew his stuff, and was a fan of good stuff, so I bet he would reward regular customers with more fairness.

Thank you for your opinion.. I think the owner, Rik trades beer with other beer aficionados. I am not knowledgeable to know this so it helps when someone who is more experienced to check these places out.

Thank you again.

I was just reading that the owner of Best Value has taken out a lot of beer and whiskey out of the cellar to sell for Christmas...should be some deals on some of the stuff.

Where did you read this?

Every Saturday from 2-4, the beer guru Rikin will be offering beer tasting at his shop Best Value. This week (May 16) they are featuring 21st Amendment Brewery out of San Francisco. Each Saturday will be a different beer featured. Rik's Picks.