El Cerrito Liquor & Market

DoubleJ

California

4.05/5  rDev -17.2%
quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $

I loved driving to this store from I-15, it felt so rural. El Cerrito Liquor shares a very sizeabke parking lot with a burrito place, and is easy to spot from the street. When you walk inside, you wonder where all the beer is. You walk past fine liquors stored behind the counter, you walk past tall wooden shelived of more fine liquor, there it is! You find a long row of refrigerators with all the beer.

The presentation of the beers were nice. Nothing was dusty, the shelves were organized, and the beers have price tags on them. While the number of different beers may be a little bit less than the BevMo down the street, El Cerrito Lqiuor owns claim to having more rarish/harder to find beers. Lots of 750s on display, and beers from Jolly Pumpkin, Mikkeller, AleSmith, Gouden Carolus, Rochefort, Harviestoun, Russian River, Kern River, The Bruery, Wynchwood, Allagash. Plenty of domestics, not a whole bunch of imports outside of Belgium. Did I mention most of the products were more afforbale that at other stores? Worth checking out in Corona.

07-30-2010 02:55:53 | More by DoubleJ

MrHirschybar

California

4.35/5  rDev -11%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Went here knowing it was one of a few of my long time friends go to stores in the area. Prices were definitely better than my closest store(s) and the selection was pretty varied - lots of things in that I haven't seen at my local BevMo and for the others they had better pricing than a few of my go-to's. The beer guy - I think everyone says his name is Jazz, asked what beer styles I like and suggested some things - even brought out Goose Island Bourbon County stout from the back for me - 2009.
Even discussed some Jolly Pumpkin beers and nabbed a coffee stout that I never would have found elsewhere.
Recommend this store and I'll especially be back.
He ought to be happy too - my brother donated a bunch of quarters to one of those games you put quarters in to try and knock more quarters off instead of just taking my recommendation for a new wheat beer for him...

01-06-2011 05:52:19 | More by MrHirschybar

vince4953529

California

4.45/5  rDev -9%
quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $

Who would thought this dingy gritty liquor store off the beaten path of Ontario Ave. in Corona would carry so much quality craft beers.

This is second time I've been here. Stopped here at almost 10 pm and all sorts of oddball characters came and exited. And guess what, you can still find Stone Vertical 08, Stone 12th and 13th Anniversary, and Ballast Point Imperial Stout here, while they are all long gone in other stores. Also found RR Blind Pig and PtE here, which is rare considered most stores are sold out. Granted the Blind Pig I bought was bottled in 3/1/10, but it still tastes great and fresh. Other notables are Kern River Outstanding IPA, Mikkeller, Port, some random Belgians I don't see elsewhere... all the big So Cal regulars.

Just for entertainment they also has those Cold Spring beers in those huge-ass cans, all kinds of malt liquors, PBR in 32 oz bottles.

Service is impeccable as the cashier took extra time to search beers in the back cooler which is not on shelves. Very friendly and although the fellow is clearly not a beer geek but extremely amiable.

Overall a great experience, and I recommend you to shop here late at night to avoid the chaotic traffics and Inland Empire's scorching heat in the morning.

05-23-2010 06:10:59 | More by vince4953529

eopacich

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev -8%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

So I heard about this on BA. Thought I would stop by on my whirlwind SoCal tour. You would never expect this to be a top notch beer store from the outside. Its in this small dingy strip of stores. Next to a closed down taco shop, it looks like a hispanic liquor store - you would never expect to find all these great beers inside. I brought some midwest goodies to trade, so they called Jazz in for me and we made a nice swap. Great store, great selection, owner Jazz has a geat store. Worth checking out if your in the area.

01-22-2011 21:56:59 | More by eopacich

chelovek

California

4.51/5  rDev -7.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Yet another place that doesn't seem like much from the outside and yet is a must visit. Would never have found this place without BA.

An exceptional selection, not just for the area, but for so cal. A few of my favorites, they carry, Alpine, Russian River, Kern River, a nice belgian selection... All in all, about 6 coolers of choice beers.

Owner is a friendly fellow who is obviously passionate about brew. Always interested in carrying the hard to find stuff and is fair about distributing it. Highly recommended establishment and worth a drive.

07-01-2011 02:08:25 | More by chelovek

UCLABrewN84

California

4.66/5  rDev -4.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

My wife and I visited here yesterday with NoSignsOfPain and DarthKostrizer. The outside of this place looks dumpy and I wasn't expecting what was inside. They have a very nice store layout with lots of wooden shelving for their merchandise. In terms of beer, they had a long wall of coolers filled up with a wide variety of beer (both craft and BMC/major imports) with an emphasis on craft. They also had a long row of beer on the shelf. There is a ton of selection and lots of different breweries (US and foreign countries). I was able to find some awesome stuff like Courage RIS and even a Surly Abrasive. The owner's personal stash to the side of the store is pretty amazing as well and I was drooling over some of the bottles he had in there. Everything looked to be pretty good quality wise too. Overall, this is an awesome hidden gem and even though it is really far from my house I am sure I will make my way back here in the future.

01-22-2012 20:16:56 | More by UCLABrewN84

DRGinLBC

California

4.74/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

It's great when you get to find these hidden jems in certain city's.

My friend recently moved to Corona and I looked on BA to try and find him a quality liquor store where he could find he's beloved Pliny.

Well...this is defiantly the place. Owner (Jazz) is an awesome guy and I never leave this place empty handed when I visit. Most things I can't find anywhere else. He has even has some stuff that doesn't even make it West. Magic?

My business will continue at this place...hands down. Keep up the good work!

05-04-2011 18:40:53 | More by DRGinLBC

comfortablynumb1

California

4.74/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Have been here a few times. Originally stopped by on the suggestion of my buddy Drew. From the outside this place looks like any other liquor store, but when you enter you realize what a gem this place is...

Lots of good offerings to choose from. Some of the things I have noticed here are Kern River, RR, Alpine, Alesmith, Ballast Point, Lost Abbey/Port, Bootleggers, HotD, The Bruery, and many others.

The owner Jazz is the man! He is extremely helpful, and knowledgeable. He is a BA member himself, and a real cool guy to talk beer with. He let me check out his amazing collection, and even hooked me up with an Alpine BBA Token. Thanks again Jazz!

All in all, the best selection for craft I have seen in the Inland Empire. A little off the beaten path, but well worth the drive for some quality craft. A definite stop when I am in the area...

Cheers...

12-18-2011 01:23:32 | More by comfortablynumb1

Hershdawg

California

4.88/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

While this place doesn't look at all the impressive on the outside once you get in front of the beer isle you be impressed. The selection is amazing. The store gets rarities such as Cantillion, other hard to find belgians, cellared special releases.

The owner/manager Jazz is extremely helpful and will drag things out of the back if asked. He also can give advice if you want something particular. The prices are reasonable being close to what you would get at a total wine. There is a good liqour selection and a decent but small wine selection.

Overall this relatively unknown spot is a great store and one of the best in Riverside County.

06-26-2011 03:40:28 | More by Hershdawg

BGrider85

California

4.88/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

Much like all the reviewers, it's easy to notice that this place looks like your everyday mundane Liqour store. Let me tell you this place is a hidden gem. It does maintain the normal Liqour store atmosphere. But once you find the craft beer you will be surprised how many rare and high quality brews they have. The owner, Jazz is a friendly, knowledgable guy. He isn't a Liqour store owner attempting to pass as a beer geek. It's actually quite the opposite. This guy really knows his stuff and is fun to chat with about beer. He is very helpful. I read about his store on this site and wondered why it had such a high rating. You'll see when you get there. It has become my new go-to bottle shop for good beer. And the prices aren't bad at all. Most of the bottles were a few bucks cheaper than I have paid at other places. I highly recommend anyone in the Corona area check it out. Ask for Jazz!

01-13-2012 13:16:35 | More by BGrider85