RSVP Discount Beverage & Redemption Center

slander

New York

4/5  rDev +6.4%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4

Not a real pretty place but houses a pretty damn good beer selection. It's a hair from the Great Lost Bear, meaning convenient as all hell. They've got all the macros I don't need to know about, but they've also got a terrific selection of micros, most specifically Maine (Atlantic Brewing, Geary's, Casco Bay/Carrabassett, Gritty's, Maine Coast, Sea Dog, Allagash, Shipyard, Belfast Bay) & New England brews. Some of the "haven't seen anywhere else up there" beers include Smuttynose and the growlers of Federal Jack's beers. Like I said, not the most asthetically pleasing joint but functionality is the name of the game here. Prices were also a lot better than I've seen in the immediate area.

03-16-2003 15:35:50 | More by slander

PlinyTheKid

California

1.94/5  rDev -48.4%
vibe: 1.5 | quality: 2 | service: 1 | selection: 3 | $$$

This place blows. To be honest, it's filthy, it's unorganized, as the staff is beyond rude to their customers. They will not sell to you unless you are over 25 on ID. Even if you are associated with the person under 25, they will not sell to you either. They denied service to us, even though one person from our party had a legitimate 22 year old ID, and restricted everyone else from tr group from making their own purchases. The cashier was ignorant, beyond rude. Don't bother. Go to Beer Cellar down the street instead.

Also, even from Los Angeles, this place had nothing interesting.

06-24-2012 20:42:06 | More by PlinyTheKid

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.83/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$

Always heard ads for this place on the Maine radio stations, and was driving through Portland on our way home so we figured we'd stop by. If you are in the area and specifically looking for Maine beers, this is a good place to look. We were able to score a 6er of the newest Baxter release at the time, as well as some bombers from Rising Tide and some Allagash not normally available in NH or Mass. The place is your typical liquor store, with wine and booze sections along with the beer. The beer consists of a wall of coolers, as well as two aisles of bottles. On top of that, there are some end caps on the aisles, and a couple of random displays throughout the store that all have beer, so you really have to do some searching/exploring. That being said, there are some solid beers available here, both US and imports. On top of the Maine beers, we were able to score a variety of Mikkeller brews. The staff doesn't roam from behind the register from what we saw, but they were friendly enough. They have snacks and what not available, mostly chips and jerkey, which is typical of a liquor store. We are going to try to visit some of Portland's other stores, but it's good to know RSVP is solid for when we need some decent brews.

05-31-2012 02:41:48 | More by GarthDanielson

kangarooAdam59

Connecticut

3.41/5  rDev -9.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$

On my way home from work today and I've been told from people at work, I need to try RSVP, so I bit.

A/Q: On the outside, I thought well, they could work on that a bit. The inside seemed more of a grocery store as there were a wide amount of food selections as well as liquor. After I was shown where the warm beer aisle was, it impressed upon me that it just seemed odd that an advertised "liquor" store at the size that it was only had one little warm beer aisle. No worries there, the entire back wall made up for that as it was entirely cold beer and I think some of that maltish stuff with hard cider stuffed at the end.

S: No one that worked there offered any help probably because my friend who took me there showed me everything. The cashier was friendly enough but didn't ask if I found everything. Once again, no worries there, because I did.

S: The selection for the warm beer was pretty good. And I was impressed with the cold beer section as well. I was able to find a bunch of beers that I've been wanting that have been on my wants list.

F: I didn't buy any food even though I saw a fair amount of snacks.

V: The value seemed about average. I definitely would go back, mainly because of the selection.

03-27-2012 00:20:04 | More by kangarooAdam59

JoRado

Minnesota

2.78/5  rDev -26.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 3 | $$

I was visiting from the Midwest and RSVP was recommended a place to go to if I wanted to bring home some beers that I couldn't get back home.

I came here with three of my friends, two of which have lived in Maine for a couple years, the third was on vacation with me. The service saw me, but didn't greet me and allowed me to browse their selection without asking if I needed help. For some this may have seemed rude, but I actually prefer it that way.

I ended up getting to the checkout with about four bombers of various beer, and they refused to sell them to me because I was only 24 and had an out of state ID. Even though everyone of my friends that were there with me were 25 or older, and two of them were Maine residents with Maine ID's.

They then almost refused to sell anything to my friends because I was in the store with them! So I quickly left and waited in the car outside. I ended up texting my friends from the car so they could buy my beers I had to put back, but that was even hard to do because the employees wouldn't allow them to buy what I had picked out.

In the end they let that slide and I got my beer.

Overall a very annoying experience.

11-13-2011 19:48:28 | More by JoRado

kingcrowing

Vermont

2.16/5  rDev -42.6%
vibe: 2 | quality: 2.5 | service: 1 | selection: 3 | $$$

Came in here on my way to Eb's - I've been to Down East Beverage a few times and really liked it but I thought I'd check this place out.

Overall their craft selection was fairly small with only a few things of interest - they had 3F Oude Geueze in 375s which I didn't see at Down East (although if I asked they may have had some), and WWS for a decent price.

I ended up grabbing those two and a Fantome - three bottles for roughly $35, and I was refused sale because I didn't have a Maine ID. I had both a Vermont ID and a federally issued passport and they still refused. This was totally crazy to me and I found the manager to be rather unpleasant about the situation.

I will not return in the future, Down East has a much higher quality selection and their service was top notch.

08-28-2011 00:07:28 | More by kingcrowing

silentjay

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $

Asked after I toured Allagash where I could find a good selection of beer in the general area, was pointed to this store by both a tour guide and a guest.

Looks very slummy from the outside, and had a less-than-desirable variety of clientele coming and going as I pulled up. Walked in, and the inside was a bit better than my first impressions from the outside, but not too much. Amply lit, and decently laid-out, though it reminded me of a discount grocery store.

No one approached me to help as I dissected their selection for a while, but I like it that way. cashier was friendly enough and they boxed my purchase nicely.

selection was good. found many products I cant get in MA and spent a decent amount. Found many products that I can get in MA that were priced at a dollar or two cheaper than I can get it here.

Would visit again next time I'm in the area. Though it looks shady from the outside, the beers they offer are worth the visit. the also had a SA Utopias in a glass case for $30 less than I bought mine for.... I almost bought that too.

07-10-2011 01:54:58 | More by silentjay

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Stopped by the first time this afternoon. This place is just great.

From the outside, the place looks like it was a Jiffy Lube in a past life, but no matter...

Upon going inside, RSVP is pretty sizeable, with a good size wine selection to the right and a nice liquor selection to the left. The beer selection is in the back, and is most impressive. Aside from generally having a good selection of craft and imports, there is a very nice separate area of local beers with a number of limited, hard to find local items I've seen no place else. On this particular day I was looking for stuff from the Maine Beer company, and I was not disappointed. I was able to purchase the current line-up, as well as a number of other hard to find (at least for me) local beers.

As for service, shrug... it's not that kind of a store. Service was pretty much non-existent, though I assume the folks up front could have answered any question I had. Frankly, I didn't require a whole lot of assistance, and so I could care less about the service here. The selection was the only thing that mattered to me, and in that respect this place is top shelf. An absolute gem in Portland... I'll definitely be back.

05-22-2011 21:58:22 | More by johnmichaelsen

liddytime

Maine

4.65/5  rDev +23.7%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I was a bit hesitant to venture up to RSVP with some of the negative reviews, but in Maine, it is one a the few choices for quality hard to find beers.

While the ambience would never be mistaken for a Four Seasons hotel... HEY!? ... Whadd'ya want?!? It's a liquor store for Pete's sake!

Some reviewers have commented negatively on the service. I was pleased to find the complete opposite! I was approached by not one, but two employees who were incredibly helpful assisting me in picking out Pilsners for my weekend beer-tasting. They were very friendly and very informative ( and I know a s*itload about beer!)

The selection was as good as it gets for Maine and the prices were very reasonable.

Don't give them grief about their ID policy either. I'm sure it's not them, it's the mega-anal state of Maine's policies!

01-08-2011 02:24:43 | More by liddytime

gueuzeonhigh

Maine

3.7/5  rDev -1.6%
quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

This store runs frequent advertisements on the radio. Even so I've driven by it from time to time. RSVP carries a good beer selection for Maine. From my casual experience patronizing various beer sellers dotted up and down the eastern states of the US of A, RSVP's beer selection is average but probably stellar for Maine. Wide and varied beer distribution up into Maine is likely harrowed by low demand, high tributes, rules and regs, you name it.

I also patronize two other stores in the greater Portland Maine area that sell craft brews. RSVP probably has the better selection but it's not so outstanding that I'd go out of my way to shop there.

I didn't bother to review their other offerings- looks like a goodly selection of wines.

I did not require assistance so I can't comment on the store's help.

In the end I'm glad for the existence of any channels through which I can obtain quality craft brewed beer.

11-20-2010 06:16:53 | More by gueuzeonhigh