Rick's Wine And Gourmet

Ricarrdo

Virginia

2.55/5  rDev -38.4%
quality: 3 | service: 1 | selection: 3.5 | $$$

Very surprised at the high ratings here - I went twice - on the recommendation of a friend and the service was absolutely atrocious - to the point I will never return. The beer guy - whose name I don't remember (and even if I did, would try to forget it!) was undoubtedly one of the most rude, negative, nasty people I have dealt with at any store of this sort. He so turned me off that I almost left the store without a purchase. Sadly, though, his selection is a bit better than other beer stores in the area so I bought some beers that other stores don't carry. However, I will go to the Whole Foods in Old Town in the future because they are nicer and have an almost equal selection... Certainly, it's not worth going here to have them be rude, impolite and nasty. I can only assume they have so much business they don't have to be nice to customers...

02-09-2010 23:53:44 | More by Ricarrdo

billab914

Virginia

4.7/5  rDev +13.5%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

This is my local store, and I'm probably there about once a week. They don't have a huge selection as the store isn't that big but what they do have is very high quality stuff. Most of the stuff they get in moves pretty fast and helps keep everything fresh.

The service is great, Jon (the beer guy) is usually always there when I go and is always available to answer questions, make suggestions or just talk about beer. He is very knowledgeable and had usually tried a lot of the new things that come in.

Selection is very good for the size of the store, it's not packed with every brand imaginable, but more on the higher quality ones. There is usually always Founders, Southern Tier, Stone, Bells, Terrapin, and Duck Rabbit offerings on the shelves. They also keep a decent amount of local VA beers in stock such as Legend and Blue & Gray.

Prices are very reasonable compared to other local places. Hopslam was $2 less a 6 pack then the local Total Wine this year. I usually don't compare store to store prices in the area, mostly because I know this store is usually as good or better then most.

I'm excited that they just announced that they will be selling single bottles now which I really like. My only negative is something that is not their fault, I only wish things wouldn't sell so fast here. I always have to be very on top of what is coming in and what I want because it doesn't last long. I don't really even mean the super limited beers either, things that last on shelves elsewhere for months or at least a week will be gone here in a few hours. They do at least get some of pretty much all of the limited releases in the area though which is nice.

Overall this is a great store with very good prices and service. It's pretty close to perfect for me since it's so close and I pass it on my way home from work.

01-25-2010 14:50:38 | More by billab914

drabmuh

Maryland

3.35/5  rDev -19.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Went to this place on a whim because my wife and I were looking for Terrapin beer in northern Virginia. Place is a nice, smallish gourmet shop with a variety of cheeses, wines, mustards, pastas, and several shelves and coolers with beer in them. We were able to locate several rare beers. They stock Terrapin (a rarety for the area), Founders, Stone, a dozen other craft breweries. I don't think you could mix 6 packs but there were singles in a cooler and plenty of bombers. We were able to pick up Self righteous ale and Depth Charge. The staff was really helpful, but the beer director Jon is a tool and arrogant about his station. I would return to this place as long as I didn't have to encounter or interact with him.

10-11-2009 20:34:10 | More by drabmuh

guild337

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

My cousin (who is also named Rick...no relation) recommended Rick's Wine to me because they currently have Founders Breakfast Stout in stock. I was very impressed with their selection. Although comparatively small when up against a Total Wime, it more than made up for it in rare selection. I picked up a Nogne O Porter, and almost picked up a 6 pack of Oaked Arrogant Bastard and a Bruery Saison. I'll be back...possibly on a Saturday when they have weekly beer tastings. Prices aren't too bad compared to other independent shops in the area.Cool little place.

09-08-2009 18:55:39 | More by guild337

bobschmenge

Virginia

4.65/5  rDev +12.3%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I am a regular customer at Rick's almost every Saturday. Jon (the self-proclaimed "Beermudgeon") hosts a weekly tasting that always feature seasonally appropriate and commonly themed selections. I eagerly await his updates on their website to see what beers are expected to arrive that week. The selection is impressive and the prices are reasonable. Jon is well informed and is always willing to offer advice. All in all, Rick's is a great resource in the DC area and is highly recommended to all.

08-02-2009 14:47:35 | More by bobschmenge

vincent1878

Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

I live nearby and am glad. Rick's is worth a trip if you're in the area for four reasons:
-selection
-consistent availability of good brands
-tastings, if you're looking to try something new
-Bigfoot - well, I'm biased.

This store has rapid turnover so it's unlikely something good is old. This is a frequent problem in some of the bigger stores. Rick's maximizes available space and there is always a selection of something worth buying that you won't find at nearby grocery stores. They run out of some beers but reorder frequently. Get on their mailing list to check out new arrivals.

05-07-2009 23:34:29 | More by vincent1878

BZero007

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev -7%
quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$

This is a great place to shop for beer in the NOVA area. Just wish it was a bit closer to where I live now. The store is mainly filled with wine and has a small section towards the front filled with beer. The beer section though small is powerfull lol! The have your normal craft beers that you will find at other places but they have some hard to find brews as well. I recently was in search of a Triple Karmeliet which was sold out at other places. Well Rick's had it and also had the four pack. Which is what the Girl Friend wanted as she did not want to drink it all in one sitting. You will find some brews there you will not see at Total Wine, also I have noticed certain brews are cheaper than the total Wine in Landmark. People are helpfull though seem to be a little standoff ish lol, though from what I hear threw my friend he talks and to them for ever and gets allot of help.
Will continue to shop here for beer and wine. Love shopping at the smaller places that have better beer.

05-06-2009 15:02:03 | More by BZero007

mobud

Delaware

3.55/5  rDev -14.3%
quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Stopped in on my way to visit a friend in Alexandria and remembered seeing good reviews here. The craft beer is a small part of this store, but they do a good job of covering most of the quality beer available in the area. The service was OK, nothing to get excited about. The guy at the counter was watching me the whole time; I felt like he either wanted to be super helpful or was afraid to say hi. The selection was good for the fact that I could get Bell's, Old Dominion, and Legend. I saw all of big East/Coast players, but nothing rare or unusual. I was hoping to find some different Stone stuff that never gets near DE, but was denied. The prices were fair for the level of beer and I gladly gave my money to the shy guy at the counter. I would go back, mostly because my friends live about 5 minutes away from the store

03-15-2009 17:02:32 | More by mobud

number1bum

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Stopped here while in town visiting a friend. I came in search of local stuff and wasn't too disappointed - a cooler on the right was home to 4 or 5 offerings from Legend and 2 from Blue and Gray. Had a good deal from Dominion, as well, and I saw a handful of others I was not acquainted with. They had a better selection of limited release offerings than Total Wine & More did, and overall I'd call it a solid collection of crafts and a pretty good selection of imports.

I didn't ask for help but they were offering a tasting while I visited, and the guy doing the pouring seemed to know what he was talking about so I'd feel relatively confident in getting some good help if I had asked. Prices were reasonable and selection definitely seemed like the best in the area. I'd stop here again next time I was in Alexandria.

03-08-2009 23:54:14 | More by number1bum

bmanning

Virginia

4.85/5  rDev +17.1%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Rick's Wine and Gourmet is my favorite place to get beer in the DC metro. It's a pretty small place and the selection isn't as large as many other beer stores in Virginia, but they seem to always get the rare, amazing beers. Plus, the service can't be beat. Nick and Jon, the 2 beer guys there, are always willing to help you get the beers you want. Just email and ask them to hold a beer for you if you think they might sell out before you can get there. The weekly beer tastings on Saturdays are great too - they always let you try the beers that came in that week. I'd recommend joining their email list so that you know what comes in and when. If you do that, then you'll have access to any and all beers that make it through Northern Virginia.

01-23-2009 17:30:32 | More by bmanning