Rick's Wine And Gourmet

Rick's Wine And GourmetRick's Wine And Gourmet
Rick's Wine And GourmetRick's Wine And Gourmet
Store

3117 Duke St.
Alexandria, Virginia, 22314
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.14
Reviews:
50
Ratings:
50
pDev:
14.01%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by siege06nd:
Photo of siege06nd
Reviewed by siege06nd from Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Rick's is a few miles down the road from my house and is one of my two "go to" places in NoVA.

Atmosphere: Nestled into an Alexandria shopping center, Rick's is an unassuming looking store from the outside. Once inside, it becomes apparent that these guys/gals know a lot about their wine and beer. The store is about 2/3 wine, 1/3 beer, but it is organized laid out impeccably. The beer section is split up into bombers, six packs, and a small selection of singles. The store is clean, spacious, and welcoming.

Quality: Like I said, one of two can't miss locations in NoVA, the other being Norm's. If Rick's doesn't have it, you probably can't get it in Virginia. They carry a lot of import and local beers as well, and do a good job of rotating their inventory while maintaining a solid list of regulars.

Service: I've never had a problem. The staff in store have always been welcoming, accommodating, and knowledgeable. They will gladly hold bottles for you if you can't make it in to pick up that rare release until next week. I never feel pressured or watched here, they will ask once if I need help and either answer my questions or leave me alone. Love it here.

Selection: Best in NoVA, along with Norm's. Carry imports, locals, and the well-known players in craft beer (e.g. Founders, Bells, Stone, Firestone Walker, Evolution, etc.). Always get the rare releases as well.

Food: I know they offer food here, but have never tried it.

Value: It's probably $1 or $2 more than you see at Total Wine, but that's also a huge beer warehouse where the margins aren't the same. A slight premium, but I don't mind paying it for the selection and the service.
Jul 24, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of Huhzubendah
Reviewed by Huhzubendah from District of Columbia

4.64/5  rDev +12.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
The embargo has ended and change is upon us...time for a re-review.

A great place to get beer in the DC Metro area. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Rick's always have a variety of quality brews in stock. They also get a lot of the limited releases, such as Black Ops and Bell's Hopslam, and allow you to reserve bottle(s). Additionally, there is a mailing list, keeping customers informed about upcoming tastings, releases, etc. There are plenty of quality beers from which to choose at Rick's Wine & Gourmet. The new beer manager is knowledgable, pasionate about beer, friendly (a drastic change from the last guy) and does a great job. This place is certainly worth checking out and a destination I frequent as often as I can.
Sep 14, 2012
Photo of AndyAvalanche
Reviewed by AndyAvalanche from Massachusetts

4.01/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Visited this place while staying in Old Town. Had to walk a few miles, but I had some time to kill while my wife was in some conferences. Got there, it's in a little shopping plaza, not a big place, but everything was pretty neatly stacked up. Wine and liquor were in the store, but beer was to the right. As I walked in I was greeted by the cashier and he immediately asked if I needed any help, just told him I wanted to browse the beer isle and he pointed me in the direction. After being there a couple minutes a different employee asked me if I needed help, I told him I was looking for Duck-Rabbit and he informed me they were out and he'd either order some or was in the process of ordering some. He even offered me some suggestions. I didn't take the suggestions, but I appreciated the gesture. I was really bummed to not find any Duck-Rabbit especially because I'd struck out everywhere else. Still there was an good selection, better than anything else I saw in the area. Bell's, Terrapin, Great Lakes, Left Hand, Legend, Port City then the rest of the classic heavy hitters like Stone, Rogue, Sierra ect. I ended up leaving with a case divided up between some Bell's, Terrapin, and great lakes. A couple DC Brau bombers on the top. The cashier (Chris I beleive his name was) offered me a little help and gave me suggestions in the are to what else was around beer related. Very friendly and helpful. I read a few bad experiences from people, but I gotta say it was good for me, I'd go back if I were staying in Alexandria. HOpefully I'll be closer next time or have a car though.
Aug 05, 2012
Photo of Rubycon
Reviewed by Rubycon

1.83/5  rDev -55.8%
vibe: 1 | quality: 1 | service: 1 | selection: 4
I must agree with some of the other evaluations - while this place has a great selection of beers, the service is just awful! Frankly, while I usually don't engage in personal attacks, the beer guy here is just a jerk. He has no concept of customer service and is rude, impolite, and couldn't care less if you shop here or not. I have been in the store, maybe? 8 times, and, quite honestly, tolerated the guy because they have good beer...

However, this last time was the last straw - the guy was just a total jerk - I asked for help and he pretty much made fun of me for asking as in "if you don't know what you want, I can't help you..." and then denigrated me when I checked out (with about $100 worth of beer!) by saying he was really too busy to wait on me... And, I did nothing to the guy - never have! which is why it's so incredulous! I've been here before and the guy has been surly but this takes the cake... I even tried to be polite and said "sorry, did I offend you in some way? I like the beer here but you seem angry?" well! OMG! he almost lost it! and said that it had been a long day and he was tired of dealing with clueless customers! ha. Now, I'm a beer geek! so, I'm not clueless! This guy is just a jerk.

I think management here needs to step back and take a look at this guy - he has some issues! I'm not a pshrink! but studied psych in college and this guy is definitely in need of some anger management or some sort of counseling! Sorry, don't mean to go off - but everything the other raters have said about his behavior is true...

As a result, I won't return here - one would presume that the approximately $1000 a year I spent here on beer is not important!
Mar 22, 2012
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Reviewed by DapperGrowler from District of Columbia

4.74/5  rDev +14.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Last week I went to Ricks Wine and Gourmet in Alexandria, Va. This was my second time to Ricks. They had a great selection of beer, both imported and domestic craft brews. The service was great and the staff was very knowledgeable. I had a question about a particular style of beer and the staff was able to present me we a few options. They also will hold a beer for you through a email. I thought this was a really cool feature. I was able to locate beers here that I wasn’t able to at other places. Defiantly one of the best beer stores in the region.
Feb 13, 2012
Photo of Jimmys
Reviewed by Jimmys from Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -13%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4
been here a few times after living in the area for over a year now. locating within a strip mall off the very busy Duke St. a little hard to find if you dont know what you are looking for. once you get inside Rick's is mostly wine (as one would expect by its name) as well as a hearty cheese selection. i believe they make sandwiches as well, but i cant say that i have tried any of their food. the beer is relegated to the front corner with most of it in ambient storage and some bottles/6-packs in a cooler.
the selection is diverse with brews from several countries as well as american crafts. my favorite thing about this place is the harder to find brews that they occasionally get. as well as some of the mass released seasonals. for example, sn northern hemisphere harvest should be an easy to find brew at my local total wine, however this was not the case at all. i was able to find both that and stone's double bastard at Rick's before i even saw them on the shelfs at total wine. apparently they also get hard to find brews such as founders CBS, but you need to get down early on the waiting list or else you dont have much of a chance.
the staff has typically been a little cold, but this isnt as much of an issue for me cause i prefer to do plenty of eye shopping before i make a selection. i have asked a few questions and gotten help, but otherwise the staff is certainly a little off-putting.
not my go-to, but probably will visit more often for harder to find releases. prices are absolutely reasonable for the area when comparing to other bottle shops. worth stopping by and getting on their email list to see what is coming out.
Nov 27, 2011
Photo of Eriktheipaman
Reviewed by Eriktheipaman from California

4.44/5  rDev +7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Visited here for the first time a few days ago to pick up some Founders Breakfast Stout since I saw online they got some in. The selection isn't huge but it seems to all be of quality which counts for a lot. It also seems they get a lot of the special releases and put my name down for some CBS if they get any in. Although there were 45 people ahead of me on the list it was very nice of the lady to put my name down.

The lady working the front was very helpful and friendly. That alone would make me want to return to Ricks. They also do tastings of (I think 5 beers?) each Sat. which is pretty awesome. Although I didn't stick around to enjoy the tasting it's cool they offer.
Sep 13, 2011
Photo of yourefragile
Reviewed by yourefragile from District of Columbia

3.08/5  rDev -25.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 1.5 | selection: 3
Set in a strip mall next to a Starbucks, this is your run of the mill high-end wine and beer store. Bright, clean and cramped, a few coolers for beer and a tasting table mixed among stacks of empty boxes.

Great turnover and attention paid to freshness are nice. Weekly emails detail what is new that week and what is being tasted on Saturdays.

Stock is smaller than a Total Wine, but any of the limited releases that hit NoVa will end up here. Little hope in getting them walking in off the street though as most "rare" things are claimed by waiting lists long in advance of retail release. However, unclaimed reserved bottles will randomly pop up back on the shelf. Prices are fair to good for the area, never had a reason to complain.

So what's the problem here? The service. Read the other negative reviews, I don't feel like being petty, but there are other places you can find the same beers with greater frequency and selection nearby without feeling like you need pay homage to the staff for the privlege of buying a beer.
Sep 09, 2011
Photo of Chaney
Reviewed by Chaney from District of Columbia

3.18/5  rDev -23.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 1.5 | selection: 3.5
This place used to be great, but now the treatment towards us beer geeks has been less than stellar. As a matter of fact, it's been much, much less than than that. Dunno what the owner is trying to prove: Perhaps that he is a bigger beer geek than us? It seems he is intimidated by the craft beer community and by us in general, however I'm just speculating, so what do I know?

Atmosphere: Yeah, this is fine. There is a Starbucks and Noodles and Co. outside which always helps.

Quality: I will give them this: The do get some decent local stuff and they are disciplined about making sure it's fresh (the stuff that is best served that way, anyway).

Service: Read my introductory line.

Value: Actually, the prices are quite fair. Most of the local stuff is a dollar or two less than what you will pay at Whole Foods, and the store is organized impeccably into a bomber section vs. a 6-pk one.

I've been going here for MANY years, but I've noticed a decline in it's customer service.

NOTE TO OWNER/MANAGER: Although you may have a specific mindset (which is contrary to our own) about be beer geekdom. If you think we're tools and don't want to have anything to do with us, please, please, please, for the time being, help us when we come into your store without being pompous. You're not the only beer store in town.
Jun 10, 2011
Photo of CuttDeez
Reviewed by CuttDeez from Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +10.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Rick's is awesome..

A - Great, quaint, very inviting. They have the boxes they recieved the beer in stacked up - it gives it a very rare and natural feel. The beer is well displayed and the store is inviting.

Q & S - Incredible quality and service. The managers are knowledgable and will answer all your questions. I am part of their e-mail list which is helpful. The update their website with what they will recieve every week. They allow you to call in and reserve bottles of limited release stuff. They let you know what is fresh.

S - they have a great selection and they are constantly getting the seasonal and limited releases. If you talk to the managers they will let you know when they anticipate getting things in. I told one of the managers I was out for a week what do you have that is new. She walked me around the entire beer selection and showed me what was new and gave me tasting notes.

I didn't try their food but it is a gourmet store and they have daily recipes on their website that are interesting so I imagine it is good.

They also do tastings every Saturday which are informative and fun.

-Cheers
Mar 08, 2011
Photo of BigTomZ
Reviewed by BigTomZ from Virginia

4.44/5  rDev +7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Rick's is the beer store that I visit most frequently. They have a solid selection of micros and a fair amount of imports. They seem to have a good stream of beer fans shopping there, so most of their stock stays pretty fresh. They keep up on most new releases and newly distributed breweries. Jon is their beer guy and is always helpful. He remembers their regulars and often remembers your style selections and advises you of new arrivals you might be interested in. He always remembers me by first name, and I've seen him greet others by first name when they've come in. My favorite part about this place is their great selection of locals. They keep a solid stock of Williamsburg Alewerks, Blue & Gray, Legends, and now DuClaw (yes, from MD but still pretty local). It is my go to spot when I stock up on extras for trades.
Feb 20, 2011
Photo of CuriousMonk
Reviewed by CuriousMonk from District of Columbia

3.85/5  rDev -7%
I stopped by mainly to acquire some winter brews for a tasting I was holding with friends. I was instantly greeted as I came in and got asked if I needed some help, always a good sign. I browsed around the isles to take a look at the selection. They had a lot of stuff, but I was half-expecting to find a little more rarities. Maybe I caught them on a bad week, maybe there just wasn't too many outstanding brews available at that moment, who knows. A few nice imports were on the shelves, but nothing that made my jaw drop either. But they did carry a lot of the bigger micros and had plenty of local rep as well such as Legend Brewing, Williamsburg Aleworks and Old Dominion.
Feb 17, 2011
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
Great place that I generally head to at least once a week for the Saturday tastings from 12-5. If not, typically I'll be in on Sunday to pick up whatever I had reserved.

Quality here is top of the line. While the selection isn't as large as other outlets in the area, I'm more than okay with this fact given that they fit quite a bit into a small area and that the selection is constantly rotating and I never need to worry about older bottles.

Service has always been fantastic. Jon does a great job with the weekly e-mail detailing new beers and what is on for the tasting the week, and will set aside whatever beers from the list you're interested in if you call or e-mail. He's also always up-to-date on the latest releases.

Selection is good but not fantastic, which is understandable given space constraints. The new singles section was a really nice addition.

Prices are standard for the area.
Feb 01, 2011
Photo of Rhettroactive
Reviewed by Rhettroactive from Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
Rick's is my go-to bottle shop. I'm in there at least once a week.

The storefront isn't big, but it's space well used. Quality, not quantity. What beer is there (immediately to your right when you walk in) is solid. Everything has been thought over and hand selected by their team, led by the "Beermudgeon" Jon.

Plenty of American craft varieties from IPA's to stouts, as well as the high quality Belgiums you'd expect to find in a place like this. Jon will stock some sours here and there, but they seem to go fast.

Rick's also has a nice selection of artisan cheeses and snacks, as well as an array of fine wine too.

They are always willing to take down your name for a pre-order and will hold a bottle or two for you if you call in advance. They know me by name and always greet me with a wave or a smile. Everyone on staff seems to know their sh-t, and are always happy to talk about beer.

If you're in the area, drop by. The prices are competitive, though I can't say it's as big as Total Wine or even Norm's in Vienna, but again - quality, not quantity!
Jan 27, 2011
Photo of jayhawk73
Reviewed by jayhawk73 from Maryland

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
Rick's is one of the better places in No. Virginia for craft beers. They don't have as much selection as Total Wine (a few minutes away), but everything they have is excellent. Pretty good prices too. Another plus is that the service is excellent. The people I've talked to there are more than helpful, and really know their stuff. If you're visiting the DC area, this is definitely one of the "go-to" places to check out. A lot of Belgians, and US craft beers available here. They sometimes have hard to find beers, depending on the time of year.
Jan 10, 2011
Photo of 321jeff
Reviewed by 321jeff from Maryland

4.3/5  rDev +3.9%
Stopped by Rick's on my way home last week. It sits back in a little shopping center next to a Starbucks. It's a nice atmosphere inside with lots of wine and also some cheese. The beer selection is diverse, but relatively small and there always seem to be a few beers missing from most of the brands. Not a big deal, but it can make it difficult to do one stop shopping. Plenty of fresh American micros and quite a few Belgians as well.

It seems I'm always in there on a Saturday, which works out well since the "Beermudgeon" always does some tastings on Saturdays. He's very helpful and knowledgeable, and though I've never talked to any of the other staff, they seem friendly. Always a good place to stop, especially since it's the closest place to Maryland for me to pick up some Bell's and Founders goodies, I'd definitely recommend stopping by.
Dec 07, 2010
Photo of jc85
Reviewed by jc85 from Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
So I took a drive up here on a Saturday afternoon. Pretty easy to find, first thing I saw when I walked in was the beer. It's kind of sectioned off from the rest of the place, which is wine and some gourmet cheeses. As I got around a tower of boxes I saw the beer tasting table. The guy there was extremely helpful and seemed to know what he was talking about. I definitly appreciated the fact he had us tasting the beers in a light to heavy fashion. I left there spending less than I thought I would, not for the lack of selection, but because of the reasonable prices. If your in the NoVA area, this is a good spot to go to. Even though I am a bit south I will be returning soon.
Nov 14, 2010
Photo of kevinv
Reviewed by kevinv from Texas

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
Good selection of craft beers here. I usually find beers here that I can't find elsewhere, such as Whole Foods. The staff is very friendly - I've been asked if I need any help each time I've entered the store. I recommend signing up for their free weekly newsletter as it'll keep you informed on what's coming in that week as well as what's going to be on the menu for their Saturday beer tastings. Jon, the self-proclaimed "beermudgeon" is very knowledgeable about the beers they sell. He's also allowed me to purchase a few limited edition beers over the phone and then pick up the next day. Overall, the store is a great value.
Aug 30, 2010
Photo of dtivp
Reviewed by dtivp from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%
I have visited this store twice, the beer selection is good and it appears they turn their stock well, so they do not keep old product on the shelf. The Craft beer area is small, so it is not the main focus of the store. I rated the service average, because the beer guy's customer service needs to be improved. His beer knowledge is excellent and he is opinionated, which is OK until he trashes your opinion. At times I felt I was in the way, which is surprising since I was purchasing a $180 selection of beer. Maybe that's a small order in the store???? The young lady behind the counter was very much more helpful.
The value was good and I will return when visiting my son, maybe the other beer guy will be working on my next visit.
Jun 13, 2010
Photo of TMoney2591
Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
I heard good things, so I decided to check this place out. It's slightly more of a drive than I'm normally used to, but, upon seeing their wares, I felt it was worth it. A very good selection of various brews from across the country was the focus (at least in the beer section, anyway), with a decidely smaller selection of European brews, primarily Belgian and British. Most of the bottles were warm, though there were also a pair of small coolers. What I felt was lacking was the singles selection: Sure, there's a bunch o' bombers and the like, but only a select few single 12 oz-ers; the rest were still confined in their sixers. The staff is very knowledgable and more than happy to provide recommendations. Overall, a good selection and good prices will allow this place to stay on my list of go-to stores.
Jun 07, 2010
Photo of Ricarrdo
Reviewed by Ricarrdo from Virginia

2.55/5  rDev -38.4%
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...
Feb 09, 2010
Photo of billab914
Reviewed by billab914 from Virginia

4.7/5  rDev +13.5%
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.
Jan 25, 2010
Photo of drabmuh
Reviewed by drabmuh from 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.
Oct 11, 2009
Photo of guild337
Reviewed by guild337 from Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
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.
Sep 08, 2009
Photo of bobschmenge
Reviewed by bobschmenge from Virginia

4.65/5  rDev +12.3%
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.
Aug 02, 2009
Photo of vincent1878
Reviewed by vincent1878 from Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
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.
May 08, 2009
Photo of BZero007
Reviewed by BZero007 from Virginia

3.85/5  rDev -7%
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.
May 06, 2009
Photo of mobud
Reviewed by mobud from Delaware

3.55/5  rDev -14.3%
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
Mar 15, 2009
Photo of number1bum
Reviewed by number1bum from Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
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.
Mar 08, 2009
Photo of bmanning
Reviewed by bmanning from North Carolina

4.85/5  rDev +17.1%
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.
Jan 23, 2009
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Reviewed by BeerSox from Virginia

4.65/5  rDev +12.3%
Located in the Alexandria Commons shopping center on the right side as you're turning in (facing north). The beer section is on the right front side of the building. I was a little dissapointed to see a beer shelf so close to the front store windows. I'm sure most of the beer is fine, but if a clear bottle was set there it would be at risk of skunking.

The selection breaks down into mostly 22oz/750ml bottles (along with a few rare larger sizes) along with a few 500ml/330ml bottles, and six packs. There aren't very many 12oz singles because the six packs aren't broken. There are a lot of rare beers mixed in with the usuals.

At the time I was there a beer tasting was going on with a good selection of beers such as Rogue's 2008 Brewer's Ale and the '08 Stone Vertical Epic. There was a person there that was very knowledgeable about the beer, and could offer help.

A great selection. I wish I was closer to this place. If you're looking for something very rare this is probably the best place to stop in the greater D.C. area (as far as I know).
Aug 23, 2008
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Reviewed by Goldorak from Canada (QC)

4/5  rDev -3.4%
We took a cab from our hotel in Old Town because we weren't sure how far it was. I don't get the fact that Taxis charge you extras like 1.25$ for an extra passenger (what a way to encourage carpooling!) or 2.50$ for popping open the trunk to put your luggage inside. Anyway, turns out it was less than 2 miles away in a strip mall complex.

We were instantly greeted as we came in and got asked if we needed some help, always a good sign. We browsed around the isles to take a look at the selection. They had a lot of stuff, but I was half-expecting to find a little more rarities. Maybe I caught them on a bad week, maybe there just wasn't too many outstanding brews available at that moment, who knows. A few nice imports were on the shelves, but nothing that made my jaw drop either. But they did carry a lot of the bigger micros and had plenty of local rep as well. Legend Brewing, Williamsburg Aleworks and Old Dominion were all breweries that I knew little or nothing about, so I mostly concentrated on these. They had the Millennium ale aged a few years available, but at over 20 bucks a sixer I decided to pass and go for the '08 at a more reasonable 10$. For some strange reason, it's illegal for them to break six packs. Just another one of those zany liquor laws you see now and again I guess. I talked about that with the lady at the register and another employee, they seemed like really nice people.

So overall a big thumbs up, I'm glad I went (somewhat) out of my way to find this place.
Apr 06, 2008
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Reviewed by blackie from Oregon

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
quality: everything seems to be in order, but I worry a bit about the bottles sitting near the window in the sunlight...follow up from the owner reveals that he, too, is worried about this and is working on a solution

service: hard to judge, as I didn't really ask for any

selection: Great selection, lacking only singles. Regional breweries, including Blue & Gray and Legend were represented, with bombers in a cooler for around 5 dollars. Other brands included Stone, Troegs (including 3L Mad Elf), Smuttynose (including the big beer series), New England, Bluegrass Jefferson's Reserve, and so on. No way I can list everything there, but it was impressive. Definitely worthy of a visit and I will return whenever in the area.
Mar 18, 2008
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Reviewed by dsigmon from Florida

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
This place has a decent selection of both domestic and import beers. Very few macros available but did see quite a few locals such as Blue and Gray as well as Williamsburg Aleworks. There is a VERY limited selection of domestic singles and bombers but quite a better selection of the imports.

The one thing that draws me to this place is the service. The couple that is always there running things are more than eager to help and are fairly knowledgeable.

The wine selection here is tremendous as this must be their bread and butter. They have tastings of both beer and wine often but for example, this week they will have 30 wines out for tasting. Usually beer tastings include 5 or so beers in thimble sized samples.

Overall good store but not quite the selection of singles that I am use to....see the vintage cellar blacksburg, va.
Feb 11, 2008
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Reviewed by rowew from Colorado

3.7/5  rDev -10.6%
Located in a strip mall off of Duke street. Store is dedicated mostly to wine, but there is a divided off section of warm beers and a couple cooler doors with cold stuff. Good selection of locals and regionals - better than I have seen elsewhere. Not great when compared to some of the beer dedicated stores I've seen elsewhere. Staff seemed helpful. I was able to pick up a few six packs of stuff I hadn't found in some of the other places I'd stopped in - and there seemed to be some more rare offerings.
Mar 15, 2007
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Reviewed by stereosforgeeks from Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
Went to Rick's today to pick up a couple of things and to see what their selection was like. The beer selection available was good but not too much particularly stood out as being something I hadn't seen before. The staff was quite excellent however and felt knowledgeable about the beers that they sold. There was a wine tasting and beer tasting going on today as well, so obviously I had to partake in both. The only beer in the tasting I hadn't had before was an Abita Mardi Gras, but it was still nice they were doing it. I definitely plan on stopping by again.
Feb 18, 2007
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Reviewed by MikefromDormont from Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
While visiting a friend who lives near Alexandria, I decided to visit Rick's and walked west on Duke Street from the King Street Metro stop. Rick's is located on the north side of Duke Street in a strip mall about a 30 minute walk from the King Street Metro stop. When I entered the store, I was greeted by one of the staff who was conducting a wine tasting. He asked if I needed any help selecting a beer. The store is small and seems mostly geared to selling wine, but the beer selection was decent with a mix of bottles/six packs stored on shelves at room temperature and some bottles and six packs located inside coolers.

Rick's has a lot of the local beers from Old Dominion and Legend and also carrys a number of beers from Stoudts and Victory. The beer selection is not as good as that of the Vienna Whole Foods Market, but Rick's is worth a visit if you happen to be in the Alexandria area.
Oct 27, 2006
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Reviewed by dedrinker from Kansas

3.85/5  rDev -7%
Inexpensive inasmuch as most beers are a buck less per six pack than at the Local Whole Foods. The store is small, so you can't expect them to have some massive beer geek stock - it is way better than your average local grocery store - don't be a spoiled hater. With their available space they are very dedicated to fill it with good selections. While not as broad or deep as a couple of the Total Wines or Whole Foods in the area, you get a much more personal feel in the store, and it is a good place to go for some slightly obscure beers the other locals may not be carrying. Always worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood. Once in a rare while there are some well kept secret beers there that age well, but have gone out of production, and this is a good last place to look for them after ll the higher profile places have run out! I once scored a certain unnamed (and underappreciated) Belgian beer there that was technically extinct after all the other stores in the area stopped selling it. The beer had aged well, and was at its peak condition when I poured it out that night. Rick's is often my secret weapon for stealth purchases!
Oct 25, 2006
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Reviewed by alysmith4 from District of Columbia

4.3/5  rDev +3.9%
This place is awesome! Definitely worth the trip. I was so happy to find such a diverse selection of Belgian, German, American, Asian, and English beer. They had lots of six-packs, and singles, and even a cold case full of more stuff. The shelves are just packed, and the service is wonderful. A bit agressive about beer, but what else woule I expect from such a place.

In particular, I noticed beer from Unibroue, North Coast, Rogue, Magic Hat, Sumttynose, Great Divide, Avery, and Three Floyds. I bought a medley of beer from each brand. Delicious!
Oct 20, 2006
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Reviewed by jaluria from Connecticut

3.7/5  rDev -10.6%
Stopped by this place while in the area. Relatively easy to find with plenty of parking out front. There happened to be a tasting of Clipper City brews while we were there which was nice. We ended up buying a 6-pack of their Oxford Hefe.
The store has a very nice selection, though many beers cannot be purchased as single bottles (4 or 6 packs). A relatively small amount of space was occupied by beer, but they seemed to have a nice representation of different styles. Only a handful of bottles were in the frig, the rest were stocked on the shelves.
Here is just some of what I remember them having: Avery, Troegs, Stone, Southampton, Bear Republic, St. Bernardus, Old Dominion, Clipper City, as well as a number of German, English, and Belgian beers.
A nice place that I hope to visit again soon. Some beers were relatively cheap while others seemed a bit expensive.
May 08, 2006
Rick's Wine And Gourmet in Alexandria, VA
Place rating: 4.14 out of 5 with 50 ratings