Dennis Brothers Liquors

October 29, 2008
Definitely the most aesthetically pleasing liquor store I’ve ever been in. The selection is almost as good as Blue Max, which means it’s still pretty damn good. John is a cool guy to talk beer with and really knows his stuff. It’s a bit of a haul from downtown, but was still worth the trip.

October 10, 2008
I have been here three times now and was not overly impressed with the service I got. The staff did not seem overly happy to help and when I only purchased one beer the last time I was there the lady at register gave me a look like really, only one beer? even though it was a $12 bottle (which is more then someone spends on BMC!). I just did not get a good vibe. The selection however is quite good. A little heavy on the Rogue which I believe is highly overrated but some of their Mikkeller selection is great as is the availability of Cantillon. Their pricing is on par with other stores in the Cities. The biggest downfall of this store has to be its location. Cottage Grove is just too far outside the Cities (40 minutes). If you’re in the area definitely stop in as the selection makes it worth it but the forty minute drive is definitely a detractor.

July 5, 2008 [ Updated November 30, 2008 ]
Found Dennis Bros. after visiting BeerAdvocate.com (they are Minnesota’s highest rated beer store). The store is located in a mall on the corner of Cty Rd. 19 and 70th St. in Cottage Grove – approx. 12 miles from St. Paul. The store is clean, nicely displayed & well stocked with a huge selection of fine domestics, belgium, lambic, & seasonals. John “The Beer Man” has assembled a collection of large format & aged bottles that add to the already impressive display. Service from the Bros. is exceptional. They are happy to provide information, recommendations, or simply talk beer. Pricing (spot–on with other competitors) coupled with service & atmosphere add up to great value & experience. The store has 1400 wines & an impressive selection of specialty liquor including the best collection of scotch I’ve seen. I am proud to support this store & recommend it to anyone who values the benefit a family-owned business like this brings to the local beer community!

June 30, 2008
I was by the Brothers. Their sellection was nice, clean and in date, they just seemed to do it right. One word I can say is GREAT! Hard to find stuff to a full line of Victory, Bells, Surly including a mixed pack and the most complete line up of Rogue. I look forward to my next visit with the Brothers.

May 13, 2008
This place is about as good as it gets. Great selection of bombers, including lots of Rougue, Ballast Point, Mikkeler, Flat Earth of course, so many more that I cant think of. Competitive prices, I think Fury is 9.59, Bender 8.99. The customer service is where D bros really shines. John and Steve know their beer upside down and backwards, and are always willing to help make a selection if need be. Best customer service I have had in a liquor store hands down, somthing that Blue Max sorley lacks IMO. It is worth the drive for most, but im glad i live close.

May 3, 2008
Wow, this is a really nice store. It’s a bit of a drive to get to it from St. Paul, but it is worth it. The feel of it is excellent, as it is spotless, in a great neighborhood and near some open fields (which is always nice to get back to). The selection is as good as most places here in the cities and had a few things that I hadn’t seen anywhere else. Service is excellent, as the owners are friendly and clearly very committed to and knowledgeable about craft beer. Since it is a long drive and there are such solid stores right in the Mpls/St. Paul area I probably will only make it there once in awhile, but it is still highly recommended.

March 8, 2008 [ Updated May 12, 2008 ]
A very nice and well laid out store. Quite clean with a pleasant, almost small town feel to it. Excellent selection. Top notch service. The brothers will go out of your way to help you find what you want. Not quite to Blue Max or US Wine but close. Rivals Cellars for sure. Found some Struiselenis, Struise Witte. Only drawback was the painfully small mix and match singles selection. Overall, by far the best option in the East Metro. Top 5 in the entire metro area for sure.

May 27, 2007
I visited Dennis Brothers Liquors with my dad on Saturday, May 26. My dad agreed that, in terms of ambiance/atmosphere, this is the nicest liquor store that either of us has ever been to. The selection is very strong, although not quite at Blue Max levels. The prices are on the high side, but it’s a boutique shop, so that’s to be expected. However, many beers, especially Belgians, come with free branded glassware(!!!), and both of us took advantage of this benefit. My dad and I spoke to the Dennis brothers, especially John, extensively about beer and whisky. They are truly passionate about their business and the products that they sell. They really know their stuff and are happy to discuss it with their customers. We both received free samples of a rare Scotch, and John, knowing that we were interested in glassware, threw in two free Saison Dupont glasses. It was a great experience, and I definitely plan to make return visits despite the fact that the location is not very close to my home. This place is well worth checking out, no matter where in the Twin Cities area you live.

November 29, 2006
An exceptional place to buy beer. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Nicely organized store and very clean. Great selection of beers focused on quality and not quantity. Prices are some of the best I’ve seen. Highly recommended.

November 10, 2006
Stopped by for a beer tasting and got soooo much more. At first I wasn’t sure how great things were gonna be. Bit of a drive from Minneapolis. When you start to see combines and open fields on the way you start to wonder. Clean looking store front and even cleaner when you get inside. Everything is in it’s place on the shelf with nice labels and clean rows. Very nice wine section in a separated area. Great whiskey and scotch selection. Now onto the beer. The tasting was great with 10 beers being poured (Hopmouth, Jewbelation, and Old Ruffian to name a few). I stood around and talked to John (one of the brothers, hence the stores name) for a couple hours along with another BA member. We sampled and explored the many beers they have. The largest Rogue selection in the state is of great note (and a great discount on 3 bottles of it). Nice lineup of Belgian beers. Plenty of hard to find stuff too. John and Steve really love beer and it shows. They’re willing to go out of their way and talk to you about the beers and find beers for you. You won’t find that kind of dedication at other stores. Totally worth the drive and I’ll be back again soon. Thanks again guys!