Ledger's is THE place to go for beer geeks in the East Bay. It's rivaled in selection in the whole Bay Area only by City Beer, and even then I'm not sure. If you are looking for it and they distribute to California, they probably have it. If they don't distribute to California, they might have it anyway because Ed makes special trips just to get some great and special beers. Take the time to get to know then and you'll realize what great and friendly service you get there. Get to know them well enough and they're hook you up with specials from the back room. They appreciate beer so much that they have a nice collection of aged and vintage ales that they put out occasionally. Looking to do a vertical tasting on Sierra Nevada Bigfoot? Check there and you'll probably be able to come away with at least two years worth. I can't recommend this place more. Funny story, one time I was there and this homeless guy came in to buy some gin. When told the price he couldn't believe it and started yelling. I thought that we were going to have a situation on our hands, but it turns out that he couldn't believe how cheap it was and went back to get another, haha. read more

Trouble- this place is super close to home. They have an amazing selection, and are super-knowledgeable about their liquor. I really like supporting this local business. The owner and employee are really friendly and helpful. They aren't liquor snobs when I have (possibly dumb) questions - I like that. I agree w/other comments that it looks a little sketch from the outside, but I've never been sketched out by anyone in there. If they don't have what you're looking for, they are good at recommending something similar that they've tasted. The first time we went in, we were making milk punch (like a giant boozy milkshake, so good) so we needed a lot of booze, not necessarily great quality but not rotgut. The owner steered us to Evan Williams bourbon, which I had never heard of- it turned out great and wasn't too expensive. I'd give it 5 stars, but since it is a small operation, if you absolutely need a particular brand, they may be out. I'd give 4 1/2 stars if I could. read more

I'll admit, I usually go to the big chains for my booze. But when I'm looking for something specialty or a little different, I'll opt to come here. They have their own parking lot, which is convenient. It's currently adorned by Adult Swim advertisements painted directly onto the side of the building. Their spirits are shelved floor to ceiling behind their long counter, and they have an aisle full of specialty Belgian/Belgian-style ales. This last time I came in randomly to see if they might have a bottle of St. George De Profundis (jyeah...fat chance...) and just to check out their Allagash selection. They carried the "Hugh Malone" brew, which I first had at The Trappist, but never saw at the big chain stores. Score! Here we go! Experience: 3 (It works...) Parking is convenient, and the selection is daunting. I'll admit, the specialty beer aisle seemed a bit disorganized, but I was able to figure it out. I didn't really talk to the staff, but he was efficient and cordial when he rung me up. Value: 3 (You get what you pay for...) I didn't look at prices for the everyday stuff, but the Allagash I picked up was about on par with the big chain stores. The spirits seemed to cost a little more than the chains. Products: 4 (Cool...) They'll have stuff you would expect, and the stuff that's not normally carried elsewhere. Definitely come here for that specialty something. Overall: 3.33 (rounded to 3) This store is a bit out of the way of my normal booze jaunts. So, I'd probably stick to the big stores for most of my needs. However, it's a solid store with a cool selection of booze. Yay! read more

This place is great! If you like beer and get a little tired of what you can find at the grocery store or bevmo then this is the place. They have a ton of hard to find items as well as some of the more common items as well. The price for the common items is a little above normal but the hard to find stuff is priced just right! I will be going back.... read more

Truly as good as it gets. Friendly folks running the place, amazing selection on any kind of libation you enjoy, reasonable prices (ask the people behind the counter for suggestions as to your preferences if you're on a budget; they can help), and I'm so pleased to know that others think as highly of them as I do. 5 stars with a smile. read more

A solid beer store in bay area!!!!! They have a great amount of hard to find eastcoast microbrews. If you google "world top 100 beer", you will be able to find a good amount of them in Ledger. The owner and co workers are all very knowledgeable about beer. They don't have regulars/VIP list for limited release- which means you don't have to suck up to them to get certain beers. I was able to get the very last bottle of limited release from behind the counter- no drama, no sucking up. I can only give 4 stars because their beer are a little bit pricier than other places. Find a $10 beer in wholefood? Guess what, it's going to be $11 or $12 here. Besides that, beer section is unorganized. You can find a bottle of barley wine inside a case of lambic, or a bottle of dubbel sitting next to a bock that is already sitting next to a IPA. Some people find it fun since it's kind of like scavenger hunt, but good luck if you are there looking for a certain style to try out. read more

There is a cashier that seems friendly with the regulars, but is relatively unapproachable to us less frequent customers. I think it was the owner who helped me pick out what I needed and explained the use and the popularity of individual items with local bartenders. They have such a large selection that I very much appreciated the assistance. I definitely prefer frequenting local businesses like this. However, it would be nice if the cashier smiled at customers once and a while. read more

-nice employees -staff made helpful suggestions -Ledger was able to get me a couple of local brewery kegs for my wedding at a good price read more

This place is BEER HEAVEN! I hated beer until I came in here one day to pick something out for my boyfriend who is a total beer snob. The owner helped me pick something out based on what I described my boyfriend's favorite beers are. He ended up absolutely loving what I picked out. I also ended up buying something that the owner suggested, and now I too have it bad for beer. But I only have it bad for GOOD beer...beer that you have to buy at Ledgers. :) I'll see you guys again soon! My only suggestion would be to open up a bar or a tasting room right there in the liquor store. That'd be ridiculously awesome! Thanks! read more

Best selection in town. I would go here over Bevmo any day of the week. Just wish they had better hours.

Happen to find this place by accident when ordering a keg of beer that I couldn't get near my home.. The selection is amazing, lots of interesting finds at great prices.. They carrier rare wines, beers and alcohol that you cannot get at a regular place.. Nice selection of glassware too!! Worth the 45 drive for me!! read more

Wow. This relatively small place has a selection of pretty hard-to-find (read: obscure?) brews from smaller companies, a whole 1/3 of an aisle of Kosher wines and such, and not a bad set of wines and hard liquors. All at liquor store (read: high) prices, of course. read more

Love them. Kind fellows and the younger fellow is a beer wizard, I shit you not. Prices are reasonable and the selection is AMAZING.

I've been looking for the elusive Pliny the Elder for some time now, I finally found it here. Due to the scarcity, you are only allowed one bottle per person. The staff made some excellent recommendations and answered all my questions. Excellent selection for IPA lovers, knowledgeable staff, and reasonable prices. What more can you ask for? read more

What do you want in a liquor store? For me, I want sooooo many beers and quality, not quantity. These beers come from everywhere and you can by a single one. They make fantastic gifts. I pretty much jam on in there, buy the most eclectic bunch I can find, and then spend the next month letting people choose their own adventure when they come to my house. Boom. read more

This place is great and I'm kicking myself for not coming in sooner. For years I've driven by this place assuming its just another shady liquor store. Boy was I wrong. They have a huge selection of beer and liquor. I think the selection maybe better than Bevmo. Prices may be a tiny bit high but its worth it when looking for something rare. I came in looking for something rare. They didn't have it in stock but were quick to recommend something else. Excellent selection and service. I will be back! read more

Ledger is a real gem, I feel lucky to have them in the neighborhood. A family owned liquor store. They have an amazing, well curated selection of beer, wine and liquor. I usually spend a few minutes at the wall surveying the stock of liquor. They have never steered me wrong with their recommendations. They are happy to point you to good values, not just great ($$$) bottles. Apparently they hired a new employee? I was approached by a someone I didn't recognize with a handful of beers as I made my way to pay, and he made a couple of unsolicited recommendations - I assumed he was just another customer who was trying to be helpful. It wasn't until I was paying and noticed him join the Owner's son in the stock room that I realized he worked there. Anyways, his descriptions were spot on his recommendations appreciated. Thanks! Ledger is worth the trip, even if you aren't coming from Berkeley. It's worth the extra buck or two per bottle (for liquor) to support this great shop. Oh yeah, and they have a bike rack INSIDE! Go now. read more

Extensive collection of nearly 1000 beers, hundreds of wines, and an entire wall floor-to-ceiling of spirits... wow! On top of the selection, the staff are friendly, helpful, and knowledgable. If you're looking for small-market and non-standard bottlings - including the high-end varieties - of scotch and other liquors, this shop is definitely a good place to go! read more

I was wanting some good whiskey one night and holy hell this place has someone testing and labeling the whiskey! I bought a bottle of single barrel selected and stamped by the tester and I was in love. Plan to come by again and try another select bottle ! read more

I know this review is useless. This place is an automatic 5-star for people who would shop here. The workers let you alone to do the shopping so you don't feel being nagged. They close on Sunday so that might throw some people off. read more

Excellent place to get interesting liquors. The variety is down right amazing and the owner is super knowledgable. This place deserves every single star, while they can get busy, the fountain of knowledge the owner has when it comes to alcohol is simply amazing. They have just about everything you can imagine along with some amazingly rare top shelf stuff. The price is fair, they're definitely a specialty shop and not just a corner liquor store. read more

Ledger has a great selection of excellent liquors. A pet peeve of mine is when stuff is stocked behind the counter rather than shelved; here, pretty much all of the spirits are behind the counter. I like to pick up a bottle, check out its label, and note the price. I don't want to keep asking the guy working the counter to pull stuff for me. As a result, I usually only go here knowing what I want in advance. That said, it does sound like these guys know their booze and can offer good advice. read more

Whoa! Now this place is a find. I cant believe that Ive lived in Berkeley for 18 years and have just discovered this place. They have an incredible selection of everything a little different that you may want. I ve never seen such a large collection of bitters! I was looking for Rudys Tonic and they had it. The shop owner mentioned that they have been in business for 3 generations. Great people, great selection. read more

The best liquor store ever. You wouldn't think so to look at it, but I assure you that they have an absolutely incredible selection of fantastic beers. American microbrews, including those hard to find in other places? Check. Obscure but delicious Belgians? Check. I can always find something amazing and new to try here, and stock up on the beers I love (anything Russian River puts out, Delirium, St. Bernardus, Fantome, etc). The difficulty always becomes leaving before we deplete both our checking accounts. read more

This place carries a lot of rare scotch unavailable in most Berkeley places. Especially the Ardbeg expressions plus a giant selection of bourbon. However, it is very expensive relative to prices in other places. I understand the mark-up but some of the prices are exuberant. read more

One of my favorite liquor stores in the area. At first glace from the outside you might think it was just another small convenience store, but once you look at his stock you will be impressed. My brother wanted an obscure Spanish liqueur and they happened to have one bottle up on a shelf... it was a little dusty, but tasted just fine. read more

Soooo much beer, so many selections of wine and liquor. This place is absolute heaven for anybody who likes to drink. Close to north Berkeley bart station, this place is really deceiving. On the outside looks like an old hood Liqour store but go inside and they have a selection that can go head to head with any Bay Area bottles and spirits store. If you go, take your time to look and you'll find stuff hidden behind other stuff. They had Russian river damnation and salvation which is sometimes hard to find read more

Excellent beer selection with a frequently changing cast of marked down or closed-out bottles. Tons of microbrews and Belgians, an unusual abundance of dull lagers from Spain, and an excellent selection of low priced swing-tops to swell your homebrew arsenal. Ed Ledger is an awesome guy, very friendly and personable read more

Warning: Beer snobbery ahead Why go to BevMo? BevMo is for your slightly above-average, mildly discriminatory dipsophiliac. I think BevMo's clientele consists primarily of those of us who want a good price on a non-shitty, middle shelf whiskey or a six-pack of something tasty that can't be found in a grocery store. They have a great selection and I'm grateful they're there. But as far as imported selection goes, BevMo is run-of-the mill compared to Ledger. Ledger is for your "Jesus-Joseph-and-Mary-there-goes-my-paycheck" beer and spirit lovers. Looking for that beer from Manaco? Ledger will order it if they don't have it on the shelf. Looking to purchase a twelve pack of beer that tastes like alpaca urine? Ledger is the opposite of what you're looking for. There's a 7-11 at University and Sacramento. Ledger was recommended to me by my brother, who makes his own beer, knows beer inside and out and has managed to make drinking it something like an analytical activity. I get the impression the folks who run this place are similar. That's not to say that you have to be a connoisseur to shop here, but it does help if you're an adventurist. read more

This is THE PLACE to find unusual or hard to find liquors, and one of the best selections of beer - belgian and microbrews - in California. The owner is incredibly knowledgeable. They will order stuff for you - special orders - and he tries things - he now carries Fee's bitters after I special ordered the Fee's pomegranate Grenadine. Also his prices are good. read more

Awesome place! They have my favorite chips here! Deep River Snacks which uses sunflower oil (not canola which is horrible for you!) which is a natural product. Mmm, chips. They are also very knowledgeable about whiskeys and beer! It's really really cool place and they also sell handmade jewelery (earrings, belt buckles, etc.) and a bunch of different types of glasses for alcoholic beverages. :) read more

This is my go-to liquor store because they have *everything* at great prices and with friendly, helpful service, and a parking lot to boot. (Also they'll let you bring your bike in the store.) The selection is second to none, and it's very current: dozens of mezcals, fancy bitters, and shrubs. Plenty of local and small batch stuff, plus the big jugs of bargain booze. There is every kind of beer. From Shiner to Tusker to that tasty German stuff that's half grapefruit pop and half beer. Plus barware. Plus ice. And better prices than Bevmo. I'll never go anywhere else again. read more

Amazing, mind-numbing selection of beers. Truly, and no nonsense.

I am sorry to have to write this, as we've been a customer of Ledger's for many many years, but today, AFTER my wife purchased a fairly pricey bottle of scotch, she went back in, wanting to use some extra change we had sitting around for another small purchase. The guy behind the counter (who we never saw before) scooped up the change but did not credit her the full amount. When she pointed that out, he treated her like she was trying to scam him (and this was just AFTER the expensive bottle purchase). She tried to explain, but he was so rude that she walked out, letting him keep his measly change. (My wife is a very sweet and kind 63 yr. old who treats everyone with dignity and respect - not like this guy treated her). This is why retail is on its way out. Here we are, loyal customers and loyal to buying local (even though the prices are higher), and treated like we are criminals. The owner was not around, because he would have never done that, but he's moving on anyway and this is what we get with the new folks taking over? It's a sad day that I write this, as we used to really love going there, but no more. Ever again. read more

This is an excellent place to shop for kosher wines and other kosher items. They can typically be relied upon to have 777 brandy from Israel in stock at a price that is dramatically less than most other places throughout the Bay Area. They also stock Louis Royer cognac which is kosher and well worth the premium price. The people have always been quite helpful. I try to stop by whenever I'm in the area there. My only grievance is that they're closed on Sundays. Then, we all need a break now and again. Support this place. Its a mom and pop shop at its best! And thank you Ledger Liquors for being a fine source for kosher items. Here is a 2016 update: Hot dog!! I got married last month on December 13th!!! I went to Ledger Liquors to seek out premium whiskey for the wedding that was NOT Scotch. I LOVE Scotch! but I don't buy from Scotland. I've been long interested in trying out single malt whiskey from Inidia. A young guy working at Ledger's took a fair amount of time with me, demonstrated knowledge of kashrut concerns when it comes to whiskey, and suggested Amrut Fusion, single malt whiskey from India. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This stuff is the BOMB!!!! Amazing amazing whiskey!!!! It cost about $78 a bottle but the stuff is so good one might expect to see a line stretching out the door for this whiskey even at that price. This dude's advise was greatly appreciated. This was definitely the best whiskey I poured for my guests at the wedding. read more

This place has survived! Back when the unemployment office was next door. Back when Andronicos was a CO-OP Supermarket! Back when Jay-Vee Liquors was across the street! They are pretty nice people. This is a good place for beer, cigs, lottery and the paper. I give it a big drunk thumbs up! read more

I am guessing all the 5 star reviews are because people consider this the best liquor store in Berkeley, and they may be right. I was able to locate everything required for my beloved mules, except the limes, and I snagged a "drink by" Stone IPA. They do close at 8 frickin PM though, so I don't think they'd ever get 5 stars out of me. read more

Great selection - I'm not a beer connoisseur but I come here for last-minute cocktail ingredients. They have lots of liquors and an impressive array of bitters and garnishes. Only taking off a star because some things (like Luxardo cherries) are pricier than I've found elsewhere... hence why it's more of a last-minute place for me. Definitely worth a visit though! read more

Very glad we made to stop out here. A very nice beer and wine store with a great selection: Russian River, Lost Abbey, Alesmith, Fantome, Drie Fonteinen, Deschutes. Had cases of Deschutes Abyss and new RR Sanctification bottles. Very nice selection of old Fantome Saison and Fantome Noel if you are looking for them. Pretty awesome place. read more

The best liquor store in the bay area. I also get a 10% discount as a Bay Area Mashers (BAM) member. It doesn't suck.