What's not to love about The Vault? It is the most well stocked craft beer and wine shop in the…read morearea and parking is usually available on street outside. When I say the most well stocked, I'm talking about Foundation, Bissell Brothers, Lawson's Finest Liquids, Liquid Riot, you name it and they probably have it. Great sour beer selection as well! They offer Fiore olive oils and vinegars that are available for tasting. As far as wine goes, I can tell you they have a ton to offer and also have some chilled. They have specialty tea, chocolates and coffee too. Incredibly friendly, helpful staff and great prices.

Since I'm not a "how many racks of Bud Light can I buy"-the cheapest kind of girl, I prefer to get…read moremy wine and beer at smaller, more intimate places that are run by folks who are passionate about what they do. That's EXACTLY what you'll find at The Vault, which is such a wonderful, gem in the Lewiston/Auburn area. The owner, Susan, and her staff not only appreciate good wine and beer themselves, but they're incredibly knowledgable about it too. When it comes to my libations, I don't want to be (up)sold on whatever product needs to be moved out. I want to have intelligent conversation with educated folks on what they suggest, why, and have them make recommendations to me about what I might like after I tell them (and they listen with open ears) what it is I personally prefer. And that's part of what The Vault folks offer; they take the time out to get to know you (whether you're a regular or just passing through) so that your experience at their store each and every time you go in is tailored completely around you in that moment and not around whatever retail agenda that might have. Locally craft beers? They do that. Budget-friendly wines? They do that, too. And now they're offering flavorful and unique balsamic vinegars and olive oils, too for both samples and purchasing (although downing a shooter of olive oil is frowned up... The Vault is classier than your average beer and wine store, so don't be one of "those people" [*ahem* like myself] who rolls in and starts taking shots of EVOO like it's going out of style). If you're in the area - even if you're not - and you're looking for something specific, you should talk to Susan and her team. If they can't help you, they'll be able to find someone who can! Also, The Vault frequently hosts wine and beer tastings (something I'm an avid believer in - it's a great way to discover new beverages without spending an exorbitant amount of money on something you may not end up liking), so be sure to check that out as well!

For those that live in the Androscoggin and Oxford county regions of Maine, Roopers is likely your…read morego-to or a consistent stop for all your alcoholic beverages. In Maine we sell alcohol in CVS, Walgreens, Hannaford, Shaws and many other types of establishments, but Mr. Rooper, prior to his passing in 2022, built an empire of Rooper's Beverage stores that is well known for their inventory and bottle redemption services. If you are unable to find what you are looking for, they will try to find it for you. They found me a Jack Daniels Sinatra bottle that is very limited and they called me the second they got their hands on a bottle. Rooper's is a Maine staple and their staff is always friendly and accommodating. Mr. Rooper did a tremendous job building his business and expanding to other locations. I applaud him and his teams for continuing to raise the bar and set the standard for customer service.

As cliche as this is, Roopers "is what it is". All their locations are rather similar, with the…read moreSabattus St one just recently adding bongs/pipes/weed smoking paraphernalia. So you can buy all your addictions in 1 spot. Lottery, scratchers, beer, wine, liquor, cigars, cigarettes, papers, tobacco. They've stepped up their craft beer game a lot recently. Just be weary of dates on cans. Roops has a tendency to keep year+ old cans on their shelves. $20 for a 4 pack of year old warm IPA. Delicious.

Great wine selection and knowledgeable staff Some wines new…read moreto us The buyer made great recommendations

Not much. The MAGAtude is grotesque. And getting louder. Ugh. I'll drive to Portland even tho…read morethey are the closest liquor store to us. Being veteran owned drew us there. We are a veteran family. But their Maga stuff is loudly ignorant. Gross.

This is one of their smaller locations and its reflected in the selection they offer. Don't get…read moreme wrong, they cram as many bottles as they can in the shelf space they have. Staff is friendly and they offer to order anything they don't have, but I have yet to hear from them since I asked for a certain type of bourbon. I l later found out it was best to go to their Sabattus Street or Auburn Minot Ave location as they seemed to carry what the Main Street one does not.

I walked in with a bunch of questions about American bourbons. Needed to buy a $100 bottle for a…read moreholiday swap. Staff had absolutely no clue about anything. My real complaint here though is the twenty minutes I spent looking at bourbon with 3 staff laughing and joking around about 10 feet away. No offer of help, and when I asked for some, staff was clearly put off.

Bow Street does it again! I seem to have an uncanny ability to find tastings - and when I thought I…read morewas making a quick stop to get two avocados there was a tasting happening! It was great - the woman from the distributor was perfect. What made it extra memorable was a calligrapher who added messages to each bottle purchased. So yes, instead of 2$ for avocados I have a bottle of 10 year old Basil Hayden bourbon & bottle of tequila aged in a bourbon barrel.

This rating is specific to the Deli which I've NEVER had a good experience with. Only reason we…read morereturn is for Boars Head meats which can't be found anywhere else. For starters, they won't permit you to pre-order over the phone and direct you to the app, which also die NOT have an option to order deli meats. When you arrive at the deli, there are typically 4-6 employees standing behind the counter and not one of them will bother to acknowledge your presence. Certainly never any niceties. Instead, you'll find them shooting the shit tucked in the corner snacking on deli meats and cheeses. After multiple minutes waiting, One will come and ask if you've been helped because it's not obvious enough that I'm standing there alone, staring at them and no one has lifted a finger. This deli has to be the penalty box for Bow St workers because they all act like they're in a cage waiting to be let out and want absolutely NOTHING to do with patrons. They'll literally let meat roll off the slicer into a bag that ultimately falls apart when trying to remove a slice. Today, I got home to find a half pound of turkey ends. These guys clearly intentionally try to ruin days. Owners, PAY ATTENTION. This is on YOU.

Fantastic gourmet shop to grab key things you need for entertaining: wine, cheese, salami, &…read morehousemade dips for your charcuterie, the tastiest crispy chips. Don't miss the frozen case featuring Afterglow ice cream sandwiches made in Maine. People will fight over the Classic sweet cream between brown butter chocolate chip cookies. The restaurant no longer has regular hours. But their Wiener Wednesdays featuring inventive hot dogs, along w/ curated pop-ups are not to be missed. They're really community-minded, so great local stop.

If only I lived closer... I'd be at Vessel & Vine ALL. THE. TIME…read more I've been a huge fan of this wine store for years. It's got so much character, and the people running it are some of the nicest humans ever. I don't think I've ever left without a smile on my face, or without a bottle (or two) of something new and interesting. Their selection is incredible; not just wine, but also vermouths, Campari, and even pasta and bread?! Like, what don't they do? And the vibes??! Perfection. In the winter, it gives a mix of Scandinavia and Spain, and I'm so here for it. Oh, and they have a full wine bar with pours and bites. Just go... you'll thank me later.

If you like craft beer then this is the place for you. I don't drink beer but my mother and brother…read moredo and they decided to stop by to get some beer. The store was very clean, inviting, and they even have tastings. My mother and brother said their beer was absolutely delicious with their Lobsters. The customer service was great as the staff members guided my mother and brother on what type of beer to get.

If you like craft beer from Maine and beyond you must stop here the next time you're shopping in…read moreFreeport. Huge selection of canned beers and some meads with a knowledgeable owner to guide you. And there's a section where you can make your own mix n match 4 packs. It will be a stop among our favorite stores for now on. Right next door to Beans, in the same building as the Jameson Tavern (great food), and across from Mangy Moose, what's not to love about this location?!