This place is great for craft beer. Both the selection (beers from around the US and outside the…read moreUS) and service. Jack was awesome in helping me track down some specific beers I was looking for. They also sell many (most?) of their beers as singles for beer nerds like me that want to try a lot of different beers and breweries but not have to get a 4 or 6 pack. Small but well stocked and easy access from anywhere in Iowa City.

So I have been going to John's off and on for years, but lately I have noticed some definite…read moreimprovements in the quality of food they are ordering (ie, groceries) which makes my heart sing. They have all types of food items like avocados, lemons, milk, organic beef, cheeses, cat food, garlic, along with a wine room (vinho verde) and everything else they have. This makes my life easier.

New to the area and was struggling to find Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth for cooking. (Side note; if you…read morehaven't tried Noilly Prat, I highly recommend as this stuff is amazing.) After calling multiple stores, including requesting a special order from Hy-Vee two separate times only to be ignored, I about gave up. These guys came through, ordering a case of this vermouth. Customer experience matters and this experience solidifies me not only being a return customer but also recommending this business.

On day seven hundred of social distancing, I needed booze…read more (Ok... really it was day 18. Our supply was low and the weekend was near. Plus I have kids, that I am attempting to 'school' in some fashion during this who pandemic thing. I knew I lacked patience as a human... I now know with absolute certainty I do as a teacher, too. And before you ask-- while I do not believe it is drinking alone when your kids are there-- this is for afterwards. Call it a reward for a job well done? Or perhaps a beverage to wash away the stresses of the day.) I started to explore my potential zero contact options in the area. I realllllly wanted to order online and drive on over to have it loaded in my vehicle. I tend to linger when buying adult beverages and don't make up my mind in a timely manner. There are just SO many options, ya know?! I thought I'd end up using my local grocery store for this beer... margarita... rum... liquid sanity run. But alas, Bootleggin Barzini's allows you to order online! Right on. #supportsmallbusinesses Well, their selection is superb. (I knew that already though, having frequented this biz at least a dozen times before-- pre-pandemic.) But what surprised me is while a lot of their inventory was OBVIOUSLY not online, they had a lot of local craft beers and not so local craft beers ready for purchase. (Even some Big Grove ones I didn't even know were a thing.) I filled my cart. Had the option to pay in person or online. (Hello. Zero contact.) And then the option of picking up anytime between 11-10P. I selected my time. Showed up then. A co-owner was waiting outside the door for me... loaded my liquid rewards in my SUV and away I went. I think their pricing is always a bit high but that being said, whether it is offering carryout booze or having a supremely knowledgeable staff member talking beer with you-- the service is high at Bootleggin Barzini's. Always. They also have adult beverages that you can't find elsewhere in the area... so take that into account for the extra couple of dollars per six pack. I know I'll be back.

This is a grocery store with an absolute CRAP wine section. DO NOT RECOMMEND, if you want a nice…read morebottle of wine. Besides that it's a grocery store nothing fancy.. Service was fine, not busy.

At first I was hesitant to enter the Hyvee spirits room. Figured it would be akin to Kmart having a…read moreliquor store and.with Barzini's and Jon's in town, why venture from greatness - dead wrong says I. This place is serious about libations! The manager here is a connoisseur of finer beverages and the place shows it. Upon entering you're greeted by plenty of wine. Highfaluntin bottles to three buck chuck and all things in between. To the back right is an amazing selection of larger bottles of microbrews that range from light to dark, to fruity to holly. Second only to Jon's and a couple spots in Seattle in variety and with a taste for any palate. To the left in the back are the six packs that again range from known to mysterious. The management is making a concerted effort to rotate the selection and seriously, it's rad. They're building the Iowa microbrew selection and have a great variety of regional and beyond brews. Best part is they'll often sell them individually. Liquor selection is good, however, the best part is that the manager will take requests. He's got some great connections and scores some tough regional favorites. Overall, I've been very impressed with the selection and service. A close second to Jon's and on par with Barzini's. Well played Hyvee!

After a long drive and issues with my first hotel maki gme switch my overnight stay I was ready for…read morea cocktail. They were stocked and helpful and I got what I needed.

When you throw a large shindig-- beer shouldn't be something you have to stress about. And let me…read moretell you, Liquor Downtown was a relief. I threw a party and was in need of two quarter barrel kegs. I had emailed around town to find the best deal... and Liquor Downtown ended up having the best pricing. Not only were the kegs themselves cheaper, but the deposits made for the kegs, tappers and buckets were also less expensive than local competitors. The entire process was easy and professional from pickup to drop off. I loved how responsive they were via email-- and they event sent me a friendly reminder text the morning of pickup! I honestly hadn't frequented this store since my college days but I now, without a doubt, will get my next keg at Liquor Downtown and so should you.

The black raspberry carbliss I got smelled like a rotting corpse. I can't believe I put that in my…read morebody. Also--they only had one margarita mix and it was the most vile, nastiest margarita I have ever had. It tasted like nail polish remover. Overall general selection was horrible. I would rate 0 stars if I could. :(

You know how you prices for beers are higher at stadiums, well Top Shelf is almost that expensive…read more Limited selection, too. Only go if you are really desperate.

Keystone is a shop I've been driving by for a year and finally stopped in to and unfortunately…read moreprobably won't be back to. They've got an okay selection of liquors and is the first place in a long time that I've seen with Templeton rye stocked, however, it's about $15 more than anywhere else - thus the reason for maintaining a supply me thinks. The beer selection is pretty subpar for a specialty store. The back wall is lined with cooler that are rivaled by the BP station across the street. The only out of the ordinary beers they've got are in one cooler near the counter that have some good local beers as well as some single bottles of Russian and Latvian beers. I did discover that Latvia makes one mean Lager however! The've got a decent number of sundry items including margarita salts, olives and what not. Overall, not an impressive beer store and with a number of others in the area, they're going to have to up their game to compete.

Stopped in tonight for the first time. Nice little place, all your drinking basics. Not a huge…read moreselection, but enough to get the job done. Gentleman behind the counter was very friendly. Prices seemed fair. I look forward to going back in the future.

Rude staff, would highly NOT recommend going there, they need to learn to be nice to people who are…read morebeing nice to them, and not be so disrespectful to paying costumers

I'm sorry but just because it's the pandemic doesn't me you shouldn't be able to return the broken…read moreitems they sold you in the first place if I don't get my money back I'm calling the better Business bureau because on top of that we didn't get a receipt but we have bank statements and the bag and box for proof