I had not been here in a while, but it wasn't them, it was me. New job takes me an entirely different direction. Brought someone here from out of town who was looking for singles. Same amazing selection, staff were warm and welcoming, fair prices. While I can't speak for the wine side the beer side is well organized and easy to understand what is where. It remains great. read more

Great service and Great selection of craft beer. The staff goes the extra mile to provide the best of both!

Great spot. Well curated collection, always have the finest MN and WI beer selection possible including occasional Barrel Theory crowlers, great Modist beers, or Humble Forager's Elevated Perspective. They also have Oliphant crowlers, a great small brewery just 30 min away in WI. When I moved here I was so happy to find a small beer store with great knowledge. Additionally, I buy some wine there and they are always respectful of my price point request when I ask for recommendations esp when I ask for something off their under $10 value wall :) And finally, with COVID 19 concerns, they've adapted with curbside pickup. I have not gone into a store unless there is absolutely no other option since March, so I have relied on businesses leaning in to curbside. You do have to call them and give the credit card info over the phone (maybe in the future they can do an online system?!) but I have never had a security issue with that. Also when I call them for my curbside order, I am pretty familiar with what they have in store but they are still helpful when I want to get recs over the phone or know what is new from the local breweries. For craft beer, the prices are exactly what they should be - no bud light here, folks! Oh.. and if you are very nice you can als for a dog biscuit for your pup (or have the pup ask politely!). read more

This place is amazing. Great selection, including a huge wall of beer singles, and a really great that is very helpful. This is one of my favorite places in the Metro, can't recommend it enough. Building your own six pack of beer is a lot of fun here. read more

Love the team who works here and the friendly atmosphere they create--on top of their knowledge of wine and beer. They take their time with customers new and long-standing and are well-staffed with experts who typically hit a home run when you describe what you are looking for. One night it was "white wine with pizza" and they nailed it. We are big fans and venture in a few times per week--sometimes just to say hello and see what's new but we always walk out with something yummy. It's a local gem--check it out! read more

Really dig this place Booze for those with refined tastes No Coors Light, sorry This is a gourmet beer and wine store. No hard liquor. They do not have nearly the selection of Surdyk's or some other places, but what they do have is 100% non-crap. You will not find Miller, Budweiser, Michelob or any other macrobrews. All of their beers are craft microbrews. A ton of stuff I have never seen anywhere else before. My sister told me to come here and get a Sour Beer (which I had never heard of before) called Duchesse De Bourgogne. Unfortunately, they were out of the Duchesse. Bummer. Decided to do a make your own six-pack instead. Went with the following: Whale's Tale Pale Ale, Odell IPA, Southern Tier 2X IPA, Lucky U IPA, Victory Hop Devil Ale, and Acme California IPA. Would have been nice if the make-your-own-pack beers were chilled, but not a biggie. I can't speak to the wine selection as I did not browse it. I am guessing they do not have Yellow Tail, though. Looked like they had a wine sampling station. I did not partake. Off to drink my beers now. Cheers! read more

The Wine Thief & Ale Jail - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

A wonderful small bottle shop that lets you separate beers so you can mix and matched till your heart is content. The shop had a ton of local Minnesota and Wisconsin beers which we shared with family Christmas. read more

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I am by no means anything close to a sommelier, but am somewhat of a self-proclaimed beer fanatic, so this review is more so focused on the latter half of this place's namesake. First off, this isn't the place to look for a case of, well, any type of beer. This is, however, the place to pick up a sixer of craft beer, or better yet a mix of whatever craft beer your heart (and liver) desires. They have hundreds of bottles for the picking, organized by style, and they give you a 15% discount on each mixer sixer you concoct. The selection is broad and quite impressive (follow them on Facetwitterbook to find out when they get new deliveries and limited releases). For the indecisive, or less accustomed to craft beer, soliciting recommendations from the staff is recommended, as they are much beer-nerdier than the author of this review. Cheers. read more

Wine Thief and Ale Jail is a great little store with lots of local and regional beers you can take home. You can mix and match single cans, although this can definitely get a little pricey. Despite that, they have decent prices on six packs of beer and a really interesting selection for people wanting to try something new. We came for a visit in the early afternoon on a Saturday and it was not terribly busy. To make it extra delightful, 12welve Eyes Brewing was on-site doing beer samples (which, of course, I would never turn down). Not all of the beer they sell is local or regional, but they seemed to carry a good number of small, independent breweries in their six pack selection and I did not see any national or highly commercial beer. They have pretty good amount of cold six packs they sell. Additionally, the person working was helpful in recommending beer and seemed quite knowledgeable on the subject. Overall it was a really good experience. I can't really speak much to the wine side, as I was on a mission to shop for some local beers the day we came in. However, that wine looked well organized and they had a decent selection of wines from what I could tell. I will definitely come back again to buy some local and regional beer (or maybe look more closely at the wine side). read more

Wow, this store is fantastic! I was shocked to see the amazingly low prices on high quality wine and beer. This store has a wine section and a beer section, with only unique and interesting items available. You will not find any bud light, barefoot etc here. The wine is separated by flavor (rather than region), which I found very helpful. The store offers free beer tastings (and possibly wine?) on Thursday evenings. I'll definitely be back! read more

Wine Thief is a cute neighborhood "corner store" style liquor depot. We happened to drop-in on wine tasting night and the resident-expert was surprisingly knowledgeable! After perusing the options we were able to capture two great bottles from family-owned wineries. The only missed star opportunity was due to using plastic cups for the wine tasting...#GlasswarePlease read more

The Wine Thief & Ale Jail - A Bottle For Every Mood! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

The Wine Thief & Ale Jail specializes in variety by carrying a large, diverse selection of wine and beer, giving Saint Paulians a great opportunity to try new wines and ales. This small shop is located on St. Clair and Fairview and has been open since 2005. They started off as a wine shop but soon expanded and added beer. Maybe I shouldn't say "beer," cause that's not quite right. They didn't add rows and rows of macro brews- they added high-end, crafty ales. More on that later. Although The Wine Thief & Ale Jail are technically one store, they do seem to have different identities so I'm going to talk about each one separately. First off, let's discuss The Wine Thief. Sara and I have been in on a few occasions and were really intrigued by the way the store is organized. This is not where you go to pick up a box of wine or a case of Barefoot, but it's not pretentious either. (note from Sara - I have NEVER bought a case of Barefoot, thank you). They have plenty of inexpensive bottles (under $10) that they call "Steals", as well as expensive bottles (over $35) that they call "Splurges." But most of the inventory is somewhere in the middle. On our most recent stop, Sara bought a nice red blend called Cashmere by Cline. She chose it based largely on the quirky description that the Wine Thief staff pulled together on the wine (a hallmark of the store). They had her at "cashmere" and "pajamas." Tasty and very drinkable (as in, a bottle is gone before you know it) but I like my reds a little bolder. My favorite aspect of The Wine Thief is how it's organized. I don't like walking into a liquor store and seeing that all the wines are organized by grape. What if I want to try something "like" a pinot grigio or a malbec - where do I look? I hate liquor stores that organize their wines by country of origin or region. I could be looking for a great pinot noir that I had the night before, and if some pompous wanna-be sommelier asked me what region it was from, I would tell the ass-clown he's lucky I remember it was a pinot! Disclaimer: If I knew a lot about wine I would probably be a pompous ass-clown about it. Instead of using one of these silly systems, The Wine Thief organizes their wines by character. Ok, I'm not sure that's the right word but we're gonna go with it. They have sections based on the character and taste of the wine. So rather than seeing a sign that says, "Chardonnay," you may see a sign that says "Bold", "Crisp", "Spicy" or "Fruity". I love this, because I may not be able to remember the name of the wine I drank, but I will be able to remember how it tasted on my palate. Side Note: the staff at The Wine Thief are very laid back, not pompous or ass-clowny in any way. Yes, I like the term ass-clown. On to the Ale Jail. If you're the kind of guy who believes in quantity over quality when it comes to beer, then the Ale Jail is probably not for you. You will not find a dirty thirty of Hamms (mmm Hamms) although they do sell sixers of PBR tallboys. No, Ale Jail focuses on quality brews, and this my friends is were the variety comes in. Their website (really cool btw) says that they have over 200 different beers. I feel like that's a low ballpark, because the selection is astonishing. They have a nice fridge of sixers and all the Surly you could want. A wall full of the craftiest, and/ or foreign liter bottles I have ever seen. I have never been in a liquor store that's come close to the variety and selection here. And they will allow you to build your own six pack! What better way to try 6 beers you've never had, or get 2 of your 3 favorite beers? I know a lot of liquor stores do this, but do they have the selection the Ale Jails does? Hells to the no. The Ale Jail made me sad that I had to give up beer, but for those beer snobs in your life (whattup Freckles and Noodles? Wow! Haven't called that guy Noodles since '01) the Ale Jail is the perfect haven. Well, dear readers, there you have it. The Wine Thief & Ale Jail is the perfect spot for a couple. Since about 93% (of course, this is completely statistically accurate) of couples have a woman that prefers wine and a man that prefers beer the place is a match made in heaven. And there in separate rooms so you don't even have to look at the person. Glorious. read more

Great atmosphere. Maybe it is the prices, maybe it is the friendly staff, maybe it is all the generous tastings of wine every day when you walk in, but this place is great. Example: While being rung up, I told the owner that we don't patronize Solo Vino and (even though it is w/in walking distance of our house) come to his shop instead. He honestly advised us to go back and try them again. Said they went through some changes, have some new people who are more willing to help with purchases. That is cool. (We tried SV again, and still prefer the Thief.) read more

Though Wine Thief is pretty far from my usual stomping grounds, it's become an annual(ish) stop on my way to the far north woods of Minnesota, post-arrival at MSP. Let's just say the beer selection up north is typically lacking, so you have to stock up while still in civilization. Were this shop near me, I'd be there all the time. The wine is arranged by region, and there's a great array of price points, all clearly marked by little hangtags. One of my pet peeves about wine shops is when they make you hunt and hunt for the price of a bottle - not here! Brief descriptions are informative, and the selection's intimate enough that it's clear someone's making good choices and knows the bottles they're selling. There's also a small selection of spirits, including some from regional micro-distilleries. On the beer side, I was able to peruse some favorite names I don't often find on the West Coast (Stillwater, Goose Island, a huge selection of Boulevard) and many smaller regional breweries that distribute primarily in the upper Midwest (Surly, Indeed). The proprietors were more than happy to steer us in the right direction and got a good sense of our taste almost immediately - great customer service! Cool light-wooded space, friendly people, and all the good stuff you need with nothing you don't. Plus the coolest shop name ever. What's not to love?! read more

Great selection of beer and wine nestled in a sweet neighborhood storefront. The staff was helpful and the prices are fair.

Storms freak me out. Tornado warning message is basically a reason for me to binge on a bottle of wine and not feel bad about it. What can I say, I'm a quirky girl! I went to Trader Joe's and my fateful little tornado warning popped up. I googled wine stores near me and voila! Enter Wine Thief and Ale Jail (mind you it wasn't the closest, but it did have the most clever name). I came in seeking a particular Riesling (since I like my wine more like Kool-Aid). Alas, they did not carry what I requested but the two gentlemen were quick to offer up a suggestion of Gewürztraminer (say that 5 times fast) which is sweeter than Riesling AND was on sale (pleasing my inner cheapskate). Definitely will be returning! read more

We love craft beer and were lucky enough to move into the neighborhood where this wonderful little shop resides. I have to say -- I'm not a big wine drinker. Half of the store (the Wine Thief part) is devoted to wine. Based on my experiences, I would guess the wine selection is great. But can't say first hand. That's because I kind of ignore this half as I walk on through to the other half -- where there is a fabulous collection of craft beers. We have discovered some wonderful beers here, taking good advice from the very knowledgeable staff. Among the most redeeming features of this store: -knowledgeable staff (I know, I just said that, but it's worth repeating. Love that the staff will ask you something like, "What type of beer do you like?" and immediately suggest three or four more based on your response.) -Very good selection. Huge variety for such a small shop. A word of caution... you won't find any Bud or Leinenkeugels or even brews like Sam Adams here. Anything mass produced is not this store's deal. But it's a playground for adventurous craft beer lovers. Six packs accordingly generally range fro $7 or $8 and up. -mix your own six... one of the walls of the store is covered in single beer bottles priced individually. There is a lot of fun in mixing your own six pack sampler and going home to sample some new brews. My husband and I do this routinely and it's awesome. -Special requests. We've always found this store to be wonderful about honoring special requests -- they even kept a couple six packs aside for us unrefrigereated when we asked (we needed to take them on a trip and didn't want cold beer that would then be warm and then cold again). They totally understood and handled the request easily. -Free tastings -- on both sides of the store, every Tuesday I believe. -doggie water bowl! As a neighbor who walks their dog by this place all the time, I am thankful that they are thoughtful enough to put a water bowl out on hot days. Two tails up! read more

Cool place, nice selection. Build your own beer 6-pack (a somewhat daunting task considering the quantity of options available, both refrigerated and non). Not a whole lot else to say... and I can't comment on the wine selection. But if you're looking to try a sampling of unique beers, I'd recommend stopping in and loading up. read more

While i cannot claim to be master of the grape - i'll save the rest of this review for the Ale Jail. It's true, a lot of the ambiance could be accomplished by highschoolers, or a drunk. (Or drunk highschoolers) But the selection of the tasty liquid treats are pretty damn good. Selector packs help a whole bunch, since you will likely want to try everything you see. The guys there know their stuff, and short of being a homebrew fanatic - if you love beer, you run through the aisles giddy with beer-crazed excitement. (short aisles, maybe 20 paces - but you get the idea) read more

This is my go to liquor store since the Ale Jail portion opened 1 year ago. They hands down have the BEST selection of beer vs. any other liquor store in St. Paul. The one year anniversary event was AMAZING this Friday 9/16! The highlight of the ale jail is the build your own beers with several 100 rotating individual beers in varrying varieties and price ranges that allow you to try new offerings before committing to a six pack or simply come back for a variety of your favorites. There is always something in stock that you have not tried yet. Pick a brewery and try their entire offering (New Belgium, O'dells, Great Divide, Rouge, Surley, etc.), or pick a style of beer and try different brands (IPA, Stout, Belgian, Pilsner, etc.). If you're an inexperienced beer drinker or want to continue to expand your horizons, take the time to speak with the staff. They will take the time to understand what you like and make relevant suggestions. The service is top notch. Samplings of featured beers are frequent. I'm a local homebrewer myself but still am amazed at what I learn when speaking to the staff. They will direct you to limited releases of beers and new additions (a purchase of a porter aged in oak barrels and infused with whiskey comes to mind here) and make great suggestions to suit special occasions (most memorable here was the suggestion of a belgian ale made in the champagne region of France for our Wedding Day). Dogs are welcome and they'll get a treat. Maximus (our black lab) loves to make new friends at the Ale Jail and there is even a beer in the selection named after him (Lagunitas Maximus Ale)! read more

There are two kinds of record stores. There are those that are huge which have one of everything, where the staff if you can find them may or may not be helpful. And then there are those little places with a small, but discerning selection that just seem to have what you want when you need it. The staff live there and love every single thing in the store, or at least know enough about it to make a recommendation. Well turns out it's exactly the same thing with wine. You can either navigate your way through the acreage at Surdyk's or you can find some place more hospitable to your little brain which hasn't memorized every wine fact in the universe and your fledgling palate which is eager to try new, but not at $40 a bottle. If the latter is what you want than the Wine Thief is the place. As other reviewers have noted, great atmosphere, generous tastings, whip smart and sweet staff that consistently have steered us toward under $20 a bottle winners . read more

I love the Wine Thief! I used to live in the area so would stop here frequently on my walk home from the bus. Since my move I have purchased most of my wine at Zipp's. Wow, bad choice. I was in the 'hood again last night and stopped to get a bottle...all those great memories of Wine Thief visits past came rushing back. This is a true gem! First, all of their wines are under $20. Score. Next, all of the wines I've purchased have been awesome! Each bottle is lovingly picked by the owners and staff who seriously know their stuff. So even if you don't know a lot about wine (like me), you can walk in here and pick pretty much anything in their collection and you'll be set. And if you have questions, ASK! They love that and are more than happy to help without being demeaning. Stopping at the Wine Thief last night has convinced me that I should no longer be buying wine from liquor stores. Specialty wine shops are where its at. They have tastings, knowledgeable staff, and I did not feel pressured to spend a lot of money. Plus I am supporting a local business. read more

I really appreciated the help I received selecting local craft beers that my beer-connoisseur brother-in-law will like when he comes to visit! read more

Decent selection but won't go again. Think they are snobs about wine and beer as opposed to welcoming. read more

This is my go-to place for wine. This shop has a wide enough selection that you'll never get bored, but not so big that you feel overwhelmed. And the best part, the price ranges of these wines is very wallet friendly (mainly $10-$20 range). The staff here is super knowledgeable, friendly, and laid back. Many times I have walked in here and told them what I was making for dinner and they led me straight to the perfect wine (or beer, on some occasions). Also, it's so nice that they do the occasional wine tasting. I love to test drive my wines ;) I love the range that is offered here, and that I don't feel like I have to know what I'm looking for when I go in. This neighborhood is so lucky to have this place!! read more

Super friendly employees and they do a great job at keeping you up to date on the newest beers available on Instagram!

If they don't have the beer you looking for, chances are it isn't available in MN. Huge selection by the bottle which allows you to not invest in a six pack (I have too many 5 packs in the fridge...try one, it's okay, 5 sit there). Wine selection is also great...lots of values and bottles you might not find everywhere. Give the staff some direction and then listen to their recommendations. read more

I've been going here since it opened. Always a great selection and knowledgeable staff. They have an uncanny knack for introducing me to things I love. They specialize in inexpensive wines, but I have no problem racking up a tab here because there is so much I want to buy. I stopped by to ask about the Surly Smoke which was unfortunately sold out. However, they were able to show me some wonderful alternatives. Plus I got to sample some Sweaty Betty and home-made donuts. A great local business! read more

I always stop in when I'm in town. Amazing staff; always extremely friendly, knowledgeable and have a new recommendation for me every time I'm in (they even remember my likes)! The selection is fantastic and there's always something new to try. Top notch neighborhood beer, wine and liquor joint! read more

Stopped in here by chance, after going to Scusi across the street, and it was great. Went straight to the Ale Jail, and they have a large selection of create your own six pack beers, all arranged by type (Ales, Lagers, Pilsners, Wheat Ales, etc.). The arrangement made it easy to find beer types that you like, and choose amongst them, rather than having everything arranged by brand. Plus the selection of smaller breweries gave me plenty of choices for beers I've never had before. The Wine Thief side is nothing to sneeze at either, as they have a wide selection of wines, and not just a million Cabs and a million chardonnays. Hell they had four or five different types of Proseccos on hand (I don't know that I've ever seen more than two at any of the stores I frequent). It sucks that they are on Saint Clair, so it's not really convenient to get to, unless you happen to be in the neighborhood, but I can guarantee that next time in Mac-Grove, I'll be stopping in. read more

Love this place! I stopped in right before closing time for a bottle of wine after leaving dinner across the street. They have a large selection of wine and craft beer. I told the man working what I was looking for and he immediately had a recommendation. Just tried it tonight and it is my new favorite wine! A very on point recommendation. Will definitely be back! read more

As I now sit here and wonder how it is that I have not yet reviewed this place, I realize that I have not been in to this shop, which is just right up the street, to browse or buy anything for a few years. Until very recently. Life changes and habits change, as we all know. Since its opening in the summer of 2005, I have celebrated this shop being in my neighborhood. I have also celebrated getting to know the wonderful duo whose dream it was to open such a store in this area. Their concept is pretty simple: personally selected wines, most all under $20, with a few over $20 thrown in for good measure and an occasional splurge. A few years ago, I had the great pleasure of buying one of their "splurge" wines, as recommended by Paul, and then getting my proverbial socks knocked off!! It was the most delicious California red I'd ever tasted for something like $30-$35 a bottle. Their space is open and inviting, and their staff are informed and helpful. Wandering in one recent evening, my suspicion was correct - they were just about to close shop. However, we were not dissuaded from entering. My friend had never been in this shop so we took a quick spin around the floor, found an enticing-looking bottle, bought it, and brought it home to try. It was good. My friend even returned to the shop a few days later to buy another bottle of it. Now, he's asking that I contact the shop to ask for 6 more bottles of the stuff. It was a great wine for a nice price. And that's what the Wine Thief is all about. read more

I am so glad that this store opened in the neighborhood. The staff is very friendly and THEY KNOW THEIR BEER. Behold the massive selection of obscure brews that hail from faraway lands. Ha! Everything is fairly priced so you won't demolish your finances. Also if you put together your own six pack they will give you a 10% discount. Guess who just became a regular customer? Yours truly. read more

Literally the nicest people and super knowledgeable, at the drop of a hat they will sample a pour with you and really take the time to find a new beer or wine for you. Local and the best selection. read more

Happiness as soon as I walked in! Came home with a "summer sampler" of wines that I can't wait to try. Great prices, too.

I'm more interested in the beer side and for that they have a great selection; it's the best I've found in Saint Paul proper. There are lots of microbreweries from all around the US in addition to lambics and other European fare. If you like good beer this place is for you. read more

I'm a huge fan of this place! Nestled on St. Clair in St. Paul, it's cozy and homey inside with just the perfect selection (not too large, not too small, and always unique). It's well priced (you can get a great bottle for around 10-20 bucks) and the store staff are super friendly. Great place! read more

Every time I come to St. Paul to visit my sister I have to make a stop here. They are always very friendly (in the beer area) and extremely helpful. They also always have a great selection of local MN and Midwest beers in general. I highly recommend it if you love beer read more

What a hidden gem. I found this place thanks to a co-worker, about 3 months ago. I'm in there almost weekly now.

I've been meaning to review this place for a while. I don't have much to add, content-wise, compared to the previous reviews. However, I want to restate what all of them have said: that this place is top-notch. They carry a great selection of wine and beer, and they have beer tastings on Tuesdays which are so much fun! One of the owners (the one I've met, anyway) brews his own beer and so when I've been to the tastings, that's what I've had. And he knows his stuff. I generally consider myself more of a wino than a beer gal, but I always wind up getting both wine and beer when I come here. The staff is incredibly helpful, and the selection is great. If you haven't already been here, check this store out for sure! read more