As luck would have it, I was in the area and decided casually to see if there were any good beer…read morespots. Universal wasn't too far, and Yelp informed me of the amazing craft beer selection. When I pulled up, I have to admit, I felt i must have been punked. The outside looks just like any liquor and beer store. And even the first few aisles are pretty standard. But head to the back, and you'll find an amazing array of local and just damn good craft beers. I wish more of the hoppy ones could be consistently cold, but that would be challenging given the supply. (Most of these breweries print a canned date on them, so be sure to check.) I've never seen so much Other Half besides at the brewery itself, and they even had a 4-pack of a semi-obscure brewery in the central Connecticut that I adore. Can't wait for another excuse to come by.

Seen one beverage store and you've seen em all...well, that can be mostly true, and thinking that…read moreI'm going to be contradictory to that opening statement is incorrect. Yes, Universal Beverage is no different from your run of the mill beverage stop...in most ways. You understand what I'm talking about if you've frequented spots like this. Ya know, any place with "beverage" in the name that has an ice freezer and plenty of sodas and waters and drinks and such. Though where the money truly lies is in the walls and walls of craft beers that these stores supply. Problem is, just like with Universal, some of these beers generate a shelf life much longer than they're intended to have (i.e. dust covered bottles). Therein lies the major turnoff of any place like this. BUT, I have to return to the first paragraph and say that Universal differs from many other spots for one huge reason: Other Half. Maybe this means very little to some avid beer drinkers (especially if IPAs aren't your thing) and perhaps there are a few craft beer aficionados that shun OH (for whatever reason), but for me (and many others), Other Half has consistently been a quintessential brewery in the NY suds scene as they continue to dole out glorious beers week after week. My issue comes from the fact that I could never consistently lay my hands on some cans of OH without trekking to the brewery...until now. You see, Universal carries a massive selection of Other Half beer. I was amazed to see how many cases lined the floor by one corner of this small beverage storefront. Though true amazement came once I learned that OH had just released cans the day before and lo and behold, Universal had them in stock the very next day. Better yet, prices are the same as if you got the cans straight from the brewery. No uptick in prices which is extremely hard to beat. This trio of facts alone earns several Yelp stars for Universal Beverage. I'll move away from Other Half factor for a moment and give Universal a little more credit for their beer selection. They do indeed get a pretty eclectic and hard to find variety of beers from local spots and other areas that can be difficult to come by. A small case in point would be my desire to track down the Warhead sour beers from Artisanal Brew Works. There they were, sitting on the shelf when I first walked into UB. Though not that exotic it was still a great first impression to say the least. I will throw one other caveat out there with this place. Unlike many beverage stores that are all for you mixing and matching single cans, Universal tends to gear themselves at keeping things in the 4-6 packs that they are purchased in. This isn't necessarily a problem (especially for those that just gotta have some Other Half or something else of rarity and want the four cans the way they come), but I can't help but shake the fact that a few cans didn't make it into my beer fridge because I only wanted one, and that just wasn't an option here. Just a good piece of info to know. Overall, Universal Beverage is really nothing spectacular to look at. It's almost hole-in-the-wall-esque from its size and pushed back location on Westbury Avenue. But it's the treasures of knowing just what you can find there (specifically, but not limited to, Other Half) which puts this place on the map. I'll most certainly be back as I continue to follow them on Instagram as I wait for the posts of new cans they get in stock. Follow them too (the owner will be happy to know you're checking them out online) and perhaps you'll see a post that makes you venture to Universal Beverage for something rare...or just Other Half. Either way you'll be glad you went.

I came to M&D Liquors on Labor Day (yes, they were open!), looking for a specific Austrian white…read morewine. They used to sell it, however, no long sell it now. Bummer, but customer service was so friendly and helpful! Great prices! I will definitely keep this place in mind in the future!

I'm a non-drinker who always gets asked to bring wine for my family Thanksgiving. I usually go to…read moreTrader Joe's where the staff is super helpful and ready to make suggestions, but this time I wasn't able to. I found this place on Yelp and asked the guy to help me. Between masks and our language difference, it wasn't that easy to understand each other, and my absolute ignorance didn't help, but he stuck with me while I listened to his suggestions and texted with my niece and I came out with three bottles that everyone was happy with. Especially my niece!

Royal beer is an excellent local gem. While it may look unassuming from the outside, you will find…read morean incredible selection of beers on the inside. Both macro and micro brews available. Many smaller local breweries and their products can be found here. Great prices, amazing selection and a very friendly and helpful staff. Mike and his crew are always willing to help. Several times I have asked for a beer that they did not have and he was able to get it by the next day.

This place is great. The variety is abundant. Everyone who works there is very nice and helpful…read more They have a lot of IPA which is cool. They always have everything i am looking for and the prices seem fair to me. They have lotto too so that makes me happy!

Huge array of wines and liquors and other spirits available for purchase. Free samples and…read moresometimes free food samples to aid with the amplified booze. Easy to browse shelf by shelf. They have canned wine! The service staff are super kind and helpful. Everything is so cheap compared to the mom and pop stores around. If you can't afford to spend a premium price for mom and pop, go here. But we don't want our local businesses to falter, so definitely keep supporting them too, when able! Inside was clean. Aisles and aisles of booze we know, want to try, and possibly think is ick! (Tastebuds) Happy shops!

5/8/26 I took part…read morein some liquor tasting today. I am not a vodka drinker, but the ALB Vodka is very good. When I was in my 20s, my go-to cocktail was The Cosmopolitan, and ALB is what I would buy if I were still drinking them.

Very nice folks running this place. Prices don't knock my socks off, but they're reasonable-…read moreespecially for what they specialize in, which is a lot of Portuguese stuff I've never seen anywhere before! A hidden gem in several aspects.

A gem in the area. Small but well curated store, family owned and very friendly and helpful owner…read more Specializing in Portuguese products , offers some of the best value wines around.

Great selection and can't beat the prices. I've ordered online for pickup which is super convenient.read more

Thank you so much Marco. You're amazing. Was heading to Manhattan for Super Bowl party. Hubby was…read moretaking a nap before we get ready to go. Found out Executive Wine & Liquor closes at 6pm. It was 5pm. Wasn't going to walk 4 blocks and wasn't going to drive Hubby's car. I called and spoke to Marco. He says sure we can delivery but there's a $50 minimum & $5 delivery charge. I only wanted 1 bottle of New Amsterdam $23. Marco says for you I will make a one time exception. Omg. Thank you so much. New Amsterdam Vodka - $23 Delivery - $5 Tip - $6 I am soooo very grateful and truly appreciate you going the extra length. You're a gem.