R+L Liquors named Best Beer Store in Delaware

There are 5,000 breweries and counting in the United States, further evidence that the country’s thirst for locally produced craft beer is higher than ever.

R+L Liquors in Lewes has gone all-in on the craft beer craze, offering anywhere from 400 to 600 different beers in its modest store on Second Street. That wide selection has certainly caught the attention of craft beer enthusiasts, as the store has achieved a perfect 100 score on Beer Advocate and, more recently, it was named as Delaware’s selection in “The 50 Best Beer Stores in America” by Men’s Journal. 

“We were pleasantly surprised to have gotten that award,” said manager Carol Garner. “I think it’s deserving though. These guys work really hard to promote the beer, along with everything else.”

R+L’s two beer aficionados are Tom Greenwood and Chris Banz. 

“The beer market has changed a lot,” said Greenwood, who’s been with R+L for a dozen years. “People are buying local. People who come from out of state want to buy local. They don’t care if we have something from Rhode Island, New York or California. They want something local.”

Just as the beer market has changed, so has Lewes, he said. Now a restaurant destination, Greenwood said, much of R+L’s traffic comes from passersby taking a stroll before or after dinner. The addition of the Dogfish Inn in 2014 also brought the beer tourists to town, he said.

To draw people in, R+L often features beer-tasting events with several of the region’s breweries. 

While the store is not large, Greenwood and Banz have managed to pack the shelves with as many beers as they can. They also use a cellar to age appropriate beers, such as Dogfish Head’s Higher Math. 

“We probably have some stuff down there that Dogfish doesn’t even have anymore,” Greenwood said. 

R+L has been a fixture on Second Street since 1974, when Garner bought the business with her husband and father. She sold the business in 1999, but stayed on as manager. She’s worked in the store for 42 years.

Whether craft beer, wine or spirits, Garner said, the liquor industry is constantly in flux. 

“My husband ran it for 15 years, and at that time we didn’t have much wine, maybe five or six; wines just weren’t a thing back then,” she said. “Certainly, craft beer wasn’t either. It’s changed a lot.” 

R+L is open year round from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m., Sundays. For more information, call 302-645-9183.