Thursday 3rd of February 2011 11:16:11 AM

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Doti Liquors is in a freestanding building, with it's own parking lot, across from some car dealerships off York Rd. Looks pretty average from the outside, blacked out windows and Busch ads.

Inside, it was a 70's era mom & pop shop, long aisles of booze. Beer was almost exclusively in the coolers along the south and rear wall. Majority of good beer was straight in, past the registers. Craft and singles in there, some quality imports like Rochefort 10 and Sam Smith, Dreadnaught, Green Flash Hop Head 4-packs, Grand Teton Trout Hop, Hopslam (singles even), Bells Oarsman, Night Stalker, Sofie, Legbiter (never seen before), and Weihenstephaner in the back coolers. Somewhat random selection with some quality offerings, not many limited things, but a few.

At the register there was a younger guy that knew his beer. Ringing up Oarsman, he started a conversation about it, mentioning it was brewed with a sour mash. Also recommending Charlie's at the same time. This was great I thought, they care about better beer here. Overall a good spot, though I prefer Corner Cottage and Sal's when in Elmhurst.

Sunday 28th of June 2009 09:00:47 AM

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Doti has been around for years, and for years was a basic liquor store with better-than average selection of wine. In the past few months, they've expanded their space, and in doing so expanded their beer (and spirits) offerings. Many more coolers. Lots of local craft brews -- Two Brothers, Three Floyds, Goose Island, branching out to Great Lakes, Bell's, Summit and the like. Dogfish Head, Southern Tier, a few others. Rarely a complete line-up, but usually three or four offerings from each place, and often some of the specials (they had Bourbon County Stout for a time for instance). A decent smattering of Belgian brews (Piraat, Gulden Drake, the Deleriums, St. Bernardus), German brews, various Eastern European brews.

They don't have the space or the staff to become a Sal's or Binny's, but folks will easily find stuff they want to drink. The folks who work there are friendly.

EDIT: since my original review, Doti has intensified their beer buying. You can build your own six-pack from a selection of about 50-60 brews. They still don't have the space to compete with Sal's/Binny's/Cottage Corner in terms of selection, but what they have keeps improving, and there are two (three?) knowledgeable beer guys there. Also -- those special releases from Goose Island/Bell's/Firestone Walker/etc. that sell out immediately elsewhere? You'll often find them here for a few days/weeks past their disappearance elsewhere. Kudos to them.