Tuesday 2nd of November 2010 11:17:57 AM

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Puerto Rico Food & Liquors is a small corner bodega shop, and if you blinked while passing by, you could easily miss it. Surprisingly there is a great little beer selection here (75-100 give or take). Once inside there is a warm beer shelf to the left, and down the aisle there are about 6 cooler doors on the left side with more beer (more varieties than on the shelf too). The store is about the size of an apartment, so don't expect a sprawling Binnys selection here.

Selection wise the focus is US craft beer, with a handful of imports, a handful of Belgians like St. Martin, Chimay, and Lindemans. A whole shelf of Bells sixers (8+), 4-5 Founders, several FFF bombers like Dreadnaught, Moloko, and Gorch Fock, Victory Hop Wallop, Lagunitas, Left Hand, Great Lakes, New Holland, Arcadia Hop Mouth & Hop Rocket 4-packs, Rogue bombers and Dead Guy mini-growlers, etc. Locals were represented by Half Acre Daisy Cutter & Gossamer, 2-3 Metropolitan sixers, Goose Island, and Two Brothers. For a tiny corner store, this is impressive, especially for the area. The owners are doing a great job at bringing in seasonals, and the beers I checked were in code.

Staff was friendly and pointed out their favorites in the beer section. They mentioned that they recently renewed an old liquor license, and would be expanding the selection in the future. In addition to beer, they sell locally roasted beans from Star Coffee, homemade guacamole and salsa, and tamales on saturday & sunday.

Overall a great locally owned shop with a good craft beer selection in an underserved area. Also nearby are Rootstock and J&M Tap. Probably the best selection in a 2 mile radius, second to Lush on Chicago Ave.