November 12, 2009
I think Charles Bukowski would have approved of RSVP. If you are looking for place to take your date to select the evenings libations, a shop that carries the subtext that you are a man of style, wealth and taste because you shop there, you’re in the wrong store. If, on the other hand, you simply want a very good selection of beer at reasonable prices and don’t feel the need to be stroked by your retailer this is great place to shop. The selection is usually larger and the prices slightly lower than the Portland area competition. The staff may be slightly indifferent at times but I have never known them to be rude and if you ask for help they’ll give it their best shot. RSVP also has good wine and liquor sections.

October 8, 2009
Overall Portland is truly is beautiful small-medium size city. But it has its ugly area and RSVP is right in the middle of it. Parking friendly and really conveniently located on one of the big arteries if you are driving into Portland from the north. The beer store itself is as ugly inside as it is from the outside. Well organized with a good Maine selection and a good import selection. Quite a few English beer on the shelves that I had never heard about. Good prices, maybe a tiny bit cheaper than the main beerstore downtown. Friendly but not knowledgeable staff that went to the backstore looking for a beer that I wanted. This is probably (certainly) the largest selection in town but not the best. I found more interesting items to buy (especially in the American Selection) at Downeast Beverage downtown. RSVP is worth a stop if you come from the north or if you really want the largest selection in town and don’t mind a lot of turkeys in that selection. If you are a beer geek who prefers quality over quantity than the smaller Downeast Beverage is the beerstore for you and RSVP is not worth the detour to the northern part of the city.

August 27, 2009
Although it did look like a barn warehouse thing as people say I tend to place more value on the beer I can get than how good I feel about how they decorate, I found the staff quite pleasant and had a good chat with the manager and he was kind enough after seeing all I was picking up, to get a distributor to throw in a DFH metal tacker. I was very pleased with the service and selection and would recommend it to anyone visiting who doesn’t care what color curtains they have.

August 26, 2009
Maine is very strict about liquor laws. Out of Staters will be quick to note. These people are just doing their jobs. Cut em’ some slack. This is Maine, we don’t care about ambience. The fact of the matter is this is a package store in the middle of Forest Avenue, one of the busiest, loudest and dirtiest streets in Portland. You are lucky to find the amazing selection they have there. And if you are patient and kindly ask for help or advice, you will be efficiently served. This isn’t the kind of place where you can waste their time spouting off all of your wine knowledge, they are there to help people, not show off.

January 11, 2009
Decent Prices, Good selection. Probably the worst customer service in history. This store really really suffers from a case of bad staff. Hire some young adults, and less middle aged jerks to serve your customers.

June 8, 2008
Possibly the most retarded store policy on earth of not accepting IDs of anyone from out of state under 25 years old. My girlfriend turns 25 in a month, has ID, and can buy alcohol anywhere else except for here. Hell, she wasn’t even buying it. She was just with me. I had over $100 worth of beer in the cart that some schmuck had to restock. Fortunately, after going through Bar Harbor for a couple of days, our route sent us back through Portland so I stopped in, left my gf in the car and bought a couple Allagash Interlude’s and got the fuck out. Great selection, horrible policies. Suck my balls

April 5, 2006
Is ugly as can be inside but has a massive selection of beers, many imported and locals. They let you do a mixed 6pac which is great. People often complain about getting carded but I look like I am 16(am 21) and found that as long as I have my passport with me they will always sell me beer. Also a large wine collection and a very knowledgeble staff to help you out....you just have to go to them, they dont come to you.

December 30, 2005
Pretty good Maine bottle selection with the always fun mix-a-6-pack feature. Prices are very reasonable, even in the relatively small but well-chosen import shelf. These guys are ridiculous about IDing out-of-staters (imagine foreigners like me). After some patience-trying moments, the owner finally came down to "validate" our IDs for the automaton of a clerk who must have thought we were terrorists. Passports weren’t good enough (!?!), these guys trust nothing else than the book of picture IDs that was made out for them. Once this hassle is overcome, you’ll (hopefully) walk out with a fun selection of Maine micros. But man, what idiots you can encounter at the counter...

August 3, 2005
Upon my first visit to RSVPs - I was smuggly informed that I was 5 minutes late and it closed at 9 PM on Saturday night. They have the usual stuff - Allagash, Gritty, Harpoon, Belfast, Atlantic, etc. All in all a boring selection. The prices seems maginally cheaper than Downeast Beverage and the location is relatively close to the Great Lost Bear.

July 7, 2005
Warehouse type setting, lots of beers, microbrew/specialty and wines....big variety, helpful staff once you get their attention.