December 2, 2009
A decent, if mostly static tap selection and some good bar food. The bar staff has always been very professional and friendly. The products are very expensive. I heard they may have stopped asking cover for bands, but I’ve had very bad experiences with being harassed for a cover charge to listen to whatever band happened to be playing that night.

May 30, 2009
Excellent place - on Cedar Ave on the West Bank of the U of M. 28 taps / 43 bottles when we were there, and not diluted with crap beer. Wait staff was friendly, and allowed us to try samples. Didn’t try the food, but I will next time back.

May 1, 2009
Stopped in this afternoon at 1:00 PM, and sat at the bar. Staff quite friendly and were willing to let me sample a few things in order to help me decide on a pint. The selection was real good, tap and bottle, but I focus on tap when I’m out. The food I ordered was great - Cheese Fries with jalapenos. The place is smaller then I imagined it to be. I actually like it well enough. I will be back to eat an actual meal.

March 5, 2009
Great selection of local taps, great service. Caught the Eel River release in Feb. and have been back a few times since then. Well worth the trek from Town Hall, at least for the variety.

September 21, 2008
Cafe / beer bar between Town Hall and Blue Nile (walkable distance from the former). Lots of local beers on tap: 3 Surly, Flat Earth, Summit, etc. Seemingly more of a cafe than anything, but there are probably upwards of twenty taps and plenty of local and Belgian bottles available. They seem to have seasonals available longer than other places, if only because they’re a coffee shop and small music venue doubling as a beer bar. Probably got the last pour of the Surly Hell anywhere nearby, which was a nice surprise.

May 6, 2008
I came here after the relocation to the West Bank. Fairly close to Town Hall on Cedar. Visited for the grand opening and 2006 Surly Darkness release. Luckily we arrived early, but still, at the time of entrance it was standing room only. Service overall was decent given the chaotic environment. One of the waitresses in particular was excellent in providing us with Darkness samples for a couple of friends who hadn’t arrived yet. A cafe environment where the tap/bottle selection was good. Would like to revisit when it’s not so busy.

March 29, 2008
Another good bar near the U of M West Bank. The ’06 Darkness release probably could have been handled a little better, but they got things done. The staff seemed friendly after things started to calm down. Pretty good selection of both taps and bottles. I did not have any food but from what I saw it looked pretty good. I’ll have to go again some time when there is not a special release so that I can better judge the place.

March 29, 2008
The place was completely packed with standing room only because of a release of Surly Darkness. It looked like it would be a nice place if it was not busy but tonight there was definitely not enough seeting. The selection of beer was nice but not overly impressive. The service was good for the circumstances. I would like to see what this place is like when it is a bit calmer.

February 20, 2008 [ Updated May 24, 2008 ]
Relocated from East Bank (1931 Nicollet Ave. S) location which is now closed. Opened for business officially on 2/16/08, although they are currently in a soft open status, meaning they are open in the evenings from 6pm-close. Soon they will expand their hours to open prior to the lunch hour. It’s a relatively small place. Pinkish-red walls, brand new wooden bar. Bar is pretty good sized. There’s a stage at the far end of the bar for live music they’ll have Fri. and Sat. nights from 9pm-close that will require a cover charge. 26 taps with a pretty good selection including: 3 Surly’s (Furious, Bender, Two), several Rogues (Charlie, Dead Guy, etc.), 2 Flat Earths, Maredsous 8, Sierra Nevada ESB, Furthermore Knot Stock (tasty!), Rush River Bubblejack, Bell’s Two Hearted, Shiner Bock, Beamish, Boddington’s, Brau Brother’s Scotch Ale & more. Spoke with the beer mgr who, in addition to being a very friendly & knowledgeable, welcomes suggestions for their beer taps. The lines are brand spanking new & clean & they have a weekly rotating tap line schedule. There is no street parking to speak of, but there’s an uncovered lot & a parking structure behind the building, I believe both of which will accept 2 hours of validation. Located a short walking distance from Town Hall brewery (0.2mi) & also close to the Blue Nile (0.7mi). Walking distance from the Cedar-Riverside Light Rail station. Town Hall is easily the better spot despite the similar ratings.

December 17, 2007
This is an interesting little cafe/bar. I guess they have music at night, but i was there for HH. Nice selection of taps that you need to go up to the counter to get. It is more like a cafe than a bar...a cafe with really good beers.