November 21, 2009
Stopped here for a couple of drinks while waiting to pick up a quality pie from New Haven. Service was kind of slow, but the bartenders knew what they were doing (such as proper glassware). I had Ithaca Apricot Wheat and Brooklyn’s Chocolate Stout, which was amazing, by the way. Stone Old Guardian was on draught and usually that’s hard to come by so props. The bar had two cask handles but weren’t offering any casks. It’s a bit off putting how disorganized the bar is in terms of what was actually on draught and what they had written to be on draught. I found it better to just look at the individual tap handles to find out what they had, and speaking of, there’s taps in random spots surrounding the bar (it’s not like, 40 taps in one area but 10 here and 10 there and there). Peanut shell crumbs surround the place. Overall: I’ve been to much better. But I noticed that the customers there are super friendly. Return: Yeah, sure. #30 on 21112009, DG.

July 12, 2009
We stopped here on our way up to Mohegan Sun. This place was really good. Great beer list. Great fresh tasting beers. Very friendly staff. Great food menu, good selection of food. We got the wings and they were really good. Great atmosphere.

July 7, 2009
Not only do the bartenders know their stuff about beer, but also the waiters. For some reason, I had an Old Engine Oil in 90 degree heat, but it was good regardless. I ate/drink outside, so I didn’t get a full view of the inside, but this is a nice bar on the outskirts of New Haven.

May 21, 2009
Quality beer bar. Didn’t even bother with the bottle list when I was there, just had about 5 different draughts and all were in top form including the cask ale. Proper glassware. Tender wasn’t the most knowledgeable cat on the record but more than makes up for that by being on the ball and efficient. Great variety of beers on tap, and an ideal ambiance--peanut shells on the floor and darts but still manages to feel like a classy joint. How they pull that off I have no idea. I’ll be back.

August 24, 2008
They had a decent lineup up of bar food that was well made but the beers are where it is. They have about 50 beers on tap and at least another 50 to 100 in bottles. A great selection that rotates on a pretty good time schedule. They also offer beer dinners. Probably the best place between Bridgeport and Hartford - quite a stretch. They had this on tap when I was there: Lagers Germany Spaten Bitburger Pils Radeberger Pils Ireland Harp Italy Peroni Belgium Stella Artois Denmark Carlsberg United States Elm City Lager Genesee Beer Amber Ales Great Britain Belhaven Scottish Ale United States Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Magic Hat #9 Pale Ales Great Britain Bass Old Speckled Hen Boddington’s Pub Ale United States Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA Captain Lawrence Pale Ale Captain Lawrence Double IPA Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA Bluepoint Hoptical Illusion Southern Tier IPA New England Sea Hag IPA Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Belgium Palm Wheat Beers Belgium Hoegaarden Germany Schneider Weisse Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse United States Ithaca Apricot Wheat Saranac Pomegranate Wheat Sea Dog Blue Paw Blueberry Wheat Ale Abita Purple Haze Brown Ales Great Britain Newcastle Canada Maudite United States Tommyknocker Maple Brown Ale Stout & Porter Ireland Guinness United States Sierra Nevada Porter Great Britain Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Specialty Belgium Wittekerke Rose Petrus Blonde United States Victory Golden Monkey Tripel Brooklyn Doppelbock Smuttynose Maibock Captain Lawrence Liquid Gold Southern Tier Cherry Saison Allagash White Ale Dogfish Head Immort Ale Canada Ephemere Apple

May 9, 2008 [ Updated July 6, 2008 ]
I could go on about how great this place is on so many different levels. The atmosphere is great. There are two separate bar areas, each with an adjacent seating area, and then there is a third, separate area. The one bar area has loud music and is very lively, and has drink specials on the cheaper beers. The other bar area is quieter but still very friendly. The tables come with blank sheets of paper and crayons with which to draw on. Overall, there’s just a fun atmosphere to this place. There is something very wholesome about it too...I get a very wholesome vibe from the staff who works here too. Most bars in New Haven are either too sleazy, too upscale, or both, and this place is neither. The service is excellent and the people are very nice! In terms of the beer selection, it could hardly be better: there are a lot of different beers on tap, including stuff that can be very rare to find on tap. It is served in the proper glassware. The food is also pretty darned good too. The menu looks typical, but when the food arrives, it is very high quality. And it is very reasonably priced! I cannot complain about this place. I only wish I discovered it earlier...I went for the first time shortly before moving from Connecticut...so sad! Others...take the opportunity to come here while you can!

January 8, 2008
I’ve been coming here for many years now and I would say that the attention to the beer has gone up a lot in the last few years. This place gets crowded on the usual nights but I you are able to go on a less crowded night the bar tenders will answer any questions you have. I always can find something new here.

July 9, 2006
Didn’t have the food, but they had a nice selection of about 30 beers on tap including cask beer. The two nice things were that the staff was really helpful and nice, and they poured every beer in proper glassware. They have a small fridge next to the bar that sells a nice array of beers, especially belgians. Best place for a beer in new haven.

December 4, 2005
Several different beers on tap, cast ale almost always avail. Food very good and bartender knew her beers. A regular stop from now on!!

July 22, 2005
A good selection of taps for CT, but nowhere near what I was hoping for considering how much this place was hyped. I didn’t see much of anything I couldn’t pick up from one of CT’s better beer stores. The staff was friendly enough, and the food was decent. I would go there more if I lived closer, but for the one hour drive from my home, I don’t think the place is worth it.