The Brewery Inc.

Bar, Eatery

233 E Beaver Ave
State College, Pennsylvania, 16801-4967
United States

(814) 237-2892 | map
PLACE STATS
Average:
2.66
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
11
pDev:
24.81%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by clickpush:
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Reviewed by clickpush from Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev +20.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3
Stopped in for a night cap and ended up spending a couple hours here, having run into an old college friend. I used to hang out at this place all the time when I went to PSU. The beer selection at the bar is pretty shitty, but I really like their to-go selection at the front of the bar... It's almost like this place should have two listings: as a bar and as a bottle shop. Also, why the hell is it called The Brewery? As far as I know there is no brewing that goes on here. Anyway, it was a slow night at the place and I got quick yet indifferent service. A band played ballads in the background and I drank waaay to much. Mostly macros on draft though a couple local micro selections. This is a cool place to hang out cause there's always something interesting on stage and the drinks are cheap, but definitely not the place to go looking for a great beer.
Jul 25, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of Ursula1007
Rated by Ursula1007 from Pennsylvania

1/5  rDev -62.4%
vibe: 1 | quality: 1 | service: 1 | selection: 1
Filthy. Horrible. Causes you to feel suicidal.
Feb 25, 2018
 
 
Rated: 3 by tdm168 from Pennsylvania

Apr 02, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

Oct 10, 2013
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Reviewed by BittRnessabounds from Colorado

1.88/5  rDev -29.3%
vibe: 1 | quality: 2 | service: 3 | selection: 1
Technically this place doesn't even qualify to be listed on beerfly as it is not a beer destination and it is dominated by macros. Unfortunately few places in state college do qualify.

The brewery is the dive-est of the basement bars in state college. You know it must be a quality establishment since the entrance is located behind a dumpster. The interior isn't much better, as this is a very run down and filthy bar. Of the half a dozen or so visits i've made to the bar, the bathroom has been out of order for various flooding and unmentionable reasons 3 times. I like the occasional dive bar as much as the next guy, but I can't exactly give good marks for atmosphere.

The beer selection is also not good, since of the 8 taps only 2 could be considered craft (Erie Railbender, and Troegs Sunshine Pils). The bottle selection is slightly better. I believe they had additional empty taps, so they could have a better selection on another night.

On a side note, the bottle shop attached to The Brewery actually has one of the better selections downtown. That being said i'd be concerned about turn over, as i don't believe many people go into this bottle shop looking for Unibroue.
Aug 03, 2007
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Reviewed by jsbrendle from Pennsylvania

3.19/5  rDev +19.9%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
The Brewery would probably be my 3rd rank "usual" in town, meaning I'll pop in at least once or twice a month pretty much year-round & it has stayed so for many years (after I first went there while following a local band shortly after I turned 21 -- good ol' Screaming Ducks).

Many of the reviews have been on the whole negative, and while I'm not quite as negative about the place, I do have to be honest...lets dispense with the bad stuff first.

Yes, it is a "shit hole" bar. In this town, it is not alone. Yes, the bathrooms are a complete wreck. I can't tell you how long it has been since the men's had a working shitter (not that even then I would have actually used it for such as the stall never to my knowledge had a door), or how long it has been since the piss-trough actually flushed. [As of 7/14/06 this has been addressed in some form, so that complaint is no longer valid. -j] And yes, the floors are un-even, the place could use a serious bit of cleaning, new paint, etc. I hope the guys get around to fixing things like that now that they actually own the property. I really think that with some work, this could be a much better place to hang out. (Akin to the makeover that the Phyrst got soon after it changed hands.)

Yes, they often have shitty bands -- but, they did move the stage so you can now hang out at the "regulars' corner" and be able to talk while ignoring them. That helps a lot. Besides, for as much as they do do shitty bands, they are also one of the few places that'll give someone new a shot on an off-night to see how they'll draw. I do respect that.

Now, why I still go there -- I prefer to go down on "off hours" when the place is less crowded with college kids, the service is better, and I can enjoy myself more. At these times, I can usually find other older (in this town, older means "25+") regulars hanging around for conversation, get the full attention of the bartender (even for special requests such as pulling an interesting sixer out from the cooler for me for the night) & can genuinely unwind for a little while.

The lack of food is no big deal, they are below two (at least during the regular school year) late-nite eateries and there are others within the block. What I enjoy is that the bartenders are all people I've known for the better part of a decade. The doorstaff (once you get to know 'em) are all pretty nice. The clientele is not always one I'd want to be around (very young, not completely "bar trained"), so I very rarely stay there too late.

The beer selection is really quite good (and available for carry out). This is a good place to go for the random big bottle of Stone, Victory seasonal, Dogfish Head, Belgian, etc. It is a rather impressive selection. And they'll usually pull stuff over from the take-out side if you ask and serve it to you over the bar. I will often do that. If I don't the stuff in the little cooler of interesting bottles will usually work. So, no matter if my mood is for cheap "Lionshead" or a big "Arrogant Bastard", they can usually satisfy my needs w/o ever touching the taps of mass-market swill.

When it is busy, sure, the service can be slow. So it goes. I've had it as bad or worse several other places in town. I don't really get too bothered by it. So, if I no longer have a good time this is State College & several other places are within a quick stumble. You don't go out on a football weekend or special event weekend like Arts Fest and expect anything less.

I'll balance that by saying that if things are slower, the bartenders have a huge list of very interesting "shooters" they'll make that really do taste like what they say they will, making for an interesting time... but I digress.

I think the Brewery for all its flaws is a place that can grow on you given time... it is worth checking out.
Jun 25, 2006
Photo of sinistrsam
Reviewed by sinistrsam from Maryland

2.4/5  rDev -9.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 2 | service: 2.5 | selection: 2.5
This isn't much of a beer bar; in fact it's not much of a bar whatsoever. Being a Nittany Lion myself, I hung out here a few times during my undergrad career but never really was terribly impressed.
The basement of an already nasty building, the main door opens into an alley. You walk through, into damp crowded spaces and finally to a bar. You can step down onto yet another uneven level and wind yourway through people to an area where bands play and people congregate.
A few times there were pricy covers for mediocre bands, other times the bouncers were very rude and other times I just didn't enjoy myself. Atmosphere, beer, people; I'd say if you're in State College, go somewhere else.
Nov 10, 2005
Photo of ski271
Reviewed by ski271 from Pennsylvania

2.56/5  rDev -3.8%
vibe: 1 | quality: 2 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4
I was looking through the places that have been reviewed and I was a bit surprised to see the Brewery listed. After all it is, as the previous posts have pointed out, a hole in the wall. So we're all in agreement there, but I don't think they accurately described just how much of a hole in the wall it is. Of all the bars and restaurants in State College, this is probably the filthiest and smelliest. It has a constant odor of stale beer and lingering vomit. It's one of those places that you can go into for 10 seconds and you'll wreak of bar for the rest of the night. The bathrooms are beyond words. If you don't feel like wriggling your way up to the piss-trough, just do what I've seen done many times before there and piss in the corner. Which takes me to the next point, the patrons. I'd probably rank it 4th worst as far as how annoying their patrons are, behind G-Man, Tony's Big Easy, and the Shandygaff. The servers are no prize either and it can take quite some time to get their attention, even when it isn't busy. Actually, they are pretty freindly for as much crap as they have to take, so won't rate them too terribly. The biggest plus would have to be the selection. For as crappy as it the atmosphere is, it's surprising to find so many good beers on tap and especially in their coolers. After all, probably 90+% of their sales are Bud, Coors Light, Molson, Yuengling and pitchers of mixed drinks. But yes, their selection is probably one of the best in State College! To sum it up, it's a good place to get drunk without spending a lot while listening to mostly lame bands and checking out college women, but it's a basement bar that's not worth your time unless you're stopping in for a 6-pack.
Feb 08, 2005
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Reviewed by NearerMyBeerToMe from Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev +10.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 2 | service: 3 | selection: 4
The Brewery is clearly one of State College's more unsavory bars. Tucked in between the fraternities to the north and the high-rise student apartment buildings on the other, the goal of most patrons is clearly to get drunk off cheap beer--which is, after all, why I used to go there--as opposed to appreciating good beer. If that were the case, they'd be taking advantage of a not-so-bad bottle shop--the reason why I'm giving a "4" in the "selection" category. The front half of the coolers are devoted to macros; along the other wall is a good selection of American regional/micros along with some English ales and the usual German/Czech/Dutch stuff. Finally a tiny cooler in the back holds some craft brews: Rogue special editions, Unibroue, etc. and one day, to my utter astonishment, a range of Thomas Hardy's bottles from '96 to '98. So don't dismiss their selection as merely ho-hum--if you check up regularly, you may be able to find a few gems like I did. Also, the place does have some good specials--show up for happy hour and get a Sierra Nevada pitcher for half price--just be sure to beat the crowds.
Feb 04, 2004
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Reviewed by PSUDREW from Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev +20.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 2.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
Ok, here we go, you know your local "shit hole" bar, well this is state college. I've been kicked out twice, due to some of my friends actions, but that's besides the point. Generic beer - check. Generic Pittsburgh degenerates- triple check. It's fun to see bands here, the beer isn't terbily expensive, but it's a hole in the wall, and you should rememeber that before you go
Sep 02, 2003
The Brewery Inc. in State College, PA
Place rating: 2.66 out of 5 with 11 ratings