The Moan and Dove

The Moan and DoveThe Moan and Dove
The Moan and DoveThe Moan and Dove
Bar, Eatery

460 West St
Amherst, Massachusetts, 01002-2988
United States

(413) 256-1710 | map
moananddove.com

Voted the #1 Place to Have a Beer in 2006 - by BeerAdvocate.com reviewers.
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.58
Reviews:
92
Ratings:
115
pDev:
9.17%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by ybnorml:
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Reviewed by ybnorml from Rhode Island

3.43/5  rDev -25.1%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
Everyone raves about this place? It's small has no air conditioning and has no food (that is if you don't count the big barrel of stale unshelled peanuts. Not a lot of beers on tap (the place is not big enough for more taps). What was good was the ecclectic selection of hard to find beers. I had been looking all over for Stone Brewings Imperial Stout. I had to buy the whole 22 oz bottle but it was very good.
Beer geeks will appreciate the knowledgable staff and the fact that they use the proper glasses when pouring Belgians.
That being said. I will have to try this place again maybe in the early fall or early spring. The selection warrents a second shot.
Jul 18, 2003
More User Ratings:
Photo of DerBogmeister
Reviewed by DerBogmeister from Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +9.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Casual Small Beer Bar. Unique brew from around the world. 2 dz Taps. Bottle menu has dozens more. Dim, cozy and warm ambiance. Proper glass to match the brew or style of beer. No food but a barrel of peanuts is always full. Very comfortable place to enjoy great brew.
Feb 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.46 by Resuin from Massachusetts

Sep 05, 2017
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Rated by zotzot from Vermont

3.59/5  rDev -21.6%
vibe: 2.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 1
Defiantly not a hipster bar
More a local dive
Good beer selection
May 30, 2016
Photo of betterthanyourbeer
Reviewed by betterthanyourbeer from Connecticut

3.58/5  rDev -21.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3
By far the best place in Amherst, but thats only among 3 other bars. fairly dry place considering UMASS is there. in the bigger picture, considering all the outstanding small brewers around that area, their draft selection is weak. they seem to have the same names over and over. there is only so much tow roads and victory beers to drink. i feel like its the owner that just keeps cycling through the same high profit margin beers over and over. once in a while they'll add a keg of something local and good.... personally, id rather go get some good beer and drink at home.
Nov 04, 2015
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Rated by Ppeterson1981 from Massachusetts

3.07/5  rDev -33%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3.75
Heard about this place from friends with nice beer selection but nothing I haven't had before. I'll comeback to see what's on next time.
Sep 22, 2015
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Rated by 80x2HopHead from Vermont

4.22/5  rDev -7.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
great selection no doubt, but a bit dingey and too swankey.
May 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.3 by slasich from Pennsylvania

Apr 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.68 by boredalready from Massachusetts

Mar 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4.4 by SABERG from Massachusetts

Feb 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.81 by DanG3 from Massachusetts

Jan 20, 2015
 
 
Rated: 4.5 by dfecteau from Massachusetts

Nov 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Stagga_Lee from Massachusetts

Aug 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by ajendrysik

Jul 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by pisano from Massachusetts

Jul 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Vinylglove68 from Massachusetts

Jun 22, 2014
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Reviewed by SpicyGose from Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -15.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4
Went here a few days ago. Great little bar that doesn't serve food but you can bring in your own. Great for picky eaters. Great tap list of rare imports and craft beers. Big bottle list that you can conquer over a few years. It's a nice place to bring a friend for drinks.
Jun 19, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by magnificent70s from Pennsylvania

May 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Imperial_Sapient_Groat from Michigan

Mar 15, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by josephmullett from Massachusetts

Feb 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by rockrob from Massachusetts

Jan 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by JGLittle from Massachusetts

Dec 14, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by harsley from Massachusetts

Dec 10, 2013
Photo of markdrinksbeer
Reviewed by markdrinksbeer from Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev -3.9%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5
Dark atmosphere, but welcoming and comfortable, especially if you go in the Fall or Winter.
Eclectic choice of music is most often playing, but rarely ever too loud to hear each other talking at your table.

No food, but peanuts are free.

The beer selection is impressive, and the beer tenders have always been very helpful and knowledgeable.

Not a place to sit down and drink a Beer Light to "watch the game". It is a place to sit with friends, and enjoy some amazing beer.
Nov 16, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by Eriogonum from Massachusetts

Oct 10, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by mcintire78 from Massachusetts

Oct 08, 2013
Photo of JShattuck
Reviewed by JShattuck from Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +9.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
The moan and dove is by far my favorite bar. I have yet to find a bar that compares to the moan and dove. (Dirty Truth and Lord Hobo are not quite as good).

Beer- Great selection on tap that rotates between standard styles Pale Ales, IPA, Stouts, Porters, , Pilsners, different Belgian styles, along with some rare styles of beer. Some standard beers are always on tap like Guinness, at least three IPAs, etc. Every Wednesday they have a different beer on Cask. They also have a lot of bottles to choose from ranging from $2 to $60.
Mug club if you drink the entire bottle list over a year.

Food- No food. Peanuts for free at the door. You are welcome to bring in pizza or subs from Sibies (best pizza and subs in Amherst), chinese next door, and Latinos around the corner for South American food. There is also a Hess next door for snacks.

Great vibe and great music played by the bar tenders. There is always a dog or two hanging out or sleeping on the floor. All of the bar tenders will take the time to talk to you and help you find the right beer. Tastings and half sizes for half price are available.

The majority of the crowd is friendly and regulars. I have been searching, but no bar beats or compares to The Moan and Dove.
Dec 03, 2011
Photo of alee42
Reviewed by alee42 from Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev -5.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I have visited the Moan and Dove a few times now with my friends. I like it so much I think this place will become a regular hangout spot whenever I'm in town. It's in a nice location and not too far from the neighboring universities. It's a little dark inside, about 12-13 bar stools and tall tables in the middle. Bench tables are on the side for sitting. You might just catch the big barrel of peanuts on the right side when you walk in. You can pile 'em into a bowl and snack on with your beer.

The they feature their beers on-tap on a blackboard above the bar. Only about 20 beers, they do have a rather large bottle menu - I haven't tried anything of it yet. The staff is friendly, and they do ask for IDs if guy at the door isn't there to do so. Arguably the best bar for the beer and the fun in the Amherst area.
Jul 08, 2011
Photo of coreyfmcdonald
Reviewed by coreyfmcdonald from Georgia

3.7/5  rDev -19.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
So I stopped by here after going to Amherst Brewing and People's Pint. After driving through some farms (I knew this was in a rural area), I pulled up behind the gas station next door. Interesting location for sure...

I was served a Founder's Breakfast Stout, my only beer, in a half pint glass. It was served at proper temperature, and apparently I got the last one of the keg, so it was free. Can't argue with that.

The bartenders were polite, but not particularly helpful. I guess it is a local's place, so I won't dock them here. They did get me a free Breakfast Stout...

The selection of beers is where I was disappointed. Sure, the selection wasn't bad. I struggled to find something I haven't had and sounded interesting in an area I don't even live, though. I decided on a beer that I have at home. Maybe I'm spoiled with Brick Store Pub in Atlanta, but I was expecting more - maybe some of the Cisco sours, a Lost Abbey beer or two, something local and interesting (BBC sours I've heard about?). They did have a decent lambic selection in bottles, but I was by myself so didn't go that way. I had tried them all anyways. Oh yeah, and no cask.

I really don't understand everyone's obsession with this place. It's rather expensive, the beer selection is mediocre by a beer bar's standards, and mostly everyone was drinking beer out of a huge stein (I realize it's because of some sort of club). This place could be great - I'm sure they have the means to get some great beer, but they just don't.
Nov 29, 2010
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Reviewed by heavydrexler from Massachusetts

4.9/5  rDev +7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
What a fantastic bar! I'm sorry, but I've never been to another bar with a ridiculous beer bottle list, an amazing rotating tap selection and different cask beers every week that also is next to a Hess and has dogs sleeping on its floor. Not to mention that it's in a college town and I will never have to rub elbows with frat boys or deal with huge crowds here. The place is fantastic, the people (both the patrons and the bartenders) are fantastic, and the beer is overwhelmingly fantastic! People may think it a little pricey, but, to be honest, it's really not that bad when you factor in how much it would cost to buy these beers at a liquor store.
Oct 21, 2010
Photo of ryan1788a5
Reviewed by ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +9.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
The sister bar to The Dirty Truth. Whatever the Truth does wrong, this place gets right. The atmosphere is great. It is a small bar, and has that cozy pub feel to it. There is always some jazz or alternative music playing, but it never feels chaotic because of it. The patrons are mostly older and mostly all regulars, and some are of the hippie and yuppie variety. Unlike The Dirty Truth, however, the crowd here is extremely friendly and talkative, as is the staff.

The bartenders are very knowledgeable and extremely attentive. They will even offer you a glass of water before you head out if you have been drinking a few high abv beers. This is very responsible of them, and the first time I have ever seen this done.

The selection is superb. There are about 20-25 taps here (one cask tap sometimes) as opposed to 40 at The Dirty Truth, but what it lacks in taps, The Moan and Dove makes up for it with its bottles list. The bottle menu is impressive, and there are helpful descriptions of most of the beer styles right on the menu to help the novice beer drinker. Prices are a bit high, but these beers don't come cheaply anywhere else either.

These folks do everything right. This is hands down my favorite beer bar to date. I wish I lived a little closer so that I could patronize it more frequently.
Sep 20, 2010
Photo of theetheethee
Reviewed by theetheethee from Massachusetts

4.94/5  rDev +7.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I'm new to Amherst, and after trying out a few of the other spots (dirty truth, Amherst Brewing Co, Northampton Brewery) this is by far my favorite. Huge bottle selection, with the requisite 'mug club' challenge to go along with it, as well as 24 taps with a very healthy rotation. It's also off the beaten path, so you don't have to deal with the frat crowds and obnoxious behavior you're more likely to find in the downtown spots. The place is cozy, maybe 15 bar seats, 6-7 booths, and two tables in the center big enough to accommodate larger groups. Bathrooms are small, but clean. The peanuts are fine and all, but the lack of food can be a downer; luckily they're very okay with you bringing some dinner in with you. The service thus far (6 visits in) has been excellent, with knowledgeable staff who are inviting and never condescending to noobs like myself who are looking to step up their beer knowledge. Prices seem a little high, with most pints around 6 and up, but not unreasonable. One caveat- not much to offer to people who aren't beer drinkers, other than some scotch and a few wines. As the only (aspiring) beer nerd in my house, it's a tough sell to people who prefer mixed drinks or ::shudder:: malternatives. All in all, however, I love this place and plan to be here very often now that I'm in the area!
Aug 26, 2010
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Reviewed by John_M from Washington

4.06/5  rDev -11.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Ummm.... this place was rated the number one place to get a beer on BA in 2006? Really?

The M&D is yet another fine beer bar located out in the sticks, in the last place you would expect to find it. It's located in a small strip mall, right next to a barbershop, chinese take out restuarant and a gas station. It's also pretty small, consisting of a small bar area to the left when you walk in (probably has 12 or 14 seats), a couple of good size table areas in the middle and then 3 or 4 booths to the right against the wall. I really doubt this place can hold more then 50 or 60 folks at any one time, tops! On the other hand, the place has a very relaxed, low key vibe, with a pretty eclectic selection of music going (loved hearing the ventures while I was there). The beer selection is certainly decent, consisting of around 20 beers on tap, not including a cider and one beer on cask (which this day was the entire butt porter). The selection here is pretty good, but I'd hardly call it mind blowing. They had 5 or 6 Stone beers on tap, and then 4 beers from Bink. They also had the Mongo DIPA from Port, Victory Braumeister pils, smuttynose baltic porter and old brown dog, anchor liberty ale, etc. A nice selection, no doubt, but I can't say it exactly wowed me. Bottle selection was a bit more impressive, with around 160-170 selections. They had some nice stuff, but there was nothing on the list I hadn't seen before or can't get at home. No disrespect, but I was really hoping I might see something at the M&D that I can't get back in Baltimore (they did have the high and mighty twin beast stout, but that's the only thing I saw that I hadn't ever seen or had before).

Service was good. The two young women tending bar were friendly, pleasant and quick. I'm not sure just how much then knew about beer, but it was more then sufficient for my needs.

Prices were high, no two ways about it. 12 ounce pours of anything Belgian were in the $9 or $10 range, and can someone please tell me why arrogant bastard needs to be $6.50 a pint? Generally, most pints were in the $6 range, except for the liberty ale, which for some reason was $4 a pint.

As near as I can tell, they don't serve any food here, but you can order in from any of the surrounding restaurants (accoustics are not good here, so it's not the easiest place to hold a conversation - I think that's what I was told). A number of places do this in the NW, and frankly I thought it a good idea here as well. Otherwise, you can help yourself to free peanuts while sipping on your beer at the bar.

This is definitely a very good place, but it's certainly not the sort of place I'd drive a 100 miles to get to (which I do rather frequently to get to some of the better beer bars in Philly). I don't know. I really had high expectations for this place, and frankly I feel kind of let down. Oh well...
Feb 28, 2010
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Reviewed by jneiswender from Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +9.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Beervana. Plain and simple. This is everything a beer bar should be. 24 taps and a very robust selection of bottles at very fair prices. The service was impeccable. I walked in and asked for a recommendation. Instead of giving me what he drinks, the bartender asked me several questions as to what I typically drink. He recommended the perfect beer that I stuck with for the afternoon. The beer was served at the correct temperature and in the brewery's own glass. The atmosphere has zero pretense. I am quite shy but found myself engaging with locals easily. A absolute "bucket list" place. Go with food in your stomach or have food plans because they only serve peanuts.
Feb 21, 2010
Photo of woosterbill
Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
A: Warm, dark colors and a small space make for a very comfy, inviting ambiance. Huge selection of glassware behind the bar. It just got more comfortable as the night went on.

Q: Everything I tried was fresh, tasty, and high-quality.

Service: Liza was an extremely friendly and highly knowledgeable bartender who paid amazing attention to me and my friend, especially considering how busy the bar was. Simply top-notch.

Selection: Good (not quite great) mix of styles - a bit too much emphasis on seasonals for my taste, especially with a fairly limited 20 taps - with some very interesting and obscure beers. Extensive (but never surprising) bottle list.

Food: Not offered by the bar itself, but they have menus for a number of different local delivery establishments, so you can get just about anything you want. It's pretty cool to order panini to be delivered "at the end of the bar." Oh, and free peanuts. Awesome.

Value: Beer between 5 and 9, just as I'd expect at this kind of place.

Notes: If I ever live near Amherst, you can bet that I'll be a member of this place's mug club. It's a great establishment in just about every way, and worth a visit if you're anywhere in the area.

Cheers!
Dec 21, 2009
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Reviewed by yukkamaster from Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +9.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
This is by far the best bar in the area. The selection is great, and the bartenders are very knowledgeable and take the time to answer all questions, give their recommendations, and provide tastes before you order. My favorite aspect of the bar (aside from the great beer of course) is the atmosphere. No matter what time of day or night I'm there, there is always an interesting conversations occurring, be it about beer, politics, the economy, etc. It is one of the few public spaces where people seem willing and able to get together and talk about what is going on, and do so over some amazing beers. At the same time, if you want to come in and enjoy a beer by yourself there is space for that - and free internet also. Anyone in the area should definitely stop by, and its worth a trip for those that are a bit further away.
Nov 07, 2009
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Reviewed by bernardus from Virginia

5/5  rDev +9.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
It doesn't get much better than this place when you factor in the atmosphere, selection, and prices of this bar. Very inconspicuous from the outside and inside, the place is not too big at all. A row of booths to your right, the bar to the left, and some tables in the middle. Very dark inside too, but it suits the place perfectly. Hanging above the bar is the impressive tap list and their bottle list shines as well with several offerings from the big brewing countries. All beer is served in its appropriate glassware if applicable as well.

On my visit around 8 months ago, I started off with an Orval, first I've ever had and it quickly has become one of my favorites. I had a hard time deciding on a second, but the bartender recommended a Schlenkerla Marzen to my father-in-law and I, and needless to say it was an outstanding choice, I've been hooked on Rauchbiers ever since.

We went when school was not in session so we kind of had the place mostly to ourselves for a while and then it gradually became more croweded. Very relaxed atmosphere and clientel. No food to be found but if you like peanuts, you're in luck. Overall, a fantastic bar. Well worth a stop.
Sep 03, 2009
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Reviewed by cbutova from Massachusetts

4.56/5  rDev -0.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Atmosphere here is my kind of place, non-hipster, non-trendy, down and dirty bar where you go to get BEER, not to text or WiFi and show off your new clothes. No problems with quality, all the beer was fresh and the vintage stuff (bottles) was labeled that way on the menu. Service was above average, the bartender was not the most talkative to us but he gave us a free sample of Alpha Dog, served our beer promptly with proper pouring and glassware. He answered any questions we had and treated us like craft beer drinkers like a bartender should at a place like this. Selection here is above average also, the tap list is somewhat small but there is a well-rounded selection on the taps. The bottle list however blows Dirty Truth and Sierra Grille out of the water, it is HUGE and has something of almost any style you would want when going out to a beer bar. Prices were neither too high or overly cheap, right in the middle, $4-8 drafts, Cantillon stuff was aobut half as expensive as TDT and most bottles were reasonably marked up on local liquor store prices.
Sep 02, 2009
The Moan and Dove in Amherst, MA
Place rating: 4.58 out of 5 with 115 ratings