Delaney's Restaurant & Tap Room

Delaney's Restaurant & Tap RoomDelaney's Restaurant & Tap Room
Delaney's Restaurant & Tap RoomDelaney's Restaurant & Tap Room
Bar, Eatery

882 Whalley Ave
New Haven, Connecticut, 06515-1791
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.07
Reviews:
61
Ratings:
70
pDev:
11.55%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by UnionMade:
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Reviewed by UnionMade from New York

3.98/5  rDev -2.2%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
The bar is fairly easy to get to. It's right on a corner, with a cool old looking sign, and several neon beer signs in the windows. Parking is in back, and we got hit up for change by some guy in a wheelchair walking the 100 feet from the car to the door.
Walking inside, we were greeted with some classic rock, and the ambiance of a townie bar. Tables fill most of the room, with a few booths lining the walls. A pool table occupies an unfinished looking back area. It looks like there's a restaurant attached to the place, but we didn't come here to eat. The walls are mostly bare, with a jukebox blasting your favorite hits from the 70's, 80's, and 90's. On my visit, we were definitely revisiting the good ole days when muscle cars and sleeveless t-shirts were it.
The beer selection is miraculous for what this place looks like. The bar is studded with tap trees, and several taps line the back, featuring beer from around the globe. I don't think they had as many as Eli Cannon's, but some unusual and unique beers were in attendance. They also have a hand pull system for cask ales. To counteract this froo-froo madness, one can still get a macro or two, and a few mass produced imports.
The place was fairly empty, so getting a pint wasn't too much of a problem. I had the casked New England Gold Stock ale, which is what i came for. The bartender knew how to pour, but I was hoping for an imperial pint. At $6, this wasn't a cheap 16 oz. Upon ordering a Leffe, he also poured that well, including knifing off the overflowing head and cleaning off spillage. Not Mr. Personality, but he sure knew what he was doing, and he seemed fairly busy.
The patronage of this place is really bizarre. There's the requisite locals downing bud light all night, from the bottle, and pumping quarters into the jukebox, trying to relive their glory days. One guy walked in with a shirt that proclaimed "I can't even think STRAIGHT". I don't think he knew what it meant. A couple beer geek looking guys were sitting at the bar, drinking beer out of appropriate glassware, right next to a crowd of construction worker types pounding Bud and shots.
Definitely a wierd place, but the selection is one of the best in the state. Prices are a bit steep, with my cask ale at $6, and the Leffe the same price. Not high enough to stop me from coming back, but definitely higher than what I'm used to.
Aug 21, 2003
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Aug 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Bjorn2bWild from Connecticut

Aug 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Sellen from Connecticut

Jul 19, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by AGust82 from Connecticut

Jun 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by JJSmash from Connecticut

Jun 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by ManMoosePig from Connecticut

May 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by hoppymcgee from Maine

Jan 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by smutty33 from Connecticut

Dec 10, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by ChesterHop from Connecticut

Nov 17, 2013
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Reviewed by SunDevilBeer from Massachusetts

3.66/5  rDev -10.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3
Arrived in NH late night on a Tuesday, stopped in for a few beers & a snack.

Bit of a divey, worn feel to this place. Could use an overhaul. Smelled like stale beer, smoke & urinals...which yeah I'm used to in a bar, but this place was too much.

Female bartender was a bit stand-offish at first, but after a bit warmed up & was pleasant when she realized I knew way around a beer list.

Had the hyped Gandhi Bot for the 1st time in over 5 years, was told they have it on tap regularly. Maybe this was a top-notch DIPA 8 yrs ago, but it isn't now.

As a whole, nice selection...but too much attention to the ABI beers in prominent lit taps on the bar.

Had a few Ithaca Flower Powers that were poured fairly, tasted fresh & priced reasonably.

Had some fried mozz that was serviceable but forgettable.

Glad I visited, but frankly I'd prioritize a visit to Prime 16 on my next visit to NH. Though if I could get the same pleasant bartender again I'd come back.
Sep 28, 2013
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Reviewed by Donker from Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
If you are looking for good food, beer and value, this is your place. One visit and you will leave wanting to make this your regular haunt.

This is what to expect with Delaney's:
Pros
- Beer, and lots of it. I believe they have 50+ taps plus a well stocked cellar of bottled beer.
- Staff that is knowledgeable about the beers they are serving. Even if you don't like beer, they can find one for you.
- 3 different areas to relax in. Main restaurant, Upper dining area (tavern), and tap room
- Great, casual dining food. Delaney's offers a solid menu that is well prepared. Note: The fancier "specials" are hit or miss.
- If beer is not for you, they also have a sizable wine selection.

Cons
- If you come during busy times, service can be slow. The staff is very friendly and are often bombarded with numerous questions which seems to slow things down. Tip: Let them know if you are in a rush.
-Bathrooms need some TLC
Aug 23, 2013
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Reviewed by plutoniumpete from New Jersey

3.99/5  rDev -2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.75
Loved the hell out of this place when I lived in New Haven. I typically find one bar wherever I live and its my go to place, and this was it. Great selection, typical bar atmosphere, decent prices. They always had great beers on tap, and being so close to NebCo, you were sure to find Ghandi Bot and Stout Trooper on from time to time. If you like to go in, pick out some music on the juke, play some darts, and drink some quality craft beer, this place is for you.
Jun 12, 2013
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Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

4.06/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
Thanks to our host at New England Brewing Company for recommending this place to us. A nice place with a rather simple layout, but actually a lot bigger than it seems from the outside. The cramped little parking lot was a bitch and a half, so just don't even bother...go for street parking.

We walked past some outside seating into the bar. Simple decor, kind of sportsbarish-seeming at first glance, with a nice collection of breweriana behind the counter. There's a large area for dining, and on my way to the restroom, I actually discovered a second, larger and somewhat nicer bar in the back. But we were already well-established in the front, so we just stayed put.

Beer selection was very good. While nothing was too out of the ordinary, there was a great variety of styles, and pretty much something for everyone to enjoy, including local selections, e.g. NEBCO and (if you can call it local) Captain Lawrence. Seems like they could get some heavier hitters for events if they wanted to, and I'm sure they probably do.

Service was great. Our bartender was on the ball the whole time, and gave us the opportunity to meet Peter, the owner, so we got to have a nice chat with him, and of course he was quite knowledgeable in all things beer (and wine apparently).

There was a good selection of pub grub, comfort foods, and somewhat Italian-biased entrees. I went with the Guinness burger, and the wife got the enviable blue cheese / hangar steak mac&cheese, which the bartender dared her to finish (she didn't, of course).

A was a little skeptical at first, but we had a great time here, and if you're in town to visit NEBCO, this is a great follow-up for a bite to eat (and another beer or two). I hope to go back sometime soon, and I probably will the next time on my way to MA.
May 21, 2013
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Reviewed by nickfl from Florida

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
This place is an interesting combination of an Irish pub and a white tablecloth restaurant, but with better beer than you would normally find at either. They have a selection of thirty or so taps, all good some rarities, with a comparable bottle selection. The service was good, even on a Friday night and all of the beer was served in proper glassware. I had a couple of regional beers and an extremely good steak. You really have a choice here with a menu ranging from burgers and sandwiches all the way up to lobster ravioli and prime steak. The higher end of the menu is priced accordingly, but my steak wasn't really any more expensive than I would expect it to be in most restaurants that serve food of that quality and it more than justifies the price tag when you consider how much the experience is enhanced by the opportunity to pair it with an appropriate beer. I had a good experience at Delaney's and I would recommend it as well worth a visit when in the New Haven area.
Dec 17, 2011
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Reviewed by KTCamm from New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Stopped in for lunch on the way home from guilford. Nice day so got to enjoy the outdoor seating. Inside seating and bar area looked nice as well.

Really robust brew menu. Loads of selection, probably abot thirty tap selections. Since I was right down the road, I went for the nebco sea hag IPA. Could taste anything for free. Would have liked to see flights.

Food selection and quality was good. Lots to choose from, different varieties of sandwiches, salads, and entrees nice mussels with fries app as well.

Overall a good find on the outskirts of new haven. Short shot from Merritt and new England brewing co.
Sep 04, 2011
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Reviewed by chuckhebert10 from Connecticut

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
We went to the annual beer fest and chili contest today. The venue was great: plenty of room outdoors for both beer vendors and chili contestants, as well as live music and games. At $35 pre-registration ($40 "day of") the value couldn't be beat.

Parking was more difficult than expected, but perhaps I should have done better research. Still, I was able to obtain free on-street parking within safe walking distance to the venue.

Signage for event registration and pre-registration was clearly marked.

Many competitors in the chili cook-off contest. All were worthy entries.

Also, many beer vendors. Mostly local, nearly all good (drinker's opinion). All were commercial brewers, even if "small" or micro-brewers. Samples included lots of hoppy IPAs -- all VERY tastey -- which overwhelmed this drinker's palate by the end of the day.

Event advertised two pints of drinker's choice, but no one "in charge" seemed to know anything about this. Did I want it? Yes, of course. Did I need it? No, vendors were happy to refill to my content.

Will I go back to Delaney's annual beer fest? Definitely. Will I go back to Delaney's outside of an event? Most likely. Would I recommend Delaney's? Yes.
Jul 10, 2011
Photo of SWMeyer4141
Reviewed by SWMeyer4141 from Texas

4.3/5  rDev +5.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Been wanting to review Delaney's for a while, finally decided to.

Real nice atmosphere. Indoor taproom, nice dining room, and outdoor patio. This place could please anyone. Great beer selection and good service. Most waitresses know which beers they have that day and will reccomend something else if they are out of the one you requested. I love the happy hour where you buy one beer get one free, and the food is outstanding. The only negative I really have is parking can suck, but oh well, it's New Haven.

I went about a month ago when I went home and I really really miss this bar. I remember being 21 and drinking Magic Hat No. 9 on tap all night long. There are some good beer bars in New Haven, and this one may be my favorite.

Would love for a bar like this to open up in Texas.
Jun 29, 2011
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Reviewed by HarleyRider from Connecticut

4.72/5  rDev +16%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
I very much enjoy stopping at Delaney's for good beer as well as the friendly atmosphere. I have stopped in several times this past summer and have enjoyed each visit. I was made to feel welcome in a suit as well as my biker clothes.

Huge choice of great beers on tap as well as bottled. I haven't had the pleasure but hear good things about all the events held here. Beer knowledgeable friendly staff is exactly what I want in a beer bar. Parking can be an issue depending on what's going on. It's not in the best neighborhood so if it's after dark skip the after dinner walk.

There are 2 separate bars in Delaney's. One is a college type bar with loads of beers, small tables, with a rustic old bar feel. The other side is more food orientated with white table clothes and a mellow atmosphere. There are also some small tables outside perfect for enjoying a nice day with a beer. Food is very good. Average cost for the setting with great service. All beers served in proper glasses and temps. This is the best beer bar in CT IMO. Wish we had a dozen more just like it.

A stop at Delaney's is highly recommended for any beer lovers in the New Haven area.

Jay
Aug 30, 2010
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Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Definately the go-to place in New Haven, though one needs to drive through a more undesireable neighbourhood to be here. Staff and even most other patron are friendly, and give off that neighbourhood bar feeling. One big bar a pool table and dart boards. The other, just that English stle bar place with unobtrusive music. Both with long bars. Several tables for restaurant. he bartender quickly ran to get me extra tastings of stuff, and even cracked open a bottle when I was talking about polish beers, to try something new. 56 taps, with often a theme going on. This week it wasSierra Neveda's, and worth travelling out of the way for. Good carbonation and temperature of beers served, appropriate glassware.
Aug 20, 2010
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Reviewed by donway from Massachusetts

4.44/5  rDev +9.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
My first visit, havig previously tried Prime 16. I prefer Delaney's. Went with my wife on a Sunday about 4pm, Decent crowd in the grittier bar section I was in. Will try the more upscale section next time. Good-sized dinner crowd in the nice dining area.
Decent selection on tap, nice that they had an updated menu, though there appeared to be taps that wern't listed. Had a Long Trail Blackberry and a Palm. Couldn't talk the Nrs. out of a martini. More extensive bottle selection..
Bartenders friendly, offered samples.
Will visit again.
Jul 19, 2010
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Reviewed by FishGetter from Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Stopped by for a lunch out on the patio after reading a few post on this place. The beer menu is the largest and of finest quality I've ever seen. Very easy to navigate though the 10+ pages. They break it down by draft, bottled, and by style which makes it very user friendly. They even have a impressive vintage section. It's alot to take in.
The quality of beer was great, Captain Lawance reserve on tap was awsome, and the food was good.
The service could use a tune-up. A bit slow and running out of beer is never fun. Well worth the trip down from Mass and will hit it up again if in the area. Highly recomended.
May 13, 2010
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Reviewed by Durge from Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I've stopped in before but I finally had dinner here with my wife and am happy to say we very much enjoyed it. Everyone knows they have one of the best selections of quality beers in the state and the back bar is a real haven for the beer enthusiast. A second bar that connects directly with the main dining areas is a little more organized with fewer and less unusual beer selection. There is a fair size outdoor patio seating area to enjoy your meal but we chose to eat inside. I think the least appealing aspect of Delaney's is the dining area which is pretty bland and not particularly cozy, especially being seated where we got stuck in the heavily trafficked area between the kitchen and the two bars. But that was tolerable in light of solid, friendly service, very quick service, and a surprisingly delicious meal. I had the spicy vegetable stir fry and my wife had the salmon. The beer selection is really great including some local stuff like New England Brewing from just down the street. Plenty of big beers to choose from, great imports and some very quirky numbers to boot. Unfortunately I didn't get too far into it on this dinner outing but I look forward to my next visit. I do think they could stand to inject a little more personality into the decor of the dining area, but that's a minor issue. There's always such a buzz here that it sort of creates it's own atmosphere with the crowds of people.
May 01, 2010
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Reviewed by caresville from New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +1.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Stopped in here to kill an hour or two between the tickets being released at NEBCO and the actual release of BA IST. it was 10am when we got here and it was pretty packed from people i saw at the release, we were given an extensive beer menu with lots to choose from between on tap selection and the bottle selection. i wish i had a whole day to kill in there and had a fat wallet because i could have a great time. i first drank a hanssens mead the gueze and then split an imperial stout trooper with my buddy (it was either $22 or $24). the food on the menu looked pretty fancy but i was craving a $16 sandwich so i stuck to a BLT which was great.
great atmosphere, great beer variety, great location, pretty good prices, the only thing i could complain about is that it was 10am and there was a good amount of people there and the service was slow. on a busy friday night or saturday night i can imagine it being very difficult to get a drink in that place. but overall i wish it was a lot closer to my house and i hope i go back someday soon!!
Apr 26, 2010
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Reviewed by Jwale73 from Rhode Island

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Big props to Delaney's & NEBCO for coordinating a 10am opening on the day of the BA IST Release. Staff responded well to being inundated by beer enthusiasts before they even opened. Delaney's is bigger on the inside than it looks. Two separate bar areas, two dining areas and outdoor seating. Lots of wood and our server was great and responsive. Tap list seems to change quite a bit based on the fact that we had a draught list for the previous and current day and there were quite a few differences. Bottle prices were very reasonable too in my opinion. Lots of 750's of IST were being consumed and reasonably priced at $24 a bottle. I also observed a nice selection of sours being consumed. The menu also had a vintage section with several different aged offerings. Food was great. We opted for the brunch menu and everyone was pretty satisfied. I had the Rogue Shakespeare's Stout on Nitro and we all shared the $9 DIPA sampler (Ghandi-bot, Maharaja, DFH 90, Riverhorse Hop-a-lot-amus and Captain's Reserve Imperial IPA) which our server provided for us gratis because our order took a little longer than anticipated. Other beers at the table included Strubbe Pils, Youngs Double Chocolate and Old Speckled Hen. Beer menu was nicely arranged by style and half pints for some offerings were also available. Bottle listing was really quite impressive - tap list was respectable but not mind blowing, but the overall vibe and character of this place makes it well worth your time if you are in the area.
Apr 25, 2010
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Reviewed by SpeedwayJim from New York

3.93/5  rDev -3.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
Visited Delaney's with schen9303 and hoppymcgee during the BA Imperial Stout Trooper release. Ended up meeting a great bunch of BA's for drinks.

Atmosphere was really good here but instead of giving it a 5, a .5 is deducted because I think my experience may have been skewed since the place was packed to the gills with BA's having drinks while waiting for a beer release. Still though, the people were friendly, it was a nice open area, and there was even an outside seating area in a very trendy part of town.

The beer we had here was great. Everything was served out of the correct glassware and properly chilled.

I think they might've been overloaded by the time I got there, but service was a bit slow at points. However, I didn't think they were equipped to handle 50 people rushing in at 12:00 on a Saturday so that's the reason for a semi-generous rating here.

I've heard a good deal about the tap selection at Delaney's but what really impresses is the bottle list. Vintage Cantillon's and Drie Fontenein's in addition to Imperial Stout Trooper. Really hard to beat that!

The prices for their vintage bottles were surprisingly low given what I've seen bottles go for at other bars. Definitely one of the cheaper places that I've been to in an area that isn't overall the most budget friendly.

Delany's is worth the visit. Nice bartenders and a great atmosphere complements an eye-popping bottle list that'll impress even the most hard to please connesuir.
Apr 25, 2010
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Reviewed by zoolzoo from Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev -7.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Delaneys. Sometimes I really love this place, sometimes it pisses me off a little.

First off, Delaneys is almost 3 places in one. There is a more "formal" bar area, there is a pleasant dining room area, and then there is a totally casual peanut shells covering the floor pub area with people yelling. Outside seating available during warmer months, nice street/location.

The food is good, albeit slightly over priced. Delaneys offers burgers and fries if you want that, but also offers full dinner plates as well. The guiness burger is awesome, Ive had a lamb dish here that I enjoyed among others, but I think Prime 16's menu although smaller (and cheaper) is more well executed. Still, if Im hungry Delaneys does pop into my mind from time to time, no doubt.

The beer selection is quite good, technically more diverse than say Prime 16 or My Place, but theres some problems...

First of all almost every beer is normally a dollar or two more than Id be paying elsewhere. Secondly, sometimes the bartender or wait staff doesn't even know what you are ordering. I have gotten things like "im not sure if we have that" without offering to check, or the classic "I don't think we tapped that yet tonight", even though its on the menu. This leaves me wondering "what can I get then?". Im not saying they aren't friendly though, they are, they are.

One thing that is great about Delaneys is that they tend to have some pretty fun events ranging from beer dinners, bbqs, and last year even a chili cook off with beer tastings featuring plenty of breweries. My friend actually won a huge "Bass" wooden barrel at that cook-off thanks to his chili (it was a cooler inside the barrel, neat). Also St Patty's is usually a blast in the Pub room, with a band and such.

I like it!
Mar 11, 2010
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Reviewed by Pabs311 from Connecticut

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
What a beer bar. A++ for selection. If you can't find something you like here then u don't like beer. There is something here for everyone. Great selection of american craft and imports from all over the world. I usually go for lunch when it's slower so i don't know whow the service is during the dinner rush. The food is good, u get your moneys worth here. The hardest part about this place is picking what beer u wanna have with ur meal! I tell everyone that's looking for a bar with good selection to check Delaney's out. (They also have a great scotch selection to if u enjoy a good scotch now and then.)
Feb 15, 2010
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Reviewed by caddyguy from Connecticut

4.18/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Stopped in on a Sat afternoon with a buddy for "A few beers and a burger". Was able to get a few seats at the end of the bar. Quite a few taps on hand. We had a delirium noel and a Magic Hat Odd Notion. Both tasted fine. Shortly after, we found ourselves in the midst of the Sat. Cask Club tasting. The bartender was quite friendly, and quickly included us in the tastings. We probably had tasted a dozen beers. Some really good. A few, I won't need to get. Then the food. A rueben was amazing. And my mac and cheese with steak and gorgonzola is something I'm going back for. I recommend it!
Jan 19, 2010
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Reviewed by jonfed from New York

3.4/5  rDev -16.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
Stopped in on the way back from Boston. I liked that Delaney's is on the main street off the Merrit Parkway. Plus they have off street parking.

I had a Bluepoint Winter Ale (draft), and an Anchor Steam Christmas Ale 2003 (bottle). The Bluepoint was nice and cold with a good head.

I had trouble ordering food and my next beer, while the bartender was talking at the end of the bar.

The Anchor Steam was delightful. My sandwich was bland, lots of sauce but not much flavor. Also I think I was overcharged of the food.
Jan 14, 2010
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Reviewed by jeffiroth from Connecticut

1.81/5  rDev -55.5%
vibe: 2 | quality: 1 | service: 1 | selection: 3.5
On multiple occasions the beer has tasted off, likely due to lines not being cleaned properly which has become a trend here. Most of the workers duringthe afternoon are too busy texting or hiding in back to offer help. It is also discouraging when the bartender has no clue what you mean when you ask for a Stone Ruination, especially since the Stone launch party was a week prior to my visit. Their selectionis about all that saves them but there are plenty of places with just as good, if not better selection. I would only reccommend if you want some bottled Bud Light for cheap. If you want good beer and friendly, knowledgeable staff go further downtown.
Dec 22, 2009
Photo of tpww7
Reviewed by tpww7 from Connecticut

1.93/5  rDev -52.6%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 2 | service: 1 | selection: 2.5 | food: 2
Thank god for Prime 16. I have given this place so many opportunities but after today will not be going back. Got here right when the taproom opens at 4- about 3 or 4 other people in the place- nowhere close to busy yet. Order a Southern TIer Jahva and girlfriend orders a Palm. I get the jahva and my girlfriend waits. And continues to wait. I start drinking my jahva and it's completely flat and tastes nothing like it should be. Delaneys is notorious for not cleaning lines as much as they should. After 10 minutes I ask where the palm is and am told it kicked- so if it kicked why did no one ask if she wanted anything else? I finished the jahva even though it was off and the bartender takes my glass away without asking if I wanted anything else... Okayyy then. I have to flag a server down after 10 minutes and ask for the bottle of anchor Christmas I wanted. Doing this must of interrupted the manager who was sitting at the end of the bar texting for the entire hour plus I was here. She almost seemed bothered to do anything. I won't even get to the wings which just plain sucked. If your going to a beer bar in new haven please go to prime 16- it blows this place away.
Dec 07, 2009
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Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Delaney's definitely has the biggest selection of quality beers in southern CT, but that doesn't quite make it my favorite place. They have 30 or so taps, with about a quarter going to macro-imports (e.g., Stella, New Castle), a quarter to local craft (e.g., NEB Sea Hag, Farmington River IPA), a quarter national craft (e.g., DFH 60 + 90, Yeti), and a quarter mostly Belgian imports (e.g., Delirium, Chimay, La Chouffe). So, yeah, good selection. The bartenders are both friendly and knowledgeable, and will always offer a taste of something before pouring a full glass. The prices are reasonable ($5-7 for most), and on weekdays they have a buy-one-get-one-free happy hour, but it only applies to about 5 of their cheaper beers - tonight it was Sierra Trippel, Sea Hag, Hop River IPA, HopDevil, Stella, and Saranac Pomegranate Wheat. I had a Sierra and a HopDevil, and bother were perfectly tasty (although I was puzzled as to why they served the tripel in a footed pilsner glass, instead of a tulip or goblet or something of the sort - not much aroma). Overall, this place is definitely a must-visit for any BA in the area, although you'll be much more likely to find me downtown at Prime 16.

Cheers!
Sep 05, 2009
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Reviewed by pandora31 from Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I have been to Delaney's a few times and I have enjoyed my experiences. The bartenders sometimes seem distracted or too busy to help customers. In the few times I've gone there, the food has been great, as well as the beer selection. One problem is that I do prefer beer bars with less on tap. I feel with so many taps available, they may not rotate their kegs as often. Some of the obscure beer couldn't possibly move as quickly as the more popular taps. With that said, Delaney's is usually a good experience, I just wish the service would improve somewhat.
Jun 03, 2009
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Reviewed by StonyB from New Jersey

4.58/5  rDev +12.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Next time you're at a pub, downing a pint among friends and acquaintances, here's a topic for discussion - what makes a bar a "destination" bar? You know, the kind of place you're willing to travel out of the way for.

Whatever criteria you come up with, Delaney's Tap Room in New Haven is a textbook destination stop.

Let's start with the beer, of course. Does 52 taps, 2 casks and 96 bottles sound like a good start? Rhetorical question, no need to answer. Both the draft and bottle selections are massive, and run the gamut from your macro needs to quality American craft brews, to some fine imports, sometimes rare ones. Since your head will spin trying to examine all the tap handles, ask for a beer menu or check out the blackboards in the "Tap Room" (more on that later). The menu breaks down the drafts by both country and style, while the chalk is divided into "Draft", "Just Tapped", and "Happy Hour" sections. Why not, when you have 52 beers to show off...

Once you settle in with your first pint, you'll want to check out your surroundings, natch. This is another one of the cool things about Delaney's; you have four distinctive vibes to choose from. Really. Feeling pubby, pretty casual, laid back and peaceful, maybe some quiet conversation? Go to the "Pub Dining Room", a very relaxing "Cheers" kind of a place. Feeling hungry, in the mood for some semi-formal dining with your beverage? Try the main dining room. Feeling playful, boisterous, loud, maybe in the mood to throw some darts, shoot some pool or play a videogame, crank up the jukebox? Head for the "Tap Room". This is where you'll find the blackboards, by the way. And last but not least, did I mention the outdoor patio? Enjoying your beer al fresco on the right day is, well, choose your own adjective. Make it a good one.

Lots of great beer and different atmospheres fine, but how's the service? Very good, thank you. The barkeeps are friendly, observant, and can talk beer to some extent. A shout-out to Mike, one of the best bartenders at any bar, period. You'll know what I mean if you meet him, and when you do tip him well..he deserves every penny.

The food is popular and recommended, especially the chicken wings.

Prices are fine, some of the rare drafts can go up to around $8, but most hover in the 5-6 dollar range.

When nature calls, you'll find the restrooms to be clean and undecorated. And if your wallet starts getting lonely, there's an ATM on site, for better or worse.

So when you're shooting the shit about destination bars, bring up Delaney's. Better yet, go there yourself and see what I'm talking about.

**Stony's Biscuit** - There's happy hours, and there's happy hours. And then there's Delaney's happy hour, which deserves a special mention. Here's why - from Monday-Friday, 3-6 pm, you get to choose from a list of about 12 taps that are 2 for 1. Not the best of the best, but good drinkable choices. And while you're enjoying your half-price beverage, I suggest you order some very tasty chicken wings. After all, during happy hour they won't cost you a thing...
May 04, 2009
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Reviewed by Wortmonger from Connecticut

4.58/5  rDev +12.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
This is an absolute must visit if you are in the New Haven area and you love beer. They also have a new food menu which is great. As of March 09, I believe they have 90+ beers available (counting drafts and bottles). Both bars inside have different selections available on tap but make sure you ask to see the drink menu. It is easily the biggest drink menu I've seen in the area. I had a very rare J.W. Lee's that was phenomenal that I previously never even knew existed! They also have tons of high quality scotches and vodkas on top of all the beers. Finally, their happy hour (4 to 6pm) is great b/c it is buy 1 beer get 1 free from their on tap happy hour beer menu - I believe it has about 10 different draft beers on it. You also can get 5 free wings at a time! btw - there are quite a few nice looking females that they employ.

:-) -Dean
Mar 23, 2009
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Reviewed by Reagan1984 from Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -11.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3
Nice spot. Interesting in that there are two bars with very different feels.

We stayed in what appeared to be the older bar that was more rustic and mostly dark wood. The service was very nice but didn't really understand anything about beer. The selection was pretty good with a small selection of Belgians. They offered us $2.00 Captain Lawrence DPA's since "it wasn't selling" I pointed out that it wasn't on the menu.... The waitress said they sell a lot during the summer. I got one and it tasted very fresh.... Sandwiches and salads were both huge... and very good. We also shared some hummus with toasted pita bread... Nice...

The focus of the place seems to be 50% bar and 50% restaurant.. A pretty good combination. They did have Stout Trooper for $12 per bottle...
In the other bar they were having $2.00 High Life specials..
Kind of a strange combination of good selection//college bar.

One to stop at while your in the area. No need to go out of your way to get here.
Jan 17, 2009
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Reviewed by TurdFurgison from Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
The location is 50% bar and 50% restaurant, although both sides seem slightly upscale (not too much).

The highlights of the draft line-up when I visited:
Brooklyn Bruin
Brooklyn Flemish Gold
Ithaca Cascazilla
Palm
Southern Tier Imperial Helles
plus about 20 more beers, ranging from Hoegaarden to Schneider Weisse.

Very nice selection, unfortunately no cask. I chose the restaurant side due to crowds, and the food was very good too. The waitress knew the beers better than the food, she was able to answer most questions. This would be in my rotation for sure if I lived in New Haven.
Dec 12, 2008
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Reviewed by mltobin from Connecticut

4.13/5  rDev +1.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Delaney`s is in New Haven, but slightly out of the downtown area.

With outdoor seating, bar seating, and restaurant seating, there are options to please different personalities. I opted for the outdoor seating (might as well make the most of the last couple weeks of summer).

They have 16 or so draughts and a large bottle list. I was impressed with the bottle list and had one of their belgians that is imported by the Shelton Brothers.

I also had wings which were very good, the menus is american pub fare, sandwiches, burgers, etc. A very good beer bar.
Sep 14, 2008
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Reviewed by opwog from Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I was at the Half Door in Hartford after flying into CT and the bartender there recommended Delaney's when I said that I was staying in New Haven. So when I started driving up Whaley looking for the address, I was surprised to see that this had taken the place of a bar that I use to go to with my Dad when I was younger. For anybody who use to go to SCSU, Delaney's is the old Cape Codder. For those who were not there back in the day, this was one of those old school bars, with older school guys (of which, I would now be considered one) and would have steamed mussels and wrapped mini-hotdogs out as a happy hour buffet. Later, they opened a back room where locals would book bands (mainly hippy rock).

Jump forward to now and the old man bar has been fixed up and turned into a pretty nice lounge with a small set of impressive taps and a full bar. It looks like this is the room for those who want to pretend that they aren't really there with the exact same goals of the beer swillers in the Tap Room. Now the Tap Room is the larger side where the bands use to be. I guess that they still have live music in there, but I couldn't see where. They also have a pool table in this room. This room reminds me more of the old college bars of Boston in the 80's, than it does a beer room in New Haven. It is very comfortable and unpretentious (maybe too relaxed for some) and borders on being a college-kid-getting-shit-faced bar.

The selection is excellent and the bartenders were very knowledgeable about what they were pouring. They were as pleasant, patient and seemingly interested in discussing the beers with me, as they were pouring shots for the local SCSU students. While this may not have the hip downtown feel of the newer Prime 16, Delaney's is definitely the front running tap room in New Haven.
Aug 06, 2008
Delaney's Restaurant & Tap Room in New Haven, CT
Place rating: 4.07 out of 5 with 70 ratings