Ye Olde Forge Restaurant

Ye Olde Forge RestaurantYe Olde Forge Restaurant
Ye Olde Forge RestaurantYe Olde Forge Restaurant
Bar, Eatery

125 N Main St
Lanesboro, Massachusetts, 01237-9723
United States

(413) 442-6797 | map
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.47
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
41
pDev:
6.71%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.55 by VT_Ryan from Massachusetts

Nov 25, 2018
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Reviewed by Dmbphoenix from New York

4.03/5  rDev -9.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
A staple whenever we are here.

Vast selection of bottles but the draft list today was a bit average compared to the past. With such a huge selection, would hope that the tap list reflect much more locals.

The huge draw here are the chicken wings. HUGE.
Jan 13, 2018
 
Rated: 4.76 by rogacks from Massachusetts

Oct 16, 2017
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Reviewed by christopherhantman

4.48/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.25
One of my favorite restaurants in the area with easily the best beer selection in the Berkshires. Great food but not a ton of healthy options (but then again it is a pub). There is Most always a wait and is very busy, which can cause service to lack a little,but usually they handle things pretty well. I recommend to anyone who loves beer, wings or other good pub food.
Jan 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.93 by PaleAleWalt from New York

Jan 11, 2015
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Rated by BerkshireGuerrilla from Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +11.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
This is THE spot for beer drinkers in Berkshire County to go out for food and beers, period.
Jan 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by JLB025 from Massachusetts

Aug 11, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by srosea87 from Massachusetts

Jul 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by mlefebvre7 from Massachusetts

Jul 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by dustinjkline from Massachusetts

Jun 26, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by TTTBeer from Massachusetts

May 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by MassIPA from Massachusetts

Feb 06, 2014
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Reviewed by berkshire413 from Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev -6.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.75
this place is great, the only problem is getting in there. luckily i live right down the street, you begin to gauge the peek times and the down times, its mostly all peek. but when you finally get a spot the wait staff is usually pretty good, they are always busy so they wont be at your beck and call, but they keep the beers coming and the food usually comes in pretty reasonable time... but whats the rush any ways. i usually spend a good two hours plus taking in the atmosphere. everyeone seems to know each other but its not pretentious. beer selection is top notch and the food is great. their wings are raved about for good reason. prices are very faid and portions are great. awesome spot with the essence of the berkshires.
Jan 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by JratBones from Massachusetts

Jan 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by charlienyc from Illinois

Jan 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by JSBILK from Massachusetts

Dec 18, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by GreenMountainBoy from Vermont

Oct 20, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by MattXT from Virginia

Oct 10, 2013
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Reviewed by IPAddress

4.6/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
One of my favorite public places to have a brew! Get's a bit crowded at times but that's because they have so many great brews and after all, there are reasons why places are busy!

Nice porch out back and drinking a great beer outside with friends in the Berkshires with the birds chirpin' and the sun shining is one of the greater pleasures in life.

Great food, terrific wings and one of the best selections in the area so if you're in the Berkshires, Olde Forge is one place you have to "hit hefe's" at!
Nov 14, 2012
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Reviewed by TwinCreator from Massachusetts

4.78/5  rDev +6.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Ye Olde Forge Restaurant is just a must-visit! They have their normal selection of draught beers and they rotate through those. They work in the seasonal beers and for the most part have a decent selection. The bottled menu is insane - they do have pages and pages of beers - you can get just about anything you're looking for. The service staff are friendly and will go out of their way to help you choose a beer if you're not quite sure what you want.

The wings are the second reason we frequent this place!! The wings are awesome!!! Perfectly done and that's about all I can say on that. The whole menu is good - I've never been disappointed by any food items.
Mar 07, 2012
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Reviewed by KELPAK from Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 5
GREAT PLACE!

The draught selection waas limited to seasonal beers and a few constants but their bottled beer selection was quite extensive. Pages and Pages of beer labels that were all reasonably priced considering the selection offered.

I went to check their beer selection out but as i normaly do ended up getting some wings. They were fantastic, nice and crispy with a hot specialty sauce, great place to enjoy a nice beer.

It also has a great deck to sit out and enjoy a great fall view in the Berkshires. if you're in the area i strongly recommend the Old Forge.
Nov 03, 2011
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Reviewed by Blizzz from North Carolina

4.8/5  rDev +7.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
This place is an amazing place not only to drink unique beers from all over the world but to down some of the best chicken wings you'll ever eat. I've eaten just about everything on the menu, and it's all pretty delicious. The beer menu is about 8 pages long with about 30 beers per page so you're sure to find something that you'll like. On tap there will be plenty of seasonal beer as well as some old standbys.

The atmosphere is great. There is a ton of beer related stuff hanging all over along with a bunch of those metal blacksmith puzzles at the bar. They also have a beer card there, where if you drink 50 unique beers they will give you a nice pewter much with your name engraved on it. Complete 6 cards and your name will be up on the wall of foam, and if you complete 10 you'll have a spot reserved for your very own handcrafted plaque at the bar. Pretty cool. Make sure you get some wings if you go, they're delicious.
Dec 08, 2010
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Reviewed by msmezher from California

4.15/5  rDev -7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 3
Ye Olde Forge is a great place for hard to find and rare imported beer. Their draft menu is limited to around 10 beers, which change periodically, but their bottle menu is vast, over 200. The food's alright, I'd just get a few appetizers to go with beer while I'm there. Great location, the outside patio has a beautiful scenic view. I had a Czech Black Lager on draft that was amazing. There aren't many places in WestMass with this sort of selection of imports, though there is a strong number of local breweries putting out excellent beers. I'll be stopping back whenever I'm in Massachusetts.
Sep 14, 2010
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Reviewed by slander from New York

4.18/5  rDev -6.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
On the road for hours now, the scenic tour of Vermont the long way around, jagged, cut and cut back down into Massachusetts. Down rte 7 forever, to this packed house on the side of the road; I landed a not spot out back, the last in the lot. Dinnering, we're going to eat and drink too much, and then come in on fumes to Pittsfield Brewing 5 miles down the road; wasn't the plan, just kind of worked out that way...

The place is basically split down the middle, seating to the left and bar area to the right, tight, and difficult to maneuver. 13 seat straight wood bar stained dark; 2 deep to get a beer, sucky for the people winging there seated, being pressed on and reached over. Glassware on the barback counter and more on a rack over a center nook with taps & booze, the unit lined above with figurines, bottles and some other pieces. A pair of doublewide glass front coolers housing bottled selections sit at both ends. 8 taps on a tower on the bar, another 8 from a barrel end in the barback nook, and another 3 on a smaller barrel end next to the other. Pewter mugs hanging and a rack with them twisty bar puzzles over the bar. TV's in the corners and boards listing the tap selections. Wood slat floors, plank side walls decorated with wing fling awards from the local "Y", brewery mirrors & signage, and the areas up high, lined with pieces of whiskey cases and beer coasters all the way around the room, and on the crossbeams. The front & back walls are brick with arched cut throughs, and above, wood shingled looking exterior rooflike. Mug club plaques for completed members line the rafters above. Golf clubs & snowboards hang over the bar, and a pulley system with ropes extending from here to there and back again. Colored lanterns over the bar, some strung Xmas lighting, and wagon wheel chandeliers over the adjacent seating area.

Bar/dining divider lined with faux spruce & white Xmas lighting. 10 tables here, pleasantly candle lit, flowered & clothed, a room to the rear with about a dozen tables and there's a banquet room downstairs apparently. We put our name in for a table with the guy you do that with, and then he totally spaced it, yeah, that's my favorite thing, waiting around for a table that ain't. Some remindin' got him back on track and us eventually seated.

Starter soup was beef barley, the champion of all soups, very good, tasty, veggies hooray, sturdy, and then the Atlantic Salmon with garlic onion spinach rice 'o crazy, and a 'lil thing of vegetables. And unlike Ben, I was awarded access to the salad bar, a privilege, I feel. I may be able to bring you back some bread, I don't know how it's going to play, don't get your hopes up. Food was very good. Ben claims the wings here to be the best wings ever, "Legendary", he said, starting with them and then moving on to the fish & chips.

19 taps, more than ½ of them imports mostly blah (Old Specklen Hen & Scaldis being the best of the lot), and the remainder being American craft (Fisherman's Ale, Cisco Bailey's Blonde Ale, Long Trail Blackberry Wheat, Rogue Chipotle, Stone Imperial Stout, Ballast Point Big Eye PA, Sixpoint Hollow White), and Capt'n Eli's Root Beer from Shipyard. We both started with the Ballast Point Big Eye IPA (yummy), and then thought "Sixpoint Hollow White? Does Sixpoint make a Wit? How did we not know that?" We both ordered it up, not a Wit. "You know what this is?" says Ben, "It's the Apollo Wheat". Yeah, 'cause if you say "Hollow White" enough times fast, "Hollow, Apollo", you know. The beers were fresh anyway, they seem to be moving things pretty well. They've got some wah taps, and a large, and probably dusty in places, bottle collection. 90+ micros, more than ½ of them regional, with some in state unexpectedities (a couple from Berkshire Brewing, Opa Opa Red Rock, and Pretty Things Saint Botolph's Town, which we split). And another 90+ Belgian, UK & Euro combined. The remainder being cheese imports, macros, maltos, ciders, sodas, N/A's and stray unnecessary beers of the world. Roughly 250 bottles in all, questionably compiled on a 7 page list (which I confiscated for dissection, as is my right).

Waitress was fun & playful. When Ben asked for the bathroom, she told him to go outside, down the path into the woods (Ben is not civilized folk and should always have to do his bidness in the woods, she sized him up well). And she knew what beers had just gone on tap, the draft list boards not being updated and all. They've been playing a whole lot of Neil.

Do you think anyeverybody will mind my singing harmony? Oh, okay. You could've just said "Stop fucking singing". Food was great, beers were fresh, service was very good (table service that is, the bar service was of the suck), and vibewise, I imagine the place would be a pretty cool Colonialesque hang any other time than the late on a Saturday night when we showed up. Good wings, too
Jun 30, 2009
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Reviewed by indiapaleale from Maine

4.33/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I actually had the rehearsal dinner for my wedding here. After almost three years we made it back!

The bar itself has lots of wood and things hung up to make it feel pretty cozy, especially after a day of skiiing which is when this place really gets packed. In the back is a nice eating area as well as an outdoor deck with a great view.

Beer selection is pretty damn sweet here, lots of local micros and imports both on draft and in bottles. I had a glass of Aventinus (on draft) and a pint of Pretty Things Jack D'or when we were there and both were excellent. The bottle selection is quite big and there is an extensive listing in the beer menu book.

Service was fine, waitress was young and took care of us without any problems. She didn't know anything about beer but whatever.

Food is pretty standard pub fare, nothing over the top but very filling.

I wish that Ye Olde Forge would carry some beers from Pittsfield Brew Works on tap, its so close by and it would be nice to see them throw some kegs around the area so people could get to know them.

Definitely worth a visit if you are in the Berkshires...
Jun 12, 2009
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Reviewed by nopucophop from New York

4.6/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4
This place is unreal!!! Went for the first time this past Friday and was blown away. I understand that we were lucky to have been able to just walk in and get 4 seats at the bar. I guess it is usually packed but with the holiday weekend not so bad. the beer selection was so impressive, i didn't know where to start. I started with the BBC Coffeehouse Porter on a nitro pour, followed with a Guinness 250th on tap(could of done without), and get this finished with a couple STONE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT ON TAP!!!

Let not forget about the food, The chicken wings are as good as i have ever had. We had the hot and the garlic. The garlic were just amazing. We also had a special house extra hot sauce on the side. My friend got the foccia pizza that just looked amazing and i got the shrimp and smokies in a house ale sauce.

Overall I am glad this place is 40 minutes away because it is to good. if it was close i would be there all to often. This is a must if your in the area. I plan on going back and just working on that stone ris while it is available.
May 26, 2009
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Reviewed by madmanjf from New York

4.2/5  rDev -6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I've been up in Pittsfield many times for Beer Visits, but only recently heard of this place. My next return trip warranted a visit to Ye Old Forge.

I was told the wings were really good so I diverged from my typical burger order. I had the "original" and my friend had another variety of which the name escapes me. Well, they were both very tasty and quite worthwhile.

The beer selection was quite spectacular. On tap there was a nice mix of styles and country-of-origin beers available. I immediately gravitated to the Sebago IPA. This brewery is not yet available in NY State, and I remember from some New England beer fests that they do a fantastic job with their beers-to-style. There was an English IPA that I was anxious to try; unfortunately, my request kicked the keg and so I am left with the mystery.

The bar nicely displays their extensive bottled selection in two tall glass-door coolers located on opposite ends of the bar. It's a great way to showcase what's available and surpasses the need for a beer bottle menu.

I hope to come back soon.
Jan 30, 2009
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Reviewed by LtCracker20 from Connecticut

4.47/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
I originally found this place on a road trip with my wife to Bennington, VT. We just happened to stop in for something to eat, and then we saw the beer list. We just made another stop there yesterday. They have about 15 on-tap and a couple houndred bottled beers. It's a nice atmosphere whether going in for a drink or drinks with a meal. We had very good service as our waitress was pretty knowledgeable about most of their beers on-tap and kept coming back to check if we needed another beer or just to ask how they were. All the drinks we've had there have come in the right glass (but I did get a lemon wedge in my Weihenstephaner heffe, which I quickly removed). It has a nice, almost rustic, feel to it and a pleasant atmosphere, but that probably depends on when you go. We happened to be heading home just as people were coming in to eat and it was getting busier, so our timing was pretty good. It's a place I'd gladly make the trip back every couple months to get some great beers. And it was the best Balsamic Vinagarette she ever had!
Jan 28, 2009
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Reviewed by oddfire from Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +4.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
The forge is a great place to meet and have some beer and some food. Hopefully it is the wings. The wings are known to be great. I like hot. The beer selection is awsome the are around 300 different beers. Now we are up to 14 or 15 beers on tap. I go there often because it is just 15 minutes away.This is a must if you are in the berkshires. If you go, start a beer card. It is fun and you get to have the beers on tap at mug prices once you finish one. You get a pewter mug with an engraving on it every one except #6, 10, 15, and 20. At 6 you get your name one the wall of foam. At 10 you get a custom plaque above the bar. 15 and 20 I don't know what you get because I am only almost done with #13. Kurk the owner reassures me it is good though.
Dec 13, 2008
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Reviewed by Gerrycah from Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
This place is great. The selection of beers goes on and on. They consistantly have at least 12-15 taps going with a selection of drafts that rotates on a regular basis.

The standard bar food is excellent!! You must try the wings, of course they are the most popular. They also have a regular food menu; The food is good, not top notch but definitely not bad.

If you go on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday get there early or be prepared to wait. If you are in the Berkshires, you need to make the trip here, you won't be disappointed.
Aug 27, 2008
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Reviewed by citrusjim from Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 3
I loved the Ode Forge. Went there after a bad start at the Pittsfield Brew Works. On a Friday night, they were extremely crowded. We stood at the busy bar while we waited for a table. The patrons opened a lane for me to get in and order. Top notch! The selection is huge! There are two big fridges with hundreds of bottles. Everything you would expect is there. They have 10-15 taps going. I had a Fullers ESB from the tap. Nice. While dining, the girlfriend and I split a 750 of Ommegang Cave-aged Abbey Ale. It was great. The food was ok, but not great. The menu is large and might take a while to discover its highlights. Beyond the beer selection, the real bonus here is the service. The hostess, bartender and waitress were all great. I would come back here in a second.
May 19, 2008
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Reviewed by ghostfacekilla69 from Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
the forge is in a lot of ways what every pub in the united states should be. they have a great selection of ever rotating beers on tap supplemented by a very nice selection of bottled beers (probably a few hundred.) the waitstaff is very knowledgeable about beer and can steer you to a choice that you will enjoy. the bar also has tons of regulars (drawn in to fill their beercards--i used to be one before i moved) a lot of whom are also very knowledgeable about beer and who will not hesitate to get into very interesting beer conversations with you.

the pub grub is absolutely excellent. not to be missed are the burger, the wings (which have won about a thousand awards and also come in a few not so usual but delicious flavors) and the french onion soup. these alone get the food a 4.0. However, the 'fancier' options like the pastas or seafood can be a little pricey and dissapointing.

ultimately this is still the best pub i have ever frequented and well worth going out of the way for a visit.
Nov 09, 2007
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Reviewed by MojoSaves from New York

4.43/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
I went to college near the Forge. Not only does it have a more-than-worthy beer selection both in bottles and on tap, but it has the best wings I have ever tasted, Buffalo's Duff's and Anchor Bar included. Get the Dean's Original recipe and chase it with any number of superb suds. Also, join the Beer Club and get your mug. The waitresses can tend towards salty, but only because they are overworked. They are usually willing to point out some of their favorite beers as well, if you're having trouble deciding between a couple. This place opened my eyes to a lot of new brews. Anytime I go back to the alma mater, I hit this place for at least a half-dozen wings and a couple of pints.

Cheers.
Oct 17, 2007
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Reviewed by TurdFurgison from Ohio

4.4/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4
I stopped here while in Pittsfield on business, after a recommendation from a guy who lives in the area (I had mentioned I like to go to the BBC when I'm in town). He was right, this is the best spot in the area so far.

The atmosphere was good, lots of wood floors and wood walls, plenty of tables and seats, nice aroma of good food (from chicken wings to steaks), and some outdoor seating with a view of wooded hills. There were maybe 15 beers on tap (including Old Speckled Hen, Blue Point Hoptical Illusion, Twisted Thistle IPA, Smuttynose IPA, Tucher hefeweizen, Special Rauchbier, Hop Rod Rye, and others I can't remember). Very nice. The bottle list is over 100, probably close to 200. You can see many of the bottles on display behind the bar, making ordering a pleasant chore.

I recommend a stop here, but it's a bit of a drive from anywhere that I'm familiar with.
Aug 15, 2007
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Reviewed by guinness72384 from Massachusetts

4.78/5  rDev +6.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
My buddy from Pittsfield has been telling me about this place ever since he moved there about 3 years ago. I finally got out there this past January and let me say, I wasn't dissapointed in the least. Not a very large bar, but comfortable, with a great atmosphere. If i remember correctly they have about 12 or so beers on tap which they rotate on a weekly basis. When you arrive and take your seat they bring you a 3 ring binder which contains the menu of beers they have. Over 200 beers are listed in this book. Some beers can get extremely pricey though. They are organized by style and country. If you can't find a beer you like at this bar...you are definately not cut out to be a beer drinker. The food ranges from salads to burgers and even baby back ribs, you know, typical bar food. Food prices are very reasonable. The hot wings and burgers are exceptional. I will be frequenting this pub every chance I can get. If you are in the area I would most definately recommend stopping in for a beer or two. You will not be dissapointed.
Apr 05, 2007
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Reviewed by bultrey from New York

4.4/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
A fantastic place that you have to know about -- it's off the beaten path a bit, so you don't just end up there. On Route 7 in Western Mass., about 5 miles north of Pittsfield, and maybe 10 miles south of Williamstown. Because of the latter, this is a big Williams college hangout, replete with beer club mugs hanging all over the place to canonize the personal acheivements of so many drunk college students.

Kind of a weird parking situation -- there is some parking just off the road next to the place, which is a bit precarious due to its proximity to the 55-MPH highway. There is a large lot down a small driveway and behind the building, though, and on Friday and Saturday nights, it's typically packed.

Upon entering, you see about a 14-person bar running the right length of the place, a dining area with about a dozen or so tables running the length to the right, and a divider in the middle kind of like a picket fence. A narrow walkway at the back leads you to a back room with about 8 more tables, some for larger groups. There is an outdoor deck that is open in the summer, which here lasts from about late June to early Sept.

Behind the bar is the wall of coolers, containing a fairly impressive bottled selection -- I think they claim 200 or so. There are also a few towers scattered about housing a total of 8-10 drafts. The bottled list is divided out by brewery name, and while it contains a few gems, it is mostly three or four decent selections from regional micros and the like. They are particularly strong on Unibroue beers for some reason, and featured the usual suspects, plus the new 15 Anniversary, Chambly Noir, Blanche de Chambly, as well as a $9.99 closeout on the Unibroue Edition 2004. The tap selection is a nicely chosen array of styles and breweries. Standouts included Clipper City's Loose Cannon Hop Ale, Geary's Winter Ale, Lindeman's Framboise, Corsendonk Pale Ale (you often see the brown, but not so much the pale), Sea Dog Blueberry, and Berkshire Brewing Steel Rail Pale. I didn't take notes, so I can't remember the rest, but suffice to say there weren't really too many clunkers -- maybe a Guinness and Magic Hat #9 were the closest.

I had a Clipper City, Geary's Winter, and a Corsendonk Pale the last time I visited, and all were outstanding and fresh. The really great thing about this place is the food. It's slightly inventive pub grub, but large portions, fair prices, and well done. The cajun etoufee with shrimp, chicken, and andouille over rice is outstanding, as are the wings (pretty much all the wings around here are good -- but these are truly outstanding. As good as any in Buffalo). The beer gal had a "Vienna" sandwich, which was open faced roast beef, caramelized onions, swiss, and au jus, served with fries, and it was also delicious. I've had the burgers before, and can vouch for those as well, and they have an array of interesting appeteizers such as butternut squash quesadillas, shrimp and smoked sausages, etc. The fish and chips plate is the size of my head and delicious.

A very convivial atmosphere and friendly, attentive, and fairly knowledgeable bartenders put a cherry on top. If you are ever in the area, you must visit. Makes a fine one-two punch with Pittsfield Brew Works just down the road.
Nov 27, 2006
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Reviewed by oloughlinrj from Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Once more, this needs to be stated up front: GREAT WINGS. I personally prefer getting a dozen, half original, half Dean's recipe, but that's just me.
The rest of the food is good as well, especially their appetizers and burgers, but it's all good. Prices are pretty reasonable, but watch out, it can get steep really quickly.

And the food perfectly compliments the real reason to go here: the beer. Their beer list is extensive and varied; there is something for everybody. The beer card is also a great idea: drink 50 different beers in a year and get a free pewter mug with your name engraved on it. Finish enough beer cards, you get a plaque on the wall and eventually (I'm told) your own bar stool.

The service is excellent, and the staff really know their beer. Ask for their recommendations if you're overwhelmed.

Watch out for busy nights (weekends especially). They only take reservations for parties of 6 or more, so try to get a group going, or else be prepared to wait a while. Even on weeknights it can get crowded pretty quickly. If possible, sit in the back room -- I've found the atmosphere there to be quite nice for sitting and enjoying good beer. It brings back the good olde days of local taverns.

Students from nearby Williams College flock here during the school year for their legendary beer selection. Damn the 20 minute drive, it's worth it. Some alums have been known to come back to town to nominally visit friends, but with the ulterior motive of going to the Forge.

If you're ever in the area, be sure to stop by.
Jun 27, 2006
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Reviewed by alejandro from Maryland

4.38/5  rDev -2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
At Ye Olde Forge one can get lost in the beer menu. I have sampled nearly all the beer on their menu at some time or another and I have enjoyed going to the Forge on many occasions, it is nearly always busy and the food is generally pretty good. The bar when it is quiet (mid week mid day), is a wonderful place to learn about beer and spend some time sampeling the different beer varieties they have. The taps always have at least one beer that you will love and the bottle selection is second to none in the Berkshires. I recommend hitting this place in an off hour to truly enjoy the selection of beer you have to choose from and, oh yes order the wings.
Oct 12, 2005
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Reviewed by UmmmOk from Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Having grown up merely a half-hour from Ye Olde Forge (and in this neck of the woods, you have to drive at least half an hour just to find a mall) I could not believe I had never heard of it until I actually went. The selection of beers would be a heavenly site for anyone, but for its location, it is absolutely unbelievable and to be highly commended.

There are well over a hundred beers on the menu, if I'm not mistaken. Lots of micros, a good selection of Belgians and plenty of others from around the world. One really unique aspect to the bar is a challenge they have. They give you a paper with room for either 50 or 100 beers and every different beer you try, you write it down and the waitress initials it. Once you've filled the sheet, you get a prize, I think it was a 'Ye Olde Forge' pint glass the last time I was there.

The food is quite good. I have to take a moment to mention the wings in particular though. They were fantastic and certainly a treat for any wing lover. And really, what goes better with a good IPA than a plate of buffalo wings?

Whether you're a local or just someone passing through, check out Ye Olde Forge.
Aug 23, 2004
Photo of Flashy
Reviewed by Flashy from Vermont

4.58/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Hiked Mount Greylock with the wife and kids and when done, we took the short ride to the Olde Forge.
Found it opens @ 5 PM on weekdays and waited. Real nice deck in the back (but folks, can you please put up those umbrellas, it was like dining on Mercury). Nice people running the place. Food was very good, but the highpoint was beer selection. Couple of Dogfish heads, couple of Belgiums on tap, Beamish, Wexford....top notch selection. Well worth the trip.
Not a very big place from what we saw, but with the aforementioned deck, a pretty big back room and a front bar area I would have to say I liked the set up. And important to us...it's pretty kid friendly.
Stopped back on 8/20/08 (one of quite a few return trips) and found the place to be just as good. Arrogant Bastard, 60 Minute IPA, on tap just to name a few. The only down side was the hamburger which starts at $9.50, bit expensive. I guess it must cost alot to ship out to the middle of nowhere. Still the worlds best wings and still great for kids.
Apr 23, 2004
Ye Olde Forge Restaurant in Lanesboro, MA
Place rating: 4.47 out of 5 with 41 ratings