Keegan Ales

Keegan AlesKeegan Ales
Keegan AlesKeegan Ales
Brewery, Bar, Eatery

20 St. James Street
Kingston, New York, 12401
United States

(845) 331-2739 | map
keeganales.com
BEER STATS
Average:
3.72
Beers:
22
Ratings:
2,044
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.83
Reviews:
24
Ratings:
51
pDev:
10.44%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by belhav0322:
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Reviewed by belhav0322 from New York

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
After what seemed like months of renovations, the new kitchen/taproom at Keegan Ales is finally opened. We stopped in on a Friday night to find a rather Bohemian mix of locals, which is fitting since it is in a rather Bohemian section of Kingston.

Upon walking in, one finds a very inviting main room adorned with couches and a few tables. The exposed brick walls have various local artwork and photography hanging on them. The square shaped bar contained a glass bar top to reveal brewing grains arranged in a decorative fashion, which was a nice touch. Another room off to the right had a cover band playing, and there were a few picnic tables outside as well.

As for the beer, they offer all of Keegan's usual offerings. The Hurricane Kitty was espeically fresh and excellent, as was the Mother's Milk. Best of all, they were all $3 a pint. They were also served in mason jars, which seemed odd at first but was kind of fun. There appeared to be 4 or so additional tap lines aside from the Keegan offerings, with the website claiming that they will regularly have guest drafts. On the night I was there they only had one on, Eye of the Hawk IPA, which was also fresh and tasty.

Though I did not try any food, I peered at the menu to find an assortment of wraps, soups, and salads. Not typical brewpub food with a noticeable lack of anything fried. Nonetheless, the menu looked pretty good.

In all, this is a great spot to check out if your in the area and are in the mood for a laid back, and unique brewpub experience.
Jul 17, 2007
More User Ratings:
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Reviewed by orcrist_cleaver from New York

3.99/5  rDev +4.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.75
One of my fave local spots and an OG among the HV brewing scene. The spot sits within an old industrial building with a brightly colored mural on the side. Before entering you are likely to be greeted by the dog, Bear. Remnants of the industrial operation are apparent inside. The inside is split into two sides divided by a wall. Entering on the right, you are greeted by a mosaic of Bill Murray. There is also a small bandstand, food counter, and windows peering into the brewing operation over here. Crossing over to the left is the taproom proper, low level lighting, seating at a U-shaped bar for about a dozen, another half dozen or so wooden picnic type tables, and another small stage.
The vibe is local and friendly as they offer multiple music acts Thurs-Sat. Most are free. Also, game night is popular as dartboard tournaments take over the space as well as trivia. In fact, this brewery might have one of the largest local imprints as they often host charity events, etc. Come when it's not so busy and the owner can always be walking around the place. Also, there are a couple brew cats, and I've even gone a whole session with one on my lap. Further contributing to the casual vibe are the help-yourself peanut tins, and shells which you discard on the floor.

Moving to the the beer/food. Beer is standard-good, not great, but a nice place to go repeatedly as its the kind of place you can be yourself. They have their standard lineup, 2 stouts, a couple IPAs, a blonde, and session ales. With about 8 taps total, a seasonal or rotating specialty beer sneaks its way in every couple months. My only qualm in the3 past has really been that the beer rotation sometimes lags. Personally, I favor Joe Mama's and Super Kitty. One insider tip is to ask for 'Florida' a blend of their Hurricane Kitty IPA (named after the owner's grandmother who earned quite a reputation as a driver) and their blonde Old Capital. Prices are reasonable ($5-6) and even moreso on their mason jar nights ($3-4). The food here sates and is always competently made. They always have weekly soup, sandwich specials. Their pretzel sandwiches are great, but their smoke wings are absolutely phenomenal.

Overall, not groundbreaking but somewhere familiar and reliable.
Oct 31, 2019
 
Rated: 3.89 by Griffith from Connecticut

Mar 18, 2019
 
Rated: 4.3 by geektastically from New York

Mar 17, 2019
 
Rated: 3.96 by eluvah from New York

Dec 08, 2018
 
Rated: 2.1 by Tbarnes1414 from New York

Apr 06, 2018
 
Rated: 4.24 by shoretaxi from New Jersey

Sep 20, 2017
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Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

3.92/5  rDev +2.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4
in downtown Kingston, located in an older industrial looking brick building. Cool mural on the outside. They've got some outdoor seating in addition to the bar inside, plus an area for live music. They've got 5 of their year round beers plus some more seasonal beers. Plus a NY hard cider on tap. Staff was friendly.
Jul 10, 2017
 
Rated: 3.84 by TheBeerdedCharmer from Pennsylvania

Nov 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by smi69 from New York

Sep 28, 2016
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Reviewed by DovGibor from New York

2.85/5  rDev -25.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 3
Had some time to kill on an overcast day and stopped in here. The space is welcoming and they seem to do a lot of events (music, parties, etc); if I was a local that would be very attractive. They will do tours upon request; some folks had just asked before my gf and I got there, and so they scheduled a tour for all of us in about half an hour.

I sat down and asked about ordering a flight. The bartender quoted me $16 for their 5 regular beers, and said I could sub in or add their 2 seasonals. I subbed in the seasonals for 2 of their regular beers I had previously tried and placed my order. While working through the flight, someone near me put down a menu and I gave it a look to see about their food options. While so doing, I noticed that they offer 4.5oz tasters of their beers for $2 ($3 for seasonals). Quick math and I realized their flight was an insane rip-off. Their 5 core beers should cost $10; subbing in 2 seasonals shifts it to $12; even ordering 5 seasonals should come to $15;-NOT $16. As I was realizing this, the bartender let us know the tour would begin in a few, so I went to the brewery entrance. After the tour, my gf paid the bill and we left. They didn't charge us for her taster, though we still overpaid. I wasn't going to go back and argue it with them, but I am basing my low service score on this horrible pricing practice (bartender's service was otherwise fine).

The beers were uninspired and okay. Their core are kinda bland. The Joe Mama's Milk & Citra Pale Ale are the only two I'd order again. The Citra is a seasonal described as a semi-filtered New England style IPA. Enjoyable, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get it. Joe Mama's Milk is much better than regular Mother's Milk, but there are lots of easily available coffee stouts that are better (we were told on the tour Mother's Milk comprises 60% of their sales; that's a wonder to me).

The brewery tour was short and gave a rough overview of the brewing process. Less detail than I am used to from other tours I've taken, but still informative. They don't rope anything off, so you can get very close to their equipment. Company history is interesting, and the brewer who gave the tour answered all my questions. One comment he made in response to another tour goers question did strike me as odd. He said that he and the other two brewer's almost never drink their own product at home. He said craft beer is just too intense and they kick back with Bush, Heineken, and Rolling Rock. I don't expect them to slavishly promote their own wares, or to never drink competitor's product, but I also was surprised to hear a craft brewer extolling AALs as their go-to beer.
Jul 13, 2016
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Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

3.96/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.75
In the charming town of Kingston, NY lies Keegan Ales. The building it's in is quite interesting, as are many of the buildings about town and I'd suggest that if it's a nice day out and you're visiting for the first time you take a look around.

They've got a large parking lot, and the main building is quite long. Inside it's divided with the brewery to the right and the tasting room(s) to the left. The bar is on the St. James St. side, and seats about 15, which is fine, because there's also a large table that seats 12, and a handful of barrels topped to become tables that seat 4. There's a small stage, I assume when bands play at night they remove the table and it's standing room only, but hey, as long as you can get a beer who cares, right?

In the other room there's an old piano and bric a brac on the walls, and an interesting model of what looks like something from Michelangelo hanging from the ceiling. You collect the food that you order from the bar here at the kitchen window, and then behind the larger stage there are windows that look into the brewery.

They keep most of their regular beers on tap, with a few rotating selections added in, and 1 local cider tap. The food is basic bar food, but it's none quite well with seemingly everything being made in house.

I wish I'd had the opportunity to enjoy some live music but I missed out, however I still enjoyed my brief visit and would recommend it.
Jun 05, 2016
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Reviewed by HopsCraftHouse from New York

4.21/5  rDev +9.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
The vibe of this place is awesome! It is very rustic with a country feel. One of the coolest features has to be their bar top which is a ton of different roasted grains under a piece of Plexiglas. Their beer selection is solid. They have a very well rounded tap lineup that will appeal to any beer drinker. The service is very good. Food is ok at best but I have to give them credit being that they have no full restaurant grade kitchen to work with.

Overall: If you are in the Kingston area and enjoy beer this place is a great place to stop by!
May 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.55 by Mikexw from New York

Apr 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.03 by Arrhenius

Jan 30, 2016
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Reviewed by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

3.83/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.75
KA is located in a rehabbed old brick factory building with a few interesting murals on the courtyard side. Taproom is through the left of the foyer and has a U-shaped bar that seats about 15 with a few table around the perimeter. There is also a nice sized patio to the right of the entrance with multiple picnic tables. 10 assorted beers beers on tap, I especially like their Mother's Milk Stout. Friendly service and typical pub grub at reasonable prices. A great place to grab a burger on a sunny day.
Nov 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.01 by d0nald from New York

Oct 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.96 by Barleycorn from Pennsylvania

Sep 25, 2015
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Reviewed by FieldingWater from New York

4.39/5  rDev +14.6%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 5 | food: 3
As a regular visitor of Keegan Ales on mason jar Thursday, I've grown very fond of the beer and staff who work there. It also helps to only live a 5 minute walk away.

Vibe - consistently a pleasant crowd to be around. People aren't there to pick a fight or be overly pretentious; they are there because the the place is low key and chill, and surrounded by other enthusiasts of this local brewery.

Quality - again, low key. Woden floors, complimentary peanuts (extra points for allowing patrons to throw the shells on the ground), brewery behind a glass wall for all to see. On Thursdays the beer is served in mason jars instead of pint glasses, with live music that is sometimes pleasing to the ear.

Service - mediocre on a busy Thursday night. Consistently there is only 1-2 people behind the bar, which is not enough to accommodate the dozens of people who flock to the bar for mason jars. It can turn into a 30 minute wait for a beer. On the flip side, if you go any other night you will be immediately serviced (and well) as there are much fewer people.

Selection - do you like a good stout, IPA, or blonde ale? These are the beers consistently on tap, while consistently rotating through their seasonals (which varies).

Food - bar food. Not the greatest selection, reasonably priced, mediocre quality. I wouldn't stop by for the food as much as I would stop by for the beer.
Aug 20, 2015
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Reviewed by AntAle from New York

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.5
Nice place to stop and check out. Smaller than I figured it would be. Nice bar area but the food selection isn't impressive and pricey. Friendly, helpful staff
Jan 11, 2015
 
 
Rated: 3.88 by CraigMack61 from New Jersey

Sep 07, 2014
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Rated by jam_fanz from New York

4.25/5  rDev +11%
Good beer, (Mothers Milk, Black EyePA) Good food, Free peanuts! Mostly no cover music. A good place to hang.
Aug 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by 1Sundown2C from New York

Aug 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by traxstar7 from Texas

Jul 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by NJBeer265 from New Jersey

Jun 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by gwiedman1 from New York

May 31, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by boosterrocket from Texas

May 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by JoeHopster from New Jersey

Mar 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by vfgccp from New York

Feb 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by sirsteve42 from New York

Jan 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by acurtis from New Jersey

Dec 28, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Bikeboy1 from Pennsylvania

Dec 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by ajcormier from New Hampshire

Oct 31, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by GeoffreyM from Pennsylvania

Oct 21, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by MikeRusso from Connecticut

Oct 09, 2013
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Reviewed by getmeabeer from Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Good beer, decent food, great place. Hurricane Kitty and Mother's Milk are my main stays. Old Capital is a decent drinker too. Looking forward to going again. The tour is informative and tastings plentiful. Wouldn't call this family friendly though.
Sep 23, 2013
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Reviewed by tobelerone from New Jersey

3.94/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5
Stopped by with the girlfriend this past weekend while staying with my parents nearby. Very low-key establishment, nothing fancy at all, very informal and casual. Geo, the head brewer, was working the bar and was very friendly and welcoming. Young guy for a head brewer!

We didn't eat but food prices seemed fair enough. It was late afternoon and it was pretty quiet but they do have live music in the evenings some nights.

We shared a flight and had a pint each. On tap was Old Capital, Mother's Milk, Joe Mama's Milk, and Hurricane Kitty.

Old Capital was a refreshing but kinda unremarkable pilsener. Mother's is a sweet milk stout that's very nice, with a thin mouthfeel, medium carbonation and good roasty flavor. Joe Mama's is brewed with coffee and boasts a strong and delicious black coffee flavor. Kitty is an IPA that's on the maltier side with fairly subdued hop bitterness. DIdn't really stand out for me after spending the previous evening with Flower Power, Double Jack, and Hop Stoopid.

Anyways, definitely check this place out if you're anywhere nearby. It's definitely cool and the stouts are very nice. Looking forward to seeing how this brewery evolves and what they offer next.
Jul 26, 2011
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Reviewed by aerozeppl from New York

3.83/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | food: 3
Swung by here with avryle, drseamus and dmeadows after the last Captain Lawrence release.

They had Super Kitty on tap so we had to stop. The setup is a little weird. You go into a room with some table and a stage that they do live music on. To the right there is a little counter to order food and have growlers filled. To the left is the bar proper with a massive open area with some picnic tables. The bar was cool as it was grain in clear plastic. They offered flights which were a great deal as well as pints of the standard beers and smaller glasses of the bigens which were Super Kitty and Joe Mama. They also had Xtra gold on tap which was nice to see. The food was decent. My check got messed up but Tommy himself fixed it which was cool. All in all this is a nice place. Not a destination but definately worth a stop. It is right off the Thruway so if heading that way stop by.
Feb 26, 2010
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Reviewed by drseamus from New York

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Keegan is divided into two parts for no easily identifable reason. The right room has food and growler fills and the left room, attached through an internal brick wall which clearly was an external wall at some point, has a nice bar, several picnic tables, and some dart boards. 

They have about a half dozen taps which had all the Keegan offerings, including Super Kitty, plus some Captain Lawrence Xtra Gold. Prices are pretty reasonable and they offer sampler sizes as well as pints. 

The food is weirdly diverse including everything from tamales to sandwiches. The tamales were perhaps a touch dry but still pretty good. 

Overall, the place is a diamond in the rough that is Kingston.   
Feb 09, 2010
Keegan Ales in Kingston, NY
Brewery rating: 3.72 out of 5 with 2044 ratings