Andy's Corner Bar

Andys takes incredible pride in their beer. The lines are constantly cleaned and the bartenders are very knowledgable about what they are serving. They also have a good selection of bottles and keep track of how long their bottles are in stock so you dont have to worry about getting a bad bottle. Website always posts whats on tap which is helpful. There are many nights devoted to a single brewer with multiple varieties on tap, Just a good drinking regular bar with great beer selection and a good jukebox.

 

 

 

 

A friend brought me to this place for the first time over the summer. Since then, I have introduced two friends to it myself. This is just my kind of place: small, quaint, and laid back. The beer selection is always very good, whether it be the taps or the bottles. The taps are cleaned twice weekly and are constantly rotating. Around Christmas they sported all seasonal taps except one(Troegs Perpetual IPA I think). Just an all around good place to check out. Oh, and there's always one beer on cask. The website is always up to date if you want to check what's on draft before you go.

 

I'm not sure why my initial review of this bar was taken down - maybe because i gave it a D- but that was indeed my experience. i understand that for a long time this was THE beer destination in northern NJ, but times have changed. I wasn't being overly hostile in my review and the passage of time has done little to change my mind that i will never go out of my way to drink at this place. The service is still terrible as is the vibe.

Momentum is not something that should be rewarded or celebrated but acknowledged. So that Andy's gets such stellar marks because of the momentum it has, is a shame.

That poster you had on your wall in high school of that knockout blonde - is no longer a knockout. Your memory might picture her that way, but the reality is far different.

Simply The Best. A home away from home! You could walk by the entrance and not even know it, but once in, the atmosphere is inviting and comfortable. George is The Best bartender, sharing beer information and insights. Home brewers meet on Tuesday nights, beer geeks gather there on Wednesdays, and there are special events-- tap takeovers, Spring and October festivals, and a 100 Beers Club!
If you are hungry, there is an excellent Mexican restaurant just around the corner behind Andy's. Have a beer to complement your meal, they deliver!

Andy's is the premier location for craft beer in Northern NJ. It has become my favorite beer bar since a friend introduced it to me over a year ago. I have been back many times and brought friends along.

While a few other places have good selection, no other place has the calm quiet atmosphere that Andy's does. The bartender/owner George is also extremely knowledgeable and if you are there when it isn't too busy, he is capable of striking up quite the good beer conversation.

George invites in local homebrew club for their monthly meeting and occasionally has one of the brewers come in for a night.

Additionally, the prices compared to several of the competitors in the area are very reasonable.

I have been meaning to check this place out for a while. It is a bit out of the way to get there from where I live but it's definitely a nice place to check out at least once, which I'm sure I will be going back more than that.

The long bar greets you on the right side with a bald headed gentleman serving craft beer that is rotated daily, well, that's what the webpage claims -- I do believe it. George, the owner, I believe that is his name, mentions he constantly gets new beer in and he cleans the lines twice a week. There may be only nine to ten taps and a cask beer available but you know that beer is fresh and rotated often.

Sadly, when I had gone, George said there was no cask beer because of the aftermath of Hurricane Irene; a lot of roads were closed and breweries still recovering from being closed.

The website mentions it closes at two a.m. and if it's not busy he closes early. I was quite glad to see some people there; I would have been quite angry if I drove all that way for nothing, so I thank that small crowd that stayed there that night... whoever they are.

George seems quite knowledgeable about beer, I did catch one his facts to be a little off but it was about a brewery name; I guess dealing with so many breweries, it can get confusing. Although, he was very pleasant and intelligent he had a lot of opinions, I can see where he was getting at but some of his notions were a little bias -- but hey, we are all entitled to have opinions.

The atmosphere was quite cozy. Its a great place to grab some fresh craft beer. No bullshit on-tap, we need more places like this around. It is a little pricey, probably about a dollar more than Cloverleaf's price. It is nice to see a bar in New Jersey that doesn't serve Budweiser or Coors Light on-tap; I'm really glad someone broke that mold. I certainly will be coming back to Andy's Corner and engage George with another fun conversation about beer.

Following a day off from work, I had to find a place to wet my whistle and Andy's just happened to be about 20 minutes away, so I decided to pop in and check it out, based on BA reviews. I'm happy to report that this bar deserves its sterling reputation.

I got there a little after 2pm on a Monday afternoon, so it was barren for the most part. After the first hour though, people started to trickle in. The owners / bartenders, George and Barbara, are decent, down-to-earth people who really connect with their customers. They greeted me cordially enough and welcomed each person that came in after me by name. Pretty indicative that they have a loyal clientele. Andy's has a nice atmosphere, with a bar area and several tall tables and stools set up. I'd imagine it gets crowded after hours, but I was pretty lucky to come in early before the rush. It was a nice, cozy atmosphere with the few regulars that showed up and I was able to strike up a few conversations about craft beer with them. George chimed in a few times, offering his opinions on the beers on tap.

The quality of the beers on tap is phenomenal. You can really tell that they take care in cleaning their lines and rotating their taps. Each beer I sampled tasted fresh and delicious. Really impressed by it. Barbara is an attentive barkeep and will always keep you fed (with pretzels) and watered. If you'd like to just try something, she'll pour you a sample in a teeny tiny mug so you can taste the beers before you order them, which is a really nice gesture. The selection is quite good; I was fortunate enough to be able to order brews from Founders, Lagunitas and the local Keegan Ales brewery. They rotate their taps regularly, so it's always an adventure. There's a dry-erase board right by the door that keeps patrons appraised of what they're serving. There's also a small line of refrigerators with a nice collection of bottled beer if that's your fancy.

The beers are $7 a pop, so it's a bit on the pricey side. This obviously wasn't a barrier to the people listed on the wooden plaques on wall, however. The plaques were there for people in the 100 beer club. Quite a few names on there too, so much so that they have multiple plaques. There isn't much in the way of food beyond the hard pretzel that comes with each beer order, so I'm not really sure why this is listed as an eatery. George did toss out a few free bags of potato chips though, so that was much appreciated.

All in all, Andy's is a fantastic place to sit down and have a quality craft brew. The beer is great, the company is nice and the prices will keep you honest. I wish I lived closer, because I'd definitely be a regular. Maybe not enough to crack the 100 beer wall, but you never know!

I'm lucky enough to work about 10 minutes from Andy's and go after work occassionally. The first time I went, they were having a River Horse promo. I had ordered a Hoppalotomus and had trouble with the tongue-twister name. George, the owner/bartender, joked around with me about the name for a minute while filling my glass. From the time he put the glass on the bar to when he took my credit card, the head dissipated slightly. He noticed that my beer wasn't completely topped off, so he grabbed it and topped it off. Now, I'll complain if someone short pours me but my beer in no way was short enough for me to complain. But George topped it off anyway.

That's the type of place this is. They care about the beer and you can tell by the selection and ever changing kegs. The prices are slightly high for some of the beers but it all balances out for the most part. Some beers are worth more than the $7 and some are worth less. The atmosphere I had to rate a 4.0 because if you're looking for a place to dance or watch a game, this isn't the place for you. There are two fairly small TVs and usually not much in the way of music. Also, there's no food except a pretzel with each beer. But considering the great beer and the fact that its really a place to go and enjoy a beer and talk to people, its perfect.

Also, I know this isn't technically about Andy's but they just opened a mexican food place behind it and they'll deliver to Andy's. The food is great, much better than the pizzeria next door.

Andy's is a staple among NJ craft beer bars. George and Barbara bring in the best and freshest beer around and are two of the nicest owners I've ever met. Previously located on the corner years ago this place is easy to miss if you aren't looking for it you will drive past it. Ten taps, two casks and a fridge to please any beer enthusiast. Andy's carries a great selection of bourbon, scotch, whiskey and tequila if beer isn't your thing. Most Wednesday's they have brewery promos and everyone gets a free glass and free pizza or sandwiches. Anytime you order a beer you get a pretzel too. If you are hesitant to order a beer you never had before George will give you a sample and help you pick something out you will truly enjoy. The taps are always changing and the website is always being updated.

Andy's is the best in NJ because you can go there any day of the week and chat with a complete stranger or George and you will consistently leave with more beer knowledge than you had coming in. On slower nights George tells stories from his decades of experience in the beer world and listen up because they are good ones. It's a great neighborhood place that anyone can visit. A large range of ages come here from 20's to 60's because everyone is here for the beer. You can get beer to go from the fridge or fill your growler which is always a plus.

For me the best part of the night on your way out is when
George says, "Have a wonderful evening".

Ah Andy's corner for those who remember this IS where microbrews have been introduced in NJ for a decade. It started on the corner in Bogota. My first experience was at a young age pre microbeer.

My reintroduction has opened me to a wide world of beer and my tour guide has been George, a gruff and tumble, opinionated bar owner who has forgotten more about beer than I'll ever know.

This place is the NJ mecca of beer. In defference to previous posts you will love this place. Typical jersey. If George threw you out its cause you deserved it.

Stopped by this place for Troegs night for their Wednesday hostings.

Within 5 seconds of walking in, an older gentelman (his name escapes me) walks up to me and introduces himself. He welcomes me to Andy's and notices that I'm a first timer. He introduces me to Barb (bartender) and a few other locals posted at the bar. We talk for a minute about beer etc. Reminds me of the southern hospitality that is common in Texas.

The decor is "polished" to say the least very nice looking place compared to what it looks like on the outside.

Aesthetics aside. The beer was good, had a few Troegs, but I was a little surprised on the prices. I ordered Scratch #41 Choc Stout. 7$?!
And this was at 5pm. My only solace was getting a pretzel out of it. I know alot of places dont include happy hour with their hostings. Thats fine. However, Copper Mine Pub which is ~15 minutes from here. Only charge 7-8$ as a max for super high ABV beers, and they take 1$ off all beers before 8pm. To be fair, I got my growler fill of Nugget Nectar for 14$, when other places were charging 15-16$. It seems like thier pricing is a bit off because all their drafts are 7$. Usually youd pay less for a Weissbier than an Imperial Stout.

Ive seen some of the bad reviews. I've only been there once but the people were super friendly, some of the friendliest I've come across in a bar. So I can't say I can agree with the rudeness. However, the guy George does look a bit rough, so I cant say I'm shocked by what I've read. I probably wont be back unless they have something insane on tap, which they typically dont as I usually follow most bars in the city on BeerMenus, and also because Copper Mine simply has a better operation going on.

Decent Spot, Not Really Reccommended unless they tap some rarities.

I was a semi regular, until the owner/bartender George asked me to leave then threatened to throw me out. I had 3 very fine glasses of Beer, I can't knock the beer, I then asked politely for a couple of glasses of water. I am a responsible drinker, I like to enjoy my beer, I don't drink to get drunk. George started yelling at me, saying that he can't make money if I order water, and commented that I was taking up space. ....Yes the bar was busy on a Saturday night but the stool to the right of me was empty as well as a couple of others, most of the patrons were friends congregating around the tables. George said this is the night I make money, that I was taking up his seat, and that it was for paying customers...(Which I was)... He added that he can't make money from me ordering water. I said I could see his point if I didn't order 3 Beers already and if the bar was packed two deep and people were jockeying for a stool, his comment was he is not going to argue with me and he will throw me out if he has to. I can guarantee no one took my stool after I left. Maybe I'm naive but I was shocked at the treatment I received. ( a couple of times in the past I ordered a beer and George said you are very demanding tonight....I can assure you that I ordered just like anyone else would order a beer. Let me know what you think [email protected]

This is the original NJ beer bar. A total destination for anyone who interested in good beer in north Jersey. The atmosphere is great and they got an awesome jukebox. Crowd is always nice and knowledgeable. The two owners Barb and George are two of the best owners ever and very knowledgeable plus a pretzel with every beer? Come on that's awesome! Head in on Wednesday for the special beer of the week. They have two hand pumps as well as 6 draft lines and 2 huge coolers full of bottles.As well as a really fun beer club. It's always something your not going to find anywhere else in the area!

Finally took my first trip to Andy's since hearing about it well over a year ago. The selection is impressive, and the quality of the beer (freshness, clean lines, etc.) is exceptional. Also, you won't stay a stranger for long, the regulars will gladly welcome you.

Parking might be iffy, and if you don't get there early, it might be a bit crowded, but other than that, it's a fine atmosphere. I wish I lived in the neighborhood, just like the regulars seem to do.

Also, it is a bit too pricey for me to do more than once a week, but that seems like a pretty good frequency to come on over.

Truly a great bar and for more reasons that just great beer. The people that go there are not only from the neighborhood but from other states and while there are a lot of regulars and it's somewhat a cheers atmosphere, this is the kind of place most people would be comfortable in. The Bartender George is exceptional. Very knowledgeable, and one of the things I love about this place is that all the beers are served in their proper glassware not just everything in a pint glass kind of a deal.
Did I mention how good the beer was? It's rotated regularly and there's always a representation of all different kinds of ales, IPAs stouts, pilsners, etc. There is also almost always a English style cast conditioned beer or two for you to try. That in itself is pretty hard to find.

Been going to Andy's for years now. Used to go meet my wife there before we were married for a few brews.

A bar with some class. Beers are served with a stick with a hard pretzel hanging off the rim of the glass. George is the man! A+ guy & bartender hands down!

Beer selection consists of 2 handpump casks & I would say 8 or so taps. Always changing selection, clean taps, clean bar. Bottles in the fridge in the back, can take a walk back to check out the selection. Woodwork behind the bar sets the place off comfortably. Good tunes in the jukebox. Freindly, cozy, chilled out atmosphere. Haven't been in a while till this past weekend & had a great time with wifey trying out a few beverages. She asked why we haven't been in so long? That will change LoL

No food, but pizza is right next door and take out is welcomed.
Take out beer available as well.

Tap list is updated on the website all the time.
Great bar, good times!

To quote one of the most respected beer men in the world:

"When I am in the New York area, I try to visit one of my favourite pubs anywhere in the world: Andy's Corner." - Michael Jackson, Beer Hunter.

GREAT selection of taps + 2 casks.

GREAT jukebox (excellent blues and jazz selections).

GREAT selection of bottles.

GREAT service.

George is very friendly, EXTREMELY knowledgeable about his beer, and truly likes to pass his wisdom on to the customer. On top of that, his lines are the cleanest I've encountered. The beer here is truly fresh. Each beer comes with a really good pretzel (for palate cleansing purposes). Although food is not served here, you may bring your own food in. There is an EXCELLENT Afghani restaurant (Teaneck Kebab House) around the corner and George has a lot of menus available from local eateries.

Best bar around, in my opinion. No one else comes close.

I must say that I am a bit biased, as I do get to enjoy Andy's as my local pub. Andy's is what got me into craft beer, so it will always be special for me. I would advise that anyone new to craft beer in the area make time to go to Andy's. If you can find a quiet night, and strike up a conversation with George, you will learn an incredible amount from him.

Can you get craft beer elsewhere in the area? Yes. But, can you sit down and just have a pint, or have an entire discussion about a beer or style? Not in nearly enough places. One of the best features of Andy's, is that you can try a small sample of any of the beers they have on tap/cask. So, if you are really unsure of a style or a beer, you can try it before you lay down your cash for a glass.

The bottle selection rotates every couple of months, and there is enough diversity that you can usually find at least one beer that you haven't tried yet. If you are buying bottles to carry out, there are occasional discounts if you buy six.

George and Barbara have created a very friendly venue. George took over the bar from his father, changing it from a macro-swill establishment filled with rough characters to what it is today. The beer selection is small but well thought out, usually one on cask and ten regular kegs. The selection rotates constantly. I've seen several regulars each time I go. George prides himself on keeping the beer lines clean and tightly controlling the CO2 levels and temperatures.

It's a small place but appropriately decorated. The location isn't great (and its not on a corner), but its not bad.

The pizza place next door is decent, but doesn't make up for the lack of food in the bar.

All in all, a great place, especially given the lack of other choices in Bergen County.

Have been going to Andy's for about 3 years now. Absolutely love it. The people are friendly and the beer is always top notch.

If you're in the mood for a chat, there will always be someone there to join you. If you want to just relax and drink a few beers, you won't have any problems.

The selection is pretty much the best around. And finishing the 100 beer club 2 years in a row was really fun/informative. Their Octoberfest party is also a good time with some great food.

I would always recommend this place to anyone who wants some clean craft beer.

Very impressive place.

I came across Andy's due to BA and ended up going twice in three days. The selection is great, with about a dozen taps and plenty of bottles, plus two hand pumps. Erie Fallenbock on tap was great and went particularly well with the free hard pretzel that comes with every draft (nice touch). It's interesting that this beer was featured in the summer but it really has a great drinkability. The taps featured other selections from Dogfish Head, Stone, etc., with a few surprises. Bottles included offerings from Belgium, Germany, and the UK as well as quite a few New Jersey/New York favorites. George, the bartender/owner is an imposing presence and seems like a genuinely nice man who loves beer and appreciates his customers. You can practically taste the care that goes into making sure the customer receives a delicious, well-maintained brew. Crowd is a friendly mixture of locals and beer geeks. A definite must-go in North Jersey.

A great place for down-to-earth beer geeks. You will not run into ANY fratboys or yuppies, as I think that they are a little intimidated by the reputation of Andy's crowd. The bar itself is nothing to write home about, but then again, I don't look for fancy bars. That being said, I wish there was just a little more breathing room, as the beer geeks really pack this place, since Andy's was one of if not the first player on the NJ beer bar scene. The selection, which is pretty robust between both drafts and bottles, is fantastic, and recently they started allowing growler purchases. All in all, this place has been northern NJ's premier beer bar for a long, long time, but I think that it's getting some stiff competition from new-kid-on-the-block, Coppermine Pub, in North Arlington, NJ.

Read about Andy's Corner Bar and had to give it a try. Have to say it is a great place. It is a bar for beer nerds run by a beer nerd. The drafts beers change frequently, and it is great to be able to try a fresh selection of the best area craft beers, George (Andy's son as I understand it) is very knowledgeable about what he is serving is a happy to discuss what your drinking, who brewed it, etc.

The bar is itself is nothing fancy (not that I want fancy), but the customers were a good mix of regulars and people there for the beer. Prices for NJ are very reasonable.

I am on my way back there next week.

A- Truly the "Cheers" Atmosphere. Can be a little raucous at times, and many other times you can be the last one there with no one else. It's a place to go and have a drink and "talk about life for awhile". I forgot to mention the great tracks on the jukebox. Classic rock music, jazz, and just overall good music. Never played to loud always the perfect tone.

Q - As many reviewers have said the bar is small. "Alleyway- like". But warm, laid-back, and relaxed atmosphere with nice dim lightning, a beautiful wood bar and high tables add to that quality.

Ser. - The entire family is great. George is the barkeep I see the most. Extremely Knowledgeable. Cannot stress that enough. Good conversationalist, and great story-teller. One of the nicer gentleman I've met. Barbara I really only see on Special Events, but always greats me with a smile. Chris, I'll see from time-to-time, and I know that I'll always have a good conversation with him.

Sel: 6-8 Taps. 2 Casks. Bottle (& a can or two) selection inside fridge. Fridge has some "usual suspects", seasonal stuff, and then whatever George feels like putting there.

Food: Vitale's (Italiano Rest.) is across the block, and a "run of the mill" pizza joint next store. I've also seen people bring in Sushi from some Japanese place around.

In the end, this is my favorite bar in the area. Great beer selection, cozy & warm atmosphere. Many great conversations with "the usuals". And of course, the quest to make the wall for the 100 Beer Club.

Good selection, plenty more beers than you'll ever be able to try.

They have a 100 beer club, where should you manage to hit 100 between Oktoberfests, your name will appear on a plaque on the wall.

No food to speak of, beyond the annual Springfest and Oktoberfest with recipes from patrons and the barkeeps. A big stack of menus are available upon request, and there is some good food locally.

Prices are reasonable, though they've gone up like everyplace else. If you get to be a regular, it's rare to get charged for every drink, however.

Friendly staff that will welcome you and give you a firm handshake and tell you more than you can stand to know about whatever you're drinking. Weekly rotating tap list -- check the website for the new list.

Decor is iffy, but really that's not why I come to a beer bar -- how about you?

Visited on 6/12/08

What a fantastic Corner bar (even if it's not really on the corner).

The Atmosphere is very laid back, at least when I was there. I missed the Sixpoint release party by a day, but they still five Sixpoints on on draft. Everybody was very friendly and I talked to the Owner?/Manager/Bartender for quite some time about the area, beer, and the recent storms. Very friendly. Most there seemed to be locals/regulars.

Quality - Everything was top shelf from the regional craft beers to a very good selection of bourbons, etc. Everything was fresh and handled properly.

Service - It wasn't really busy, but it wasn't empty. Only a few empty stools, but nobody standing. Service was prompt and very friendly.

Selection - Great, nearly half was Sixpoint (that's not a bad thing) because of the release party, but they had a lot of choices in styles. I didn't even check if they had bottles or anything, I was focused on the Sixpoint.

Food - Nada, they don't serve food, but you can bring yours in or order it and have it delivered.

Great place, I'll be back if I ever find myself in the area again.

I finally decided to write a review of Andy's. I've been going here for quite some time. I consider it my "go to" spot. I am here usually once a week, even if it's just to pop in and swee what is on tap, as the offerings rotate constantly. I am also a "local" who actually grew up in Bogota. Never really fully appreciated Andy's until later in my life.

A- This is where Andy's is like no other. Everytime I come here I end up talking beer wit George. He is knowledgable about the local craft beer scene, beer history, and what's hot. George is never shy about giving his opinion or even recommending something that you may have not tried. Very laid back atmosphere- mix of people- all types (lawyers, teachers, locals, beer geeks, etc). Juke box constantly playing good tunes. Small TV's with local sports on all the time. Beautiful bar, a couple of small tables. The size adds to the intrigue to me.

Q- For the most part, George rotates the kegs. There is usually about 9 beers on tap with 1 or 2 also on cask. The beer is always served at perfect temperature and tap lines are meticulously cleaned. Lots of stuff from the area (Troegs, Brookyln, Sly Fox) always on tap. Nice fridge full of single bottles, always changing and updated. I have had the chance to sample some world class beers here and a lot of them have actually come out of the fridge. The wednesday night promo nights will allow you the chance to sample some amazing beers on tap that you would not ordinarily get in the area.

S- Top notch. George is a great bartender and knows how to keep his customers happy. Don't get pissed if your beer does not come right away. George runs the entire ship at night and sometimes gets into conversation with all the other customers. Relax. Enjoy the atmosphere.

V- You can come here and spend $25-30 bux and have an amazing night of craft beer drinking. Excellent prices. Sometimes with special kegs you can pay up to $8 a glass, but that is certainly acceptable.

Come check out Andy's if you are in the area. Craft beer served up with a Cheers like- kocal vibe. You will not be dissapointed.

This place was a great little find, thanks to BA. I just wish I lived a little closer, because I would be there much more often. I was there a couple nights after their Founders event, and they still had a few varieties of Founders beers on draft. It was nice to drink beer from a quality brewer that otherwise cannot be found in NJ.

George, the owner/bartender, was very friendly and very knowledgeable about his beer. It seems like they rotate their taps frequently, and they have a pretty good bottle selection if nothing on draft excites you. They also had two cask beers the night I was there. Although a word of warning if you visit in the near future, I tried the cask Ramstein Pale Ale, at it was so bad I could not finish it.

There is no kitchen at Andy's, but they do not mind if you bring food in and there is a decent pizza place a block away.

In short, highly recommended if you are in the area and have a need for a quality beer.

Stopped in here with a friend to grab a quick drink and wasn't too impressed... a very small, dark, dingy, cramped place with only a couple of tables in a dimly lit room with a small bar and only a handful of regional beers on tap... service was mediocore, nothing special or out-of-the-way... selection was about average if I'm being generous...A lady there offered take-out menus from places in the nearby area that deliver to the bar, and although the appetizer I shared wasn't that great, from what I understand, the quality of the food bears no relation to the actual bar itself... not bad because of the relatively reasonable prices, but not a place I'd want to go back and visit again...

I'm a bit perplexed by this bar in that the focus is certainly quality drinks whether it is beer you are interested in or fine scotch, whiskey, etc. There are 7 or 8 taps with 1 cask available along with 2 coolers of various bottles.

While I was there, the tap list consisted for mostly regional beers; Sly Fox, Brooklyn, and Ramstein. They seem to rotate beers frequently and clean out the lines weekly which is great.

What I didn't like about the bar was that the bar itself was rather small with only 6 tables or so and there really wasn't much going on. 2 small TVs off to the sides of the bar for entertainment and that's it. I think the bar is in great need of a revamped jukebox and a pool table. Maybe it's just me, but without a food menu, there really isn't much to do in the bar making it a place I won't be going to again unless I happen to be nearby and have some time to blow.

Ok, so I was visiting my native New Jersey this past weekend, as I chauffered my wife and teenage daughter to a family wedding shower in nearby Hackensack. Simply said, this place rocks.

Immediately upon entering you have a feeling of family and comfort. I grew up in the shadow of Manhattan on the Palisades in Hudson County, NJ; and this place so reminds me of the many neighborhood bars I frequented in Guttenberg, North Bergen and the surrounding area. The owners really love beer and it shows, and the patrons relish in the atmosphere. I struck up a conversation with John and Andy (no, not that Andy). What great guys, and Andy was a Mets fan to boot! I told them that I was down for a wedding shower, and as I was leaving they told me to be sure to drop by next when the wedding happens. I will try to negotiate this with my wife in June.

I didn't get a chance to chat with George, the owner, but I overheard him chatting with other beer patrons. Trust me, this guy is a real beer guy. I'm not saying this because we share the same (non) hair style. It is clear that he certainly has a passion for brew. His wife Barbara served me and was not only pleasant, but she also obviously knows beer, and as she was heading out to babysit here grandson, she was sure to introduce me to her son Chris, her replacement for the evening. While Andy's only has bar pies on the food menu, it seems they order pizza from the corner pizzeria quite a bit and ask their patrons to take a slice or two, on the house. In addition, you get a Pennsylvania Dutch pretzel with every beer. Ya gotta love it!!

Oh yeah, what about the beers? They had 10 taps running with 2 casks. The dominant beers were locals, Sly Fox from PA (4 styles) and Ramstein from Sussex, NJ (2 styles). I had a Geary's London Porter first, followed by a Sly Fox Lager. I have not had the Geary's on draught, except for in Maine, so this was a real treat to imbibe in this session brew, most delicious as usual, and a great session at less than 5% ABV. The Sly Fox Lager was interesting. It was on the sweet side with little carbonation. It was not a classic lager by any means, almost "toasted" in flavor. Its color was also more like an amber or a bit darker, but without a pronounced malt flavor. I loved it and will be back in June, if not before.

The other thing about Andy's is that the temperature of the beer was spot on. If I had to guess, probably about 55 to 60 degrees.

Overall, if you are anywhere near Bogota, NJ (only about 15 minutes from the Geroge Washington Bridge), you MUST try it out. It rivals the best Manhattan/Long Island/Brooklyn beer bars, and at about $1.50 per pint cheaper. I'm a believer!!

Steve

Great Beer at 58 Degrees - Seriously

I stopped in Andy's with my friend Tom, while on our way to Boston to attend the BA Extreme Beer Fest. From Andy’s website I knew that they would have a good selection of Troeg's on tap, and I wasn't disappointed. I had the Nugget Nectar on cask and it was amazing. Incredibly smooth and served at just the right temperature (58 degrees according to Barbara, behind the bar).

They also had Troeg's Hop Back Amber & Dreamweaver Weiss, Lagunitas Cappucino Stout, Kloster Ettal Curator Dopplebock, Sly Fox Gold Rush Lager, Flying Dog Doggie Style Pale Ale and Defiant’s Muddy River Lager. They even had a keg of Stick and Jab Alt from the now defunct Heavyweight Brewery. I left with a growler of the Muddy River Lager, which turned out to be an interesting beer that has inspired me to spend a little more time with American dark lagers. I had never even heard of the beer, or the brewer, but a recommendation & sample from the owner, followed by a half pint, and I was hooked.

The folks at Andy’s take their beer seriously. Spend just a few minutes talking to Barbara and you realize that she, and her husband George, are true beer lovers. Barbara knows beer, knows what’s going on in the local beer scene, and will talk beer with you for as long as you show interest. She is a true pleasure to talk to. The bar’s on tap (~10), on cask (2), and bottled selections are well thought out and will certainly appease the vast majority of beer geeks. Samples are free and the atmosphere is definitely that of a friendly neighborhood bar. A must stop when passing through the area, and oh by the way, it's not exactly on the corner.

I went into Andy's on recommendation of a couple of BA'ers and was very pleased. They had at least 8 beers on tap and many bottles. I think it was 6 taps and two cask. Everything that they had was quality and rare for me (intown from MD) including, Troegs Hop Back on Cask, Smuttynose Brown dog ale on Cask, Stone IPA, Old Engine Oil, two different Defiant's on tap Man this place has it goin on. I met the owner George on my 2nd night there and we talked for a coupla hours. Good guy. Good bar. It's the kinda place where you are going to have great beer, and always end up in some good conversation with the locals. Go to Andy's, honestly.

I've hopped around to a few different beer bars in the area, with Firewaters down the road, and Gingerman in the city. But I've made Andy's my home for beering, and for good reason. It's not the look of the place. First time I went, I drove by it three times because I didn't see 'a bar.' The inside decor is not better, or should I say lack of. Although the do have a beautiful wood bar, the only other things to look at are a jukebox (don't hit 'P' unless you really like Janis Joplin), the beer fridge, a few scattered articles about Andy's in local newspapers, and the plaques on the wall celebrating past participants in the 100 beer club. At the beginning of each October, Andy's starts a 100 beer club. Drink 100 beers by the end of September, and you're in. At 33, 66, and 100 beers, there are fun prizes too. I've been told that people have done it inside a month. I've been told others have done it just based on tapped beer alone. With only ten taps in the place, this should give you some idea as to how often the taps change up. It took me about three months, and about 70 of those beers were off the tap. The beers do tend to skew towards the region, although our west coast buddies from Stone often make the play list. The beer at Andy's certainly does reflect the time of year, with more wheats during the summer and heavier beers during the winted. I have been told Oktoberfest is the time to be there, with just about all the Germans in Munich being represented, but I haven't seen it for myself yet. The whole staff is friendly and knowledgable, but George the owner is THE MAN. Make friends with him, and maybe he'll share something from his secret stash. The crowd represents people from all walks of life, but we all connect on the same level; respecting beer.

I have to admit I'm a little biased here. I grew up, and still live, within close proximity to Andy's. It's the bar that introduced me to trying different beers. That being said...

Andy's Corner bar has a very "Cheers"-like feel to it. The atmosphere is classy and understated. The space is quite small though, so it can get very crowded during weekends and promo nights.

Andy's offers about 10 rotating taps, and almost always has a cask-conditioned ale available. The draft beer selection borrows heavily from New Jersey breweries (Heavyweight, Climax, Flying Fish, etc.), and is almost invariably fresh - owner George Gray is meticulous about maintaining clean tap lines. Bottles are also fresh, and plentiful, with 50-75 different choices the norm.

Andy's does NOT offer a lot of bells and whistles. Aside from a jukebox, 1 video game, and a couple of TV's, there's nothing to do except drink beer...which is the point. While offering Bud, this bar clearly caters to good beer aficionados.

If you live in Northeast New Jersey, and don't feel like trekking into NYC, Andy's is a perfect destination. They also have a 100 Beer club, with prizes, if you can make it there on a regular basis...

**Stony's Biscuit**...At Andy's, you quite literally select your own beer. The bottled beer is kept in a windowed refrigerator, and unlike almost every other place I've been in, patrons are encouraged to grab the bottle they want and present it to the bartender for opening and pouring. Pretty cool, in my opinion...


Edit (6/4/06): Let me add something else about Andy's, especially if you don't understand my devotion to it...this bar has the absolutely nicest clientele, bar none. You can't go here without engaging someone you've never met before in an interesting conversation...it's part of the charm of what might seem like an otherwise unassuming establishment...
I also upgraded the service rating from 4.5 to 5....every single bartender at Andy's knows their beer, and more importantly, works their ass off to make sure you have a great time and feel like you're a member of their family. George, Barbara, Tommy, Chris, Rich...KUDOS.