Foothills Brewing Company - Downtown Brewpub

3.38/5  rDev -20.1%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3

From July. Went for lunch and a beer while in Winston. Wasn't too busy but the food took nearly 30 mins and bar staff was too concerned with regulars. Oh well, I occupied myself with bourbon barrel sexy chocolate.

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3.93/5  rDev -7.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75

Went here for the BA Sexual Chocolate release. The release event was awesome, one of the best I've been to and well organized. Plenty of space inside the brewery/restaurant, friendly staff and good beer, no complaints here!

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4.9/5  rDev +15.8%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5

Drive up to the bba sexual chocolate release this weekend. Super well run. Let us as soon as possible. Drafts were quick in coming. Giant sausage and buscuits were inexpensive and desperately needed.

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3.86/5  rDev -8.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5

Went for the BA Sexual Chocolate release. Brewpub was busy. Lots of diners. Beer selection wasn't as big as I'd hoped, but they had the BASC on tap prior to the release which was nice.

Two rooms. Wood tables with a long bar. Has a back room past the kitchen where they held the bottle share. More like a warehouse than an actual room.

Service was ok. Beertender kinda passed over people a few times, but they were semi-busy.

Overall, not bad. Seen better, seen worse. About average.

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4.33/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25

Stopped in on our way from Raleigh to Asheville on a Sunday afternoon. The whole neighborhood was pretty quiet and there was plenty of space in the dining and bar area. Very friendly waitstaff. Nice variety of food to choose from. We brought our one year old daughter and felt very comfortable having her there. Had the IPA of the Month for July. It was excellent. I wish we could've stayed longer. Definitely recommend this to anyone in the area.

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4.34/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 5 | food: 2.75

Foothills is a Winston Salem staple and they make some damn good beers. They usually have a pretty good selection of stuff on tap and you can fill growlers and get bottles to go. The service has been up and down everytime I've been there. If you are a regular or semi regular it's pretty good but sometimes you just kind of sit around without anyone to tend to you or fill up your water.

The food is ok. It's standard pub food with some unique offerings from the chef. I think the calamari and loaded fries are the best apps on their menu. The Cuban, fish and chips and caesar salad have all been ok. Overall a great place for beer especially on celebrations like Sexual Chocolate release!

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4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

Nice establishment. Service was great, the bartender was very helpful and knowledgeable. Offered samples. Also happened to have BA Sexual Chocolate on tap. The Turkey sandwich with Brie and Granny Smith apples was amazing. Will definitely recommend to anybody visiting the area.

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4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

I love Foothills! They have an awesome staff, hold great events/releases, provide a place for those looking to do bottle shares, and make great beer. I always look forward to visiting during SC/BASC releases.

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4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

Foothills is centrally located in downtown Winston. A large space from the outside grows even larger as you enter. It seems a little cookie cutter at first, looking like a lot of the new brewpubs opened in the early 2000s but as you look around that idea changes. The front room is cavernous with high ceilings, sparsely laid tables, and an upstairs seating area. Walking past this to the second area is the bar and bar seating. A longish bar off to the left seats, probably, 20, with a couple tap towers and a chalkboard at the end. A handful of hightops are spread throughout the much smaller, cozier room.

The bartender on my visit, a quiet night mind you, was super enthusiastic about beer. She got super excited when she noticed my buddy had on a Three Floyds shirt. She was quick to help, lend a comment, and pulled zero punches, just the way I like a bartender. Cool chick. The taplist was loaded with everything from Kolsch to IPAs of the month to Schwarz and even a couple barrel aged offerings. Every single beer I tried was delectable and I tried a good amount. Jasmine IPA and Bourbon People's Porter were standouts. Oh, the Schwarz was terrific as well.

I expected decent beer when I first walked in but not much else. What I got was great beer, a fun bartender, and a cool space. To top it all off the prices were insanely reasonable. I would go out of my way for a return trip to Foothills and probably will in the future.

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4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

Always great beer and the food is mediocre. Although the food has gotten better over the years. Always a big tap list including Jade and a great mix of seasonals. The events/beer releases are always memorable here and very well done. Hats off to the staff for perfecting it and always looking out for the customer. Cheers to Foothills!

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4.13/5  rDev -2.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4

Stopped by for dinner the night before the SC release. The place was pretty busy, as it was a Friday night, but everything seemed to be running very smoothly. Our waitress was very nice and helpful, and everything was very prompt. Great food menu with lots of different options from standard pub fare to some more exotic options. The beer was good, and there were about 10 taps available, I believe. There is a ton of open table seating and booths when you first walk in, as well as a lot of table seating towards the back where the bar is, as well as an upstairs. You can really pack a lot of people in here and still be very comfortable. The bar area looks out onto the brewery equipment, which always gives a cool vibe to the atmosphere. Lots of the label art is decorating the walls throughout the establishment, as well. Beer is available to go in 6ers, bombers, and growlers. Had a ton of fun there, as well as during the SC release the next day. Definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in the Winston-Salem area.

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3.73/5  rDev -11.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75

In town for business and stopped in for lunch and beer on a Tuesday.

Located in what seems like a very cool, historic section of Winston-Salem the inside of Foothills is quite expansive. Almost too large for my tastes. It felt more like a restaurant that made beer than a brewery that has food. That's fine, just not the setup I prefer. It actually reminds me a lot of New Holland for those that have been.

Anyway. Large selection of Foothills beers. I tried a couple of their IPAs including Jade, Seeing Double and a IPA of the month. All were solid but not outstanding. Also had their veggie burger. It was ok. Service was ok.

All in all, my experience was... Ok. Not bad but probably wouldn't seek out again. Though I am disappointed I missed sexual chocolate by two weeks.

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3.79/5  rDev -10.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.5

Despite being located in a relatively overlooked small city with no other brewpubs in the near vicinity, I had high hopes going into Foothills. Not since Elysian Brewing in Seattle have I found bombers of consistent quality at a very reasonable price in most every grocery store in the region.

The physical location in Winston-Salem did not disappoint.

The standard lineup of brews that I’ve come to know and love from their aforementioned bombers were, of course, pretty good. They make a solid pilsner, a rich porter, a great American pale, and one of the better IPAs on the market. I’m always pleased to order a pint or pick up a bottle of these flagships. But the rest of their lineup left a little something to be desired.

My main complaint comes in the form of their double IPA. According to their menu it’s their first entry into the high gravity market. The only problem is I don’t think they went quite high enough. The amount of hops used in a double IPA that weighs in at less than 10 percent was a bit much for my palette, giving more bitterness in the finish than I would like and not enough sweetness up front. And on the order of seasonals, their pumpkin ale and maikbock would not stand out in a crowd.

The food seems to be in the same tier as their beer; it’s solid and always delivers, but some of the higher end plates leave a little something to be desired. I had an ostrich burger, which I’d never tried before. I give major points for offering rare bird meat raised on their own spent grains, but I didn’t care for the taste. There was a metallic iron flavor to it. The onion rings weren’t stellar either.

My fiance’s turkey on wheat was gigantic; it was even bigger than my burger. The flavors were dominated by a large load of cream cheese and cranberry sauce, which would make even the blandest sandwich taste like a wet dream. The bread and meat seemed decent, but who really knows with the flavor overload of rich, sweet goodness?

The best part of the spot, in my opinion, is the location. The building is large and in charge, and obviously has some history behind it. The front is dominated by a nice outdoor seating area and a large dining room aimed at pleasing your typical family. The bar area has a lot of character, in contrast, and is the place I’d prefer to spend my time if given the option.

In all, Foothills is a solid brewpub and I’m pretty sure I’ll be back every time I’m hungry and have the time to spare on my way between Virginia and North Carolina.

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4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4.75

Atmosphere - Walking through the dining room to get to the bar is awkward, but the wooden floor, well-lit dining area, outdoor patio, and upper level range from pretty good to great. Bar area is large, with plenty of TVs.

Quality - Varies. Foothills nails the Czech Pilsner, English Porter, East Coast IPA, and Imperial Stout styles well within the mark. Other styles at least hit the dartboard itself. Jade and Seeing Double (and I guess BASC) are outstanding, though. Randalls are fun, too.

Service - Fantastic. Better if you have a server who knows his/her beer.

Selection - Foothills owns ton of space, but has yet to kick out anything beyond its normal lineup. Randalls come and go, but not much has come out since Jade, and that was two (?) years ago.

Food - Almost as good as the service. Ostrich burger, pub nachos, fish and chips, cuban... Likely many more.

Value - Solid, although Jade has gone up in price.

Overall - I live in the hood, and it seems as if Foothills is the only game in town. Good for them. Just wish Jamie would let his guys cut loose once in a while.

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4.54/5  rDev +7.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4.75

Love this place. Great beer and service. Love the food and homemade mustard and ketchup. I used to love she-crab soup but I don't think they carry it anymore. Spinach artichoke dip is delicious. I would go more often if they were closer to my neighborhood.

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4.03/5  rDev -4.7%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75

Visited the brewery for the Barrel Aged Sexual Chocolate release. Everything went extremely smooth, the beer was great (BASC and Jade were standouts) the staff was friendly and efficient (despite being slammed busy).

The place is spacious and well laid out, very bright with the natural light coming in the front area, just overall a nice place that is big yet still cozy at the same time.

If in the area I'd love to come back when it isn't packed to the gills to relax and have a few pints.

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4.23/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25

Visited in May 2013 from Chicago. Was hoping to bring back Sexual Chocolate (yeah, right) and Jade, which my girlfriend suggested. Jade is fantastic, I was devastated that they didn't bottle it. The fried pickles are lightly battered, yet still crispy. Seems like corn batter. I love pickles. Jade did a great job washing it down. Woody and old style themed design, with some modern flair. Spacious. Patio seating. My favorite brewery in NC so far.

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4.46/5  rDev +5.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4

One of my favorite breweries and place to hang out in Winston. Staff is always great and you can always count on some great beers. Food is nothing overly special but is always good. Everyone has a good time and you can count on seeing friends and making new ones each visit.

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4.09/5  rDev -3.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25

A - Nice, clean, unique appearance. Wood floors, bar, and trim. Kind of a classic feel. The bar is your typical straight, galley-style (if that's the proper term for it.) bar. There's a window to the right of the bar that gives you a view into the brewery, which is pretty neat, and reminds you that you are in the home of Foothills beer! There is plenty of seating, both downstairs, and in an upstairs area, which overlooks he downstairs in a kind of loft-style feel.

Q - Everything seems to be top-notch quality. The pint glasses are all heavy-duty, with the Foothills logo on them. Hard wood floors, heavy-duty stools at the bar. Everything is well-done.

Serv - The bartender we had was phenomenal. He kept our drinks filled, and when I had enough beer, he brought me a glass of water without me even having to ask for one. He was also very social and engaging, which was cool. I wanted to check out the brewery, and he went to check with the brewmaster, who had unfortunately already left for the day. However, I appreciated him taking the time to check, anyway.

Sel - You're at Foothills Brewery, so it's natural to only expect Foothills beer. However, they had a great selection of their beers for you to choose from. I selected the Bourbon Barrel Aged People's Porter, but they had a ton of different options, for every palate. They also have a decent selection of wine, and a full bar of liquor. The bartender said, "I can make anything you want, minus bombs and frozen drinks."

F - We had already eaten lunch by the time we arrived, but ordered an appetizer to snack on while we drank. We had their soft pretzels, which were salted, and came with two different dips -- Cinnamon butter and beer cheese. The pretzels were awesome, as were the dips. Their menu is pretty diverse. They have sandwiches, entrees, plenty of unique appetizers, soups, salads, chili, etc.

V - Pretty average. Not overly expensive, as one might expect. My BBA porter was only $5.00, and I typically pay $5.50 or more for a pint at my favorite drinking hole near home. The appetizer was about $8.00.

All-in-all, I was impressed with Foothills Brewery, and will make more trips here in the future. I live about an hour and a half away, but it was worth the drive, being a big Foothills beer fan.

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3.45/5  rDev -18.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5

With all the hype around beers like Olde Rabbit's Foot and Sexual Chocolate, I walked into this place with high expectations...which were quickly shot down.

Atmosphere was pretty generic, somewhere between family restaurant and sportsbar. A good-sized bar lined the wall, there was plenty of table space, and a small outside seating area that was dog-friendly. It took about 45 minutes to be seated outside on a fairly slow day; not the staff's fault, but if you're planning to sit outside, you might want to reserve in advance. The service was good and bad. While we were waiting for a seat outside (as we had the dogs with us), I planted myself at the bar for a drink. The bartender ignored me for a while, then finally served me with an attitude as if I was getting in the way. Fortunately once we were seated, our waitress was friendly and attentive.

There was a decent variety of brews on tap, but very few were memorable, with 4 of their 8-or-so taps being light lagers, and only one beer being notably good (a Pappy-aged stout), and even that one wasn't mind-blowing. Food was decent. I got a half-sized fish & chips, and thank Bacchus I went with the half, because the portion was pretty enormous even for me. Not the tastiest f&c, but pretty good. Prices were decent, though considering the quality of the beers, maybe edging on "a bit pricey."

I don't think I'd ever want to revisit Foothills. The beers are just sub-par, and you have to kind of be there at the right time and hope one of their bigger beers is on. Or line up for their whales, which I just don't see myself ever caring enough to do. I suppose if you live in the area, it's a good place to frequent, but otherwise, I'd be fine passing it over.

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4.26/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75

I went there with a buddy of mine and our wives. The food was average and a bit pricey, but the beer was outstanding and there was a pretty wide variety of styles. The atmosphere was calm, but social; there was a cool jazz trio playing and this went nicely with the environment, the meal, and our brew. I would recommend.

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4.59/5  rDev +8.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5

I live about 3 miles from here so its my local watering hole, THis place is awesome! It is very laid back and have great beer, their loaded pub fries are amazing! i could eat those all day! I highly recommend their Seeing Double IPA! If you're in the area it is a must!

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4.85/5  rDev +14.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5

Simply a great place to have a few beers and something to eat. Outstanding service, home made food and condiments, great selection of beers. The only reason quality isn't a 5 too, is that the beers are a little inconsistent. Some batches of say Jade are tremendous, other are just pretty good, The BA stuff is the same way, some are really boozy, others are great. Not really much on a knock I suppose, but I don't drive 160 miles round trip to many places, but for Foothills I do. Whitney is terrific, a well run establishment, and progressive with their offerings especially since picking up Cottonwood, and Carolina Brewing.. Could drop the Endo IPA though they have enough offerings under the Foothills label.

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4.14/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4

Typical pub feel with a lot of wood - I liked the place as the vibe was pretty laid back.

Beers were well poured at a proper temperature and using decent glassware.

Bartenders were very friendly, wanting to offer advice if you were not sure of what to get and did a nice job of paying attention to the customer.

The selection is not enormous but it does cover about all of the Foothills beers that are in season - everything was available on my visit.

They have a menu that appears to offer typical pub food but I did not try any on my visit. I recall from years ago that the mustard and ketchup are homemade with beer as one of the ingredients and were quite good.

If this is your first time visiting, the sampler tray is a great buy but otherwise pints are a touch cheaper than at other local establishments.

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3.73/5  rDev -11.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3

A fair eatery and a must for the craft beer aficionado if one is in town or that part of NC.

The brewery-pub offers a modern if a bit cold large space split by a second floor and a long bar to the left of the locale before the area of the fermentation tanks starts.

While the food felt a bit perfunctory, all kinds of decent but a bit forgettable, the brews were quite notable. I still don´t think this is that extraordinary a brewery but I was not disappointed at all. And I would love to revisit should I be around those parts. They essentially offer their brews, Foothills, in addition to Carolina Blonde and Cottonwood, which now they also represent. Had a chance to try several of their ales, including the last keg of their original Sexual Chocolate, which I was very pleased to still see around. Good quality point, nice prices, with growlers, bombers, and merchandise to go.

Staff was correct and diligent, more so when I went there on my own the first time late after finishing a day of work. The second one I brought a large work group for dinner and the staff seemed a bit overwhelmed, but it sorta worked out in the end.

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