Liberty Tap Room & Grill

Liberty Tap Room & GrillLiberty Tap Room & Grill
Liberty Tap Room & GrillLiberty Tap Room & Grill
Bar, Eatery

828 Gervais St
Columbia, South Carolina, 29201-3126
United States

(803) 461-4677 | map
libertytaproom.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.89
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
16
pDev:
15.42%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by Ant4711:
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Rated by Ant4711 from South Carolina

4/5  rDev +2.8%

Jul 08, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.94 by philbe311 from Pennsylvania

Jun 02, 2019
Photo of Dragginballs76
Reviewed by Dragginballs76 from South Carolina

3.94/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4.25
Went for brunch on Sunday I had the Philly steak and cheese wife had the southwest omelette and my son had the chicken and waffles. The food was great, beer selection was nice had some local stuff I had not had before. Great bourbon selection the higher end stuff is not on the menu. Service was great got in pretty quickly.
Mar 31, 2019
 
Rated: 4.98 by Bigtiger77 from Louisiana

Sep 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.46 by ADTaber from South Carolina

Jun 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by jshusc from South Carolina

Sep 04, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by Robyn from South Carolina

Aug 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by huntermop from South Carolina

Jun 03, 2014
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Reviewed by dmbsteve from Tennessee

3.25/5  rDev -16.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 2
When I walked in, I thought this place had promise. Considering this is SC, the beer selection is good. However, I would prefer more local offerings. They were out of Terrapin, which they told me they normally have Hop Monster on tap. I had read some reviews that the "house brews" were not good so I stayed away from them. The reason for my low rating is the food. I started out with a bowl of the She Crab soup. It was OK..like a bisque but more rustic and a little toospicy for my taste, which sort of killed the delicate crab flavor. I also ordered a Salmon caesar salad. Took about half an hour to arrive, because the server said they originally made it but did not put any salmon on it. So they had to remake the salad. Didn't seem that complicated to me that a "salmon" caeser salad comes with salmon, but they did offer to give me the salad for free (I didn't ask them to), so that was fair. However, the salmon was fishy smelling like it wasn't fresh. I ate it anyway because I was famished and I didn't want to wait another 30 minutes for another salad (which probably would have been fishy too). Bartender and manager were very apologetic and I did not give them a hard time. They also comp'd me for the first beer, so it was obvious they did not want me to leave unhappy. It was not all a bad experience though...I did have some good brews including Left Hand, Young's, Franzinskaner, and Chimay. I probably would not return, though it's possible that my visit was a fluke since it was a Monday night and maybe they had the "B" crew working the kitchen. Bartender was friendly and attentive and I had no issues with him.
May 10, 2011
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Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

3.29/5  rDev -15.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3
I was not expecting to get in here on this trip, but then realized it was walking distance from the saucer so I stopped in when I left. Decent place, sportsbar like armosphere, very similar to the Greenville Location. Menu looked good, and in retro I wish I had eaten here as it looked much better then what I had, but anyway I looked around, about 40 or so taps, lots of locals and easy to find imports, nothign really that good here, and infact I was underwhlemed at the saucer and this was actually no better at all. Still though the place was packed and what I saw of the food looked great. May stop in here for dinner tomorrow, but not really a beer destination unless you are desperate.
Sep 08, 2008
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Reviewed by NEhophead from Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -4.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Stopped in for an early dinner on a Monday (04.14) night. Conveniently located downtown on one of Columbia's central streets. Parking was easy to find and traffic was minimal. The hostess' table is immediately in front of you as you walk through the main entrance. To the right appears to be the dining room and to the left is the bar area. The bar area is quite spacious with the long bar located on the wall to the left and a number of booths lining the wall to the right. If you continue to walk straight ahead, you'll find a covered patio along the side of the building.

I grabbed a seat at the bar to check out the beer/food menu. Early on a Monday night, this place was not busy in the least so service was not an issue.

I explained to the bartender that I was in from out of town and wanted to sample some local brews. He explained to me that they did not brew any of their beers on the premises, which surprised me as this establishment is listed as a brewpub. (Upon further research afterwards, I discovered that they do carry local brews from Liberty Steakhouse, but judging by previous reviews I'm glad I didn't know about them at the time). With 48 beers on tap, I figured I'd surely be able to find some southern brews that I have yet to sample. I went with Highland's Oatmeal Porter (NC) and Terrapin's Rye Pale Ale (GA). The Rye was fabulous and the Oatmeal Porter was decent.

Despite offering 48 taps, I was slightly disappointed in most of their offerings: Sam Adam's (four taps); Harpoon (3 taps); Left Hand (2 taps); Franziskanner (2 taps); Spaten (2 taps); Widmer, etc. Not to say that these are poor offerings, but they are brews I can easily access from the Northeast. A few highlights included: Delirium Tremens, Saison Dupont, Oskar's Old Chub, etc.

The food menu consisted of burgers, pizzas, steaks, some seafood, etc. Feeling curious, I went with the Freedom Burger: a hefty burger topped with Wisconsin cheddar, applewood bacon, garlic mayo, lettuce, tomato, and a fried egg! This burger was heavenly, and arguably the best burger I've ever eaten. If I'm in the area again, I would certainly stop in for a burger, but I'm not completely sold on the quality/selection of the brews.
Apr 20, 2008
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Reviewed by hellomcfly from South Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +13.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
One of the better places for the beer+food combo in Columbia in my opinion. They have a good range of food items for a reasonable price and everything I've had there has been good. They have a nice selection of beer with good variety. I've sat at the bar twice in the afternoon and the bar was pretty much ghost town. The two bartenders I've had were both good, the second one was very knowledgeable of the beers he had and had excellent taste in my opinion. My dad and I both ordered a Unibroue and the bartender proceeded to allow us to taste 8-10 more beers free of charge.

They can be a little pricey on their beer if it's outside of happy hour, but other than that I really dig this place.
Sep 01, 2007
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Reviewed by slander from New York

4.18/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Bidbidaboos (I bid goodbye to the Bues), after breakfast and got heading south. Planning for lunch in some other Carolina and then back up to see Little Stevie Bullshit (his actual name) before heading as north as I feel I don't want to have to do tomorrow. Saturday morning comes light & bright, and nicely warm, but South Carolina? What was I thinking? The further South you go the more painfully North there is on the return...

Located on the corner at the intersection of those 2 roads that run off elsewhere, you park right out front if you're me. Coming up on the entrance from outside you're greeted by a large painting in the foyer behind the hostess' stand, a close up of her face, Lady Liberty, she's beautiful, this Statue of Liberty, no, it's not a painting, what is that, it's a giant stained glass panel done in small pieces of blue, green & yellow; all familiar and friendly, where you been? I haven't seen you around much lately. Bar area off to the left holds a long slightly bowed straight wood bar all varnished, shiny, shiny, seating 2 dozen, and a dominolike tile lip running the floor there. Big brick outer walls, 3 framed 6' X '9 mirrors behind the bar spaced between arched windows at both ends. Tiered booze between the tap towers on the bar back, glassware below each tap and bottled beer selections in coolers below the bar. Flatscreens at both ends mounted over the wines displayed, just beyond the windows. A bowed copper overhang follows the bar with sunken spots, mounted drop lamps over the booths, and track spots & ceiling fans from the rafters, below the high arch ceiling.

9 booths running adjacent to the bar the length on the inner wall, wide slat wood lowers and beige vintaged spotty sponge painted uppers with 3 boards listing taps, their styles and colors. 3 more booths and a bar counter at one end. Large stained glass paneled window sections in red, orange, amber, yellow and off clear at both ends and to the front separating the entranceway from here. They've got a 6 foot Statue of Liberty prop, with the lamp being an actual light, and instead of her dressed in her usual pale greens, she's done up in a blue mosaic tile pattern with a sun and moon on her chest. It's cool, but she'd never go out dressed that way. Through the room and out the end is an exterior seating area. Canopy walls with strung Xmas lighting, potted trees, and a dozen + booths, although the canopy walls usually aren't there, just the rafters above. At the far other end, the rear dining area holds 30 booths and tables split by a center median. Broad whose stripes and bright stars paintings here and there.

All well and fine, but I'm going to need lunch and a beer. I had a bowl of the she crab soup, a bisque all chunky and marv (Oh, I'm sorry, is not proper etiquette in the south to lick the bowl?), and a solid French dip, with killer fresh slaw.

And beer. 5 towers of 12 apiece spread across the length of the bar back, a good few of them dupes, really they've got a total of 46 taps (4 house brews and 42 guest taps). Bartender girl let me sample the 4 house beers. The Lincoln Street Wheat was unfiltered, decent; the Miss Liberty Lager was light, so so; the Dark Star Porter was nicely chocolatey & roasty; and the Rocket's Red Ale was pleasantly malty, with a bit of toffee sweetness. Otherwise, nearly half the taps were micros, local/regional (New South Nut Brown, Terrapin Rye Ale, Thomas Creek Dopple & Amber, Highland Oatmeal Porter & Gaelic, Palmetto Amber & Pale Ale, Carolina Blonde) and beyond (Rogue American Amber & Dead Guy, Harpoon IPA, Sam Lager & Winter, Anchor Steam, SNPA, Flying Dog Tire Bite & Doggie Style, Abita Purple Haze, Blue Moon, Shiner Bock, Widmer Hefe), and the other half of them mostly blah imports with a few redeemables (Wexford Irish Stout, Franziskaner Weisse, Warsteiner, Hobgoblin), and macros.

Also some 2 dozen bottles, mostly macros, maltos and N/A's although I saw the Post Road Pumpkin & a Lindemans somethingorother, probably the Framboise, in the mix.

Food was good, the beers were fresh, but I don't think they brew here anymore. Yeah, I think it's done centrally out of somewhere not here, and with just 4 house taps, if you came here for the brewpub experience, well, it's more beer bar/restaurant than brewpub, although still considerably more upscale than the Flying Saucer just around the corner.
Feb 12, 2007
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Reviewed by MSchae1017 from Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +13.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
This place is located on Gervais Street right in the heart of the Vista. I stopped here for an early dinner on my way from work in Greenville to Savannah. The place is divided into two parts. As you walk in, the bar is to the left and the restaurant is to the right. I headed for the restaurant and it is an atmosphere of a typical casual dining restaurant. I peeked in at the bar and it had wooden floors with a prominent bar located on the left hand side of the room with all the taps displayed behind it. The service was excellent. Our waiter was very knowlegable of all the beers they offered and if he ever was not sure, he went and asked the bartender for us. He also shared a story with us of his trip to Belgium. Just top notch service. The Selection was good for south carolina. They had about 25-30 taps and then another 20-25 in bottles. The taps were focused on craft beer while the bottles seemed to be more focused on the macros. I had a Liberty White ale which was decent, then opted for a Terrapin Ryle Pale Ale - always good. As far as food is concerned, we had the blue cheese chips, which were quite good and then my meal was the Mahi Mahi, another good dish. This is a must if you are in Columbia.
Aug 04, 2006
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Reviewed by harpo111 from Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
This is a nice place with about thirty odd tapped beers and another 20 in bottle. They carry a little of everything...was wanting a few more stouts...they only had a couple, an a porter...but a lot of other types from all sorts. ended up trying and IPA and a Porter....had the tuna steak which was very good. They carry a variety of fish, beef and chicken of all sorts.

service was excellent...not the swankist place in town..but great food and great beer! They have a nice outdoor covered patio with fans...was nice to sit and enjoy the night air and beer with friends.
Apr 27, 2006
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Reviewed by SaCkErZ9 from South Carolina

4.29/5  rDev +10.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
This is located right in the middle of downtown, directly across from the Hampton Inn downtown.

A pretty big place. A huge bar area with about 30 bar seats and five or six booths plus two or three standing only counter area. There is also a large outdoor seating area that seems like it would be a good place to go in the summer. It seemed like a lot of upperclass, rich, type people were there with their suits and ties and nice dresses. It was around 7pm so I cant imagine they were all coming directly from work. Very loud and very smoky.

The bartenders were excellent. They actually knew about the 40 plus beers on tap and were always there to top of my water and refill my beer before it was empty. I kept changing my selection but the bartender always knew what I had. Kudos!

I might come back here for the beer, but the bar area is very loud, crowded, smoky, and lots of college students and posh people. The dining area seemed much quieter and more pleasant.
Dec 30, 2005
Liberty Tap Room & Grill in Columbia, SC
Place rating: 3.89 out of 5 with 16 ratings