The Brix Taphouse

 

 

 

 

 

I started to write a chronicle of this, but found myself just getting pissed off about the experience, so here is the summary.

Dark and smokey - good for smokers, not me

Service was poor - the place was at less than 50% occupancy for a Friday happy hour - yet couldn't get served in less than 15 minutes from 1st beer to last.

Didn't attempt the free happy hour buffet, it did not look appealing.

Many taps but most offered domestics or typical import lagers. I had a SN Glissade followed by two Lagunitas IPAs (all on tap). They tasted fine.

That was it. It took us 2+ hours to get through 3 beers, 45+ minutes of which was sitting around with empty glasses trying to get some service.

Hit up the Brix after a year hiatus. What a mistake that was. I've spent nearly all my beer money at Kickbacks over the past 18 months and I'll continue to do so.

As always, the bartenders are friendly and very quick to serve.

Ordered a Delerium Tremens, which was served in the branded snifter. Unfortunately it was soured. Not sure if it was due to dirty faucets or a contaminated keg line but it was nearly undrinkable. I reported this to a bartender (different than original server) and he responded "that's how it tastes."

Followed that up with a Sierra Nevada served in a shaker pint. After the SN I just drank water.

There's not much else of note on tap now. They're heavy on the IPA's and there wasn't anything I've not had elsewhere locally.

I rather hit the Ritz but its not listed. Granted they are owned by the same folks. This place is newer and more upscale. They have 10 to 20 taps I say that because allot of times they are duplicated of each other. mainly its an IPA selection, with 1 Belgium, sometimes 2 if you count a St Louis Framboise most of the time its out. The do have live music on some nights, I don't stay that late. The sound system is excellent, but there is no way to play what you want to hear why they don't I don't know. Seems like a wine bar mainly to me. of course I only been in here 6 or 7 times.

They used to have food brought in to a mini buffet from the dolphin depot, but no more. It was free so you cannot say they have food period.

Anyway the folks are friendly and the service is excellent. Since the selection is 20 or less and I use this as a main judge of a beer bar, I have to rate them lower in that respect than the main Beer bar in Town.

It gets smokey and as a few smoke Cigars in here.

Much better selection than other place Ritz. I was really impresed with what they had. I drank $4 Delirium in a smaller glass but atleast it was a snifter type glass. Still $4 for tremens is expeceptional anywhere. I would go here again.

Quality: for what I haad it was good. They used proper glasses wich I was amazed for such a busy club/bar

Service: solid, everyone is helpful and good hospitality.

Selection: For a club type place the selectin was great. Atleast 20 plus on tap.

Food: unsure if they have any

This is the "sister" bar to the Ritz. Its a tad more "upscale". Has a decent selection of American and English micro brews. The beer menu varies some from month to month so far.

Its a nice place, except its a smoking bar, and their is no music selection. That said they have a great sound system, plasma tv's and they have nice live music bands during the week.

No food period, not even peanuts. Bottle selection is domestic only. One or Two Belgians beer on tap.

I only see 16 unique beer taps, though there are 32 there just dups.

Did have some damn decent Young's Oatmeal and Chocolate stouts though. Sadly they no longer carry Youngs now.

Well they had 1 Belgium (Delirium) on tap last time, but it was out they 3 times I been in there, they seem to be out of allot of beers, plus for some stupid reason they serve the Delirium in a half glass, so stupid to me. They claim it saves costs, they do charge a fortune for it. ITS NOT IN A PINT, its served in a wine glass and you get 6 to 8 oz for 5 bucks, the above poster is just wrong, I live here and I been to this place at least 25 times.

My wife loved the blueberry and cherry beers when there not out.

We like this place but as non smokers, we won't go often anymore as they don't open around noon time anymore.
Sadly at 5pm even with the great happy hour its too smoky for us, and outside is great on the rare days the weather is good for it, but heck after 7pm all the smokers hang outside also.

On the food note, last time we was in they had a free small buffet of food, but we had already eaten. last visit 4/1/08 They had gotten rid of the dolfin depot free buffet now sadly.

They have a big selection Of ipa now for hop head, only 1 Belgium if its even available, which as of last visit It was not!