C.H. Evans Brewing Company
BEER AVG
3.84/5
3.84/5
Type: Brewery, Eatery
19 Quackenbush Square
Albany, New York, 12207
United States
(518) 447-9000 | map
www.evansale.com
Notes:
@ The Albany Pump Station
Added by BeerAdvocate
Reviews: 73 | Ratings: 111
3.55/5 rDev -12.1%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
Since I'm from PA originally, I like to stop here while enroute back to see family. This brewpub might not have the best beers in the brewing industry, but they do have some solid ones and with an exceptionally clean atmosphere and service, this place does the trick to get some good food and not spend too much time off the beaten path as its right there in downtown Albany. The food is definitely better than the beers. Prices seem reasonable for that part of Albany, its worth at least one stop if you're in the area.
★ 520 characters
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
Since I'm from PA originally, I like to stop here while enroute back to see family. This brewpub might not have the best beers in the brewing industry, but they do have some solid ones and with an exceptionally clean atmosphere and service, this place does the trick to get some good food and not spend too much time off the beaten path as its right there in downtown Albany. The food is definitely better than the beers. Prices seem reasonable for that part of Albany, its worth at least one stop if you're in the area.
★ 520 characters
3.91/5 rDev -3.2%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Building is an old brick industrial building with high ceilings, exposed steel beams, with brewery exposed on first and second floor. Always enjoy my meal here. Typically have 10-12ish beers on tap with rotating selection and one cask. Can never go wrong with their Kick Ass Brown.
★ 283 characters
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Building is an old brick industrial building with high ceilings, exposed steel beams, with brewery exposed on first and second floor. Always enjoy my meal here. Typically have 10-12ish beers on tap with rotating selection and one cask. Can never go wrong with their Kick Ass Brown.
★ 283 characters
3.83/5 rDev -5.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
Food was delicious, and I had their award winning brown dry hopped on cask and that was FANTASTIC.
The draft lines were dirty though, I could taste it immediately.
★ 165 characters
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
Food was delicious, and I had their award winning brown dry hopped on cask and that was FANTASTIC.
The draft lines were dirty though, I could taste it immediately.
★ 165 characters
3.81/5 rDev -5.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
visited for dinner and beers on a Friday night with a large group (16 people). They've got very large dinning areas, and we made a reservation, so we sat right down.
the brewpub is located in a large historic building, hence the "Albany Pump Station" name. really high ceilings, open space.
good variety of English, German, Belgian, and American styles on tap. I had pints of the brown ale and the porter on cask, both were good.
food spanned from sandwiches, salads, and entrees. Everyone seemed happy with the food, and service was fine.
★ 545 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
visited for dinner and beers on a Friday night with a large group (16 people). They've got very large dinning areas, and we made a reservation, so we sat right down.
the brewpub is located in a large historic building, hence the "Albany Pump Station" name. really high ceilings, open space.
good variety of English, German, Belgian, and American styles on tap. I had pints of the brown ale and the porter on cask, both were good.
food spanned from sandwiches, salads, and entrees. Everyone seemed happy with the food, and service was fine.
★ 545 characters
4.05/5 rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.5
Classy atmosphere with a solid selection of food and some nicer entrees. I had the house burger and it was fantastic. Beer is fresh and tasty, not served ice cold thus allowing the flavor to come through a bit clearer. The 8 oz burger with fries was about $11 and the beers were $4-6 per pint. There is also a flight of beers option for $8 that includes up to 8 different 3oz samples of beer, which I see as a great value. I will be returnig to try the flight and another meal, great brewpub.
★ 492 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.5
Classy atmosphere with a solid selection of food and some nicer entrees. I had the house burger and it was fantastic. Beer is fresh and tasty, not served ice cold thus allowing the flavor to come through a bit clearer. The 8 oz burger with fries was about $11 and the beers were $4-6 per pint. There is also a flight of beers option for $8 that includes up to 8 different 3oz samples of beer, which I see as a great value. I will be returnig to try the flight and another meal, great brewpub.
★ 492 characters
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Vibe: This brewpub is located in a former municipal pumping station that used to draw water out of the Hudson River and pump it up to the city on top of the hill. It's a creative reuse of an old building. The building has two large rooms, high ceilings, brick walls and large windows, creating an open atmosphere. The room on the left has a large fireplace.
Quality: Beers were served in standard pint glasses at the proper temperatures.
Service: Our waitress seemed friendly brought out our food and beers very quickly. Only a few minutes elapsed before I ordered my food and the soup came out as an appetizer.
Selection: The brewery had ten beers on-tap plus a cask ale. Descriptions for all of these were printed on a small menu at our table. If you're having a tough time deciding what to try, their flight comes with eight different beers, so you only need to select two beers that you don't want to try. All of the beers were offered in standard 16-ounce glasses as well as smaller 10-ounce glasses.
Food: The brewpub offers a rather large menu and the food I tried was of good quality and came in generous portion sizes.
Value: The beer and food were priced quite reasonably. The price of a flight was a real bargain because you got eight three-ounce glasses for $8. When I visited, they also had a $17.86 three-course meal special to celebrate the opening year of the brewery.
★ 1,389 characters
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Vibe: This brewpub is located in a former municipal pumping station that used to draw water out of the Hudson River and pump it up to the city on top of the hill. It's a creative reuse of an old building. The building has two large rooms, high ceilings, brick walls and large windows, creating an open atmosphere. The room on the left has a large fireplace.
Quality: Beers were served in standard pint glasses at the proper temperatures.
Service: Our waitress seemed friendly brought out our food and beers very quickly. Only a few minutes elapsed before I ordered my food and the soup came out as an appetizer.
Selection: The brewery had ten beers on-tap plus a cask ale. Descriptions for all of these were printed on a small menu at our table. If you're having a tough time deciding what to try, their flight comes with eight different beers, so you only need to select two beers that you don't want to try. All of the beers were offered in standard 16-ounce glasses as well as smaller 10-ounce glasses.
Food: The brewpub offers a rather large menu and the food I tried was of good quality and came in generous portion sizes.
Value: The beer and food were priced quite reasonably. The price of a flight was a real bargain because you got eight three-ounce glasses for $8. When I visited, they also had a $17.86 three-course meal special to celebrate the opening year of the brewery.
★ 1,389 characters
3.83/5 rDev -5.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
A: The C.H. Evans Brewing Company or "Pump Station" as it's called, is located in a beautiful repurposed building, that was once used as a water pumping station for the city. The interior is an oddly charming mix of classic industrial building, with modern restaurant/brewery flair. One of the coolest interior bar/restaurant spaces I've ever been in.
Q: The beer quality ranges from average to excellent. The Kickass Brown and the Hefeweizen are the standouts IMO. The brewer here is relatively new and has been experimenting with some new recipes. The imperial IPA is coming along nicely and he's going to be starting to serve some barrel aged offerings using whiskey barrels from the distillery
S: The service is the most disappointing part for me. It has been uniformly poor to average, regardless of whether I sit at the bar, near the kitchen or in the back. Servers and even bartenders have a very weak understanding of beer and aren't very helpful with recommendations if you're not sure what you're looking for.
S: There's generally a nice range of styles on tap along with a cider or two. They've been offering cask beer lately as well, which is a nice option. Pretty standard lineup without anything too crazy.
F: The food is generally pretty good. I've had a few excellent meals and a few average meals, but never a bad meal. The menu is quite large with lots of options, so it shouldn't be hard to find something you like. The entrees are a bit pricey for what you get, but the burgers and sandwiches are well-priced.
Overall, one of my favorite places to go for dinner and beer. Great atmosphere, fun vibe. Definitely worth checking out.
★ 1,656 characters
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
A: The C.H. Evans Brewing Company or "Pump Station" as it's called, is located in a beautiful repurposed building, that was once used as a water pumping station for the city. The interior is an oddly charming mix of classic industrial building, with modern restaurant/brewery flair. One of the coolest interior bar/restaurant spaces I've ever been in.
Q: The beer quality ranges from average to excellent. The Kickass Brown and the Hefeweizen are the standouts IMO. The brewer here is relatively new and has been experimenting with some new recipes. The imperial IPA is coming along nicely and he's going to be starting to serve some barrel aged offerings using whiskey barrels from the distillery
S: The service is the most disappointing part for me. It has been uniformly poor to average, regardless of whether I sit at the bar, near the kitchen or in the back. Servers and even bartenders have a very weak understanding of beer and aren't very helpful with recommendations if you're not sure what you're looking for.
S: There's generally a nice range of styles on tap along with a cider or two. They've been offering cask beer lately as well, which is a nice option. Pretty standard lineup without anything too crazy.
F: The food is generally pretty good. I've had a few excellent meals and a few average meals, but never a bad meal. The menu is quite large with lots of options, so it shouldn't be hard to find something you like. The entrees are a bit pricey for what you get, but the burgers and sandwiches are well-priced.
Overall, one of my favorite places to go for dinner and beer. Great atmosphere, fun vibe. Definitely worth checking out.
★ 1,656 characters
3.73/5 rDev -7.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.75
In town to visit family, so we headed down to have a late lunch here. Right off of the highway exit, it was easy to get to. You can literally see it from the highway as you exit. Great vibe when you walk in. The bar space is actually on the small side, but there is a ton of seating, and a ton of windows providing a bevy of natural lighting. High ceilings allow some cushion for the noise as the crowd gets bigger, as well as it allows a view of the tanks above the bar area. The menu is a step above normal pub fare, with some very decent and diverse entree options. There is also a gluten free menu, if you should so need one. The wait staff was great, friendly, and fairly knowledgable about their beer offerings. Very attentive. They had 8 beers on-tap and one cask, and they offer samplers of their tap offerings, as well as beer to go. The growlers were a bit on the pricey side, I think $25 for 1L and $30 for 2L, or thereabouts. All in all, other than the growler pricing, the place was very reasonably priced, the food was good, and the staff was friendly. With some decent beer offerings, this is a place worth visiting if you find yourself in the capitol district.
★ 1,176 characters
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.75
In town to visit family, so we headed down to have a late lunch here. Right off of the highway exit, it was easy to get to. You can literally see it from the highway as you exit. Great vibe when you walk in. The bar space is actually on the small side, but there is a ton of seating, and a ton of windows providing a bevy of natural lighting. High ceilings allow some cushion for the noise as the crowd gets bigger, as well as it allows a view of the tanks above the bar area. The menu is a step above normal pub fare, with some very decent and diverse entree options. There is also a gluten free menu, if you should so need one. The wait staff was great, friendly, and fairly knowledgable about their beer offerings. Very attentive. They had 8 beers on-tap and one cask, and they offer samplers of their tap offerings, as well as beer to go. The growlers were a bit on the pricey side, I think $25 for 1L and $30 for 2L, or thereabouts. All in all, other than the growler pricing, the place was very reasonably priced, the food was good, and the staff was friendly. With some decent beer offerings, this is a place worth visiting if you find yourself in the capitol district.
★ 1,176 characters
3.91/5 rDev -3.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4
CH Evans is located in what is known as the Albany Pump House. The old factory gives the brewery a pretty cool feel. Parking can be a bitch however, because it seems limited, despite the large number of parking spaces. Where are all the people for those parked cars? Anyway ...
The beer selection is pretty broad. So, they should have something for just about every taste. That's a big positive, because none of the beers are particular standouts. Many taste the same, and appear to be one-offs of similar recipes.
The food is pretty good. The prices, to me, seem a bit on the higher side, but the portions are generous. So, I am okay with that. Depending on how busy they are the service can be spotty.
Overall, it's worth a visit if you're in the area; but I wouldn't classify it as a destination place.
★ 808 characters
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4
CH Evans is located in what is known as the Albany Pump House. The old factory gives the brewery a pretty cool feel. Parking can be a bitch however, because it seems limited, despite the large number of parking spaces. Where are all the people for those parked cars? Anyway ...
The beer selection is pretty broad. So, they should have something for just about every taste. That's a big positive, because none of the beers are particular standouts. Many taste the same, and appear to be one-offs of similar recipes.
The food is pretty good. The prices, to me, seem a bit on the higher side, but the portions are generous. So, I am okay with that. Depending on how busy they are the service can be spotty.
Overall, it's worth a visit if you're in the area; but I wouldn't classify it as a destination place.
★ 808 characters
4.13/5 rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Was in Albany on a business trip, place was a few blocks from my hotel.
Very nice building, large open area, ended up sitting at one of the bar tables. Bar area is somewhat small compared to rest of the restaurant.
Service was excellent, very quick.
Had the pork tenderloin and it was excellent, chased it with a couple of their brews, the brown ale which was excellent and a pale ale which was very good.
Good selection of brewed beers. Lots of folks were taking growlers home with them.
When back in Albany will definitely revisit.
★ 539 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Was in Albany on a business trip, place was a few blocks from my hotel.
Very nice building, large open area, ended up sitting at one of the bar tables. Bar area is somewhat small compared to rest of the restaurant.
Service was excellent, very quick.
Had the pork tenderloin and it was excellent, chased it with a couple of their brews, the brown ale which was excellent and a pale ale which was very good.
Good selection of brewed beers. Lots of folks were taking growlers home with them.
When back in Albany will definitely revisit.
★ 539 characters
4/5 rDev -1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Been to CH Evans aka The Albany Pump Station on two occations. Both times were waited for a table by having a few beers at the bar before getting seated.
The building is large and very open. The bar is in the center of the building with seating areas on each side. Open Kitchen. The Brewery is on the second floor overlooking the action below.
The servers were pretty prompt. They seemed very busy but handled it well.
Beer selection on tap is all of their own beers from a wide range of styles; APA, Hefeweizen, Brown Ale, IPA, Blond, Barley Wine, and a Scotch Ale. Beers served in clean glassware as appropriate.
The menu is pretty extensive. Ranges from Sandwiches to Pasta, Seafood, Steaks, Ribs, etc. Food was good and filling, felt heavy in my stomach both times.
Prices for beer is reasonable. I think food to be a bit pricey.
Good place worth stopping by.
★ 871 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Been to CH Evans aka The Albany Pump Station on two occations. Both times were waited for a table by having a few beers at the bar before getting seated.
The building is large and very open. The bar is in the center of the building with seating areas on each side. Open Kitchen. The Brewery is on the second floor overlooking the action below.
The servers were pretty prompt. They seemed very busy but handled it well.
Beer selection on tap is all of their own beers from a wide range of styles; APA, Hefeweizen, Brown Ale, IPA, Blond, Barley Wine, and a Scotch Ale. Beers served in clean glassware as appropriate.
The menu is pretty extensive. Ranges from Sandwiches to Pasta, Seafood, Steaks, Ribs, etc. Food was good and filling, felt heavy in my stomach both times.
Prices for beer is reasonable. I think food to be a bit pricey.
Good place worth stopping by.
★ 871 characters
4/5 rDev -1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Going to school in nearby Troy NY, I've visited the CH Evans Pump Station several times. The beer is fine, but with nothing that knocks your socks off. The Brown Ale and the Tripel are stand-outs. I've had several meals here, and the best thing I can remember is the calamari appetizer. Some of the best I've ever had! The burger is good but nothing special, and the reuben is average. Service was good, and the atmosphere is lively. Cool looking building too! I generally prefer Brown's in Troy, since I think the beer is better there, but there's something to be said about the spacious and open atmosphere of the Pump Station.
★ 629 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Going to school in nearby Troy NY, I've visited the CH Evans Pump Station several times. The beer is fine, but with nothing that knocks your socks off. The Brown Ale and the Tripel are stand-outs. I've had several meals here, and the best thing I can remember is the calamari appetizer. Some of the best I've ever had! The burger is good but nothing special, and the reuben is average. Service was good, and the atmosphere is lively. Cool looking building too! I generally prefer Brown's in Troy, since I think the beer is better there, but there's something to be said about the spacious and open atmosphere of the Pump Station.
★ 629 characters
4.13/5 rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Located as far downtown in Albany as one can go in what once was the Albany Pump Station. This old building has wonderful brick architecture and the place uses Albany's history to adorn the walls. Also proudly displayed are banners from beer awards won.
They had eight of their own beers on tap along with everything else you would expect from a bar in terms of liquor.
They offer a sample rack of their beers.
The food is decent and the restaurant is kept separate from the bar.
A great place to go while in downtown Albany.
★ 529 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Located as far downtown in Albany as one can go in what once was the Albany Pump Station. This old building has wonderful brick architecture and the place uses Albany's history to adorn the walls. Also proudly displayed are banners from beer awards won.
They had eight of their own beers on tap along with everything else you would expect from a bar in terms of liquor.
They offer a sample rack of their beers.
The food is decent and the restaurant is kept separate from the bar.
A great place to go while in downtown Albany.
★ 529 characters
2.86/5 rDev -29.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3
Right downtown Albany, a city I avoid travelling around in at night.A large airy place, the other downside is people and staff have some of the toughness and near-chips on shoulders of some of the worst cities. But I am here for the beer, and there were some interesting one here, but also some dreadful ones. Is it the near-foul water?That worked for the mild scotch, an gave a complexity to some of the stronger brews. Not the greatest servie, staff looked beyond me but treated regulars like V.I.P.s
★ 502 characters
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3
Right downtown Albany, a city I avoid travelling around in at night.A large airy place, the other downside is people and staff have some of the toughness and near-chips on shoulders of some of the worst cities. But I am here for the beer, and there were some interesting one here, but also some dreadful ones. Is it the near-foul water?That worked for the mild scotch, an gave a complexity to some of the stronger brews. Not the greatest servie, staff looked beyond me but treated regulars like V.I.P.s
★ 502 characters
4.38/5 rDev +8.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I used to know the original chef of the pump station but stopped going there when he left, but coming back after a hiatus it was still very good. Their "belgian dubbel with fruit" was out freaking standing.
The rest of the beers were alright but nothing special. food is good overall as well but a bit pricey. Atmosphere is nice, almost a higher end place.
I haven't had any issues with the clientele at all either. They do growler fills as well which is nice but only if they ever brew that Belgian Dubbel again, I regret not getting a growler...
★ 551 characters
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I used to know the original chef of the pump station but stopped going there when he left, but coming back after a hiatus it was still very good. Their "belgian dubbel with fruit" was out freaking standing.
The rest of the beers were alright but nothing special. food is good overall as well but a bit pricey. Atmosphere is nice, almost a higher end place.
I haven't had any issues with the clientele at all either. They do growler fills as well which is nice but only if they ever brew that Belgian Dubbel again, I regret not getting a growler...
★ 551 characters
4.1/5 rDev +1.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
The Pump house is the location of the CH Evans brewery. It is located in downtown Albany right off the highway. A large historic brick building greets you as you pull in to the free parking (don't use the pay spots).
I sat down and had 3 different pints:
Gose - a nice salty version of the style!
IPA - full mouthfeel,not a hop bomb (simcoe?), and was well done.
Brown - I believe this was a southern variety. Wonderful grain bill. I can see why this has won so many awards. GET THIS!
I watched the FIFA world cup with some folks in the middle of the afternoon. I was fortunate enough to meet George the brewmaster and we talked world cup and beer for at least 20 minutes while he had a wash bucket in hand. He really knows what he is doing and it showed in the beer he brewed!
Service was good. I didn't have the food, but it looked good and seemed priced appropriately.
Overall: This is the the place to get fresh beer in Albany. The brown ale is world class and they offer a number of specialities that you wouold be hard pressed to find elsewhere ie. Gose.
Hit this place if you are looking for good beer in Albany!
★ 1,127 characters
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
The Pump house is the location of the CH Evans brewery. It is located in downtown Albany right off the highway. A large historic brick building greets you as you pull in to the free parking (don't use the pay spots).
I sat down and had 3 different pints:
Gose - a nice salty version of the style!
IPA - full mouthfeel,not a hop bomb (simcoe?), and was well done.
Brown - I believe this was a southern variety. Wonderful grain bill. I can see why this has won so many awards. GET THIS!
I watched the FIFA world cup with some folks in the middle of the afternoon. I was fortunate enough to meet George the brewmaster and we talked world cup and beer for at least 20 minutes while he had a wash bucket in hand. He really knows what he is doing and it showed in the beer he brewed!
Service was good. I didn't have the food, but it looked good and seemed priced appropriately.
Overall: This is the the place to get fresh beer in Albany. The brown ale is world class and they offer a number of specialities that you wouold be hard pressed to find elsewhere ie. Gose.
Hit this place if you are looking for good beer in Albany!
★ 1,127 characters
4.13/5 rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I stopped here for supper on a recent vacation with the family.
The brewery is in an old pump station down by the river. There are signs everywhere warning you to pay the meter or you'll get a ticket. There are spots that are designated for the brewpub, so use those and you won't have to pay.
We were seated right away and I ordered the beer sampler. a few ounces of all the beer they had on tap. It was 6 or 7 as I recall. All decent with a couple of stand outs being the kick ass brown and the smoked porter.
Varied menu with burgers to full entrees. I had a burger that was really good, my wife had fish which she said was okay. The kids had fried kids meal something or other.
Waitstaff was attentive, pricing seem to be in line with other brewpubs I've been to. Lots of seating, Its a large building.
I would go back if in the area.
★ 840 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I stopped here for supper on a recent vacation with the family.
The brewery is in an old pump station down by the river. There are signs everywhere warning you to pay the meter or you'll get a ticket. There are spots that are designated for the brewpub, so use those and you won't have to pay.
We were seated right away and I ordered the beer sampler. a few ounces of all the beer they had on tap. It was 6 or 7 as I recall. All decent with a couple of stand outs being the kick ass brown and the smoked porter.
Varied menu with burgers to full entrees. I had a burger that was really good, my wife had fish which she said was okay. The kids had fried kids meal something or other.
Waitstaff was attentive, pricing seem to be in line with other brewpubs I've been to. Lots of seating, Its a large building.
I would go back if in the area.
★ 840 characters
3.88/5 rDev -4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
a pit stop coming from montreal to nyc. very consistent selection with a sample platter of all the beers... in 3 oz glasses for 6.50. i think it was eight. all were solid except the "belgian strong triple style ale". but they had a good blonde so that made up for it quite nice. the burger is great. the best sweet potatoe fries i've ever had. service was good. alt bier was actually appley german which was nice. and if you are a fan of american brown ale the kick ass brown is a must. decorum was sort of similar to an applebee's but with really really high ceilings. good place. would highly recommend.
didn't have much of a outside beer selection but the style did range.
★ 676 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
a pit stop coming from montreal to nyc. very consistent selection with a sample platter of all the beers... in 3 oz glasses for 6.50. i think it was eight. all were solid except the "belgian strong triple style ale". but they had a good blonde so that made up for it quite nice. the burger is great. the best sweet potatoe fries i've ever had. service was good. alt bier was actually appley german which was nice. and if you are a fan of american brown ale the kick ass brown is a must. decorum was sort of similar to an applebee's but with really really high ceilings. good place. would highly recommend.
didn't have much of a outside beer selection but the style did range.
★ 676 characters
4.2/5 rDev +4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Hit The Pump Station on a return trip from Comstock to NYC. The place is huge. The Pump Station has a modern feel, without going overboard. The bar area was also very spacious and carried the full line of Evan's Ales as well as a large selection of Scotches and Whiskeys. I sugguest starting with a beer sampler, which was very inexpensive. The food was delicious and the prices were quite reasonable. The Pood Soldier's Porter was the standout beer for me. It's worth checking out if your in the area. I hope to see them at TAP NY again this year.
★ 548 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Hit The Pump Station on a return trip from Comstock to NYC. The place is huge. The Pump Station has a modern feel, without going overboard. The bar area was also very spacious and carried the full line of Evan's Ales as well as a large selection of Scotches and Whiskeys. I sugguest starting with a beer sampler, which was very inexpensive. The food was delicious and the prices were quite reasonable. The Pood Soldier's Porter was the standout beer for me. It's worth checking out if your in the area. I hope to see them at TAP NY again this year.
★ 548 characters
4.15/5 rDev +2.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
I was in Albany just for the night on business, and stopped by CH Evans for dinner. The location is very unassuming, as it is behind several empty/abandoned buildings and at a dead end. However, once inside the building itself is beautiful. The bar is tastefully placed among the over 100 year-old surroundings. I tried the Brown Ale, Porter, Munich Dunkel, and Pale Ale (in that order). All were of excellent quality. Menu selection was good - not overbearingly large, but with ample selection. I got the turkey burger with fries and it was quite good. Service was good, as I was never left waiting with an empty beer glass, but didn't ever feel rushed. Overall a very pleasant experience and would recommend to anyone who is ever in the area. I wish there was a place like this around my condo in Chicago - I'd be there often.
★ 828 characters
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
I was in Albany just for the night on business, and stopped by CH Evans for dinner. The location is very unassuming, as it is behind several empty/abandoned buildings and at a dead end. However, once inside the building itself is beautiful. The bar is tastefully placed among the over 100 year-old surroundings. I tried the Brown Ale, Porter, Munich Dunkel, and Pale Ale (in that order). All were of excellent quality. Menu selection was good - not overbearingly large, but with ample selection. I got the turkey burger with fries and it was quite good. Service was good, as I was never left waiting with an empty beer glass, but didn't ever feel rushed. Overall a very pleasant experience and would recommend to anyone who is ever in the area. I wish there was a place like this around my condo in Chicago - I'd be there often.
★ 828 characters
4.53/5 rDev +12.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Stopped in while driving through, and we were really impressed with the atmosphere and the beers. Really fantastic IPA--well balanced, hoppy, but not too bitter. Winning banners were all over for their Kick Ass Brown, which was also one of the tastier browns I've had.
Just sampled some happy hour bar food--it was slightly above average. Wished I would have been hungry enough to try a main course. They proudly supported local farmers, which is always a plus.
Definitely check CH Evans out if you're passing through Albany!
★ 527 characters
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Stopped in while driving through, and we were really impressed with the atmosphere and the beers. Really fantastic IPA--well balanced, hoppy, but not too bitter. Winning banners were all over for their Kick Ass Brown, which was also one of the tastier browns I've had.
Just sampled some happy hour bar food--it was slightly above average. Wished I would have been hungry enough to try a main course. They proudly supported local farmers, which is always a plus.
Definitely check CH Evans out if you're passing through Albany!
★ 527 characters
3.73/5 rDev -7.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3
I'd like to stop, year after year, at this brewpub. This the only one in Albany. The brewer, George, is very pleasant and like to talk and talk!!!
They have nice sampler tray made with copper.. Original...
Like almost all brewpub, some beers are good and some are boff... But it depend what you like.
The brewpub sit in an old pump station and they keep some of the original pumping devices. Decorations inside is a mix of old machinery, some old couch and new stuff (lamps etc...).
I never try the food, but if one day I feel hungry, of course I'll do. The second floor could be a nice place for a reception or private party.
★ 632 characters
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3
I'd like to stop, year after year, at this brewpub. This the only one in Albany. The brewer, George, is very pleasant and like to talk and talk!!!
They have nice sampler tray made with copper.. Original...
Like almost all brewpub, some beers are good and some are boff... But it depend what you like.
The brewpub sit in an old pump station and they keep some of the original pumping devices. Decorations inside is a mix of old machinery, some old couch and new stuff (lamps etc...).
I never try the food, but if one day I feel hungry, of course I'll do. The second floor could be a nice place for a reception or private party.
★ 632 characters
2.55/5 rDev -36.9%
vibe: 1 | quality: 4.5 | service: 1 | selection: 3 | food: 1
Overview: Albany Pump House: a poor quality restaurant with non-existent customer service that happens to serve good quality home-made beer.
Went there with beer geeks last Friday 10/24 @ 5:00p. Place was almost empty, yet they would not allow us to sit in the table area behind the bar - "it was reserved for dinner guests". We just wanted a few choice beers and three appetizers, they refused to seat us. Everyone else that later sat in that area ordered beer and appetizers - you shouldn't have to lie to that nasty head server boy just to get a seat. Instead, we were directed to go back into their "lounge" area that had plastic outdoor patio furniture, folding metal chairs and really cheapo plastic utensils. Real high-class there! We felt like we were sent to the kiddie table families set out for Thanksgiving.
We turned around to leave, but one calmer head prevailed and we order a beer at the bar. Very poor bar seating - very limited. However, the beers were quite good actually and rescued the evening. The Pale Ale was an EXCELLEN representation of the genre - fresh with a wonderful bouquet. The "Marzen" (Octoberfest, gentlemen) was also very good, malty, fresh and smelled terrific. Their "award-winning" Brown Ale was a bit overhopped (Cascades?) but our hop-head pal loved it. The friendly and helpful barmaid was great - that place really needs her.
Prior experiences convinced us to steer well clear of the below-average food, plus there is no place at the bar to eat it! At our last visit there, an appetizer order of "Thai Chicken Wings" arrived in over 45 minutes and cold. The waitress and manager refused to come out and see us. The food is quite bad, even by bad bar food standards, and waaaay overpriced.
This is a waaaay below-average restaurant (especially in Albany!) with poor hospitality but with some wonderful home-made beer. Until CH Evans moves out of this pit, don't bother going. Go instead to Brown's Brewery over in Troy that has much better beer, real (and outstanding) bar food, and is a place that cares about us serious beer-drinking customers.
Professor Homer 10/27/08
★ 2,122 characters
vibe: 1 | quality: 4.5 | service: 1 | selection: 3 | food: 1
Overview: Albany Pump House: a poor quality restaurant with non-existent customer service that happens to serve good quality home-made beer.
Went there with beer geeks last Friday 10/24 @ 5:00p. Place was almost empty, yet they would not allow us to sit in the table area behind the bar - "it was reserved for dinner guests". We just wanted a few choice beers and three appetizers, they refused to seat us. Everyone else that later sat in that area ordered beer and appetizers - you shouldn't have to lie to that nasty head server boy just to get a seat. Instead, we were directed to go back into their "lounge" area that had plastic outdoor patio furniture, folding metal chairs and really cheapo plastic utensils. Real high-class there! We felt like we were sent to the kiddie table families set out for Thanksgiving.
We turned around to leave, but one calmer head prevailed and we order a beer at the bar. Very poor bar seating - very limited. However, the beers were quite good actually and rescued the evening. The Pale Ale was an EXCELLEN representation of the genre - fresh with a wonderful bouquet. The "Marzen" (Octoberfest, gentlemen) was also very good, malty, fresh and smelled terrific. Their "award-winning" Brown Ale was a bit overhopped (Cascades?) but our hop-head pal loved it. The friendly and helpful barmaid was great - that place really needs her.
Prior experiences convinced us to steer well clear of the below-average food, plus there is no place at the bar to eat it! At our last visit there, an appetizer order of "Thai Chicken Wings" arrived in over 45 minutes and cold. The waitress and manager refused to come out and see us. The food is quite bad, even by bad bar food standards, and waaaay overpriced.
This is a waaaay below-average restaurant (especially in Albany!) with poor hospitality but with some wonderful home-made beer. Until CH Evans moves out of this pit, don't bother going. Go instead to Brown's Brewery over in Troy that has much better beer, real (and outstanding) bar food, and is a place that cares about us serious beer-drinking customers.
Professor Homer 10/27/08
★ 2,122 characters
4.45/5 rDev +10.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
After hearing much about it, I finally made the trip to the Albany Pump Station. They had reasonable prices and decent pub fair. The wait staff did an exceptional job and kept our glasses full.
The atmosphere is great with the old mill converted to the dining room. You can see the old Nile 20 ton crane hanging from the ceiling. The huge windows let in a lot of light and beautiful views of the foliage outside the building. Depending on your seating, you can also get a clear view of I787.
We met friends there and ended up staying for three hours. The quality of service never decreased.
Unfortunately they were out of a few beers... no casks or scottish ale due a lot of shows and other events recently. Everything else was quite good. I highly recommend stopping there if you are in Albany.
★ 804 characters
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
After hearing much about it, I finally made the trip to the Albany Pump Station. They had reasonable prices and decent pub fair. The wait staff did an exceptional job and kept our glasses full.
The atmosphere is great with the old mill converted to the dining room. You can see the old Nile 20 ton crane hanging from the ceiling. The huge windows let in a lot of light and beautiful views of the foliage outside the building. Depending on your seating, you can also get a clear view of I787.
We met friends there and ended up staying for three hours. The quality of service never decreased.
Unfortunately they were out of a few beers... no casks or scottish ale due a lot of shows and other events recently. Everything else was quite good. I highly recommend stopping there if you are in Albany.
★ 804 characters
C.H. Evans Brewing Company in Albany, NY
3.84
out of 5
based on 460 ratings.
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.5
We have had the pleasure of visiting this place a few times.
The food is fine pub fare, with the specials often being excellent. The service is
professional and friendly. I love the setting, big old industrial building with lots of
natural lighting. The beer is solid, the Brown Ale is a delightful version, the Scotch Ale also
is wonderful.
Prices are reasonable, the selection is quite good, the service is quite good as well.
Worth the trip.
Cheers
★ 451 characters