Otto's Pub and Brewery

Otto's Pub and BreweryOtto's Pub and Brewery
Otto's Pub and BreweryOtto's Pub and Brewery
Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

2235 N Atherton St
State College, Pennsylvania, 16803
United States

(814) 867-OTTO | map
ottospubandbrewery.com

For keg/cases orders, use (814) 470-1394
BEER STATS
Average:
3.84
Beers:
78
Ratings:
1,707
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.1
Reviews:
70
Ratings:
112
pDev:
10.24%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ZachDow7:
Photo of ZachDow7
Reviewed by ZachDow7 from Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.5
Food and Beer are great, however cant get over the fact it is an old quaker steak and lube restaurant. I liked the old brew pub up atherton alot better, but i love the apricot wheat and miss my college days of 2 dollar red mo's at the local state college bars
Jan 25, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -6.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 3.75
Otto's is a large place with multiple rooms that seems like it was a family dining restaurant long before it became Otto's. I've only ever sat at the bar or a booth near the bar, so I'm not sure about the rest of the space. The bar itself is an L-shaped island bar with a marble top. There's a garage door and twelve four-top umbrella tables outside for when the weather is nice. The color theme seems to be light blue/cream/burgundy/pine green and there are historic labels and photos reproduced hanging as decor.

There are 17 beers available, with two on cask. They're not all from Otto's though as the one cider they have comes from a local cidery. The mix of styles is pretty good, and there should be something for everyone.

The service is OK, beyond perfunctory at most times, and maybe better than that on the whole, but don't expect too much.

The food follows but it's sufficient. It's basically sandwiches and pizza but there are vegetarian options, and some more interesting tidbits. I'll suggest the pizzas as they're wood-fired and pretty good at a reasonable price - the Hogonator pizza with Italian sausage, bacon, and pepperoni is just $12.

In the end, as far as State College goes, Otto's is non-pretentious and reliable.
Jan 01, 2022
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -4.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
Pretty good size place, large multi sided bar in one room and dinning in another. A small shop with merch and coolers of packaged beer. Decor is plain with prints of beer historical signs hanging from the ceiling.

Pretty diverse lineup of beer typcial for an older brewpub - they say established 2002. Only had only beer - the imperial stout, but it was pretty good.
May 21, 2019
 
Rated: 4.74 by z_21 from Pennsylvania

Jan 19, 2019
Photo of TH0RSTEN
Reviewed by TH0RSTEN from Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +10.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4
This location combines three distinct spaces, which I’ll all review.

1. The brewery proper. This is where you buy cases and kegs, right inside the industrial space with the big steel tanks. There is this overwhelming smell of unfinished beer. Since I’m not a keg kind of guy, I come here to buy a case of Pallet Jack (the one world-class beer Otto’s regularly bottles) and that’s it.

2. The “store.” This is where you buy six packs and branded merchandise (various shirts, bottle openers, coasters, etc.) Unfortunately, Otto’s only regularly bottles one of its many world-class beers, Pallet Jack, which is cheaper by the case, so I rarely buy something at the “store.” (There are other brews available by six pack, which are perfectly fine, just not quite as world-class, in my opinion, as Pallet Jack and the many lovely growler- or pub-only brews.)

3. The restaurant. If I could design my dream brew pub, it would look much like Otto’s. The broken-out ratings below are for the restaurant.

Vibe: very industrial, but somehow still manages to feel friendly, almost cozy. Both booths and tables are spaced generously, a rarity these days. Major downside: the noise. This place is LOUD.

Quality (of the beer): world-class, if you ignore the first six or seven regularly bottles standard offerings, which are “merely” good to great. But the rest, O. M. G.! I love Otto’s barleywine, by far the best barleywine I’ve had. The “special” PAs and IPAs are world-class and often extremely unique. Basically anything from the beer engine will frequently blow your mind.

Service: attentive, friendly, very knowledgeable, but can be SLOOOOOOOW. If you’re impatient, don’t go there during Friday and Saturday dinner rush. (If you can go for lunch or even mid-afternoon, do that. I’ve had extremely interesting conversations with servers and bartenders during off-peak hours and gotten lots of free samples. The menu is always the same.)

Selection—beer: exceptional. You’ll find at least 8 wonderful-to-world class beers on tap at all times. (There are usually around 16 beers on tap total.)

Selection—food: excellent for a brew pub, perhaps a TAD limited for a “full restaurant.” We (which include a beer-averse spouse and very picky children) have always left happy and full.

Food: just great, especially for a brew pub. You can’t go wrong with the burgers, which are big, flavorful, come with great toppings, and are ALWAYS cooked to the point. The kids LOVE the mac & cheese with sweet potato fries and a cookie. Other menu staples are great, too (except the too-salty pulled pork.) Just the occasional special can be a miss (like the completely dry sauerbraten, WTF!?.)
Oct 14, 2018
 
Rated: 3.94 by skalten from Pennsylvania

Jul 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.55 by Categart from Pennsylvania

Mar 24, 2018
Photo of jzeilinger
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4
Finally was able to stop by this establishment (as I live almost three hours away). Sixteen beers total on tap, had the Jolly Roger Imperial Stout on the hand pump and it was very impressive and flavorful. The bar area is surrounded with TV's and music being piped in on the house system. There's lots of nostalgic pictures and beer ads specific to the history of the area hanging from the ceiling, pretty cool. The actual bar top area surrounding the taps is quite large and almost fully circles the area, easily seating at least 20 people (or more).

The whole vibe reminds of a fancy vintage car garage meets modern vintage nostalgia.

The bartenders are right on top of it whenever you have an empty glass.

Didn't have food this time but hope to visit again soon, 'was a quick in and out. A very cool place, I'll be ba-aaaack....
Nov 17, 2017
 
Rated: 3.84 by GregSemenza from Connecticut

Jul 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.08 by SrHopsAlot from Pennsylvania

Mar 16, 2017
 
Rated: 3.81 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Oct 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.89 by mkyer from Connecticut

Oct 09, 2016
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Reviewed by Dodo2step from Pennsylvania

3.16/5  rDev -22.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2.25 | selection: 3 | food: 4
The location and atmosphere of the pub was excellent. When you walk in you go through the gift shop. The food was excellent but the service was horrendous. It took us about 45 minutes to get our food. I went with my parents and they were not happy about the wait for food.

The beer is good and the food selection is decent but was expecting more from this place.
May 15, 2016
 
Rated: 4.45 by Henry_Stahl from Pennsylvania

Apr 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.56 by TimoP from Pennsylvania

Jan 19, 2016
 
Rated: 4.1 by Woodman

Dec 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4.66 by racherwin from Pennsylvania

Oct 15, 2015
 
Rated: 2.7 by Docrock from Illinois

Jul 25, 2015
Photo of jimmerz
Reviewed by jimmerz from Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +9.3%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Great atmosphere, great prices, excellent beer, delicious food, very attentive staff, and when I was there they had a musician performing. I wish they distributed to Pittsburgh! Better yet, open another brewery here...
Jul 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.98 by Gatordaddy from Maryland

Jul 06, 2015
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Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Couldn't begin to describe the good memories of this place! Been visiting this place since almost day one of its existence! Certainly remember the days of no parking available except at Tire Town!
Jun 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.91 by nick03p from Pennsylvania

Jun 03, 2015
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Rated by jwhancher from Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -22%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.25 | food: 3
Beers okay and food pretty good. Service was good and attentive. Didn't like the overall vibe of the place. Felt too cookie cutter for a brewpub.
Apr 16, 2015
Photo of EMV
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
As a State College resident we're very lucky to have a place like Otto's right up the road, and it's definitely a packed local hangout on Friday's when they do their special small batch 'Firkin's' (a weekly treat/ritual). They make their own beer and usually have 1 guest tap and 1 cider on offer as well, and it's a great family friendly place and our go-to for a night out for guests from out of town. The food is excellent, with fantastic burgers, mac'n'cheese, pizzas etc. as well as weekly specials that are a bit more upscale. They always have at least 8 beers on tap ranging from more typical lager's/red ale's/IPA's/stouts to a great list of rotating specials like their Jolly Roger Imperial Stout, Triple, Bourbon aged stuff, winter warmers, etc. A great place, and joining their pub club was a stellar decision. Recommended!
Apr 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.84 by JCHOMA from Pennsylvania

Jan 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.88 by slasich from Pennsylvania

Jan 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.21 by markgugs from New Jersey

Jan 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.83 by Keystone from Pennsylvania

Jan 08, 2015
Photo of Belthorm
Reviewed by Belthorm from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
Came in here with my mom on a recent trip to state college. Had a 20 min wait at 6 on a monday. I enjoyed the food. ordered potato pancakes and a turkey pretzel sandwich. my mom had the cod fish tacos. Potato pancakes were basically big hashbrowns nothing to brag about. My turkey sandwich was real good. turkey was hot and juicy and the pretzel bun was perfect. The fish tacos my mum ordered looked like a tortilla shell with a fish stick, lettuce and cheese on it. She said they were good though. I ordered a DIPA for myself and the bill came to $33. My beer was only $4.50 for a 16oz. overall good food and beer for a great price.
Sep 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by AMarkle6524 from Pennsylvania

Sep 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by whojim from Pennsylvania

Aug 31, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

Aug 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Yellolab2010 from Pennsylvania

Aug 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.6 by BigRizz62 from Maryland

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Afroman from Arizona

Aug 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by traxstar7 from Texas

Jul 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by tdm168 from Pennsylvania

Jun 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by jra173 from Pennsylvania

Jun 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by mmmbeerNY from New York

Jun 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by AricGresko from Pennsylvania

Jun 12, 2014
Otto's Pub and Brewery in State College, PA
Brewery rating: 3.84 out of 5 with 1707 ratings