M.J. Barleyhoppers Sports Bar and Brew Pub

MJ Barleyhopper no longer brews beer, they do have 20+ beers from other breweries on tap.

Vibe: the only patron most of the time I spent there (just over an hour) and heard my fill of bro-country.
Service: able to rattle off what they don't have from the list but unable to comment on their own beers. Very polite as I asked to sample their taps, but uninspired.
Selection: the usual NW selection. (Manny's, Irish Death, couple locals and the usual over represented IPA)
Food: I wish I had eaten at Arby's next door. Better value. Greasy burger and cold fries served on a little hipster plate that would be more appropriately used as a cheese platter.
Quality: I normally don't consider effort, but I feel that this place tries to be a brewpub but might be fighting an uphill battle in an area that is swimming in Bud Light

Rude service when it was actually provided, house beers were bad, vibe is a dark high school gym with tvs, .25 points for trivia night...at least they have taps of ninkasi, 10 barrel etc but get the bottles of it and stay at home, you can make the same frozen food there anyways...

Visited 2.18.11.

Located in the Red Lion Inn located high above downtown Lewiston, MJ Barleyhoppers in the only brewery in Idaho for quite a distance. The atmosphere left something to be desired, a bit cavernous room more apt to hold a concert or two-step line dancing (a weekly regular) than to be perceived as a craft beer oasis. A semi-circular 12-seat bar, about a dozen tables, and a large dance area indicate this room just ain't for having a beer, which seeing that most of the people were having mixed drinks made sense, this is a hotel 'bar' after all. The small brew system is visible off the front of the room, not a very big system.

The beer selection is average. The house beers were average at best, I had the Clearwater Pale Ale and it was quite unremarkable. On a positive note they did have a decent selection of other beers, Guinness, Sam Adams, Stella Artois, Shocktop, and surprisingly New Belgium Ranger, along with the usual insipid BMC light trash which obviously was the big seller. There is probably a beer for everyone here but the hardcore craft beer quality inspired.

The service left something to be desired. I ordered a chicken Caesar wrap and the associated fries came out ice cold. When I informed the bartender (who wasn't a bad chap) he asked if he could touch my fries to confirm. ARGGHH. Even worse, I found out that this part of Idaho hasn't yet come into the 21st Century and ALLOWED SMOKING IN THE BAR WHERE FOOD WAS BEING SERVED. Some very non-cute chick on the make set down next to me and lit up while I was eating. WTF? Big minus point on atmosphere, I was ready to have my dinner boxed up and go back to my room.

All the above critiques being made, there aren't a lot of craft beer and food options here. The brewery across the river served free popcorn but had no kitchen, but I have to say there beer was quite tasty and I told the brewer/owner that I would come back there again. This is a one-time and out for this place. Hey lady why don't you put your cigarette...but then I had to suppress a chuckle, knowing the Old Tavern Rat had gotten the last laugh. Somewhere up in heaven Don Younger just lit up an American Spirit and is yelling down at me "It's not about the beer, it's about the beer" which certainly helped get me through my second, and last ever, beer at MJ Barleyhoppers. Avoid.

So nice to be able to contribute a review to BA that has only one other point of view. This was my 78th brewpub, so take my comments as you will.

Everything about M.J.'s is average or below. The bar is nice, dark wood and there are a few televisions, but you get the same thing walking into any Applebee's across the country. Granted I was in at a slow time, and this might be the place to be at night when the night scene is hopping, but as a physical location goes, it's nothing special.

The food might have been slightly above average. The steak bites were well-cooked, but not particuarly flavorful, especially since they were supposedly marinated. I had to sop up the syrupy Teriyaki glaze to get some taste from it. I will give them kudos for their sweet potato fries, some of the better ones I've enjoyed, but which could have used their own zesty dipping sauce. Finally, the dessert was great--a homemade peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. It really hit the spot.

The beer list is pretty extensive, they offer quite a range of both their own brews and local micros and macros. Their own variety ranges through Weiss to Amber to Brown to Stout, but none of them are very good. In fact, I'd say they're all below average and I would much rather put down a Newcastle or Killians. The Weiss was nothing more than a Budweiser, and the Huckleberry Weiss nothing more than a Michelob Ultra fruited light beer. The Summer Citrus, with just a hint of acidity, was probably most drinkable beer, but that's not saying much. The Pale was actually adequately hoppy (a.k.a. bitter) but lacked much of the flavor and aroma associated with a well-balanced pale. The rest of the beers ranging from a red to a brown to a stout and maibock were so unremarkable that I can't even remember enough about them to make remarks, except that while they had a good, moderate mouth feel for the styles, they lacked any of the character or depth of taste I associate with good dark beers.

The service was decent, but it was nearly empty, and it could have been much better if the bartender hadn't abandoned me and had provided some casual banter.

Overall, if you're looking for a new microbrewery, it's the only one within 30 miles, and one of only two within probably 80. The other is a half hour north in Moscow, operated by Coeur d'Alene brewing, which is much better.

It's worth a stop to the avid brewpub traveler, but if you have to choose, go to Moscow or up to Spokane or Coeur d'Alene, or hold out until you get into Oregon and Washington, the mecca of microbrews.

Great Micro's at unheard of prices! 1.50/pint for their own beers!! Service has been awful, but is getting better.

Typical pub-fare for food, but is done really well.

Am always amazed when a buddy and I go in, tip a few pints, eat some wings and pay the 20.00 tab after an hour+. Can't beat it.

They make an awesome Pale Ale. Other beers are Steamboat Stout, Harvest Weizen (which is not much for a wheat beer), Rattlesnake Red, Barleyhoppers Brown, Hefeweizen, a Porter, Huckleweitzen, Summertime Citrus, A Chocolate Dunkel and a Jumpin Steelhead Stout (with coffee) which is fabulous.