Bank Street Brewing

It seems like it's been a long journey...
First time I was here was with Davo, for "the lunch that would not be", as they weren't open for lunch on Saturdays, even though their website said otherwise. I sure got to look inside the windows, though.
Second time I was here was with Davo, Thrasher and his kid brother after the CT real beer stint at Bar in New Haven. It was one of those "drop in at the end of a long drinking day" kind of things. I remember a lot of marble, baskets of potato chips, and a porter that was the best of the lot of the few beers that were sampled. I think they had 7 beers on all in all.
Dropped in last week en route to my "not a surprise birthday party" in New Haven. For starters, they aren't brewing any more. They currently have 12 taps, one of which is the Bank Street Root Beer.
The other 11 are a mix of micros (Brooklyn Lager & Brown Ale, Anchor Steam, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Budhook Winterhook, Sam Adams Lager) and imports (Pilsner Urquell, Stella, Spaten, Guinness, Amstel). They also have a few bottles up behind the bar.
As I'm sure you've gathered by now, the place itself is an old bank closed after a merger with another bank. They got a beautiful marble bar with seating along the rear, around the bend near the stairs and there's a large dining room upstairs (a perch that in some areas overlooks the bar area) as well as a large banquet/party room. They decor is huge high arch windows, a high domed glass ceiling with the puzzle piece cut outs around it throughout the rest of the ceiling, stained glass windows here and there, and some neat marble arches. It's all really nicely done except there's a large angel fixture on the wall that they painted that seems ackward and out of place. The old bank vault is now a wine vault and the fermenters are visable behind glass walls on the first and second floors. They've got TV's in a few corners and are piping in some decent tunage. Service was okay. The bartenders were prompt but didn't realyl know anything about beer. And i don't care what the website says, I didn't see no Sunday Jazz going on there. Too bad they're not brewing anymore. Stamford needs a good brewpub and it sure ain't happening around the corner at SBC.

In an old bank, with vaulted ceilings, marble floors, little alcoves for the safe etc. Somewhat sparse, chic feel and trendy music. TVs above the bar are not obtrusive. No pub-like chumminess. Decent bartenders who are not beer guys. 5 drafts and 1 cask, plus a good selection of outside beers (draft and bottle) if you're not into the whole fresh beer thing. Beer selection was varied (light, wheat, Oktoberfest, IPA, porter, and brown on cask) and every beer was good. Prices a little steep ($5.50 for 20oz pint - it's worth it though) and food is good for a fancy dinner out, but not casual hanging at the bar. Appetizer sampler was $15 and very chi chi. Fish n chips costs about the same. Still, this is a good place to get some fresh beer; the cask is magnificent, and it's miles better than its brewpub neighbor, SBC Downtown which has some of the most insipid, flavorless beers I've ever had.

Update 1/03: Fellow BA's Davo and slander have warned me that this place is NOT open for Saturday lunch. They came from Jersey just to check it out and were understandably pissed. Beer travelers be forewarned. I understand that Bank Street IS open, however, for Sunday brunch with live jazz.