The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

We visited this beer bar on a trip to Little Rock in early September. We stayed at the Capital hotel, which was just walking distance down the street. It has the typical Flying Saucer menu...German themed with some burgers. It is somewhat tired, although I do love the German Potato Salad. The tap menu was solid, with plenty of local craft brews. Service was solid, and the ambiance was of an old building, covered with the requisite plates. It is what you would expect from a respectable beer bar...Solid, but nothing particularly exciting.

 

 

 

Stopped in for a few brews on a rainy Tuesday afternoon, almost had the place to myself. Pleasant enough vibe

The two beers I tried seemed a bit tired

Service was okay, but detached. Of course their beer lists were inaccurate out of date ( just like KC ). The bartender saw me looking at the tap lists & then looking at the menu, but I basically had to grab her attention with any questions. She was helping on restocking kegs, but it there were zero bar customers

Beer selection was pretty good, included about 8 locals & 10 regional beers in a 60-ish tap line up.

If I ever find my self there I would give it another try, but wouldn't really go out of my way to return

 

 

 

I love this place. Great vibe. The service is a little slow at times. The food is good. The selection is always outstanding.

 

 

 

 

Food was bad, service was pretty bad. Beer menu is huge but as you know quantity does not always mean quality.

 

 

 

 

This is my home-town bar, easily the best in Little Rock, and I'm grateful to have it.

There are some really good waitresses, and obviously some girls are better than others, but some just don't give a shit and clearly don't want to be there. Typical, I suppose.

Atmosphere is pleasant, relaxed, classic pub style with lots of dark stain wood trim. There's a large upstrairs as well as an extensive 'basement.'

Food is actually pretty good. I've had everything on the menu. Mostly sandwiches, decent salads, solid appetizers, etc.

They're good about rotating seasonals, and the draft line is extensive. The bottles are always ridiculously over-priced... I'd much rather just buy the same bottle at 50% less and drink at home.

Firkins, aged beers, and other rare beer events. Trivia nights. Brewery nights where you get the free glass with the select beer. Commemorative plates hang on the ceiling/walls to mark beer counts, starting at 200. (plus they throw you a party worth several hundred in free beer).

Visited on a business trip. Sat at the bar. Did not order food.

Vibe – Great atmosphere. Lots of beer drinkers. Open, well lit, a bit noisy. I don’t necessarily appreciate the drink 200 beers and get recognition, but it’s a business model that seems to work for some. 4.25

Quality – All beer looks to be kept cold. Correct and clean glasses. 4.25

Service – Relatively poor for such a wide and varied selection of beer. All but one of the bartenders seemed to display an unfortunate lack of knowledge regarding the beers they had on tap. Every beer I asked about seemed to stump them. Generally attentive not especially friendly. 3.25

Selection – Great selection. Probably the best tap selection in Little Rock. Most of the beers could still be considered run of the mill and easy to obtain but they had a few of tap that were rarer. Certainly a number that I had never had. 4.25

Price – Thought the prices were good. $$

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

Located in the Little Rock, AR Rivermarket.

Great service, with a fairly good selection. Different special for each day of the week. They need to update their tap handles. Very good import selection. Lots of local breweries available. No smoking. Very clean.

Was in Little Rock for a sister's wedding. Stopped in here. Good selection of some of the choicer midwest brews. Bartender was cordial. Not super talkative, but it was 11 am. He did, however, talk me into the Schlafly IPA, which I immediately fell in love with. So good recommendation on his part.

Went back in the next day for a sandwich and another one of those awesome beers. Sandwich was good, fries were under done a bit. Still crispy, but very light, like the oil wasn't hot enough. Tasted good, though. Waitress was attentive enough.

That being said, I was somewhat surprised at the lack of west coast represenation there. Not that this is a bad thing, as I was forced to try some of the more local options, but I all I saw from the left coast was Rogue, Anchor, Green Flash and Sierra Nevada. Still, they had that sweet, sweet Schlafly's, and I was content with that.

This is my home bar, so I'm a bit biased. I work right down the road and have 6+ plates on the wall. Most reviews complain about the smoking in the beer garden, so I should update that and say there's no smoking anywhere in the building now. Good food, but no grill so that limits the selection.

The beer selection is probably the best in the state though. Over 60 taps and probably a good 150 bottles. Fort Collins, Schlafly, O'Fallon, Green Flash, Marshalls, Prairie Artisan, Diamond Bear, Core, Tallgrass, Piney River, Abita... you get it. If it's available in Arkansas, it's here. The staff gets training on beer knowledge. There are regular beer dinners, firkin tappings and tap takeovers going on. Monday is "Pint Night" or cheap drafts for most taps. Wednesday nights are glass nights, with cheap pint glasses to take home.

Sunday in Arkansas; breakfasted with the bride, and said our goodbyes. Opting to mull around Little Rock instead of Memphis pre flight, I parked this totally absurd deal where you fold dollar bills and stuff them into slots associated with your parking spot number in this mailbox type thing, enough said. I’m ready to beer, just waiting on the Flying Saucer to open, which is nowish...

Through to the rear, a long straight stained stainless steel topped bar with a wide lip running the wall to the left. Wood panel base, piping foot rail and seating for 18 on backed high chairs. 75 taps, alternating upper lower upper lower on rows and rows of pennies copper panels. The wall of taps runs a good length split only in ½ by a double wide center cooler. Stainless steel counter top below with shelved glassware of all sizes and shapes, and more coolers on the ends. The wood trim over the bar is lined with beer labels. The large dark wood panel piece above the bar running its length has a large vertical board on center, listing that which has just landed (tap & bottle), events, pint & brewery nights, trivia & specials. Ornate-a-ties with bottles displayed and wines in some slots horizontally below the big board, and flat screens to both sides.

The walls and high ceiling are painted a mustard color, heavily pasted with name plates and a whole lot more of ornamental variety. Light brewery mirrorage and fire sale boards (this one showing $3 Diamond Bear drafts). Spots over the bar and all the way around the room along the top; spinny fan push button lamps and everlasting gob stopper lamps in between alternating. 4 x 4 black & green checkerboard floors.

20 seat 2 sided bar counter table running adjacent to the bar, from green pillar to pillar support down the center of the room, and 2 rows of 5 square tables diagonally beyond. Couch and cushy chair combos in a slightly raised area on the far wall below where some projection TV be. Some window action to their front ‘garden’ room; shirt showcase shwaggings up front, potted plants, cushy couch & chair combos, and 9 picnic tables overlooking Clinton Ave through the big windows. And a downstairs room running the length of the place with, 3 pool tables, 4 dart boards to the rear, and the quintessential Galaga. Also a side room down there for banquets perhaps, done up with old b/w prints of Arkansas folk.

They have a bunch of different ‘5 in 5 oz glasses’ flights you can choose from (around the world, Colorado, Hophead, Eurpoe, USA), but I opted to create my own, starting with the 3 they had from their local; Diamond Bear from Little Rock (English Pale Ale, there’s really not a lot to it, kind of malty with a slight hop bite on the end, needs more of a hop presence; Irish Red, malty, caramel sweet, winner!; Paradise Porter, good roasty chocolateyness, a little thin but tasty tasty, 2nd place), and managed to find a few things with which to round out the flight (Goose Island Pepe Nero, something Belgiany roasty dark and the Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale, a Saison that most certainly did not suck).

But, you know, I’m not ready to go, so we’ll try that again. This time, a pair from New Belgium (Mighty Arrow Spring Ale, more piney, citrusy on the nose than the palate but not a bad pale ale, and the Ranger IPA, a nice hoppy floral IPA), a pair from Boulevard (Irish Ale, a lightly toasted Red Ale, a bit of caramel and grassy, and the Single-Wide IPA, grapefruity, but not really too well balanced, meh), and the Goose Island (lovely) Matilda to round out the flight. And bummed a sample of the Boulevard Amber for the amber vertical; Boulevard vs. Abita, Boulevard wins, but even that was just okay and not a good malty toffee thing like the local Diamond Bear.

I must say, Brandon was most accommodating with the samples. At least the kid knew about beer. The place had just opened, and as such, was comfortably dead dead dead, and still I like it a whole lot better than what we saw in Memphis 2 days ago. But like that location, the heavy smoking in the garden room does suck. And don’t come on a Sunday when things are kicked and new arrivals have not done so yet, and you should be okay.

I've been here numerous times on my quest to get my plate on the wall. This is the largest selection of taps and bottles in any bar in Arkansas. You can range from local brews like Diamond Bear to Belgian beers like Chimay and Saison Dupont.
Monday night is pint night, when most beers on tap are 3 bucks a pint. On Wednesay it's brewery glass night, you can grab a beer and keep the glass.

The food is above average, with a full menu and decent prices. The salmon wrap is damn good. The service has always been great, with a very beer knowledgeable staff.

I've spent countless hours and had countless beers here.. well actually over 300 beers so far. If you visit, look on the wall for plate #517 and you'll find me.

Yes! While in Little Rock, I visited this place on a whim, while searching for Diamond Bear beers, and it didn't take long before I realized I was in heaven. They had about 75-80 beers on tap, and quite a good bottle selection as well. A great menu that contained comfort foods, as well as some tasty bratwurst and other goodies. Atmophere was average...a little on the family restaurant side and not too intimate. But the beer selection was tremendous with lots of local brews. Staff was knowledgeable and attentive. Definitely highly recommended.

I really like the entry way. It has nice heavy tables, ceiling fans, wood, plants, etc. It kind of reminds me of a gentleman’s social club.

The bar area is open with a long bar along the east and plenty of tables to share, including the communal tables down the center.

As expected, tons of taps and bottles. They are always rotating in seasonal offerings and new releases. Note this location has the least amount of local beers of any FS I have been to. .

They offer the standard FS menu, again, what is the deal with mayo on a Chicago brat ... I will snack here, but prefer to eat elsewhere.

The have very friendly and knowledgeable servers. Good with samples, advice and chit chat.

They had a huge crowd on a Wednesday and the weather was horrible. I imagine its packed Thursday through Saturday. It is great to see everyone enjoying good beer. Unlike other FS locations, this one had about 90% male patrons.

I will have no problem going back during my next visit.

Went to the Flying Saucer w/ a bunch of friends last night. The atmosphere was good, but the music was pretty loud (guitar player), and it made it difficult to carry on a conversation. The alternate room was a smoking room, so that was a no go as well. Lots of great brews, but not as much on draft for what I was looking for. Still, I can't imagine anyplace in Little Rock is going to have more selection. Our waitress was knowledgeable, and seemed to know beer. I'm sure it's a crap shoot on service at a place w/ young waitresses, but our was very good. She even complimented our beer choices at the end of the evening. The food was pretty good as well. The beers I had were slightly more than I would expect, but not outlandish. I imagine the Flying Saucer is the place to go in Little Rock- glad it was close to my hotel while visiting.

I've been going to this place off and on over the last five years. This review is of my last visit just a couple days ago.

The front area is nice; they open the big windows up in the summer and you can or could smoke there. There are some pic-nic tables and couches. If you get a couch it is a nice cozy place to be. Once inside the main building it is a medium sized bar with saucers all over the walls and ceiling with a stage for live music. There is also a downstairs area with pool tables.

The beer selection is great... 70 taps I think; plus a bunch of bottles. The selection seems to have more domestic micros than before... so that's good. Their specials are pretty good with $2-3 pints on the whatever beers are on specials.

The service in the past has almost always been good and knowledgeable on the beer. However, this last time one of my friends asked the bartender what "2 Below" was and the reply was "I think it's made by Fat Tire, it's just a different name. I think they're just selling the same beer under a different name" So many things wrong with that statement. So that was a little disappointing.

The food is okay. Go there for the beer selection.

I visited here a while back while doing a military school. The curb appeal lured me in while I was exploring down town. This place impressed me, but of course we don't really have much like this back in Boise. I was amazed and the number of beers they had in stock both in bottle and on tap. The prices are reasonable and the food was great for the price. If I ever end up back in this part of the world I will hit this place back up. I recommend it to everybody I know that is headed that direction. Oh, and I still sport my iBeer shirt proudly.

This is the typical Flying Saucer. There is an area out front with couches and tables. A long bar with the typical penny lined Saucer tap wall. Lots of plates line the walls as well. In the back, stairs work its way to a second floor, but it was not open when I visited. There is even a special section for the UFO Club members. Really smoky with lots of TV's and crowds. All fine and dandy, but pretty much resembles the other Saucer bars around the country.

Food is typical for the chain. I think it is the exact same menu as the Houston location. The service was hit and miss. The servers and bartenders did not really know the selection all that well (beyond the special for the day). Other than that, nothing bad.

On to the beer. Highlights for me on tap was Life and Limb, Lips Of Faith Fall Wild Ale (though the bartenders did not know what this was), and Diamond Bear Pale Ale. Plenty of taps that is typical for all the locations, though I think this one might not be as extensive as the Houston location. Plenty of bottles, on par with the chain as well.

Overall, this is just typical for the chain. Nothing special, but worth a visit if in Little Rock.

Was in Little Rock for about 2 months and visited this establishment about a dozen times. Beer selection was decent. More than most regular bars, but I wouldn't quite put this in my elite category. The food was typical of something like a TGI Fridays. Plenty of TV's to watch the game. They also had couches you could sit at if you didn't like the bar or regular tables. The best part about this place was the staff. Smokin hot girls in school girl outfits. The staff was also knowledgeable about their beer inventory. I'd also like to suggest the piano bar across the street after your finsihed here.

I've visited a few times since I arrived in Little Rock. Pretty cool vibe, except it can get crowded a little later on a Friday night. This can lead to a lack of service. Otherwise the waitress are all scantily clad, attractive, and also helpful. Selection is good for Arkansas (better than my home state though...), a good wide variety as well. Food was good, I had the buffalo chicken wrap last time and enjoyed it. Pretty good prices for just about everything. Nice place overall I will visit again.