What you like about a/your BAR

Completely agree. Same goes for adults who behave like little screaming kids (think of screaming, shaking fists, baboon noises, etc. when someone scores a touchdown). Wish they would leave that behavior at home, or take it to the sports bar where it is appropriate.

 

I've long said that I don't go to the playground to drink, so I do not appreciate when the bar is turned into an impromptu playground. There's one local place that is otherwise not bad (unless there's a big soccer match on), but which I no longer frequent because the staff often bring in their children and allow them to run around the common area seemingly unsupervised - complete with shrieks, wandering up to guests' tables, tugging on guests at the bar, and all that. No, thank you.

 

-variety of styles represented on tap and in cooler and yng light lager for my dad
-employees aren't on the verge of suicide
-patio to smoke with ashtray
-chicken thighs instead of chicken wings
-portobello mushroom Reuben
-popcorn machine
-piano
-local art
-unique specials, for example - "Buy Two Chicken Thighs and a Shrooben and Recieve a Free Yng Light Lager for Your Dad Wednesdays"

 

- At least 10 taps, granted at least a couple of these will be BMC drinks, but as long as at least 75% of the taps are craft beer I'm good.
- Somewhere to smoke a cigar
- A couple of TVs
- People who don't constantly talk about what their beer smells and tastes like (<-- This is fucking annoying, and I don't give two shits about what you think it tastes like).
- Knowledgeable and friendly staff
- Good food
- A laid back atmosphere unless there's an OU or OSU football game on the TV then fuck it, let's get rowdy and party.

 

I'm about to go to one of my favorites for lunch in a few minutes here. The thing I like most about the place is that it is the antithesis of pretentious. The Coors Light tap sits proudly next to [insert Indiana craft brew here] tap and nobody gives a shit. Always a rotating selection (between 6-8 taps) of good to excellent beers from local and national craft breweries. One nitro tap. Good food for a reasonable price. Friendly staff. To-go bottles!

 

Good and varied beer selection
Good service

That's all I need. I like a TV but can do without. It's funny how uptight beer geeks can be. It's a wonder anyone tries to cater to us at all. On of the best beer bars in the state has almost everything people here always say they want. Then they complain that the place is packed with 'hipsters'.

 

I think all this thread actually shows is that there is not a single bar in the world that will cater to everybody on Beer Advocate.

 

I don't necessarily care how the place looks, but I do care how the place feels...and I suppose that can be affected by the way it looks. I want a great, comfortable place to hang out, that feels warm and unpretentious, where I can drink great beers and I can go by myself and keep to myself or go by myself and chat with some awesome bartenders or other beer drinkers, or I can go with a group of people and have great service. I really like the kind of place that has a (excuse me for being a little cliche) "Cheers" atmostphere - there will always be a regular or two there, the bartenders remember me, and I know I can go there whenever and be really comfortable, with a really great, delicious, exciting beer.

Glendale Tap here in the Los Angeles area gets pretty damn close to that. The decor is warm and comfortable, like your good friend's rec room, the owner and wait staff are all really nice and beer knowledgeable, it has 52 rotating taps of great beer, and there are a handful of regulars that you're likely to run into. I love it.

 

I certainly hope not. A bar that caters to everybody is for macro drinkers.

 

Oh, also - I do NOT want a bar that caters exclusively to a professional clientele, ugh, that sounds so freaking dreary (and I can say that having been a lawyer for 12 years and then leaving that horrid world behind). I want a bar where all sorts of different people can come together and shoot the shit over great beers - which is one of the reasons I love the beer scene in the first place, it attracts all sorts.

 

For me its lots of local craft beers, great food, cozy atmosphere and a few TVs with sports. Luckily, here in Columbus, OH; thats pretty much every downtown bar.

 

That's one of the dumbest things I've ever read.

 

My favorite bar: The Olympic Tavern in Rockford, Illinois. About 15 or so rotating taps, all craft, featuring a nice mix of Illinois-based and national breweries; stupid-long bottle selection; only two TV's stuck in the corners out of the way a bit; cozy, intimate atmosphere with a killer beer garden; really knowledgeable staff; great prices; amazing food from snacks to full plates; and a ton of history, a place that opened in 1945 as a factory bar catering to the neighborhood set that has gone gloriously unchanged since.

Seriously, if you find yourself in the Northern Illinois anytime soon, carve out some time for a pint or two at The Olympic. You won't regret it.

 

Nice to hear from you, Mr. positive.

 

My favorite bar is Yard House. I know, big chain, heresy.

I like a bar that has a diverse selection of all styles of beers. An attentive staff that notices when your glass is empty and asks you if you want another is a great thing, and at a sports bar one that is willing to change the channel for you is a huge plus. Even better is if when they recognize you as a regular they engage in conversation. Ambiance and noise level is also key, you want some kind of distracting background noise but not so much that you can't hear the person talking to you. And you also want a good crowd for a local sports event but not so big it's impossible to find a seat. Music is also big, I like either alternative rock or classic rock stations. Subjecting me to John Mayer and Michael Buble will have me finding the door in a hurry.

 

My basement bar good selection at great prices and no taxi

 

Moe's Tavern in Lee, the bar I frequent more than any other, is my favorite for several reasons...

- They only serve craft beer. Not that I would stop going if they ever decided to put a macro on tap, but I'm glad that each line is a different craft offering.
- Something for everyone. 17 lines, one usually being a cider, nearly 100 bourbons/whiskeys, and wine.
- Piggybacking on the "only craft beer" point, they'll help and educate people who come in and have no idea what to order. I've seen the owner Josh, and most of the bartenders too, help non-craft drinkers find something that they will enjoy. I love watching someone become introduced to the world of craft beer. Hell, they did that for me several years ago and got me hooked.
- There's always TV with sports on, but there's almost never any sound. Instead, they play great music all the time. I can only think of one time where I have been in and the TV volume was on (World Cup US vs Germany).
- They don't serve food, but there's dozens of places in town that do, and you can bring food in or have it delivered there.
- I can go and have a beer by myself, or I can go and have a beer with friends, or I can go and have a conversation with anyone sitting inside. Maybe the conversation is about the beer, but more often than not it's about something else, music, food, work.

I've yet to find another bar where I can go and feel as relaxed as I do when I go to Moe's. It's the top ranked bar (no food) in the state for a reason.

 

home has a choice of like 6 ipas and founders porter at all times and its my remote...tuff to beat

 

Blue Palms in Hollywood is the closest I have to "my" bar. I've been a patron since the beginning and it's nice to be greeted and remembered by the owner and the long-time employees. The beer selection is always top notch and the food is upscale bar/gastropub that is actually good, not just a stab at a trendy cuisine.

I can and have spent hours there.

The only negative is that they often get crowded and that they turn into a sports bar whenever there's some popular match of some kind on.

Runner up - the original Lucky Baldwins in Pasadena. I don't love it so much since I can't smoke cigars on the patio any more, but otherwise low key and friendly. Authentic-ish British pub food and a wide variety of draft selections, usually including some hard-to-find Belgians, makes this a hang-out for those long afternoons/evenings with friends.

 

Isaac Newton's in Newtown, PA is probably my favorite bar, though their food has been a little bit erratic of late. 20ish taps with no BMC (Yuengling Light is their nod to that crowd). A nice bottle selection with occasional rarities. Ample seating around the bar, with an upstairs dining room, as well. Bathrooms are down a flight of stairs for the main level, which is admittedly a tad annoying. Small TVs that are almost always muted, except for Eagles' games.