I was recently given a gift certificate to Harrison's and so I plan to go there with the wife tomorrow evening. Most of the reviews I've read here have been mediocre or worse. Does anyone have any recommendations as far as beer or food that would be worth trying?
Yes, I'm aware of the various internet review sites. I was just hoping that a BA who had been there recently could recommend something, especially since all the reviews on this site are over a year old, and none of the beers have more than 3 reviews. I'd much rather read something from a BA than a random stranger on the internet. Have you been there? Is your review up on Yelp, or am I missing something?
Won't be much help now, but I used to go there occasionally back in the early 00's when I lived in the south burbs. They used to have a holiday beer (can't recall if it was a porter or doppelbock), brewed with butterscotch. It was fantastic. Only thing I really enjoyed there besides the food. To this day though, I still have my growler, and its one of my favorites because its the flip-top style. Their refill prices were very cheap (like $7-$8). But again, haven't been in years so this probably isn't helpful. However, if they still have the flip-top growlers, its worth getting one.
No, I haven't been there before. I figured I'd just send you the direct link to Yelp in case you hadn't read the reviews yet.
I have been there a few times, mainly for the food. I love their Rueben sandwich. The beer is just about macro quality in my opinion. Had a barrel aged something at a brewfest from them once, and that it was the most disappointing barrel aged beer I have ever had. The Russian Imperial Brown is decent. A lot of people like their Brown. Personally, I don't know many people who go out of their way for a brown.
Unfortunately the opinions in the reviews held true for me, too. Had the sampler and the only one worth going back to was the brown. They did have the butterscotch ale, which I found not only overly sweet but watery on the finish. The wife really like the Raspberry Wheat, which was more raspberry and little wheat. The food wasn't that great, either. Calamari was forgetable, soups were decent, and the steaks were underseasoned and underdone. I'll probably post a review in the next day or two, but if anyone is considering going here, don't.
