Favorite Pubs/Taverns/Bars

[steveh]

This won't be terribly easy to narrow down, so I'll split into two categories:

First, my favorite neighborhood tavern is a nice little joint called Kaiser's. It's literally around the corner from where I live, and I often walk there when the weather is good.

Kaiser's had a fire that closed them until just about a year ago, but the owner reopened with a fervor and all of the old customers are back. Due to the popularity of Guinness Pub-Draught cans he used to sell, Beamish was chosen for a coveted draft spot on the tapper, along with Hacker-Pschorr Weiss - good choices for my beer-loving cohorts, while some of the older regulars enjoy their Lites, Old Styles, and Pabsts.

Next, my two favorite bars in Chicago: Chief O'Neill's Irish pub on North Elston, just south of Addison - a great pub decorated in a traditional Irish pub decor, with great food and live music. Murphy's and Guinness both on tap, along with Harp, Bass, guest ales and ciders. O'Neil's also boasts a great beer garden for good weather enjoyment.

Resi's Bier Stube on Irving Park, just west of Lincoln (blink, and you'll miss it). Resi's is a German themed bar opened in the 60s sometime, back when its neighborhood was populated with many German imigrants. The last I visited, Resi's displayed around 10 tap handles - all German, Czech, or Austrian beers. They also keep a huge selection of various bottled beers. Resis's has a limited, but tasty menu of German dishes - and they all taste twice as good in their quaint Biergarten, open for the Summer months. The Biergarten is very small, but you can easily share a picnic table with others as you do in Bavaria - just give the traditional: "Noch Frei?" most of the customers know the meaning. The Garten is also (somehow) insulated from the noise of nearby, busy Irving Park road - I don't know how they do it, but you'd swear it disappeared from your relaxing evening in the Garten.

There are plenty more I could go on about, especially in Chicago, but these are the places I find the most unique and comfortable.

Cheers,
Steve

[beer editor]

Steve, it is probably my Midwest upbringing showing but Chicago has to be the best tavern town in America. The nice thing is that you can visit corner bars that serve the neighborhood, and also offer interesting beer.

Have you ever been to Cody's Public House?

Prosit,
Stan

[wortchillergoal]

This would be better if we all could visit the nominated watering holes. I would put on my list in Syracuse The Blue Tusk. There are usally around 50 to 60 beers on tap, a great atmosphere, and great owners. I would add Empire Brewery, a brew pub, whose brew masters have won a couple of medals at the GABF. I also had the pleasure of meeting Michael Jackson there. I would add the A1A Brew pub/restaurant in St. Augustine, FL. Their signature beer is a nice hoopy ale and the food is great.

[beer editor]

Originally posted by wortchillergoal
This would be better if we all could visit the nominated watering holes. I would put on my list in Syracuse The Blue Tusk. There are usally around 50 to 60 beers on tap, a great atmosphere, and great owners.

To part A: It's always my goal to visit every great watering hole :)

To part B: What about Clark's Ale House (around the corner). I agree that The Blue Tusk has a wonderful selection, but there is something magical about Clark's.

Prosit,
Stan

[steveh]

Originally posted by beer editor
Steve, it is probably my Midwest upbringing showing but Chicago has to be the best tavern town in America. The nice thing is that you can visit corner bars that serve the neighborhood, and also offer interesting beer.

Have you ever been to Cody's Public House?

I agree with your assessment of Chicago's taverns. Though sadly, due to Mayor Daily and other staunch nuveau-prohibitionists (and probably money grubbing realtors), the Chicago neighborhood taverns are gradually disappearing.

Milwaukee is another great neighborhood-tavern town.

Been to Mulligan's Public House, but not Cody's - tell me more! I'll definitely search it out - I just looked it up on one of Chicago's better search sites - Cody's is actually pretty close to Mulligan's. Tell me they have more than Schlitz, Pabst, and Old Style though!

Amother place in the same area (closer to Mulligan's in the Roscoe Village Neighborhood) is the Village Tap - corner bar atmosphere, good beer, good food. http://www.barsonline.com/chicago/villagetap/beer.htm

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by wortchillergoal
This would be better if we all could visit the nominated watering holes.

Now THERE's a road trip! ;)

S.

[threecb]

Originally posted by beer editor
To part B: What about Clark's Ale House (around the corner). I agree that The Blue Tusk has a wonderful selection, but there is something magical about Clark's.

I'd have to agree with you, Stan. I like the Tusk, but Clark's has a much more casual, conversation-enducing vibe.


steve

[beer editor]

Originally posted by steveh
Been to Mulligan's Public House, but not Cody's - tell me more! I'll definitely search it out - I just looked it up on one of Chicago's better search sites - Cody's is actually pretty close to Mulligan's. Tell me they have more than Schlitz, Pabst, and Old Style though!


One reason I asked if you'd been there is that it's been a while since we were ... I thought I saw a note somewhere that patrons weren't supporting higher priced beer as they once did. When we last visited, there were 6 taps plus a good bottle selection - Old Style, yes, but also Midwest micros.

A spot that locals walk to, the bar is named after a dog (now Cody Jr. hangs out) and is dog friendly, good darts, bocce ball out back.

And, although I clipped your comment, agreed on the Village Tap. Others may have passed it in terms of serving exotic beer, but the selection is still outstanding, the food is terrific, and the beer garden works year round. If you go in when they open there will be neighborhood regulars drinking spirits and at closing time there will be neighborhood regulars drinking spirits.

Prosit,
Stan

[wortchillergoal]

Originally posted by threecb
I'd have to agree with you, Stan. I like the Tusk, but Clark's has a much more casual, conversation-enducing vibe.


steve

I like Clark's myself and have spent many hours there, and Ray is a good owner too. It is just lately I find that his beer selection roller coasters from great to limited at times but I would second the nomination at a meeting governed by Queen's Rules.

[steveh]

Originally posted by beer editor
A spot that locals walk to, the bar is named after a dog (now Cody Jr. hangs out) and is dog friendly, good darts, bocce ball out back.

I'm putting Cody's at the top of my list now, Stan. Probably not this weekend, but maybe next.

S.

[MmmBeer]

I now live in Rhode Island, but I went to school in Tampa. Two blocks from my school was "Four Green Fields". The beer was good/average selection, obviously Guinness, Harp on tap but also Cafferty's and a couple yellow fizzers. The beer was good, the atmosphere is AWESOME! It is the only thatch-roofed pub in the Southeast, it features live Irish folk music almost every night, a front porch and back patio for the comfortable months and plenty of seating inside. The food is really good and contains some traditional Irish. The most interesting thing about the place is it's decor, definitely Irish, but mostly Sinn Fein propaganda posters! I really think it is owned by Sinn Fein, but it could just be for the authenticity value? Anyways, it is an awesome place and having been to England and Ireland it really does have the dim-lit homey feel of an authentic pub. my 2 cents.

[dillen]

Steve, Try Jakes at 2900 Clark Great beer , always fresh and the bartenders are highly trained at what they serve . Ask for Sean

[b3s]

i've been frequenting the ironworks brewpub (http://www.ironworksbrewpub.com/) in lakewood, co quite a bit. i really like their red, hoppy pilsner, and wheat. their ipa is also quite good. thursday-saturday they do music as well. kinda a hole-in-the-wall, but damn good beer.

[Fast_Eddy]

I nominate the Draught House(Horse) (http://www.draughthouse.com/housebeer/house.beer.home.html) ...followed closely by the Ginger Man (http://www.gingermanpub.com/austin/a-frame.html) in Austin, TX. If you're ever here - go there.

[hopjack13]

okay im going to throw socal in the mix here,
taps fish house and brewery in brea , if your in orange county.
L.A. and San Diego county ........well i wouldn't know where to start.
i tried a brew on cask finally at taps! holy sh@# balls batman!!!
what a contrast to C02 , i tried their thomas jefferson ale (i guess it's one of his recipes from way back then) on co2 then on cask ....truly a world of difffernce. down with co2 bring back the real!!! great food , great people , great beer!!!!great place!

[steveh]

Originally posted by Fast_Eddy Ginger Man (http://www.gingermanpub.com/austin/a-frame.html) in Austin, TX. If you're ever here - go there.

There's a Gingerman in Chicago too, right across Clark Street from Wrigley Field. It's a nice joint for a beer, but I don't think it's the same franchise as the Texas bar. Rumor has it that the Chi bar is owned by the same gentleman that owns the Gingerman race track in Michigan - the story goes that he opened the pub to finance the track...or was it the other way around..?

S.

[threecb]

The one in Chicago is not owned by the Texas Ginger Man bars (there's 3), but the one in New York is. Great beer selection. Some might say it's "yuppie". But it's still a cool place, especially if it's not the post work crowd.
I'd have to say it's a "bar", if I was catogorizing it.

[beer editor]

Originally posted by steveh
There's a Gingerman in Chicago too, right across Clark Street from Wrigley Field. It's a nice joint for a beer, but I don't think it's the same franchise as the Texas bar. Rumor has it that the Chi bar is owned by the same gentleman that owns the Gingerman race track in Michigan - the story goes that he opened the pub to finance the track...or was it the other way around..?

S.

A very nice bar, plus when the Cubs games let out they put Wagner on the stereo system and turn it up real loud. Keeps the fans moving by and the place pretty civilized post-game.

Prosit,
Stan

[beer editor]

Originally posted by threecb
The one in Chicago is not owned by the Texas Ginger Man bars (there's 3), but the one in New York is. Great beer selection. Some might say it's "yuppie". But it's still a cool place, especially if it's not the post work crowd.
I'd have to say it's a "bar", if I was catogorizing it.

In fact, the Dick's Last Resort people bought the three Texas Ginger Men but have so far left them unchanged. The NY bar remain independent as far as I know. A lot better place when the guys in starched collars aren't there post-work, puffing on cigars.

Prosit,
Stan

[threecb]

Hopefully they'll leave the TX ones unchanged. Wouldn't want any of that precious Dick's "hospitality" getting outside of that chain!

[steveh]

Originally posted by beer editor
A very nice bar, plus when the Cubs games let out they put Wagner on the stereo system and turn it up real loud. Keeps the fans moving by and the place pretty civilized post-game.

Ha - ha, never experienced that, and I've been in the bar after a game or two. Of course, the Wagner wouldn't scare me away, and I'd probably be looking around for Robert Duvall! ;)

S.

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by threecb
The one in Chicago is not owned by the Texas Ginger Man bars (there's 3), but the one in New York is. Great beer selection. Some might say it's "yuppie". But it's still a cool place, especially if it's not the post work crowd.
I'd have to say it's a "bar", if I was catogorizing it.

It's funny the Ginger Man here manages to almost have a pub feel. A big pub granted - but it's still fairly intimate.

[threecb]

I think the decor in NY is a little too trendy and the high ceiling that goes thru 2/3 of the space creates a noisier atmosphere. It's still cool to watch the bartenders (attractive women when I went there the first time) stretched across the wall of taps pouring 2 pints at once!

Not that I was leering or anything...