The Ginger Man

4thoseabout2bock

Illinois

4.29/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Quite nice selection of 40ish beers on tap.
For local micros, they had a number of St Arnolds on including the Christmas both on cask and tap. Draft was actually sweeter and less hoppy!

Some west coast things we can't get in Chicago: Old Foghorn, New Belgium 1554, New Belgium Saison, Arrogant.

They also still had Spaten Oktoberfest, and it was malty and wonderful and good to still find on tap this late into November! (still had quite the selection of oktoberfests actually -- you could do your own tasting)

Also on draft, Mardesous 10 was AMAZING.

Strange that they list their beers by color -- we somehow did not notice the Mardesous 10 until late in the night. Probably for the best though, because if I were drinking that all night, I would not have made it to 10pm...

Great ambiance, small house with bar along one side, and dart boards and a few tables along the other, lovely back deck with picnic tables and heaters.

Both the selection and ambience had Flying Saucer beat.
No question. This is the #1 beer destination in Houston.

Accessible by train/light rail from downtown (but it only runs til 10).
A cab back to downtown was around $16.
Money well spent.

11-22-2006 00:24:12 | More by 4thoseabout2bock

dcloeren

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +0.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

The Ginger Man is a hidden gem right in the middle of the Rice Village. Its right next to the other douchebag bars that make up the rest of the street. But the great thing about The Ginger Man is that most of the people that go in there for a beer realize how great of a place it is. Of course there are the people that go in there and even with all of the taps on the wall still want a BMC lite but for the most part theres a good mix of people that enjoy great beer and some good ol beer nerds. Good music, great patio out back and live music outside everyonce in a while.

The service is really great and they are always willing to help you select a beer. They have a good selection of the good Texas beers and alot of others from around the country as well. Probably about 100 bottles to select from that are predominantly German and Belgian. Bottom line is that you will definitely be able to find a beer to meet your craving once in side.

I went to college in Houston and lived about a mile away from here. It is/was one of my favorite spots to grab a beer around town.

04-26-2011 16:10:13 | More by dcloeren

mariner22

Hawaii

4.18/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

I stopped by here twice during a recent visit to Houston. It was pretty loud and reasonably crowded late on a Saturday afternoon. My mom is not a beer drinker, but she had half of a Unibroue Don de Dieu (she was driving and has a low tolerance) and enjoyed it.

We returned on a Monday afternoon. The server was very patient and helped my mom find another beer (Timmerman's Strawberry, I think) she likes (possibly the only two beers she has ever enjoyed). We split the beer snack plate - olives, cheese, bread, mustard, pickles, etc. They have a very limited selection of food, it's not a restaurant. We brought books and spend a few chill hours reading and sipping beer on the patio. The service was great. The beer tasted great. Overall not a place I'd tell someone visiting Houston that they absolutely have to get to but it was a very nice beer experience.

04-10-2011 01:45:30 | More by mariner22

obrike

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +4.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75 | $$

Awesome place. We stopped in here the night before a Texan's game. The location is great...Rice University area, about 2 miles from Reliant Stadium.

Exactly what you'd want a pub to look like...a lot of wood, two outdoor patio areas, a small one in front, and a larger one in the back.

Fantastic selection of bottle and draught beers.

Kind of a young crowd, but seeing as the location was in the middle of Rice, that was not shocking.

The place was pretty packed by the time we left (11pm or so), so it made ordering or getting excellent service a bit difficult, but the staff was quite friendly.

01-28-2011 17:28:17 | More by obrike

poonamibaxter

Colorado

4.4/5  rDev +3.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 2 | $$

One of the best beer bars I have ever been to. All the staff no beer and they always serve it in the proper glass at the proper temp. They usually gets some elusive brews. The clientele is mostly adults who appreciate good beers and make for good conversation and a relaxed atmosphere. They only serve beer and wine so no waiting or watching people make or drink shots. My only complaint is it gets a bit hot inside during the summer.

They just had their 25th annv party and had some amazing Belgians plus a keg of 120 from Sam's personal stash.

09-20-2010 04:21:06 | More by poonamibaxter

youbrewidrink

Vermont

4.53/5  rDev +6.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

Just a short $10 taxi ride from Reliant Stadium in Rice Village.

Our server Nicole was awesome, an empty glass never lasted at our table.

A great little hole in the wall with a great beer selection. I must admit the Cuvee Renee in the small bottle was an unexpected suprise. Lots of local brews and a nice variety on the taps.

Enough food to take care of basic dining needs. If you can't find anything on thier menu, they have all the area menus that will deliver.

The patrons covered the full spectrum from beer geek, to out of town sport fan. If the place is busy, head to the back of the building, there is an additional large patio area.

01-05-2010 12:48:07 | More by youbrewidrink

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +17.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

The first thing that jumped out was their outdoor patio area, followed by the extensive wooden front porch with the entry in its center. Entering, the 1/2 octagonal-shaped bar was directly to the left with standard tables and chairs to the right. The back bar was a seemingly endless row of tap handles. The top of the overhead held a shelf of spent bottles that snaked around the entire interior. There was a CD jukebox 1/3 of the way aft on the right and an English dartboard all of the way aft on the right. Lots of fantastic colored chalk signage in the overhead. Glassware was also on display. They also had an extensive outdoor patio out back with picnic tables and an Oktoberfest mural to the right.

They had a great educated clientele, both in terms of beer and their collegiate specialties.

Food: The Brewers' Plate was an amalgam of tastes, textures, and colors. It was absolutely wild! I actually got tired of eating.

Beers: 69 taps, 125 bottles, 1 cask. St. Arnold's is always on cask.

12-21-2009 11:10:37 | More by woodychandler

Spineypanda

Texas

4.21/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

The Ginger Man is located in Rice Village i Houston, and is quite an interesting place.

More than 70% of it is located outside, but that does not take away from the atmosphere which is that of a nice outdoor venue.
It reminded me of some of the concert locations on 6th street in Austin.

They had a great selection of the beers that are popular are only available for a limited time, which is great because it is always switching up. Service was wonderful, and I never felt like I needed someone to get me a beer. I did not try their food and have no idea if they even have food, but it was a great experience.

10-21-2009 03:16:03 | More by Spineypanda

CHADMC3

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -7.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

This place is very unsuspecting from the outside, just a few picnic tables and umbrellas outside of what look like a queiet little restaurant. Walking in to this place is like stepping back in time or somewhere else. The low ceilings, dark woods, old bottles and cans and dark ambience with subtle jukebox classics playing are really something to experience. We went on a Sunday afternoon, so it was a little subdued, but this place is awesome. By far, some of the best bar ambience I have experienced.

We tried one of their specialty pretzels, a nice compliment to a beer. Service was prompt, and one thing I enjoyed was listening to the ladies behind the bar talk amongst themselves about some the new beers they have tried. We sampled a Lone Star Stout, a Gnarleywine, and a Kwak. Their selection is good, but not nearly as great as other stops. Too many main stream beers here for me, but greatly varied regardless.

The small food menu had some unique offerings, but I didn't sample enough to create too much of an opinion.

If you're near Rice U, you gotta check this place out. Just a cool beer bar you won't soon forget.

05-08-2009 01:22:24 | More by CHADMC3

Onslow

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +4.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

First discovered this gem when they graciously oped up there doors to the Houston BA's for our monthly tastings; awesome place and awesome people! .. . Selection is top notch, only beat out by the saucer, but this place has that cozy friends house kinda feel .. . always have a cask beer, a plus ... . they offer chips,pretzels and a cheese plate they will do in a pinch, or you can order a pizza or bring in a burger, they are cool about it .. . overall: fantastic beer selection for Houston, and they treat their rowdy BA's like kings!!! .. recommended for sure, one of my favourite stops...

04-27-2009 12:51:47 | More by Onslow