Little Apple Brewing Company

kdoc8

Oregon

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4 | $$

Disappointingly located in a shopping plaza, it turned out to be quite nice nonetheless. Although, we were seated in quite possibly the smallest booth ever created - I can't comment on the rest of the booths, but it was a bit tight and uncomfortable, especially for a table supporting a sampler of beer. It had a good atmosphere, like a small country town bar and restaurant, so not so much like a brewery. The food was great – particularly the spinach-artichoke dip appetizer. I’d say my favorite beer was probably the Bison Brown, although the Riley’s Red was interesting also. It looks as though there may be live music there from time to time. And they had really cheap pint glasses, which is always a plus.

03-12-2007 00:49:03 | More by kdoc8

TheAlamoWrocker

Texas

3.38/5  rDev -11.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 5 | selection: 1.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

I visited Manhattan for a weekend and when I went to Nespor's Wine & Spirits I realized that this place was in the same strip mall. The place was packed with people waiting outside with their beers hoping to get seated.

Vibe: The place was mostly dim with the entire place covered in wood. I
could only assume that this place is packed all the time.
Quality: Great food with mediocre beers.
Service: Before a concert my friends and I came here again. The wait was a decent 15 minutes. Seating for 6 was no problem. The service is incredible. All of the wait-staff is extremely kind and refilled drinks without us even having to ask. Cooking of the meat was exceptional.
Selection: Their beer lineup was pretty standard with a wheat, pale, stout and and a Brown ale.
I ordered their XX Black Angus Stout and it was extremely mediocre. The beer was served way too cold especially for being a stout.
Food: I had a chef friend with my group and he loved the food. The place serves authentic angus steak. I myself got a 6 oz open face steak sandwich. I strongly recommend their Truffle Fries with their curry ketchup.
Overall: I personally would not come here for their beers, but the food was extremely nice especially for being in a random city in Kansas.

03-24-2012 09:04:01 | More by TheAlamoWrocker

jayhawk73

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

As mentioned before, the Little Apple Brewing Company is located in a strip mall. I actually drove past it several times before I realized where it was. The beers are fairly mediocre... I haven't tried anything here that's outstanding, but it's not horrible either. Service was really good... just like just about anywhere in Kansas. The food was really good. The steaks are especially tasty.... Like a lot of places in the Midwest, you get a lot for your money here. For Manhattan, (K-State and Ft. Riley), this is about as good as you'll do. If I'm in Manhattan again, I'm sure I'll return to the Little Apple....

08-06-2011 18:28:59 | More by jayhawk73

ndolover

Minnesota

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

This place is very odd. As with most small town brewpubs, this place has a bit of everything.

It is located in a strip mall.

It has a hall dining area that reminds me of a VFW.

It has a very eclectic seasonal menu, that was pushed pretty hard by my server.

The wheat beers were very good and the head brewer seems to know what he is doing.

Oh, yeah...did I mention that it looks and feels like a kitchy cowboy steak place?

While the AC didn't seem to be working the day I was in, and the bartender was a bit overzealous, I would highly reccomend this place if you are in the "little apple." Lots of flavor in the beer, food, and folks!

06-10-2011 21:38:38 | More by ndolover

Ragingbull

California

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

We visited the Little Apple recently while in Manhattan for my wife's graduation from the K-State Master's program. The fact that its in a strip mall and the dining area is very "chain restaurant-y" is why I lowered my atmosphere score, but the atmosphere overall is enjoyable. A small bar but a decent bar area. They have cows hanging by the bar with the names of the beers. My wife and in-laws liked their meals pretty well, but I just shared appetizers with my daughter. Very friendly server and staff. The beers were good, but nothing out of this world. I was partial to the wheat, but bought a growler of the IPA to take to the hotel as that was the selection made by consensus with our group.

In Manhattan it doesn't appear that there are a whole lot of options for beer, and this place would stand up well against competition in other cities, so why wouldn't you dine and drink here if you are in Manhattan, Kansas?

06-03-2011 12:36:29 | More by Ragingbull

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

3.35/5  rDev -12.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5 | $

Yep, its in a strip mall BUT it is in the SAME strip mall as the best liquor store in Manhattan (see Nespors).

Atmosphere is cowboy kitsch with some random breweriana scattered about. Big cozy bar with lots of college aged employees hanging out during a slow afternoon.

Quality? Meh. Decent beer, nothing too fancy or out of the ordinary and what I had was nothing to write home about. Ringwood? I'm thinking yes.

Service was fine at the bar. I asked waitress/bartender what was going on in town as I was only in town for a few days for work. She told me "Nothing, there isn't much to do here except get drunk and I am saying that as someone who has lived here their whole life." She was however prompt about bringing my beer and water.

Beer selection is limited to the usuals. Food selection is pub food with a good selection of steaks.

Value is excellent. Pints are $3.50 each and sometimes only $2.50. That is a deal.

I quickly learned that Manhattan, Kansas has two things driving its economy. One is K-State and the other is the military base (Riley). Put them together and you've got a town of 50k with a dozen liquor stores, a ridiculous amount of bars, a brewpub and a brewery. If you like drinking than The Little Apple (the town) is for you.

08-31-2010 21:10:40 | More by indiapaleale

zhanson88

Montana

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4 | $$$

Atmosphere: Going to this restaurant will really throw you off at first. It's located in a strip mall and doesn't look like much on the outside. However it is much nicer when you go inside and much bigger than it appears. It's decorated with a lot of wood and country-type items.

Quality: I went to Kansas State University which is located in Manhattan, so I have been here numerous times. The food has always been good, and the beer has always been fresh and cold.

Service: The service is always satisfactory.

Selection: I believe they have around 5 of their own beers on tap. Before I became more 'beer educated,' these beers were always some of my favorites. However, since I have started drinking some truly outstanding beers I realize that Little Apple's beers are average, if not below average.

Food: Their food is very good. I've tried several of their steaks and all are great and are cooked exactly as you order them. I have tried several other dishes and those were good as well.

Value: Their steaks are on the pricey side, but everything else is reasonable. I compensated and gave it $$$ overall.

Overall: Little Apple is one of my favorite spots in Manhattan. If you go expect to have some very good food, but don't go expecting to try some outstanding beers. Overall I still like the place a lot.

08-30-2010 05:20:22 | More by zhanson88

dwheeler

Australia

3.15/5  rDev -17.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 2 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4 | $$

This is my home Dive and I do like going as there are not that many "pubs" in Manhattan that aren't B-M-L college joints. The service is always great, and the food is good, Angus steak and some other good options too. That said, the beer sucks. I don't understand why the reviews don't give this place lower scores.

All of their beers are too sweet, not ,malty, just sweet-way out of balance. Drink one and you don't feel like another, that is not how I like to role. No aroma, all you smell is sugar, any hop character is lost in the syrupy sweetness. And take it from me if you do manage to drink 3+ beers you wake up with one hell of a hangover that cant just be due to the alcohol.

If you are in Manhattan and looking for somewhere to have a drink, by all means come to the LAB - good food and atmosphere + friendly service! But please don't detour off I70 for this place if you in the market for good beer. I guarantee that if they sold Tall grass (the other micro in town), it would be there best seller!

09-21-2009 02:57:56 | More by dwheeler

bditty187

Nebraska

3.7/5  rDev -2.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4 | $$

I never been to Little Apple but I have tried a couple of their beers. I got exactly, beer-wise, what I was expecting: solid, tasty beer.

The atmosphere is kind of saloon meets restaurant meets brewpub set in an older strip mall. I have been to places with this vibe and they both sucked (Murphy's in Hastings, NE and High Noon in Leavenworth, KS). Little Apple was better. Much better.

We sat at the bar; we got there at 11am on a Husker-KSU football game day. I think there were six people in red by the time we left in a see of purple. Everybody was nice, including the staff. There seem to be some kind of KSU football rally or meeting or something. Not to get in a pissing match but it was lame and uninspired but that has nothing to do with the brewpub (it was a cheap shot at KSU fans!)

I tried again the Prairie Pale Ale and it was still nice and hoppy. They had a seasonal "American-style IPA" that was maltier and not as tasty as the year-round offering which I thought was odd. My other half also tried the Stout and she found it okay.

The menu was varied enough, heavy on steaks, burgers and pub grub. I tried a burrito covered in chili and I liked it a lot. My GF had a steak salad which looked bland and she said it was plain. However, we both thought the onion rings were awesome!

I only have a couple negatives:

1. The beer selection was sort of boring but I knew that going in. Not saying the beers they had were bad they just didn't offer much and nothing geeky.

2. The bathrooms were freaking hot. I took a leak and starting sweating.

3. After everything we ordered they asked if we wanted the check. No! I want to drink your beer that is why we sat at the bar! They weren't rude about it; it was just weird they kept asking. Sure, they were busy but there was still room for people to sit and even so, I came there to eat and drink so let me do that.

Still, overall, Little Apple was what I expected; a solid, no-frills brewpub with okay food and decent beer. I'd recommend it if you are ever in Manhattan.

11-20-2008 16:43:15 | More by bditty187

Axelbay

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

I came here over the thanksgiving holiday with my extended family who works for K-State. As you walk in, there is bar area to the right and restaurant area to the back. It had a tavern feel with the lighting, woodwork and decorations.

They have 5 regular brews and 2 seasonals (Pumpkin and Hop Head IPA). I went for the 6 sampler of beers (5 regulars and 1 seasonal) and got 1 more taster to complete the 7 beers they had on tap. Good choice there. The Prairie Pale Ale and the Bison Brown Ale were my favorites from the regular lineup. The best beer I had though was the Hop Head IPA. It would be nice if that was a regular as well.

The service was good. No problems there. I didn't notice any problems with the order and food received.

Selection ranged from their 7 beers plus maybe 40 other bottles. The 40 bottles had a few macros, but mainly European or American micros. If you didn't like what they had on tap, I'm sure you could have found something in the bottled area.

Apparently the owner of the brewpub has some of the best Angus live stock in the country. I'm not sure if he uses that in his restaurant, but the burger I had was mighty tasty. Burgers were $6.50-$9, I think. They had some entries which were upper $teens and lower $twenties in price.

If you're in the area, I recommend this place. The Hop Head IPA made the visit though. Probably the best place in town for micros other then Old Chicago. Growlers are available at $5 (for the jug) +$7.50. One day of the week they have the fill price at $5. I forget if it was Tuesday or Wednesday.

11-27-2007 00:01:00 | More by Axelbay