Ale Asylum

slowbie

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -5.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

Walked into a quiet place with my wife a little after lunchtime. A few people at the bar and a big family at one table.

We walked up to the bar and were informed that we could sit anywhere we wanted but had to come up to the bar to order anything. We ordered a sampler and a pizza. The pizza was good but was made locally, frozen, and then baked after we ordered. It looked(and tasted) like the crust was bought premade though.

The great part about thee sampler was that it included every beer they had on tap(9). The downside was that it was $18. However the pours looked to be 6-8 oz. rather than the usual 4 oz. sample pour I've had elsewhere. Food and per pint pricing was very reasonable on the whole.

The beer was good and I was surprised by how much I liked some of the styles that I didn't expect to like.

01-12-2011 05:34:06 | More by slowbie

kendrahayes

Iowa

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

I visited the "old" Ale Asylum and had a great time. The premade pizza was actually really good, and the bartender was awesome! I can't get Ale Asylum in my area and I am a big fan of a couple of their brews. I will check out the "new" Ale Asylum next time I am in Madtown. Cheers!

03-19-2013 18:05:52 | More by kendrahayes

Florida9

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

The new location can be described in one word: new. Extremely new, so new that everything is clean and fresh, from the parking lot to the tables, everything is just sparkling at this point. It leaves an impression and is a far cry from the cramped, dimly lit, brewpub that they used to be.
There is a long bar area up front along with a pool table (which, despite my observation that everything is new, appears to be the same table as the old location). Tables are seated to the side and rear of the facility, with windows looking into the bottling line. The color scheme is very modern, though some accent pieces, like under-lighted lava rocks, do add some (devilish) warmth to an otherwise cold-feeling atmosphere.
And while some things have changed, the beers are the same they have always been, though they've added a rotating "experimental" tap. For the most part, Ale Asylum brews up some pretty good, though (aside from the experimental tap) the selection is limited to exactly what you can find in bottles or on draft all over town.
Service is still good. No change from the old place, though the new location does have a bit more of a corporate restaurant feel to it than the old place did. Never-the-less, service is still competent and knowledgeable.
Along with the brewery, the menu has also expanded quite a bit, though I've got to say it's still a fairly limited menu. But along with the surprisingly good pre-made pizzas, they've added some sandwiches and salads to the menu. Nothing overly creative and seemingly geared more to lunch eats, this is not gourmet fair, tough what they do offer is well prepared and, in the end, its pretty good food for a fairly reasonable price.
Overall, I like the place. I'd come back again even though I admit the the old facility had a bit of underground charm that I'm going to miss.

11-26-2012 03:30:44 | More by Florida9

csiewert

Oregon

4.09/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Visited this past month during a conference and I'm glad I did. Never made it to the old place, but this new place is pretty freaking sweet. Granted, there was basically no brewery yet and they were still doing some construction in the main bar/restaurant area, but the potential is off the charts. Very clean (even though there was construction) and great ambiance, with a good selection of their fine beers. Granted, I think the list was a little limited because the expansion was taking away from brewing time, but the selection was pretty impressive with a wide range of styles. No flights available at the time, but they said that was because they didn't have the glassware/holders yet... and I gave them the benefit of the doubt since they were just installing and filling up the merch area while we were there. Service was so-so, but I think they were fairly new/busy with all the stuff going on. Didn't try the food, so I can't speak to that. Overall, looking forward to my next trip to Madison to check the finished place out.

10-24-2012 20:28:39 | More by csiewert

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -8.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Grabbed some lunch here after visiting the New Glarus brewery. I hadn't been to the old Ale Asylum but my impressions of the new facility were pretty good. The building stands tall and proud with nice black walls on the outside. The inside wall over the bar there a menu that lights up showing what beers are on draft currently. The draft selection was pretty good, I managed to order three beers with my lunch. The Cuban sandwich I ordered was pretty good, not as good as the one I usually order back here at home but still not bad. I was wish friends of mine who insisted that they pay for the bill and I insisted they at least took a $20 from be to help out since I drank more than the rest of them. The place looks great, some really nice elements to look at and it seems like a very relaxed environment. I would go here again.

10-03-2012 13:44:44 | More by Knapp85

kbutler1

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Stopped in on a recent trip while coming back from MI. Sort of off the beaten path but that was ok as there was a WI football game going on and the downtown area was packed. Nice little bar and tables as you first walk in and tables off to the right as well. Friendly staff. Food menu is small but the soup, pizza, and sandwich we got was pretty good. Ended up grabbing a few beers as well; their DIPA and their Oatmeal Stout. Overall, a cool bar that I would stop in again at. What was really nice was that it was an easy off and back on the highway to continue the trip back to MN.

11-28-2011 13:43:26 | More by kbutler1

morimech

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

After visiting Great Dane Eastside, this was a culture shock. One is a civilized, soccer mom hangout. The other is a beer geek, metal/punk industrial joint. The brewpub is located on an end of a commercial building. Not very busy when I walked in. Hit with the smell of cleaning agent and garlic. Can tell this is a working brewery and pizza joint. Sat at the bar and I was quickly greeted. Service was friendly and prompt throughout the evening. Is the uniform for female bartenders in Madison skirt and cowboy boots? Everywhere I went it was the same. The beer was great. Had three pints and I wanted more. Despite the sign on the side of the building stating "Deli", food choices are...different. We obviously have a different definition of deli. Seems like everything is frozen and thrown into an electric pizza oven. Drunk people wouldn't care.

10-09-2011 14:15:25 | More by morimech

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Another stop on Bachelorpalooza while in Mad town.

I like to think I coined the phrase FFF light for this place when I visited for the first time several years ago. Except theses guys aren't raging assholes.

Industrial rocker meets brew pub feel. Decent tap selection of seasonals and year round beers.

We took up a quarter of the place and ordered food and beers. Food was good. Beers were solid as usual. Service was friendly and she managed to handle 10 guys constantly harassing her.

The tour was brief yet very informative.

We were told they will be moving soon and tripling there square footage. Good for them.

08-29-2011 02:33:46 | More by beerwolf77

sweemzander

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$$

One of our many stops we made for my good friend Andy's bachelor party up in Madison.
Not a whole lot to look at from the outside since it is located in a strip mall, but I quickly changed my opinion when we went in.
Still a small place overall, but I quickly got a similar vibe when entering FFF. Heavy metal feel and look to the place. A decent sized bar and a surprisingly roomy sitting/dining area to the right.

The staff was friendly, helpful and efficient despite having 10 half drunk guys on a bachelor party walk in and order food and beer. Most of us ordered pizza and it was good, though maybe a little overpriced. The beer however was solid and enjoyable.

The highlight of the visit was the tour, which was given by one of the actual brewers, so it was very detailed and informative. Overall, a solid visit and worth checking out.

08-26-2011 14:46:31 | More by sweemzander

FightingEntropy

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -2.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $

Been to Ale Asylum several times over the years, usually the morning after Great Taste on the way out of town to pick up some beers to drink at home. This time I was meeting a friend and had some time to spend for a change. They've really grown over the years, improving food offerings and expanding their beer selection. Still a fan of Ambergeddon and the new (to me, anyway) Bedlam was a fun addition. Had the veggie burger for dinner, and it was better than average. More than good enough, especially the very fresh bread. Great stop right off the freeway.

10/19/11 addition
Made another pit stop at the Ale Ayslum. Stayed in Madison for the night heading to Chicago and Purdue the next day, so stopped in for a night cap. Satisfaction Jacksin was on tap, and my new, clear favorite in the AA line up. Very nice Double IPA that is worth the trip out to the freeway.

07-28-2011 22:13:36 | More by FightingEntropy