The Dirty Truth

slander

New York

4.64/5  rDev +4.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

There is no reason ('cept they don't open for another hour) and the truth is plain to see (it's right down there across from the corner). I peeked in the windows, it's dark just now. I did the wrong direction drive to get here and they don't even have the courtesy to be open. Dirty, dirty, keeping me curbside for another hour place. Not really, 'cause I went to that other place for a beer or two, but they don't know that...

Red room, red room, long and narrow, with spinning fans on mad high ceilings. Massive folding front windows with a single table just below, forward a half dozen plus bar counterish tables running along the wall down one side to a single booth to the rear. A lengthy wood bar seating 20 on angled stools holds a good length down the other side of the room. 40 taps, all in a line, on the center of the bar back, below 4 x 4 mirrored panels, 3 of them, and large shelving units to both sides. A pair of lower shelves holds glassware of all appropriatenesses and the upper shelves wines and steins, and bottles above. A cantillon tin sits on the wall to one side of the taps, and a snub Russian River growler with flowers on the other side. Drop stray bulb lighting over the bar and drop spots looking in on the bar, the same over the seating. Large framed photos on the far wall above the seating there. Bar scenes, beer scenes, and a single small TV in the back corner.

Above, to the rear, a 4 x 8 blackboard with the tap selections broken out somewhat by style listed in colored chalk. Roughly 2/3 of them are good American micros, local and regional (Offshore IPA, Ipswich Harvest & Summer, Cisco Whales Tale, Allagash Double, Smutty IPA & Big A IPA, Southern Tier Big Red, Middle Ages Wailing Wench, Southampton Impy Porter & Secret Ale, Brooklyn Octo, Victory Lager, Stoudts Triple, DogfishHead Raison D'Etre, 60 Minute & Impy Pils), and beyond (Avery Ellie's Brown & Kaiser Impy Octo, Rogue Impy Stout, Stone Pale Ale, Ruination & IPA, Founders Dirty Bastard, Left Hand Rye Bock, Boulder Mojo IPA, Anderson Valley Boont Amber & ESB). The other 1/3 are better than not imports (Geants Saison Voison, Urthel Hop-It, Christoffel Robertus, Gulden Draak, Spezial Rauchbier, Reissdorf Kolsch, Kulmbacher Monchshof Schwarzbier & EKU Pils, Mahrs U, O'Hara's Celtic Stout, Unibroue Maudite), and a cider (Original Sin). A pair of handpumps sit unused on the bar. They know enough not to pour cask beer in the warmer weather.

Nearly 30 bottles, a dozen Belgian (De Ranke, Cantillon, Drie Fonteinen, DuPont, Achel, Bink, Thiriez), American (Victory, DogFishHead, Allagash, Stone, Bear Republic), English and German. Solid, all around.

Sat at the bar for a while contemplating just how far north of New Haven I should call in for that pizza to go. Eric let me try a little of this, a little of that, but I was sticking with the Founder's Dirty Bastard and I'll have another, please. Seriously good bar. The truth hurts to leave.

02-27-2008 01:46:34 | More by slander

alexroch

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -16.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$$

Dimly lit and the sound of vinyl immediately take you to a better place. Once your eyes refocus you'll see the bright light and that is a wall of some finely selected beers. Proper glassware and a true knowledge of the product sets the staff apart. I have to admit the hipster vibe is present, but certainly nothing out of the ordinary for Northampton. And certainly not a deterrent to visiting this place.

Overall, it's one of the best beer bars around to share a pint or two before hitting Fitzwilly's for a top notch meal.

01-05-2013 14:37:19 | More by alexroch

brureview

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev -2.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5 | $$

If you are in Northhampton, this is the place to drink craft beer.

I like the selection better than the Publick House, and there were a lot of beers on tap which are not often served in the Boston area.

I drank a Founders Porter which was outstanding and served at the right temperature. There was a Stone Ruination 10th anniversary also available.

The lighting and decor are hip. There are no chairs, only stools to sit at high tables which can be shared with other visitors to the bar. The music is not too loud, but the decor, beer selection and atmosphere make up for B grade food-Burgers and salads.

The staff is knowledgeable. There is no beer menu, the current beers are on a chalkboard, which is difficult to read at times.

The crowd is great. Hipsters and regular folk come to drink in this non-pretentious pub.

Overall a great place to drink- no attitude and the beer selection is superb.

07-15-2012 23:24:05 | More by brureview

davewlfpckfan29

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev -3.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Dirty Truth is easy to overlook from the outside. It's on main street, however I never knew that such a great thing was located right in the middle of the city.

It's dim lit place, young crowd, a lot of people who share the same interest of beer. Music is played off a record player, that's right..records.

There were 37 beers on draft when I went, they have 40 taps.
Victory, Anderson Valley, Allagash, Rougue, Stone, High & Mighty, Phoenix, Founders Brooklyn were just some of the brewries on tap.

It's about 6 bucks on average for a beer.

01-15-2012 07:46:08 | More by davewlfpckfan29

alee42

Massachusetts

4.95/5  rDev +11.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

The Dirty Truth is well worth stopping in for a sit down meal and beer - it's very laid back and the atmosphere is so relaxing. A quick glance from the outside of the bar, it's hard to notice the small letters making out "the Dirty Truth". You walk into a dimly lit area with the bar lining the side of the wall, and long tables with high chairs jutting out from the opposite wall. The environment is warming and relaxing, with some art and canvas paintings hanging high on the walls.

The bar has many taps, probably 25 or so, and a chalkboard with the on-tap beers above the far end wall. Very conveniently, the staff organizes the beers into "light and pale", "medium", "IPA", "dark", and "belgian" on a smaller board to the left of the bar - if people do not know the type of beer listed on the chalkboard.

Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about beers. They are always happy to give you samples and always offer samples if you are uncertain about the selection.

The menu selection is very basic, but a good food to chew on with your beers are the french fries. I highly recommend the fries that are fried in truffle oil - just adds to the experience.

12-27-2011 16:59:53 | More by alee42

polishkaz

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$$

Even though this place is a bit pricey and maybe a little pretentious it is still a great bar that rotates its taps(over 20) pretty regularly. You can always find something to try. Beautiful long wood bar, nice tables and can either be dead or completely packed. Bottle selection is not as extensive as its sister, The Moan and Dove in Amherst, but still very good. If only they had a mug club it would be even better. Food selection is pretty good and probably the best place in Northampton if you are a real fan of beer.

06-09-2011 01:03:04 | More by polishkaz

DIM

Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev -7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

I'm told this place is packed on fridays and saturdays so I'm glad we went on a mellow sunday night after dinner. Barberella on the big screen and hip-hop loud but not blaring over the speakers; odd. A nice mix of people, most younger than me but thats okay. I didn't get a hipper than thou vibe at all. My first impression was a good one.

Then I saw the board offering dozens of great beers. Now I love the place. The selection was outstanding, but I was surprised they didn't have more locals. While they weren't outrageous, the prices were on the high side. The bartender came over to take our order and he was very friendly. He brought me a very generous sample of an expensive beer I asked about, very kind I thought. Later he came by with some pilsener malts to munch on. We were pretty much left alone after that, so I did ding the score a bit.

I scrolled down to read some reviews before I wrote mine and noticed some people had issues with the service. That wasn't our experience at all. I definitely plan to come back next time we visit the area.

05-02-2011 11:32:02 | More by DIM

circlenine

Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev -9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

The Dirty Truth has very reasonable beer prices, especially when you take into consideration its location - Northampton is not cheap! Beer selection was impressive. I drove 35 minutes for the Founders Breakfast Stout ($6.50 for 12 ounces) and stuck with that, but there were many delectable options if I chose to stray.

Food was great but don't expect traditional fare... and for that reason don't expect traditiinal pricing. $13 for lamb nachos (chicken and beef were not an option).

I had no major problems with service. Seemed to be two wait staff plus bartenders for entire table area. This slowed ordering of food and additional rounds, but delivery of food and beverage was prompt once ordered. Keeping in mind it was a Saturday night, not too bad.

Beer selection was too good not to come back.

10-24-2010 00:11:56 | More by circlenine

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev -5.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

I guess I see my review as a counterpoint against many of the others which noted bad service. I had an excellent server, very attentive, and several other people stopped as they walked past to ensure everything was good, and also to make recommendations on beers. Absolutely no problems. The other patrons were all friendly too, if a little quirky, this just seems like an odd but cool town.

The beer selection was excellent, about 25 taps with all quality. Things like Bear Republic (Racer 5 and Racer X), Port (High Tide and Wipeout), several from de Ranke (!), etc etc etc.

The food was very good, I tried a French-Vietnamese dish with duck confit that was delicious. Prices were reasonable for dinner. I'll definitely stop here again when in the area. I liked it better than Moan & Dove, due to the availability of good food and the longer tap list.

10-14-2010 11:30:10 | More by TurdFurgison

adirondack88

New York

3.08/5  rDev -30.8%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | $$$

I decided to check out this place with an open mind despite the previous reviews that knocked The Dirty Truth for bad service, attitude, and that it was full of hippies. I was a hippie once and I certainly don't feel like that was a bad thing. I haven't changed that much even though I am wearing a tie nowadays. Northampton is a college town so what do you expect. I walked in on a weekday night and there was a good sized crowd there. The beer selection was decent. The bartender wasn't much of a conversationalist but that was ok, but then he disappeared and I never saw him again. Good thing I paid upfront and didn't start a tab. I had an IPA (Bear Republic Racer 5) and that was pretty good. Then I started to look around and saw a little of what the previous reviews were talking about. The place is so dark that they must make a killing on their electric bill. The music is really, really dark and made me feel like I needed to shoot heroin in my eyeballs. The clientele is also dark and didn't seem to be very happy. Hippies, no; hippies are generally happy folk. The dirty truth is that this place is really depressing. It seems to work for them though so I guess I will walk away thinking that "dark people" need a place of their own with good beer to hopefully make them happier or more depressed.

09-23-2010 01:41:34 | More by adirondack88