Jackie O's Pub & Brewery

TehB3x0R

Ohio

2.42/5  rDev -44.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 1 | selection: 3.5 | food: 1 | $$

Let me preface this review with the fact that I visited Jackie O's during Sibs Weekend and everything was packed...

The atmosphere was that of a standard college bar, a bit on the small side. If there are too many people in there, you won't be able to move around.

The beer selection was pretty good, nothing stood out to me though.

The service was terrible. I waited at the bar for about 15 min every time I wanted to order a beer. The next morning we went to the restaurant side for breakfast. We were there for about 4 hours, only got one coffee refill (not by choice) and 2 of us didn't even get our food before we just walked out.

I'm sad I didn't get the chance to fully experience this place the way everyone else has. Unfortunately I will not be returning.

05-06-2011 13:35:54 | More by TehB3x0R

Flinty

Germany

2.73/5  rDev -37.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 1 | selection: 4 | $$$

As far as beer goes this place has a great selection. They always have at least 4 of their own beers on tap in addition to several guest beers. I am not sure about the bottles. I know they have a cooler full, but I've never ordered so I am not sure of the selection. Some of the beers are overpriced in my opinion, but they do happy hour, which makes it worth it. Half off drafts I think from 8-9 Mon-Thurs.

I must say almost every time I went there I had a delicious beer, but the service is awful. I've stood at the bar for ten minutes during the afternoon waiting for a drink because the bartenders find it more important to chat with people (extensively) rather than see if someone has been waited on. Ever since the new side opened up the customer service has plummeted. I remember going in and being treated much better before and I hate to say it, but it keeps me away. I enjoy a good brew, but good bartenders are also a big part of the experience.

I am a former student so I visited Jackie O's often. If it wasn't for the brew masters I can't imagine this place getting such a high rating.

07-10-2012 17:43:40 | More by Flinty

Bung

North Carolina

3.26/5  rDev -25.7%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2.5 | $$

The biggest knock against this place is that it is in a college town, in a college bar area. They have to compete in this area, which is a shame. You go in here knowing that though, so I'm not complaining. Parking is a bit of a challenge, but that can be worked around if worth it.

Has that nice wooden build interior. Small but enough space. Didin't realize there were different things on the other "side" which cover had to be paid to enter.

2nd largest knock is that I couldn't get a growler of anything worth getting a growler of. Actually this is far and away the biggest knock, I can deal with the "atmosphere" just fine. This is where I go with selection-2.5, they had a nice selection of unique stuff. Not sure why they were stingy with the high gravity brews, NO ONE in the place was drinking any of these. The farthest I saw anyone venture was the Belgian Pale, and I could tell by their demenor they thought they were really reaching with that.

7 House and 11 Guest taps on whatever side it was I was on. Dark Apparition was top notch. Bolero Brown and an Imperial Porter were also on tap, but I couldn't try because my wife couldn't stand being in the loud cramped space. No big deal, I'll just grab a growler of one of the others, oops forget that. Got a growler of the red, meh. I thought the prices for all were pretty reasonable though.
Shwag is overpriced.

Service was fine, when they could give some. They were too busy slinging mixed drinks and PBRs(obviously the cheapest drink in the place) for all the 21-23 year olds.

So much potential here wasted being forced to be a college bar. The brewer does a top notch job but boy he must feel trapped here. At least the beer is good...

I imagine this place is better during a bottle release, but I won't be finding out. Looks like nearly every high review is from a special bottle release, I would not judge the day to day based on those reviews.

06-05-2011 18:29:39 | More by Bung

babyhobbes

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -18.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

If you are in Athens and want to hang around other adults this is a good bet AND you get to have microbrewed beer! Can't go wrong there.

It's your normal dive-looking bar. There's an outdoor patio for the smokers, which cuts down a bit on the entering gauntlet. Inside it is dark and dusky. There are live bands and if there's no band they have music on. This is a good place to head to before 10p if you want to have a conversation and avoid the college drinking crowd. Cheapest pool in town, too.

Service is generally good. There is only one awful bartender, but she is so bad that it is actually a little funny. You'll know if she's working within the first 5 minutes of sidling up to the bar. Everyone else there is friendly and fast.

Beer is good and getting better all the time. The bartenders usually aren't too knowledgeable about the options, so just read the dry-erase board and go from there. Growlers and pints are real cheap. They also have a good bottle selection for the area. It's just a single case, but have a look.

The food is average bar food.The pizza is great and the sandwiches are good, too. I think the fries are a little soggy, so I prefer chips, but sometimes they turn out pretty decent.

If you are in Athens, definitely stop by. We need to support our local microbrewery. You can also get Jackie O brews at Casa Nueva.

02-10-2008 21:51:47 | More by babyhobbes

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

3.59/5  rDev -18.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | $$

I popped into Jackie’ O’s just prior to the 2007 commencement for Ohio University. Its fine brews kept me sane through what would turn out to be the single worst commencement I have ever been to. Take this as a warning fellow BAs. Never attend an OU commencement. Do what ever you have to get out of going…even if it is your own…

Atmosphere: Long and narrow brick room with a swiss style frame and ceiling in a n old building in downtown. A small stage and a couple dart boards are found along one wall. A pool table sits near the entrance. A small bar rests at the end of the joint. The floor looks like shit, literally as does the ancient piano that sits on it. The uniting theme of this place is Irish/Catholic/Immigrant but the crowd is mostly dirty hippie, at least today.

Selection: 6-7 of their own beers on tap + Guinness. Several bottles but most of them are macros/macro imports like New Castle.

Quality: Above average. I relished a porter, one of the best I had tasted in some time and then downed a Qomolangma (Mt. Everest) Nut Brown Ale. It was also quite good.

Service: Friendly, quick, knowledgeable about their product, and creative with naming it.

I will go back if I ever find myself in BF Egypt Ohio, which unfortunately is quite likely for me.

06-25-2007 18:39:06 | More by DaPeculierDane

deadmule

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -15.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Well my cousin got married in Athens this past weekend and I finally got to check out Jackie O's. The place is divided into two sections brewery side and bar side. The bar side was the only option when I went. My food was great the deep fried cheese balls were outstanding. I also got a fish sandwich that was quite good, my mom got a burger and it was mediocre. I ended up getting the sampler of all six of the Jackie O's brews that were on tap. Of the six one was pretty bad, four were middle of the road and one was good but not great. I would have liked to have stayed longer but had to go to the wedding. If I ever find myself in Athens I would definitely give it another try, and I would consider making the trip again for one of their bottle releases. But I would not recommend making a lengthy round tip on a non bottle release weekend.

09-22-2011 21:00:03 | More by deadmule

Osiris9588

Ohio

3.71/5  rDev -15.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

This microbrew pup offers around six of its own brews, as well as a wide range of imports and domestic craft brews. The O'Hooley brews I tried--Wilfred Brimley's Oatmeal Stout and Drunken Leperchaun Irish Ale--were both solid.

The atomosphere is quite different than most brewbubs as it usually features musical entertainment in the Jam Band vein. Thus, Grateful Dead and other bands of their ilk blared from the speakers all night and the crowd was dominated by neo-Hippies--which is fine, as they are a generally a peaceful, fun-loving brood, but I don't care much for their music of choice or their unoriginal, conformist non-conformity.

There is a pool table and nice deck out back to catch some fresh air. Much superior to the average Athen's dive and I will gladly return next trip to Athens.

12-19-2006 00:04:19 | More by Osiris9588

Hophead101

Pennsylvania

3.76/5  rDev -14.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

was making a road trip from Lancaster PA to Cincinnati OH for a family reunion. Jackie O's was our third stop along the way. We didn't stumble upon the place - but it took some discussoins with some local folks to get there (and to even know there was a place there). it is also fitting that my wife's nickname is Jackie O - so it must have been fate that brought us there.

It is nested on a crowded little street in a nice and quaint college town (Ohio University). It has a college bar atmosphere, it is dark, dirty and you can tell there is a lot of music and dancin' on those floors.

sat at the bar and was pleasantly surprised at the tap selection. Had a Maharaja (which is fantastic) and then noticed some of the local brews on the board. enjoyed some of them and then met the brewer, Brad and he gave me a little tour of the place. it is very old - and he also had some brews sitting in some old whiskey barrels.

while my selection rating is only a 3.5, that is because they don't have that many brews available, but what they do have is quality.

i highly recommend visiting this place. and if you get a chance, try and talk with Brad. he is a great guy who takes pride in his craft.

mark my words, his beers will make a splash in the micro world in the not too near future as long as he keeps brewing and has the support. His russian imperial is pretty damn amazing.

enjoy this place, i sure did.

08-25-2008 02:11:15 | More by Hophead101

tat2dhllblly

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev -12.8%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

Ok, first off the beer is great. I have yet to have a bad or even average beer here. The year rounders and seasonals are a step above most anyother brewerys selection and flavor profile. I hold the beer quality a close second to 3 floyds year rounders. And there guest bottles are wide and well represented but not so many that the ones you get have been sitting to long.

The food is well done without slapping a huge tag on it (a problem that I have with many breweries like 3 floyds, Goose Island, Great Lakes, etc). The pizzas are the best in town.

The bar itself needs some help. The "hey, we are in a college town" is a bit over bearing. The decor could use a huge makeover. The windows are covered up and the light that does get in has to fight through dirty, hand spotted windows. Most of the tables are elevated and one has the choice of bar stools or bar stools. Our you can sit in the smoking area outside the back. The atmosphere is dark and reminds me of a third shifter bar. The staff has good knowledge of their beer and the guest bottles but if you are not a regular at the bar or a group of young college girls then you are greatly ignored.

Jackie O's could really rise above and beyond. The beers are amazing as is the food but like the college kids down the street they need to grow up.

06-19-2011 16:54:12 | More by tat2dhllblly

rodney4130

Kentucky

3.9/5  rDev -11.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $

Is it awful if I say that I think Jackie O's is a bit overrated? Yeah, it's a cool bar in a town that's overrun with BMC sports bars. And, yeah, they've got some good beers, but honestly, I've had better at brewpubs that aren't held in such high regard.

Best we had all night was Chocolate Love on nitro. Really delicious. Others, like the Firefly Amber were just standard, and the Rye IPA had no real notes of rye at all. The Scottish Ale, while smooth and easy to drink, was not one of the better examples of the style, especially when they've got Robert the Bruce as a guest tap. I liked it, and I'll be back when I'm in Athens, but I really don't get the hype over this place.

We didn't eat there, but everything looked to be of high quality as I saw it coming out.

Took awhile to get beers, but it was a Friday night in Athens. It's to be expected and I wasn't bothered by it.

02-25-2012 22:26:23 | More by rodney4130