C.H. Evans Brewing Company

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

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

I stopped here for supper on a recent vacation with the family.
The brewery is in an old pump station down by the river. There are signs everywhere warning you to pay the meter or you'll get a ticket. There are spots that are designated for the brewpub, so use those and you won't have to pay.
We were seated right away and I ordered the beer sampler. a few ounces of all the beer they had on tap. It was 6 or 7 as I recall. All decent with a couple of stand outs being the kick ass brown and the smoked porter.
Varied menu with burgers to full entrees. I had a burger that was really good, my wife had fish which she said was okay. The kids had fried kids meal something or other.
Waitstaff was attentive, pricing seem to be in line with other brewpubs I've been to. Lots of seating, Its a large building.
I would go back if in the area.

08-29-2009 23:40:13 | More by johnnnniee

rtepiak

Poland

3.88/5  rDev -5.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

a pit stop coming from montreal to nyc. very consistent selection with a sample platter of all the beers... in 3 oz glasses for 6.50. i think it was eight. all were solid except the "belgian strong triple style ale". but they had a good blonde so that made up for it quite nice. the burger is great. the best sweet potatoe fries i've ever had. service was good. alt bier was actually appley german which was nice. and if you are a fan of american brown ale the kick ass brown is a must. decorum was sort of similar to an applebee's but with really really high ceilings. good place. would highly recommend.

didn't have much of a outside beer selection but the style did range.

08-16-2009 18:13:02 | More by rtepiak

nasty15108

New York

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Hit The Pump Station on a return trip from Comstock to NYC. The place is huge. The Pump Station has a modern feel, without going overboard. The bar area was also very spacious and carried the full line of Evan's Ales as well as a large selection of Scotches and Whiskeys. I sugguest starting with a beer sampler, which was very inexpensive. The food was delicious and the prices were quite reasonable. The Pood Soldier's Porter was the standout beer for me. It's worth checking out if your in the area. I hope to see them at TAP NY again this year.

03-24-2009 18:43:19 | More by nasty15108

garagebrewer

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

I was in Albany just for the night on business, and stopped by CH Evans for dinner. The location is very unassuming, as it is behind several empty/abandoned buildings and at a dead end. However, once inside the building itself is beautiful. The bar is tastefully placed among the over 100 year-old surroundings. I tried the Brown Ale, Porter, Munich Dunkel, and Pale Ale (in that order). All were of excellent quality. Menu selection was good - not overbearingly large, but with ample selection. I got the turkey burger with fries and it was quite good. Service was good, as I was never left waiting with an empty beer glass, but didn't ever feel rushed. Overall a very pleasant experience and would recommend to anyone who is ever in the area. I wish there was a place like this around my condo in Chicago - I'd be there often.

02-12-2009 02:36:47 | More by garagebrewer

emquilxy

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +10.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

Stopped in while driving through, and we were really impressed with the atmosphere and the beers. Really fantastic IPA--well balanced, hoppy, but not too bitter. Winning banners were all over for their Kick Ass Brown, which was also one of the tastier browns I've had.

Just sampled some happy hour bar food--it was slightly above average. Wished I would have been hungry enough to try a main course. They proudly supported local farmers, which is always a plus.

Definitely check CH Evans out if you're passing through Albany!

12-09-2008 21:21:32 | More by emquilxy

fireqc

Quebec (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -8.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | $$

I'd like to stop, year after year, at this brewpub. This the only one in Albany. The brewer, George, is very pleasant and like to talk and talk!!!

They have nice sampler tray made with copper.. Original...

Like almost all brewpub, some beers are good and some are boff... But it depend what you like.

The brewpub sit in an old pump station and they keep some of the original pumping devices. Decorations inside is a mix of old machinery, some old couch and new stuff (lamps etc...).

I never try the food, but if one day I feel hungry, of course I'll do. The second floor could be a nice place for a reception or private party.

11-14-2008 16:08:55 | More by fireqc

ProfessorHomer

New York

2.55/5  rDev -37.7%
vibe: 1 | quality: 4.5 | service: 1 | selection: 3 | food: 1 | $$$

Overview: Albany Pump House: a poor quality restaurant with non-existent customer service that happens to serve good quality home-made beer.

Went there with beer geeks last Friday 10/24 @ 5:00p. Place was almost empty, yet they would not allow us to sit in the table area behind the bar - "it was reserved for dinner guests". We just wanted a few choice beers and three appetizers, they refused to seat us. Everyone else that later sat in that area ordered beer and appetizers - you shouldn't have to lie to that nasty head server boy just to get a seat. Instead, we were directed to go back into their "lounge" area that had plastic outdoor patio furniture, folding metal chairs and really cheapo plastic utensils. Real high-class there! We felt like we were sent to the kiddie table families set out for Thanksgiving.

We turned around to leave, but one calmer head prevailed and we order a beer at the bar. Very poor bar seating - very limited. However, the beers were quite good actually and rescued the evening. The Pale Ale was an EXCELLEN representation of the genre - fresh with a wonderful bouquet. The "Marzen" (Octoberfest, gentlemen) was also very good, malty, fresh and smelled terrific. Their "award-winning" Brown Ale was a bit overhopped (Cascades?) but our hop-head pal loved it. The friendly and helpful barmaid was great - that place really needs her.

Prior experiences convinced us to steer well clear of the below-average food, plus there is no place at the bar to eat it! At our last visit there, an appetizer order of "Thai Chicken Wings" arrived in over 45 minutes and cold. The waitress and manager refused to come out and see us. The food is quite bad, even by bad bar food standards, and waaaay overpriced.

This is a waaaay below-average restaurant (especially in Albany!) with poor hospitality but with some wonderful home-made beer. Until CH Evans moves out of this pit, don't bother going. Go instead to Brown's Brewery over in Troy that has much better beer, real (and outstanding) bar food, and is a place that cares about us serious beer-drinking customers.

Professor Homer 10/27/08

10-27-2008 22:10:49 | More by ProfessorHomer

eLMsITYbUM

New Hampshire

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

After hearing much about it, I finally made the trip to the Albany Pump Station. They had reasonable prices and decent pub fair. The wait staff did an exceptional job and kept our glasses full.

The atmosphere is great with the old mill converted to the dining room. You can see the old Nile 20 ton crane hanging from the ceiling. The huge windows let in a lot of light and beautiful views of the foliage outside the building. Depending on your seating, you can also get a clear view of I787.

We met friends there and ended up staying for three hours. The quality of service never decreased.

Unfortunately they were out of a few beers... no casks or scottish ale due a lot of shows and other events recently. Everything else was quite good. I highly recommend stopping there if you are in Albany.

10-13-2008 00:51:34 | More by eLMsITYbUM

beerbrewerdan

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev -5.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

The atmosphere is really cool. This building was a pump station back in the mid to late 1700s. There is plenty of exposed brick and old bits from the pump station days. Huge hooks hanging from the ceiling and old steel beams. Very large open ceiling spaces with a pleasing mix of the old (pump house) and the new (copper mash tanks and steel ferm tanks). I'd love to see the huge fireplace rolling in the winter.

The menu is pretty extensive. Burgers, ahi tuna, daily soups, fish and chips. A step above your average brewpub choices. One disappointment was the potato pancake. We ordered them as an appetizer after we saw them as a side with the Wurst platter. They looked like slightly larger McDonald's hash browns. The texture was a bit better than that, but no where near what I would consider an authentic potato pancake (HB in Cincy comes to mind). The sweet potato fries were a smart sub for the regular fries. These are good. The apple crisp desert was all apple and cinnamon and no crisp at all.

The waitstaff was friendly, very pleasant and prompt. Ours did not offer any beer knowledge but willingly brought 2 1oz samples when one in our party couldn't decide on her next beer.

I had the brown, pale, wit, porter and stout. I had a sip of the strong Belgian and was not impressed.

All in all I was very happy. Some of the beers fell toward average to below average while others were above. I really enjoyed the experience.

09-10-2008 01:59:42 | More by beerbrewerdan

hurleymanvw

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Stopped in the Albany pump station a few weeks ago and it was a great time. My wife and i sat in the bar area and had a sampler of their beers. 8 in all including the:
Scottish Light
Evans Wit
Quakenbush Blonde
Belgain Style Brown
Kick Ass Brown
Extra Dry Stout
Pump Station Pale Ale
Porter
Great 4 oz samples at a good deal. Like 6 bucks. Food was outstanding had a burger and my wife a sandwich. Building had tons of character with the pump station crane hook overhead and the talk warehouse cellings. Fermentation tanks were in the upper level looking over the dining room while the brewing kettles were in a glass room just off the dining area so you could watch the brewmaster at work. Just an overall great experience. Its nice to see old buildings used and brought back to life.

08-19-2008 20:17:24 | More by hurleymanvw