Catskeller

Bar, Eatery

2600 Clifton Ave
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45220-2872
United States

(513) 556-9358 | map
uc.edu

Located on Level 1 of the Tangeman University Center.
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.05
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
16
pDev:
6.42%
View: Place Reviews
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Rated: 3.64 by chrismattlin from Ohio

Feb 12, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by BobOdenkirk from California

Sep 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by MartyRoos

Jul 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by evergreen_machine from Washington

Nov 15, 2013
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Reviewed by Caterwaul from Ohio

4/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
The place is basically an arcade with a bar in the center and a music stage in the corner. It never gets too loud and the lights are usually not too bright, but sometimes the performers on stage are pretty bad... If you go when there's no show going on, it's pretty good atmosphere.
I'd say the best thing about it is how convenient it is to stop in if you're on campus a lot. Also, they accept Bearcat Bucks, so if you're on one of the meal plans that comes with some of those in addition to the swipes, it's pretty convenient in that regard as well.
They have somewhere around nine taps if I remember correctly. All rotating, all with pretty darn good beer, too. Their bottle selection is pretty good, too. Nothing is too outrageously expensive and the variety is impressive as well.
The food is alright, and the price reflects that. You can get a decent sized meal for about $5.5, and it won't taste too bad for it at all. The beer is what's best here, but the food is fine, too.
Nov 17, 2012
Photo of brown2cu
Reviewed by brown2cu from Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +5.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5
A: heterogeneous. This is a true any mans bar. really representative of the student body here at UC. No one group dominates the scene. Most of the time they have PBS playing at the bar. I like me some PBS. They also have a plethora of games to entertain yourself with.

Q: Good quality for an on campus bar.

Serv: Quick and courteous, however, not as engaging as some of the other places I have been.

Sele: Truly amazing! A wide range of styles and breweries on tap and a myriad of bottles to choose from. If you can't find it here it wont be at any other bar in the area most likely.

Value: Everything here is super cheap who knows how much of my tuition is going towards this place though so perhaps it is more pricey than it seems.
Oct 25, 2011
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Reviewed by BeerAndBourbon from Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +4.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
A good place to sit down for a pint (if they happen to be open). I'm not sure of their hours, but they close awfully early for a bar. They serve great beer at very reasonable prices and are constantly rotating taps. They also do pint night where you can take home a nice piece of glassware for a few bucks. I'm drinking from an La Chouffe tulip right now that Urbancaver acquired for me at pint night.

The food is typical bar food, but they do have goetta sliders (which is admittedly better in concept than execution). If you find yourself trying to kill some time on campus, check it out.
May 05, 2011
Photo of Urbancaver
Reviewed by Urbancaver from Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
An incredibly well priced beer bar. They only serve beer. No wine. No liquor. Only beer. A great selection. Constantly rotating taps. Excellent Wednesday night pint nights and often sell the glasses for cheap! Best place in town to get a pint especially on a weekday night. The service is so so and the food leaves something to be desired but the beer is top notch and that is all that matters. The hours are a bit sketchy. Not really open late at wll which is a major bummer but if you're around when they rare open it is a must visit
Jan 18, 2011
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Reviewed by ColdPoncho from Ohio

4/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Catskeller is the on-campus bar at UC. It's certainly one of the best beer bars I've been to in Cincinnati. There's always a pretty good selection, and just about every week they have some sort of special tapping event, so the selection is always rotating. The service varies, but is never bad. The food is not great, but it's actually a pretty good selection of bar food, and it's all pretty cheap. And the best part about it is that it is on campus! So it's easy to get to during down time between classes.
Jan 11, 2011
Photo of pwoods
Reviewed by pwoods from Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I love this place. Adam really turned this into a fantastic bar and whoever took his place is continueing with what Adam started. The atmosphere is generally just the college crowd but this place is basically connected to Nippert stadium and maybe a 100 yards from the Shoe, making it an outstanding place to pre and post game it. Tons of flat screen, some pool tables, shuffle board, etc. The quality and selection are great, and Adam even got them to put in a few taps, which were formerly not allowed on campus. They recently had Raging Bitch, Oaked Yeti, Old Ruffian, and Siberian Night on tap. The service is a bit crappy since it's mostly college students just trying to get a pay check. The food is mostly average bar food but the Geotta sliders are badass. And this is the CHEAPEST place in town. Most bottles are $3 and most taps are $3/pint. The tastings and events they have here are great, too.
Apr 21, 2010
Photo of mwa423
Reviewed by mwa423 from Ohio

4.68/5  rDev +15.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
This bar is in the student center at University of Cincinnati. While it would be difficult to find without knowledge of the campus and parking is difficult, it's a great bar. They have a ton of great craft beers and now have four taps. Their prices are fantastic, sometimes cheaper or the same price as I could buy them in the store.

The employees almost all have an interest in craft beer and there are those that know more than others, but all are very interested in discussing craft beer, and a few are homebrewers.

The only downside is that they don't keep normal bar hours, usually closing around 7-8 pm. So, if you have a day to kill and want to have lunch and a few beers, this is a good place to go, but don't expect to roll in at 10 at night.
Aug 03, 2009
Photo of degerbah
Reviewed by degerbah from Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
Bombed an exam, now its time to get drunk. Catskellar is located in the center of campus and almost impossible to find without really excellent directions. The parking is non-existant and you might be surrounded by college kids who don't no a Sierra Nevada from a 'Nati.

That said this place is awesome. The beer list is always up to date, rotates often, and is noticably cheaper than any other bar I've ever been to. Their prices for bottles of craft brew often rival what you can find in a grocery store. I've paid $3 for a 12oz bottle of a 8.5% belgian that would cost me $10.50 per four pack at the beer store. Unibroue, Clipper City, Stone, Dogfish Head, Brewdog, various Belgians, this place has tons of stuff available.

Although the staff doesn't really no beer all that well except for the manager, they are experienced in dealing with beer geeks because of the various events they host and will always ask if you want the proper accompanying glassware.

It's not really a place to seek out, but if you're in the neighborhood its always worth stopping by.
May 07, 2009
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Reviewed by ShareANevada from Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 2.5
Coolest on campus bar - ever. (Ok, at least in Cincy!) Great selections here, for both beginners and geeks alike, and all at incredible prices. Adam keeps up with new releases, and keeps his online menu updated. (IE - they have Stone RIS on tap right now!)

They have fairly frequent events and tastings there, and always very reasonably priced, which makes it easier for me to talk some of my less-than-beergeek friends into making it down. Quality beers, great prices, nice glassware. The food might be the weak point here, but its not the reason I come. The pretzels, pizza and such are fine, but obv this place isn't shooting for 'gourmet', its sustenance.

Perhaps a little confusing for the uninitiated (and those of us who never attended UC) to find, but the value is great here. This is almost like a little BA refuge when there's something going on.
Apr 29, 2009
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Reviewed by ThaBobfather from Ohio

4/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Walking into this campus-run bar is liking walking into your favorite hang-out as a youngster and your favorite sports bar combined. Several big screen TV's throughout, 5 or 6 pool tables, darts, even some arcade games fill out this bottom floor bar.
Very clean place, good set-up. The bar is L shaped to manage the crowd better.
The service is quick and very friendly. Though the bartenders are not particularly knowledgeable usually, but the manager is a great guy.
The selection is fantastic, Stone RIS on tap. Lots of craft stuff in bottles.
Food is limited, but delicious and cheap, which I like.
Great place.
Apr 27, 2009
Photo of FtownThrowDown
Reviewed by FtownThrowDown from Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +4.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3
Wow! Boy have things changed since my time spent at the University. The Catskeller is located in the Student Center on the University of Cincinnati's campus.
A remodeled building, and a very welcoming place. Brand new and clean. Adam is doing a fantastic job getting beers in and hosting events. Beers both on tap and in the bottle are served in the proper glassware. Regular beer events are hosted there and are a great time.
I would love to frequent this place more often, but the parking situation is a major pain in the arse. The building is located smack dab in the center of campus, so you have to park off street and hoof it there.
Great place to grab a couple beers and hang out with friends.
Mar 20, 2009
Photo of kels
Reviewed by kels from Virginia

4.03/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Only one review of this place? Seriously? With all the events that go down at the Catskeller, I'm surprised there weren't more.

As a University of Cincinnati alum, I can easily say that I'm seriously jealous that the Catskeller wasn't there in it's present form when I was a student. I can also say that I'm extremely proud to love and have attended a university with such a great tribute to craft beer right on campus. Adam, awesome job.

The Catskeller is literally steps away from Nippert Stadium in the basement of Tangeman University Center on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. It's a nice little sports bar with plenty of TVs, games and Bearcat spirit. Most importantly, it's got a pretty fine beer selection. Recently they increased from 2 taps to 4, and just last week the tap list included Delerium Tremens, Goose Island Imperial IPA, Goose Island 312 and ....something I don't remember at the moment b/c the Imperial IPA was all I could handle. In addition, there is a wide selection of bottled craft beer, domestic and imported. The beer comes in the correct glassware and is always reasonably priced - typically some of the lowest prices in town. The staff is always friendly and helpful. You can tell you're on a college campus because they're always asking if you know how much it costs, how high the ABV is, what the size of the pour is, etc. Despite such an awesome on-campus resource, I'm sure many of the students are still on the $1/plastic cup Natty Lite train. You can pair your beer with typical bar food and the not-so-typical goetta sliders - it's a Cincinnati thing that you must try if in town.

All in all, I'd rather be in here before and after (and sometimes during) a game than anywhere else on or around campus. It's even worth a trip on non-game days, too. Adam does a great job of getting events together with distributors, like a recent beer and cheese tasting with Goose Island and an upcoming event with Two Brothers. They've got a Facebook fan page and information on the uc.edu website. Definitely check them out if you get a chance. The Catskeller unites two of my greatest loves - craft beer and UC!
Mar 12, 2009
Catskeller in Cincinnati, OH
Place rating: 4.05 out of 5 with 16 ratings