The Porter Beer Bar

nickfl

Florida

4.45/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

Right in the middle of little 5 points hipster district, so parking is a bitch. But, like so many of the places around here it is worth braving the crowds and douches and general shittiness of getting anywhere in ATL to get here.

It is in an oddly long and narrow space and while it isn't as tiny as it looks it is still pretty small and we were really lucky to walk right in and sit down on a Saturday night. The decor is pretty standard rustic/industrial chic beer bar and the crowd matches.

Service was reasonably good considering the crowd and the waiter certainly knew his beer. The selection was very good, its not the Brick Store but its not far from it. The real attraction here is the food and the pairing possibilities with the beer. The menu is small, but interesting and the execute it well. They have both well made pub food and more adventurous items like house made charcuterie. It was very much worth the trip and I look forward to my next visit.

09-06-2012 06:51:08 | More by nickfl

BlakeE

Georgia

4.81/5  rDev +8.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4.75 | $$

I'd say this is one of the better places in Atlanta to find that beer you've really been looking around for while also eating good food that doesn't necessarily have to be a burger or a dozen chicken wings. Their taps rotate very regularly and they typically give as equal attention as possible to various beer styles. Beer aside, the food is quality and every staff member I've met has been very personable. My only negative is the lack of a television (I happen to prefer sports with my beer), but I'm sure they see television as a distraction from the atmosphere more so than anything else.

Essentially, if I ever feel like being a beer snob (and there are no sports being played that night), the Porter is one of the first bars I consider in Atlanta.

03-20-2013 23:17:12 | More by BlakeE

DoubleSimcoe

New York

4.43/5  rDev -0.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 5 | $$

It was our last day in Atlanta and I decided to take the wife out to Inman Park (lunch at One Eared Stag) and Little Five Points (beer at The Porter). That's when I really fell in love with the ATL.

What a great neighborhood Little Five Points is!! And The Porter, one of the best beer bars I've had the pleasure of visiting... looks narrow when you go in but it goes on and on- a bar area, some tables on the back, then another area with tables after a small flight of stairs. Rustic feel all around, brick walls, wood, dim lights.

40 taps plus Curieux on cask!! And a bottle list to die for, including a vintage-bottle list with goodies like a 2010 Brewdog Sink the Bismarck for 320 dollars. I didn't love the fact that a lot of the "vintages" were '11 and '12, though...

Great taps! Red Brick Lost Years, Finch's Secret Stache Stout, New Holland Night Tripper, Clown Shoes Chocolate Sombrero, Dogfish Burton Baton... plus some rare brews from Belgium, Denmark and Sweden.

We loved the chill, warm ambience in an early Friday, but I'm sure it gets hectic and crowded at night. Didn't try food but oh my, does it look great: shirred egg with duck confit and bone marrow cream, pork and foie gras terrine, crispy pig ear ssam, bone marrow... gimme meat!!

An all around stunning beer joint.

03-11-2013 02:56:30 | More by DoubleSimcoe

LittleDon

Texas

4.4/5  rDev -1.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Pros: Reasonably sized selection of drafts, excellent quality. Outstanding food. Servers know their beer.
Cons: Parking. Small, particularly the front bar area. Loud.

Visited on 11/20/12 (Thursday). Finding parking in the area sucked. Went there with a colleague who lived in Atlanta a number of years ago and he told me that this would be the case. Great neighborhood with plenty of things to check out in case there's a long wait and you can't find a place at the bar. The space at the front of the house is tight. Probably no more than 3 or 4 feet between the bar and back wall. Because there was about a 20 minute wait for a table, we had a chance to sit at the bar, order a beer and talk to the bartender. Good understanding of what was available as did the waitperson who served us later. Thirty to forty taps plus one beer on cask that night. Plenty more bottles, but with the selection, why not get something fresh? My only gripe, and it's a small one, was that I would have like more local beer. There was only three or so.

The back of the house is a bit roomier, but still smallish. Long seating areas give it a homestyle seating arrangement feel (individual tables, however). Very loud. Very rustic feel to the place. The food was very good to excellent. We split the goat cheese hush puppies and an Indian style appetizer (can't remember what it was) and I had the shrimp and grits for a main. All were very good.

I'll definitely be checking this place out next time I'm in town.

12-22-2012 17:54:49 | More by LittleDon

Adamshmadam

Georgia

5/5  rDev +12.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

I don't have a great basis for comparison, but I love the porter. The staff are very knowledgeable, The beer selection is massive, the list ordered by style. When you walk in the first thing you see is the massive wall of beer glasses. So you know that you will be served with the proper glassware.

There is a great rotation on draft with the occasional cask beer. Recently I had a beer that was a collaboration between the owner of the Porter and some people at a neighboring brewpub. You get the feeling that The Porter is an integral part of the Atlanta beer community.

As far as food goes, I'm a vegetarian, so I can't speak for most of the menu. But c'mon, the owner's a chef. You can't go wrong. However, for the veg crowd there is the veggie burger which is great, and there is always a vegetarian special. The specials rotate often, so if you are veg, you'll have something new to try. All food has a suggested beer pairing.

I'm pretty sure last time I went one of the owners was walking around asking how everyone is. Honestly the Porter is a friendly neighborhood place, with a great vibe. I highly recommend it if you are visiting Atlanta.

11-25-2012 04:42:24 | More by Adamshmadam

Georgejt

Indiana

4.45/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

The Porter Beer Bar is in the heart of Little Five Points in Atlanta. The Porter Beer Bar was my first introduction to Atlanta beer bars before I moved to the area. In fact, my experience was so good, I decided to live in the area so I could walk to this place. So, I undoubtable love this place.

The atmosphere is rustic and casual. Their beer selection is second to none (there beer list is more like an encyclopedia than a menu). If you are a whiskey or bourbon person, they also have an amazing selection of spirits as well (with Pappy Van Winkle and other rare bourbons).

Their food is great as well. I typically get the burger or veggie burger, and I've never left hungry. If you are in the area, make sure to stop in.

P.S.- Dont' be scared away if there is a crowd out front or by the full bar because there are a number of tables in the back if you walk past the bar.

06-15-2012 13:57:48 | More by Georgejt

shueyy

New York

4.6/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

The selection of beer at this bar might be top 3 in the US. When you walk in you notice a long bar to the right and brick wall on the the left it was dimly light. Behind the bar was and extensive selection of glassware that line the whole bar.
Not being from the Atlanta area and only being there once on a Tuesday I can't really comment on the atmosphere. There were a few people at the bar and some rock music playing in the background no TV in the bar area which was nice.
The quality of beer is unbelievable with 38 taps and well over 450 bottles. Anytime you can fine Abbey de bon chien grand gru, Lost Abbey cuvee de tomme, Gale's prize old ale along with haandbryggeriet farewell ale you know you are in the right spot. I had a local beer on draft Twains tropicali IPA which was a great west coast style IPA along with a few others great beers.
The service was good the bartender was very knowlegable of the beers. There were only a few people in the bar so maybe that had something to do with it.
Overall The Porter Beer Bar is a most stop if your looking for rare beer or just your favorite craft beer. I highly recommend this bar.

06-12-2012 23:12:17 | More by shueyy

TheSeeker61

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev -13.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

For a couple of years this was my absolute hands down craft bar. The atmosphere was awesome, quality was high, service was great, food was darn awesome and prices were resonable. But lately when I've gone there it doesn't have that welcoming vibe like it did. Maybe going through a transition as restaurants/bars do from time to time. But I guess one of my biggest observations has been that they are serving more 1/2 pints than pints and they are pint prices. At first when I saw the 1/2 pints the prices were 1/2 price. Was in there a few days ago and they were full or pint price. Not to mention I sat there for five minutes or so and no one waited on me. That has happened on a few occassions lately and staff will pass right by. Don't think the staff is at peace there these days. Something is going on there and hopefully it's just a phase and our dear bar will be back to it's vibrant self.

05-23-2012 13:00:04 | More by TheSeeker61

hrga89

5/5  rDev +12.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

Excellent beer selection with new beers showing up all the time. Personable and very knowledgeable staff. Menu provides excellent pairings and suggestions as well as phenomenal weekly specials. Regular bar menu two notches above anything else you'll find in a bar. Over twenty taps with hundreds of other beers- literally anything you could want they will have it or something exactly like it. Very accommodating with large groups, special orders or any other requests.

Sunday brunch is also as great with regular items and specials. Specials are based off of what's local and fresh.

Overall a great atmosphere to just grab a few beers or have a 4 star meal at a very affordable, bar menu price!

05-18-2012 21:24:50 | More by hrga89

julian89

Georgia

4.78/5  rDev +7.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

So I live down the street from The Porter. This place is presumably the best bar in the world. The selection is amazing. The staff are quite knowledgeable. The glassware i receive is always ideal for the beer bought, which is not typical at other restaurants. It's a fairly small place which works well for not being overcrowded on most weeknights, no promises on weekends.
It fits well with the atmosphere of east Atlanta.
The only food I've had here is appetizers, but their entrees look quite promising.

05-06-2012 15:19:10 | More by julian89