Craft Ale House

thain709

Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev -3.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I was able to stop in here a few months back with a few college friends. It was later on a Friday night and the place was pretty busy. There was a twenty minute wait for a table, but we found a place at the "outer bar/breakfast nook."

Both the hostess and the two bartenders were very friendly. The hostess suggested we snatch the open seats by the bar. We were all able to order right away as the bartenders noticed we were standing with empty hands.

The tap list was pretty good with 16 taps ranging from locals (Sly Fox Pils, Yards Love Stout (nitro), Prism Love is Evol), other craft brewers (21st Amendment Bitter American, Great Divide Belgica), to imports (Duvel, Saison DuPont). The bottle list was even more extensive with Russian River, AleSmith, Dogfish Head, and many, many more craft breweries. Imports were also featured in the bottle coolers.

Prices were very reasonable for a bottle shop. The draft prices were spot on. All of our drafts were fresh and served in the proper glassware.

We had a nice visit to the Craft Ale House. I will want to stop in again the next time I visit my old college friends.

02-13-2012 22:07:29 | More by thain709

BHopp12

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +7.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

This place by far is one of my favorite to visit and easily accessible for me as its right in my own "backyard". They have an extensive collection of hard to find and popular craft beers. For example, AleSmith IPA, Speedway Stout, an extensive collection of Dogfish Head, the list goes on. A favorite of mine is to stop and pick up a few bottles for the night. Also great food and great service. Food is pub style and fantastic. If in the area I highly recommend stopping in and grabbing a bite to eat and a few good beers.

01-17-2012 16:18:06 | More by BHopp12

shangwang

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +3.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Decided to check this place out on a Friday night when my mother-in-law wanted to meet up somewhere near Phoenixville. I had read some of the reviews on BA, as well as Google and Urbanspoon, and I'll admit I was a little nervous about the service based on what I had read. It was obvious this place had a great selection, but my wife often likes to ask for alterations to whatever she orders when we go out, and I wasn't sure how that would be received. We arrived around 5pm and had no trouble getting a table, although it did start to fill up quickly and by 6-6:30pm there was a wait. We had a high-top table near the bar and our waitress was very attentive and seemed to have a pretty good knowledge of the beer. I had a Monk's Flemish Sour Ale and a Ballast Point Barrel-aged Black Marlin, and both were priced around $5, which I was happy with. As far as the food went, all 3 of our meals were delicious, and the waitress didn't bristle at all when my wife asked for some slight changes to her meal. We weren't rushed at all, and before we left I grabbed 4 bombers (Cantillon Gueuze, BP Victory at Sea, Avery 18th Anniversary, and Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi) which were discounted 20% because I purchased 4. The prices weren't bad to begin with, but with the discount I was thrilled. The bottle selection was ridiculous!

Overall, I was very pleased with our experience - great beers, great food, and I left with some great bottles and a great price. Definitely will go back.

01-16-2012 23:42:16 | More by shangwang

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -1.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

Stopped in here with some friends from work after a long day.

Craft Ale House is fairly small looking from the outside and inside, well, it's pretty small and fairly tight corners. What a nice place though. Outside looks spiffy with new renovations. Inside, pretty much 90% dark wood interior. Few beer signs and more cozy surroundings is a plus as I hate for a bars interior to be another form of advertisement. One of those almish fireplaces with a two person couch if I recall correct. Bar area is incredibly small and hard to get a seat at. Tables surrounding that with a mix a six to go selection and another cooler of beer behinf the bar. Bathrooms were spiffy.

Grabbing a table(which was mad close to another table) I was greeted promptly by my server and she was pretty hot. That's always a plus! I ordered up some daisy cutters and that new Victory DIPA. Clean glassware and proper pours.

I ordered up a marhgaretta(Sp?) Pizza and some other grub. It was decent, nothing spectacular, but above most bars food offerings. It took a bit to get the food as well and it was not all that busy. Everybody enjoyed the food though so it's a win.

Pretty nice draft list with about 16 or so representing most styles. I wish I came here a week sooner when they had Cantillon 100% Kriek on tap(Kicks Rocks). A killer bottle list as well that is up to date. I mean this list rivals most out there nad reminds me of Eulogy's list in terms of sheer volume and beer styles/breweries/Etc.

A nice small spot that im sure has a loyal local following, because let's face it, what else is there to do in Limerick. Im going to come back and try to get a bar seat and see if the tenders really know their beer.

01-07-2012 16:04:36 | More by onix1agr

chefmonty

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +9.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$$

CAH is a great craft beer only place in what use to be the Limerick Deli. The complete renovations they did to the place were nothing short of incredible. Nice dark woodwork, a Hightop seating area as you walking in to your left. To your right, a couch line waiting/casual seating area with fireplace. Staight ahead, an L-shaped bar that seats around 15, and the rest of the place is table seating.

Great tap selection with most styles represented. almost aways a sour selection,a stout asaision etc, you get the point.

Staff is very knowlegible and attentive. The food is a definite improvement to the usual Pub-grub.

Overall one of my favorite suburban Philly stops.

11-04-2011 15:18:48 | More by chefmonty

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -4.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

The beer is definitely the star as this smallish bar has a clean, bright and uninspiring atmosphere. Lots of unadorned cream colored walls with dark wood appointments. Bar seats maybe 15 with twice as many standing. Dining room has ample room but is somewhat cramped.

A few open fronted refrigerators behind the bar house many of the high ABV, limited and seasonal bombers, while a half a dozen other open fronted refrigerators continue long the same wall to the right of the bar, able to be browsed at your leisure. The 20 or so taps featured a wide mix of beer, but stuck to the expansive 200+ bottles, all reasonably priced.

Service was spotty as it was hard to approach the crowded bar and the 2 servers lost track of who was due up next. Did not sample the food.

Overall, not the best vibe in atmosphere and crowd composition, but a great bottle selection and decent prices make this place.

08-28-2011 16:26:34 | More by rfgetz

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -4.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3 | $$$

Saturday, the day before the Super Bowl 4 of us came here for lunch. Upon walking in I was impressed with the darker woody atmosphere, fireplace with couches in front of it, and the laid back feeling. Waitress was quick to serve us, was knowledgeable, and friendly. We ordered the Tipsy Monk Mussels, Hamburger, Fish & Chips, and Chicken Sandwich. My Fish & Chips weren't bad but weren't spectacular either, my wife's Chicken was the same. We drank some Breckenridge Amber, Green Flash Grand Cru, Stoudt's Lager, and Petrus, all tasty. They, unfortunately ran out of peanut Butter pie! 4 people for lunch and drinks came out to $100. A bit pricey but we had several drinks.
Overall, I enjoyed my visit and would recommend. I wouldn't make another 1hour trip out just for this place but if you're in the area or have friends close by its worthy of a visit.

02-06-2011 13:44:32 | More by NJpadreFan

mattgreger

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

First visit to this place was this past week. It was a great first impression.

As we walked in, you found a few scattered patrons at the bar enjoying a wide variety of brews. My buddy and I pulled up a seat at the bar, to see one of the employees finishing up the draft board that alone was a nice touch. As we sat down, we were greated by the bartender who explained the new brews on the list, as well as handed us a list of the bottles that were also available to purchase.

My buddy asked the bartender about her recommendations from the list. She was extremely knowledgable about all the brews and how well they sell, as well as what she felt about them. I went with a Allagash tripel, while he went with another brew. What made this place great, is what happened with my second brew. My second selection was a Troegs Flying Mouflan, but the keg kicked half through, so she gave it to me on the house. So while deciding a on another brew, she happened to mention that they had a bottle of Victory Dark Intrigue, which neither my buddy nor myself had been able to get our hands on. She said they weren't for take out, but we could have it in the bar. So of course we did and enjoyed the awesomeness that it was. What made it even better was, that she hadn't had it yet either so she asked for a small sip from a shot glass..which we of course gave.

Forgive my rambling, this place is great. Other patrons know there stuff and its a great place for any beer geek to enjoy there stuff and chat about it as well. With staff or other patrons.

01-09-2011 04:51:10 | More by mattgreger

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +13.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$

I've been going to Craft Ale House since late 2009 and consider myself to be a "regular" there. All things considered, I'm trying to be very unbiased...

CAH is a small beer bar, no wine, no liquor, though BYOW is encouraged and there is no corking fee. The atmosphere is dimly lit throughout, three high-top tables on your immediate left as you walk in, with the chalk beer board behind. The bar is small, directly next to the high-tops though there are stools behind the bar with a thin ledge to rest your drinks on. The rest is dining tables, two or three in the far back, and perhaps 8 or so on the side. Not too big at all.

The taps are always rotating and you can always expect a variety of styles. There is always one Nitro tap on, always one beer in the Sour-realm, and then a variety of dominantly US craft beer from all over, as well as the occasional imports (mostly Belgian or German). His (Gary) bottle selection tops over 400 different beers, last time I did an evaluation with him...I believe Summer 2010.

The service is great and has been from the beginning. Obviously, once you're a regular, your service is top-notch. Though, I've noticed their staff is much more educated, patient and friendly than from two years ago. The bartenders are quite good, especially Brian and Wendy, and will go out of their way to explain the different beers and give you samples to try.

The food is absolutely outstanding. Although their menu is quite small, they have everything from up-scale pub food (chicken tenders ROCK), to fine-dining type of meals. There's something for everyone on here, despite how small of a selection there may be.

If you haven't visited yet, please do, Gary and Melissa are two of the best owners I've seen run a restaurant. They're always on the floor seating, cleaning, tapping, whatever they can do to help out. Perfect.

TIP: Stay past 11pm for the complimentary popcorn - it's outstanding - crackcorn, we call it.

01-04-2011 19:54:35 | More by ShanePB

pvequalsnrt

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -5.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

i don't live too far away, but have not visited yet because there are a few more places closer to me. but i was not disappointed. i went for a troegs event, so the place was crowded. that may be my only complaint; the dining area isn't too large. but it keeps the place quaint, i suppose. the beer selection was great (they had scratch 39 before the brewery did!) and the food was excellent. the BEST burger i've had for quite some time.

i will be going back to this place. most likely next week.

12-25-2010 04:52:58 | More by pvequalsnrt