Scotty's Brewhouse

cwcolby74

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev +12.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$$

I have mixed feelings about the various Scotty's Brewhouses I've visited. This one in particular is expensive for what you're getting. The food is good. The beer selection is great, bordering on excellent, especially with regard to in-state breweries.

The atmosphere is great. It's like an upscale sports bar, but one you'd feel equally comfortable taking a date or even your parents to.

I know a person who was a server here, and they have to take classes and an exam over their beers, even if they aren't old enough to drink them. They have to know what styles they are, where they're made and enough about how they taste to be able to make an informed suggestion to a customer if asked. That said, it seems many of their servers forget what they're tested on pretty quickly, because you ask questions and the answers aren't always correct.

Lastly, my biggest issue came about three months ago when I went during happy hour. They had a domestic pitchers special. I ordered Sun King, which is a local Indianapolis brewery. When the bill came, they had charged me regular price. I asked what happened, and they explained a "domestic" pitcher is only the usual BMC suspects. When I asked what category Sun King falls under, I couldn't get an answer. They did change my bill to charge me the special rate.

Anyway, I'd recommend this place if you want to sample a wide variety. The waitresses are rather infamously attractive, and the service is usually really good. Just expect to spend some money.

03-14-2011 00:17:22 | More by cwcolby74

IronCitySteve

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -6.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 2 | food: 4 | $$

A: It is a standard looking 'brewhouse' with your typical beer pub decor.

Ser: Fast and friendly. Nothing great, nothing disappointing. Very typical service you would expect.

Sel: The selection for a 'brewhouse' is rather mediocre. Lots of macros in bottles and on tap. Not much in the way of craft brews. There was a Three Floyds and Goose Island on tap. For bottles there were some Founders. Everything else was your standard macro.

F: Food was your typical pub fare. It was tasty and just fine. No complaints.

O: It is not a bad place, but if you are going for the craft beer selection, you should look elsewhere. The selection is disappointing. I would think a 'brewhouse' would have lots of craft beer. That was not case. But overall, my time here was fine, would not make this my first choice to visit again though.

02-05-2012 15:03:38 | More by IronCitySteve

jisom123

Indiana

2.65/5  rDev -26.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 2 | service: 3 | selection: 2 | food: 4 | $$$

The only reason I keep coming back is because this place is across the street from my work.

When you enter, you are greeted by a door girl and 4 more staff at the register who are usually doing nothing at all. At first this seems nice, but will make way too much sense when you see your bill.

Over the past 3 years, the Downtown location has slowly gone downhill, regarding beer selection. They offer the 10 standard big lights plus blue moon, Killian's, Sam Adams +SA seasonals. They also offer a variety of the entry level pale ales and light beers from the local self-distributed breweries.

If you are a fan of medium tasting light beers, this is the place for you. Go no further.

They used to have tappings here. They used to have beer trained staff. They used to have Founders specialty releases. They used to have Stone Specialty doubles. They used to have a cellar-worthy bottle beer selection in the fridge.
When asked "What happened to all the good beer", I get one of three answers from the staff:
1. Oh, we fired the good beer guy.
2. We make plenty of money from the sporting events next door to meet our budget. Go somewhere else if you want good beer.
3. Blue Moon is VERY GOOD, have you tried it?

09-07-2011 21:37:31 | More by jisom123

AllThingsNinja

Massachusetts

3.44/5  rDev -4.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

The brewhouse is a mainstream sportsman with some high profile craft beers to expand the tap selection. It looks like every other contemporary sportsman, trimmed with flat screens. The drink specials emphasize macros and mixed drinks. Really, I'd rather hang out at a BW3s. There's nothing special here other than a disingenuous name. It's too bad. The location is nice, near the conseco field house and down town. The staff is civil and attentive. The place just lacks a certain beer advocacy. Or really anything remarkable. its a slice of Ohio in Indy. There is evidence of a mug club, but its just baffling. I'm surprised that they don't serve beers from the sister brewpub.

06-22-2011 01:02:22 | More by AllThingsNinja

mynie

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev +8.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$$

Decor wise, this is very similar to the Scotty's in West Lafayette. It's like a less chintzy, more sports oriented Applebee's. It avoids the ersatz soulessness of other sports-themed bar/grill chains, (place like Buffalo Wild Wings), but it doesn't exactly feel comfortable or genuine.

Vibe wise, it's a bit fancier than the one in West Laf. The crowd wore business attire, the building it was in had much nicer architecture, and the wait staff was more attractive (though they made the bar tenders wear skimpy outfits, which I hate. I know I'm probably in the minority here but I don't like mixing my overt objectification of women with my beer bars. You want to oogle tits, go to Hooters.)

The selection was tight: about two dozen taps, 18 of which weren't BMC. There's a beer for every mood, and FFF and Sun King were very well represented.

The prices were higher than in Lafayette, but not egregious, especially for a bar downtown in a major metropolitan area.

Most importantly, though: This place is like three blocks away from Conseco Fieldhouse. It is therefore an *essential* pregame destination if you're going to watch the Pacers.

06-05-2011 17:06:26 | More by mynie

phisigben

Kentucky

3.9/5  rDev +8.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 5 | $$

I have been to the Muncie, Downtown, and 96th street Scotty's of the three the downtown has the best tap list and Munice has the worst. Its nice to go and watch a game there are plenty of TV's around the service is usally good I have never had a complaint about them. The selection isnt bad but its not the most diverse selections I have ever seen. I my book if you have Two Hearted, Gumballhead, Stone stuff, and Sun King stuff you have a pretty good selection of beers. IMO what sets them apart is their food their fried dill pikcle chips and burgers are amazeing.

01-13-2011 14:11:40 | More by phisigben

curly31989

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +15.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Some fellow BA's recommended this one while I was in the city last week. Definitely glad I went there.

The food was pretty good. Typical all encompassing menu like Chili's or Chedders. The food was good though.

The tap list was huge. I was pumped to see 4 Stone beers on tap including Double and Lukcy Basartd. The list catered to both "light" beer drinkers and the more adventurous. I was a little surprised to not more area native beers. They did have 3Floyds, Sun King, and Founders, but nothing really rare or seasonal just their flagship beers.

The service was good. We had a fun bartender but she didn't really know a clue about beer. They over filled every drink too which was a little annoying. One good thing, was she accidently filled a 16oz instead of a 8oz for my double basatrd!

But hey, I was able to get some Stone which I can't get in central Illinois, so I was thrilled.

12-09-2010 16:19:42 | More by curly31989

lbaker

Indiana

3.88/5  rDev +7.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

I loved the original Scott's in Bloomington and this visit in Indy did not dissapoint. We managed to walk here after the Pacers game Wednesday and was blessed with cheap microbeers by the pitcher. Scott's is notorious for cheap pitcher nights, but man, when you pay full price you pay full price. On other nights expect to pay 18 bucks for a craftbrew...but on Wed's its only $9. Food is excellent, always get the wraps and waffle fries...honey mustard of course. Wish they had a bigger selection of Upland brews on draft...need to give more props to B-town! The perfect place to enjoy cheap pitchers of Gumballhead. Service is decent, just don't bother on weekends!

02-20-2010 01:44:36 | More by lbaker

One4Peace

New York

4.18/5  rDev +16.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Fiancee and I came for dinner and beer, scouting the location for a possible wedding after-party. Day before Grand Opening and everything seems to be running smoothly.

Beer - decent selection, representing 5 or 6 local/state brewers (recommend Brugge Tripel de Ripple) and a few other regionals -
best deal is four 5oz. glass sampler for $5

Wednesday - 48oz. micro pitchers $7
Thursday - $2.50 pints

Food - appetizers and dinner were good, albeit a little pricey - try the Mo' Fo' Cluck

Atmosphere - no smoking, family-friendly, a gazillion TVs, 150-seat outdoor patio w/ fire pit

Overall - recommended!

04-25-2009 23:13:15 | More by One4Peace

yeastsipper

California

2.53/5  rDev -29.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 2 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2 | food: 2.5 | $

In Indy for work and was looking for a place to have some local beers and watch basketball. Scotty's was recommended.

I have to say, I was extremely disappointed. First of all, their motto is "Think globally, drink locally." I agree. Unfortunately, their tap list does not.

About 40 beers on draft, but about 75% is swill. Locally, on draft they had 2 different Three Floyd's (Rbt the Bruce, Gumballhead), 1from Upland (wheat) (wtf, scotty's started in bloomington), and Bell's 2 hearted. They did have stone AB, but I get that at home in CA. I would have loved to have seen more 3 Floyds, Upland, some Chicago or St. Louis stuff. Not to be.

Portions are enormous. ENORMOUS. Typical bar food fare.

Atmosphere was fine. Youngish crowd. Great Thursday night pint specials.

There has to be a better option in Indy. I will not be going back to Scotty's.

03-28-2009 22:33:38 | More by yeastsipper