The Bronx Ale House

Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

216 W 238th St
Bronx, New York, 10463-2408
United States

(718) 601-0204 | map
bronxalehouse.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.43
Reviews:
19
Ratings:
32
pDev:
7.9%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by superspak:
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Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

4.63/5  rDev +4.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
When I was visiting up in NYC I stayed in the Bronx with a friend. This place was an easy 5 minute walk from where I was, so of course I stopped by a few times. Looks very small from the outside, and it can get quite crowded around dinner time, but I was able to easily get a spot at the bar most of the time.

Inside looks nice, a nice wooden bar with wooden stools and it is a bit dim in there, but not too bad. 15 taps that rotate quite often, with one cask handle. These are updated on the website a few times a week. Blue Point stays on tap most of the time, and one week they even had a Blue Point tap takeover, including a cask DIPA. There is one Nitro which is almost always Guinness. Very knowledgeable bartenders that will chat often, unless it is super busy.

I had an Alehouse Burger when I was there once and it was awesome. Nice selection of quality pub food. You also get free salty popcorn when you order a pint. All proper glassware for every style is present as well, as I would have expected. I also went in a night that they had a special going on where if you bought 2 Duvel stubby bottles you got a free art glass. Good thing I got there early because they sold out of them in about 25 minutes.

A little on the pricy side as expected for NYC, something I got use to pretty quickly. But the taps are never old and there is always something fresh, so no worries there. They also have a small bottle list that has a few gems most of the time(they had fresh Sculpin at one point) but of course with the bottle handling fee and all that its quite pricy for some of them.

Overall an outstanding establishment in the Bronx that I will visit again if I am in NYC again.
Aug 29, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.24 by Noelito76 from New York

Jan 10, 2019
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Reviewed by Spipenger from New York

4.63/5  rDev +4.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Bars typically give you frozen food. Bars typically give you pre-prepared food. This place is different. They smoke their own pork, ribs, etc. They have some interesting, and creative, concoctions that are rather good...and seasonal. I confess it's one of 2 neighborhood bars. I know the owners, bartenders and servers so I am, admittedly, biased. However, the food really is good by bar standards, and they have specials each night that are unique and typically delicious. They have fee popcorn, but it's not that great. For the best popcorn...and, yes, there IS such a thing, visit Studio 35 in Columbus. Incidentally, they have an impressive and beautiful selection of taps there. Back to Ale House. Great place. Great people. If you don't visit, you're dumb.
May 19, 2018
 
Rated: 5 by NonicPanic from Pennsylvania

Jan 01, 2017
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Reviewed by ONovoMexicano from New Mexico

3.93/5  rDev -11.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
The selection here is really what makes this place noteworthy. They get great beers on tap.

The place itself is in the Irish pub vein and feels like a divey dump. The use of shaker glasses always annoys me and they use those here for many beers.

They also employ the fancy television screens that show keg fill levels, so that's a plus. This is a bit of an outpost and there aren't exactly tons of other spots to drink in this neck of the woods, so given that, this place is pretty good.
Apr 18, 2016
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Reviewed by Patinthebronx from New York

5/5  rDev +12.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
While categorizing this as the best craft beer establishment in The Bronx is a bit of a cop-out (there are only two), This place ranks among the best in all of NYC. Not only do they have an awesome selection of beers on draft, but also an extensive rare bottle list. And if all this wasn't enough, their wings are phenomenal. Great service, beer, and food? That's how you get a perfect rating.
Dec 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.89 by zxc756 from New Jersey

Jun 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.2 by Jlabs from New York

Mar 26, 2015
 
Rated: 4.04 by ssdarius from New York

Mar 16, 2015
 
Rated: 5 by Timfromthemainland from New York

Sep 24, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by bejaranobio from New York

Sep 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Will_Rivera from New York

Jul 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Ant4711 from South Carolina

Jul 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Phigg1102 from New York

May 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by sirsteve42 from New York

Jan 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by charlienyc from Illinois

Jan 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by olsen197 from New York

Dec 05, 2013
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Reviewed by pitchblack70 from New York

3.93/5  rDev -11.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
A great local watering hole. Great selection of beers and mixed drinks. Good food. While the place gets crowded on the weekends, showing up early usually gets you a seat.

The new electric menus on the walls make sure you're not surprised with empty lines. Definitely worth going to.
Nov 27, 2013
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Reviewed by LizCollins from New York

4.23/5  rDev -4.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
One of my fave places to catch a game! Can be hard to get a seat, because those who come stay for a while. Pretty good beer selection, endless bowl of popcorn, better than average bar food. Had an issue once with getting service on a busy night and the manager comp'd food and made it right. Atmosphere is a classier version than a classic bar. Fun in winter with a big fireplace. Nice to go to a place where you can actually hear enough to have a conversation without really loud music.
Sep 23, 2013
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Reviewed by KicknGuitar from Antarctica

4.06/5  rDev -8.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4 | food: 2.75
While the feel of the bar is what you expect, a bar, it attracts the strange local characters here and there, you will also find a mix of college students, hipsters and professionals. Usually busy on Nights, the service is wonderful and and beers are always just right. I only hold be tongue when ordering food as the past two or three years seem to feature a cooking staff that suffer from a fetish for burning your food, which is surprising as the cook before this was much more thorough and less chard.

None the less, the fries come out well, and the food isn't entirely burned, even on orders for a rare burger. Expect the quality to be in the beer and staff.
Jul 15, 2013
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Reviewed by Mannyb from New York

4.68/5  rDev +5.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
This is the best place in the Bronx to have a few beers and enjoy some food. The beer menu changes every few days, they give you an option to join there beer club. It's as easy as drinking 100 different beer in no set amount of time. As a member myself I have my name on the wall. This is an awesome place to chill with a few friend. Stop for a beer at the Bronx Ale House, 216 West 238th Street, (718)601-0204. With its rotating cast of American microbrews, the bar, whichopened last summer, has quickly become a Bronx beer nerd's best friend.
Dec 24, 2011
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Reviewed by rbastone from New York

4.18/5  rDev -5.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Dropped in to the Ale House today - looking for a change of pace outside Westchester. Good ambiance - lots of brick and wood. Decent crowd for Easter Sunday (lots of Baseball/Hoops on the flat screens throughout).

Good tap selection (Captain Lawrence F'Chester, Ommegang BPA among them). Bottle list (~15) was varied - some Belgian and some good micros.

The food was excellent pub fare (fried pickles, sausage sampler, grilled chicken sandwich) served by an attentive, friendly waitress.

All in all - worth the Sunday drive (very accessible from I87).
Apr 25, 2011
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Reviewed by slander from New York

4.2/5  rDev -5.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Pre-Bethyfest as it goes. I don't know where I was earlier in the day that woulda sent me running down the Deegan but here I am pulling the Van Cortlandt Park exit. A turn or two and a storefront blended in the strip on 238th Street, Bronx, NY. An easy walk from Jake's to be sure, and not too hard to find, as someone did up a shamrock in the street out front. One and then a second and then out...

Open folding accordion windows of the tall and narrow giving the folks on high tops there an easy breeze, and immovable windows over them dressed in neons. Big brick and wood panel slats with mustard colored uppers. Black ceiling with exposed duct work, and ooh, spinny fans, how you cool me so. An angled framed mirror sits above the brick done wood stove on the far wall, with cut bottle candles on its mantle and growlers behind them. 4 flatscreens running the wall, 2 to each side. Some light signage, so far; but you know how distributors like to pimp their pieces. "Bronx Ale House" stamped barrels above the rear bathroomings, and old barrel stave wall pieces with dangerous dart board action up front. Front vestibule has beer club name plates on one side (for now) and tap handles extending out of it above. A staff picks board mounted up front, I will decline the help, thank you. 4 hightops on the wall behind me, 3 raised roundies in the center, and some tables up front in the logo windows.

"L" shaped wood bar with a piping foot rail seating a dozen plus off to the left. The barback is an expansive dark wood piece with some black slat wood finishings, and pillars lined with welcome $$$ along the edges. A row of 16 taps with copper panel backing on center, and an angled 4x6 blackboard above it listing the tap selections, ABV's & prices. Growlers and the obligatory skull tucked on the ledge above the taps. A pair of flatscreens sits to both sides with slanting mirrored pieces ala Pony Bar above. Tiered booze on the countertop and glassware & bottled selections tucked down below. A single handpump sits on the short end of the bar, and a (Go get your own damn) popcorn machine down on the other end. Drop bare bulbs over the bar, the filament vibrating or maybe it's just me. Not vibrating, but thinking I'm seeing something vibrate.

So, 16 taps, nearly an even split of American craft and mostly blah imports. The craft beer, a mix of local (Sixpoint Brownstone, Blue Point Toasted Lager & Blueberry Ale), regional (Flying Dog Tire Bite Golden Ale, Ithaca Ground Break, Harpoon Celtic Ale & Hard Cider), some other region's regionals (Peak Organic IPA, Leinie Classic Amber). And the imports (Guinness, Harp, Smithwicks, O'Hara's Red, Weihenstephaner Hefe, Gaffel Kolsch). And Southern Tier Phin & Matt's Extraordinary on the handpump today, hooray!

You know, sometimes, the Brownstone is sooo "on" and this was one of them times. And I really wanted the Phin & Matt cask as my second beer but it kicked laughingly in front of me, so I opted for the Ithaca Ground Break (did not suck). Beer was clean and fresh.

They also pack a bottled list of 18 (Youngs Double Chocolate Stout, Sam Smith Taddy Porter, Newcastle, Schlenkerla Helles, Rodenbach Classic, Duvel, Chimay x3, De Dolle Mad Bitch, St Louis Framboise, La Fin Du Monde, Bear Republic XP Ale, Captain Lawrence Impy IPA, Omme 3 Philosophers, Lagunitas Barleywine, Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Redbridge). Seems somebody went through a big beer book and built themselves a "cover all bases" kind of list fairly well. Hell, if I were going to have just one German bottle, it'd be the Schlenkerla Helles. And if I were going to have just one Sam Smith Bottle, it'd be the Taddy (Okay, well maybe the Nut Brown). One sugared up Lambic that isn't Lindemans (check), one Barleywine (check), one Quadruple (check), etc...

Lots of BBQ on the menu but even in my cleanly unshaven slovenliness, I know I simply cannot show up with food all over my shirt, which is where BBQ will surely end up. As such, I opted for the low mess factor pressed smoked turkey BLT sandwich, which was easily manageable. It was very good, and came with a lot of giant goddamn French fries.

Service was friendly and attentive; they gave me samples of this and that and were doling out shots of whatever you'd like for why not? Good crowd for Kingsbridge, da' Bronx. Hey, was it just me, or was that a drunken Higgins from Magnum PI sitting down the bar all grinning and shit? Yeah, I thought so. Comfortable enough house for brunch and the game, except the music was what we call "very fucking loud" and that was before the Irish jig kicked in. And I'm pretty sure it's now federal law that if you have Orval coasters, you have to have Orval. I didn't need the teaser is all I'm saying. Tapswise, I felt they needed to boot some of the meh imports, and looking at their website now, it seems the tap list has come up some. Certainly a welcome addition to a largely beer barren borough.
Jul 27, 2010
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Reviewed by diddly from New York

4.6/5  rDev +3.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I love this place. I make it there about once a week since they opened last August, and haven't had a bad experience yet. It can get crowded, as it's not the biggest place, but I've never seen it with so many people you couldn't get a beer. The tables will go quickly, though.

They have a great selection of beer and constantly rotate taps - I don't think I've ever seen a tap get kicked without a replacement up in a few minutes. I haven't tried any, but their bottle selection is awesome, as well.

The service is very friendly, and the bartenders seem to know their stuff.

The menu is also pretty varied, as well, with something for everybody - I haven't had the BBQ yet, but it sounds good as hell.
Jun 25, 2010
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Reviewed by johnprael from New York

4.75/5  rDev +7.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 5
The Bronx Ale House is the first craft beer bar in the borough and it's a fine example of an excellent public house. The selection of beers changes often and shows a fine mix of session beers and more extreme styles. Events such as "Can Monday" and Michigan Night are great ways to sample really good beers. There are plenty of flat screen televisions for sports viewing and the food is fine. This is a superb place to stop when in the Bronx, northern Manhattan or lower Westchester. Kudos to the owners for fixing up a former dingy spot.
May 12, 2010
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Reviewed by zhooker from New York

4.47/5  rDev +0.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
NYC north of Central Park is a little bit of a wasteland for beer lovers and bar aficionados. And I live there. Luckily, about 5 months ago I discovered the Bronx Ale House, and it was a revelation. It's not exactly a short and easy trip for me, but nonetheless I have begun to treat it like my neighborhood haunt.

16 quickly rotating taps and one cask. They have hosted at least 5 or 6 tastings from nearby/touring breweries in the last 3 or so months. About 25 pints in, I can tell you the beer, glassware, and taps are all treated with the respect good craft beer and imports deserve.

The prices are fair at $4-8/glass depending on time of day and beer. They also offer growlers/beer-to-go, and charge for 48oz at the bar per-glass-price for a 64oz bottle. That is to say, 4 x 12oz beers and 3 x 16oz beers. I find this a little pricey. At other beer bars in NYC I typically see a 64oz growler go for roughly 2.5x the cost of a 16oz pint.

However, they do offer an awesome Beer Club (member in good standing, thank you), in which you track the beers you have drank there via computer. Certain discounts are awarded along the way, the goal being the consumption of at least 100 different brews. Growler discounts are included along the way, so that helps bring the cost down a bit. Also, I'll note that I've never drank more than 3 beers there without getting a buyback or similar discount. Any bar still dishing out buybacks will almost always be in good standing with me.

Overall, This is a beer drinker's bar, run by friendly, knowledgeable, fellow beer lovers.

That being said, this is also, in many ways -- a sports bar. Plenty of TVs, Mets or Yanks on, music turned up (most times). Thursday - Saturday nights are not the best time to go if you want to sit with a friend for a leisurely chat. Re: seating it's solely stools, either at the bar or around a smattering of raised tables, so it's not a place to lounge. Oh, there is a dart board too.

They serve a fair amount of food, most of it until late, and the menu items are a few notches above typical pub food -- cf. corn fritters, frikadelle burger, brisket hash, etc. They also do a pretty unbeatable $13 weekend brunch that includes a meal, coffee/tea, and a boozey drink. The specials they offer indicate there is some experimenting going on in the kitchen (think seasonal foods, international flavors, etc). And I hope that continues, with much success!

This is a comfy, unpretentious neighborhood bar that also (and more importantly) happens to serve a solid rotation of American craft beers and delectable imports. For those familiar with uptown NYC, think along the lines of any of the 'Dive Bar' locations.

It's one of my favorite places in city at the moment. Come visit!!
May 12, 2010
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Reviewed by CharlatanSin from Connecticut

4.4/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
A good beer bar only a ten minute subway ride away? No longer do I have to schlep downtown in order to get a decent brew? A million thanks, Bronx Ale House!

It's got a nice old school feel, with brick walls and dark wood. When I've been there, it's been fairly crowded but not packed, except the night that I watched the Yankees clinch the World Series.

16 taps that are constantly rotating, and a cask. They usually seem to have stuff from Ommegang, Southern Tier, Blue Point, DFH, Harpoon, plus a lot of other assorted breweries. On top of that, they have a couple dozen different bottles including DFH 120 Minute, La Fin Du Monde, Lagunitas Gnarlywine, and other goodies.

One little thing I really appreciate is that they keep their current tap list their website completely up to date.

The food is pretty good, and it's all reasonably priced for NYC. The one thing I'd like to see in the future is growler filling. It's still new, and I really hope it sticks around. I know I'll be doing my part!

UPDATE: They now do growlers! That's worth another point.
Dec 08, 2009
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Reviewed by Billolick from New York

3.94/5  rDev -11.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Finally a decent beer bar in the borough where I work, Da Bronx! Respectable selection, their website and beermenus.com consistantly get updated. They seem to almost always have an interesting brew or two that stray away from the other more mainstream, though still BA worthy, selections. Dark wood, on the smaller side, good place to watch the game, though for non Yankee fans this place will make for a long nite. So far the reviews are wildly over rating the place. C'mon A+? I think not, there are at least 25 better and so far lower rated ber bars w/in NYC/Bklyn area. But considering the slim pickins in the Bronx, this place is, hopefully, a ground breaker for more real/better beer borough destinations
Oct 31, 2009
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Reviewed by dirtyfab from New York

4.6/5  rDev +3.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
I went there on a friday evening and it was crowded but not packed. I was able to sit at the bar. Nice dark wood decor. Beer selection was great and it rotates every week or so. I had honkers ale, leffe 7 Brooklyn lager. The wings & sliders also first class. Too bad that it wasn't there 10 years ago when I lived 2 blocks away. My only criticism is that it's too small. I will definitely try to get there regularly. Worth a train ride for anyone coming from downtown. Half a block from #1 train 238th street station
Sep 23, 2009
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Reviewed by nasty15108 from New York

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Finally a place in the Bronx to drink quality beers! I never though I would see the day, but I'm certainly glad it has finally come.
The place is nice looking, big windows, brick walls, a nice old school wooden bar and a bunch of flat screen tv's to watch the Yankees of course. The beer selection is on point. About 35-40 bottles, 16 taps that seem to always be in rotation and a cask selection. The atmosphere is pretty laid back. and the menu is filled with classic bar food selections. I hope this place is here to stay!
Sep 16, 2009
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Reviewed by WayneRooneyFan from New Jersey

4.7/5  rDev +6.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I never thought that I would find beer heaven in the Bronx, but I did today. The Bronx Ale House is one of those places that surprises by its very existence, but exceeds anything that I could have imagined.

Having grown up in the Bronx, Kingsbridge was always known for its limited Budwesier, Bud Light and Coors Light offerings. During the time of Irish immigration from the mid-1980s to the early-1990s, the "exotic" Guinness began to change beer tastes, if even just slightly.

Back in those days, within a seven-block radius of West 238th Street, there were approximately 35 bars/pubs...all of them staunch Bud-type establishments...little choice...we truly didn't know any better.

Wow, with the Bronx Ale House, 238th Street has surely changed for the better...I wish that I still resided just around the block.

The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming...the food menu was varied and incredibly satisfying.

Now, let's talk about the beer. Dogfish Head 90, Troegs Hopback Amber, Avery Redpoint and Stone Ruination were just a few of the 16 beers on tap...something for everyone.

This is Kingsbridge...this is the Bronx...this must be some kind of out of body experience.

In reality, it was real and it was memorable.

Afterwards, I strolled around the old neighborhood...it looked extraordinary...there is no reason why Kingsbridge should not be one of New York City's great spots. It has three stops on the #1 subway line, apartment buildings and private homes, plus the expansive Van Cortlandt Park. There is also great access to highways that bring you to Westchester or midtown Manhattan in short order. By taking the local streets, I made it back to the George Washington Bridge in approximately 10 minutes.

I stopped by Gaelic Park and watched the Irish football senior final between Tyrone and Cork...a great game and a great New York City occasion.

Kingsbridge is one of New York's hidden jewels...perhaps, with the Bronx Ale House's important contribution, it will not stay that way for long.
Sep 14, 2009
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Reviewed by Brianmerrilyn from New York

4.9/5  rDev +10.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
The Bronx has finally obtained a quality bar with over 15 taps and the only cask pump in the borough.

Rotating IPA and DIPA as well as wits, hefes, belgian strong pale ales, porters, pilsners and always one fruit beer. Captain Lawrence has 2-3 slots at all time with Bluepoint, Coney Island, and Stone rotating their seasonals. Excellent bottle selection with the full suite of Chimay's, Duvel, DeadGuy Ale, Framboise, DogFish Head 120m, Ommegang bombers.

Great food as well with brisket, steaksandwich made with rib-eye, pulled pork, cubano, frickadella burger, quesadilla's, and of course wings. Try the "Bronx Is Burning" sauce or the Bombers(sliders) Beer club as well as dart board.

The Bronx Ale House Place is a slice of Manhattan in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx. Shot in the arm to a well established drinking street. Opens at 11am and does not close till around 2-4am with the kitchen opened late and takeout.

Join the beer club and get your name on the board as well as weekly discounts.
Sep 11, 2009
The Bronx Ale House in Bronx, NY
Place rating: 4.43 out of 5 with 32 ratings