Always Ron's

dmb13nd

Washington

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

Over 30 Craft Beers on tap and in cans, and domestics by the bottle make this one of my favorite local places to go and unwind. They also have pretty amazing food, and a great appetizer/bar menu. The staff is friendly, helpful, and extremely knowledgable about the beer selection, especially the bartender named Sean. I HIGHLY recommend trying this place out if you are a local or in town passing through. I think Wednesdays are their "bike nights" and they also have 1/2 price canned beers on Thursday, and karaoke and live bands on weekends.

09-05-2012 23:13:30 | More by dmb13nd

Pdavidsoncycle

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev -5.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Depends on what you are looking for, eh?
It's not much to look at from the outside, and the inside feels a bit like an old VFW bar. But, if you are looking for great beer variety and a very knowledgable bartender, you've come to the right place. I asked for some Belgian trippels and Sean, the man behind the counter, rifled off a strong list of beers that you don't find in many (or possibly any) loud, sports-themed taverns located across this great nation of ours. And I do love sports, which was satisfied as well with a nice assortment of games on behind the bar with solid HD displays.

He generally has 24-30 beers on tap (view them in real-time at taplister.com) and some great bottles to choose from as well. I had La Chouffe, a strong blond with some coriander used in the process for teasing the taste buds. It was outstanding and the highlight of the beers I tried. I ordered the crab soup with french fries and they were both very good as well. This was my first time in the place and I will be back. I highly recommend it and I look forward to trying more beer and more food selections from this hidden game in the mighty metropolis of Hagerstown, Maryland.

02-12-2012 15:06:30 | More by Pdavidsoncycle

hardcor33

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

Always Rons is not anything to look at from the outside, but this bar/restaurant is more than meets the eye. They have the best beer selection in the area bar none. Great variety and an ever changing rotation of beers on tap make for a different experience each time there. I am especially thankful for the rotating Southern Tier Brewing selection.

The food was tasty and reasonably priced. Nothing spectacular but a nice variety. I was pleasantly surprised by the renovations that have been made in the bar area. It created a much more open, spacious environment and a much more pleasant atmosphere. I would recommend to anyone who is tired of the same selections of craft brews at other pubs.

10-17-2011 00:08:39 | More by hardcor33

Asher1982

Maryland

4.47/5  rDev -6.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5 | $$

This has become the place to go for good beer in Hagerstown. 24 taps with something for every palate. They've had everything from Brooklyn Concoction to Cuvee de Jacobins Rouge on draft. I've not really checked out the bottles but I know there's some treasures there as well. The bar manager Sean is very knowledgable about the beers he's serving. If you're in the area it's definitely worth checking out; or maybe even if you're not in the area, it may be worth the travel. It's definitely nice to have a bar like this in my neck of the woods.

09-29-2011 01:53:00 | More by Asher1982

mcrumr01

Maryland

4.75/5  rDev -0.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $

From the outside, Ron's does not stand out. However, upon entering, a guest is greeted by over 20 taps that support a rotating selection! This is HUGE for this area! Not a one of these taps pours BMC and the beers range from simple Southern Tier mainline beers to seasonal rarities and tough finds like Troeg's Nugget Nectar, Jolly Pumpkin's Bam Biere, and Unibroue's Terrible. Tonight, they even had on a Brooklyn Brewmaster's Reserve. The staff is great and very friendly. The head bartender is very knowledgeable and tries to keep the rest of the staff informed on the beers they are carrying.

The menu hosts a pretty typical lineup but is prepared very well. The head chef is very talented. He has prepared OUTSTANDING food and excellent pairings for the beer dinners I have attended at this establishment.

The prices at Always Ron's are unbeatable. In fact, during happy hour, I recently drank a pint of Dale's Pale Ale for $3.75. The food has an average price but the portions are very big. A visit to Ron's carries unbeatable value.

This is certainly the best beer selection in Hagerstown and surrounding area. While it may not carry some of the jaw dropping selections as the destination bars in DC and Baltimore, the rotating taps keep the place exciting. I'm sure if better beers were brought to this area, Ron's would carry them. Over time, this has proven to be true and I'm excited to see what I will find the next time I go in.

06-29-2011 04:27:00 | More by mcrumr01

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.18/5  rDev -12.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

Obviously, the A+ grade for this place is hugely inflated, and I assume reflects the warm feelings friends and family have for this place (5's for food, selection and quality? Really?). That being said, this is a very solid place, and considering the location (Hagerstown), Ron's must seem like an oasis in the middle of a vast desert.

From the outside, Ron's doesn't really look like much, just an unassuming, solitary white buildng in the middle of a good size parking lot. As one walks in, one notices a modest size, stark looking dining area to the right with a hostess to guide diners to their table. On the left is a good size bar, holding around 15 or 20 seats I would guess. There are also a number of flat screen TV's in the back of the bar, turned this day to the Nationals and O's baseball games. The vibe is friendly and informal, and Ron's bar area struck me as a comfortable spot to hang out with a beer or three.

The selection here is solid, with roughly 20 different craft/import offerings and one cider. I didn't see anything mind blowing on tap here, but saw things like the yeller pils, Weihenstephaner hefe, GI 312, ST 2x ipa, double simcoe, gonzo and flying dog single hop (el dorado) DIPA. I was told they also get things like nugget nectar and brother thelonius. In comparison to the better beer spots in Baltimore, Ron's is nothing to get too excited about, but for Hagerstown, I suspect Ron's is about as good as it gets.

Service was good, with the bar tender and staff friendly and engaging. I'm not entirely sure how knowledgeable anyone here is when it comes to beer, but I thought it was interesting that they had cards made up for the different beers on tap, with a description of the beer, style and a few tasting notes. Not a bad idea at all, especially for those times when Ron's gets crowded (which I'll bet is fairly often).

As for food, the menu looked like it was mostly made up of your typical pub grub, with a few extras (dinner entrees like crab cakes and rib eye steaks). I tried the crab dip (recommend by the bar tender) and wings. Both were fine, but really nothing to get very exited about either. Portion size is normal, as were food prices I thought. Two pints and my food (small order of wings) was around $27 or $28.

This is a very solid place, though as noted above, I'm not sure I'd call Ron's an A+ destination. Still, this is definitely a place I would stop by again any time I'm in Hagerstown.

Edit from 10/1/12. While I'll never understand the number of perfect scores this place gets, there's little doubt that this is a very solid spot, and is a place that continues to improve their game. A visit on 9/28 made that very clear, as the tap list is now in excess of 30, and included things like BCBS, 120 minute IPA, a year old keg of bourbon barrel dogfather RIS, and some DFH Bitches Brew. To say I was impressed would be an understatement.

My job now requires me to travel back and forth from Baltimore and Morgantown from time to time, and Ron's has pretty much become a "must stop" destination during my drive back and forth. In any event, I have adjusted my quality and selections scores (upward) accordingly.

04-03-2011 20:26:37 | More by johnmichaelsen

AManOfLeisure

Maryland

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

Excellent selection and hands down the best draft beer selection within miles. With 24 craft brews on tap I felt like a kid in a candy store. If you ever walk into a bar and they have both Chimay and Framboise on tap, along with Goose Island, Scrimshaw, Monks Blood etc....(just to name a few), you are in the right place. I canceled a meeting later that day so I could stay and sample more of the goods. I have been back several times now and the bartender knows his stuff. Every time I have been back there are new surprises on tap. I highly recommend a trip here it is worth the time. Make sure you check out the menu as well, the food is great as well.

04-02-2011 03:01:24 | More by AManOfLeisure

quinn5150

Virginia

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

I'm from Virginia, but I went to Always Ron's while visiting some friends in Hagerstown, and was impressed with the quality of food and the 24 taps of quality beers. Some of the choices they had while I was there were Chimay White, Southern Tier Oak Aged Unearthly, Goose Creek Matilda, Allagash Black, Allagash White, The Bruery Orchard White, 21st Amendment Monk's Blood, Lagunitas IPA, Weihenstaphaner Hefe, etc. They also had a nice bottle list. The bar manager Sean is a cool guys, and was very knowledgable about the draft choices. I'll be back.

03-30-2011 00:53:36 | More by quinn5150

jakasmizo

Maryland

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

I first found Always Ron's last summer. tired of going to the local dives standing elbow to elbow with kids drinking light beer i was recommended to stop in and try this place. upon pulling into the parking lot i thought i must be in the wrong place. once inside i walked up to the bar and saw twenty couple craft beers on tap i was steadily getting excited. wow! i asked the bartender what he had to offer IPA wise and he responded with several of my favorites that are not easy to find. i went with the Oscar Blues Gubna. once he finished pouring i walked outside to their beer garden and enjoyed the sounds from a local band!!! with friendly people it was not hard to strike up a conversion and really enjoy myself! its nice to know that there is a place in Hagerstown that has the four things people want when they go out; great beer, great music, great food and great people!

03-28-2011 18:45:29 | More by jakasmizo

BuddhaBeer74

Maryland

4.95/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $

The sign read 24 craft brews on tap, that's what drew me in but I was in for a culinary treat and overall grand experience. After making my selection from the tap (Pepe Nero, Goose Island, Chicago) from the menu I selected a crab mushroom app w/imperial sauce and french dip sandwich with fresh cut fries, my eyes wondered to the shelves stocked with a stupendous liquor and wine selection. The bartender then presented myself with a dessert tray of awesome homemade goodness. Chose the cinnamon strudel cheesecake and washed it down w/Avery Czar imperial stout. By far one of the best dining extravaganza I've taken part in all around.

03-22-2011 15:53:33 | More by BuddhaBeer74