Blackback Pub & Flyshop

coachdonovan

Rhode Island

4.22/5  rDev -2.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Stopped in here around 6 or 7 after eating early at the Alchemist. As others have mentioned, this place is very small but that gives it a very friendly vibe. I counted exactly eight barstools as the only places to sit. There is one large TV behind the bar. Lots of fishing apparati mixed in with whiskey boxes attached to the ceiling beams.

We didn't eat, but there isn't much to choose from. I did notice a panini press behind the bar and the website says they have a cheese plate. Tap list included Earl, Edward and Anna from Hill Farmstead. Also Old Stock North Coast, SN 30th anniversary barleywine, DFH My Antonia (a rare find), Rogue Wet Hop and a lambic. I saw something on the whiteboard about a "flight of barleywines" that had recently been offered; never seen that before. Everything was served in proper glassware.

We had good conversation with the bartender and owner, who stopped in for a few minutes with his wife and son. (As an aside, I liked the fact that the owner of this place was having dinner at the Alchemist. Theoretically the two bars are competitors but it's nice to see they're not only friendly but patronize each other's places.) The size of Blackback is such that it's hard not to strike up conversation with any other customers, so don't go here if you're looking to drink alone. There was a rustic feel to the place despite being on Main Street, and I would definitely stop by again before and/or after the Alchemist.

01-19-2011 12:58:44 | More by coachdonovan

Billolick

New York

4.2/5  rDev -3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$$

Place is tiny, in a BA quality beer rich little town. Fishing stuff all over the ceiling and scattered around the place. When you go to the Alchemist, this spot is just about a block away and well worth stopping in for a visit.

We were treated to several quality tap selections from places like Trapp, Hill Farmstead, DFH and high quality others. Quality is the operative word here. Boutigue beers in a tiny bar setting. Toss in an outgoing and entertaining, bartender/owner and you have a highly enjoyable and worthy place for a beer or two, either before or after the Alchemist.

01-13-2011 01:28:59 | More by Billolick

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

4.56/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

We stopped by this place after visiting the alchemist early on a Thursday night. The bar is quite small and there is really no other place to stand or sit. However, it is more intimate than it is small, and promoted a great atmosphere. I believe I talked to just about every person that was in the place while we were here. Very nice atmosphere. The atmosphere was also supported by the bartender, who owned the place with his wife. He was quite friendly and attentive, and was very knowledgeable.

The beer was served in appropriate glassware and was fresh. The selection was small, but well though out. I do wish they had more selection, though. A small complaint to a great place, but this place would be world class if their selection was a bit better.

12-26-2010 21:01:58 | More by coreyfmcdonald

skivtjerry

Vermont

4.68/5  rDev +8.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

A great new addition to Waterbury, and only about 100 yards from the Alchemist, which is why I don't go here as often as I would otherwise. This bar is TINY and can be a bit cramped at times but the small size also means that it's always reasonably quiet. Rick is an entertaining bartender, always ready to BS about beer and a lot of other things. The small tap selection is nothing short of world class, and always includes at least 1 or 2 Hill Farmstead beers. The bottle list could be a little larger but is carefully chosen, nothing but worthy entries. Prices might seem a tad high at first glance, but look what you're getting... you won't find many of these beers cheaper anywhere else, and usually they are more costly elsewhere. Food is limited to picnic style snack plates, given the lack of a kitchen, but is tasty. The one thing I'd like to see is a cooler so the bottle selection could expand but there is no room for that. Some very good scotch here too.

11-17-2010 23:46:55 | More by skivtjerry

IronCitySteve

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +10.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Thanks to some great BA's, my wife and I stopped in here on our travels through VT. Let me say, I love this place!!

Rick, bartender/owner is absolutely awesome. He enjoys great beer and loves talking about it, which I think is great because I love talking about beer. He was extremely knowledgable about beer and extremely friendly to my wife and I. He was more than willing to supply us with some samples.

Although there is only a small bar with several seats, I thoroughly enjoy this atmosphere. We were 2 of 8 in the place and we were the only tourists. The people inside were extremely friendly and fun to chat with.

The bar had some wonderful beers on tap. There were 3 Hill Farmstand Beers, a Trapp Family Oktoberfest, Spaten Oktoberfest, Stoudts Pils and a very rare Dogfish Sah'tea.

The price is quite reasonable in my opinion seeing how Rick is very willing to pour samples and I do not mean 1 ounce samples, they are 3-4 ounce samples.

Overall, this place is fantastic and a true highlight of our trip!

10-04-2010 22:15:07 | More by IronCitySteve

naproxen

Connecticut

4.49/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$$

BeerTruth and I hung out here, twice, last Sunday afternoon. Important to note the afternoon part, as had we stopped in like we wanted to Saturday night my impression would have been completely different.

The bar is tiny, there are maybe 8 or so bar seats. This was really cool for our visits, both times we were the only patrons for a short amount of time with not more than 3 others as well at its most full. However, we walked by Saturday night with the intention of popping in except it was elbow to elbow, so we kept walking to The Alchemist.

On tap 9/26/10
Hill Farmstead Edith
Hill Farmstead Nelson Sauvin IPA
Hill Farmstead Earl
DFH Burton Baton
Trapp Family Octoberfest
Stoudt's Pils
....and my memory gets fuzzy about there.

Three Hill Farmstead beers, must be good to be friends with awesome brewers. Good for all of Waterbury as well. The prices were a bit high to me, but to be honest I did not find that anyone else pouring Hill's beers charged anything less. There is a small bar bites menu with some sandwiches, which I can only imagine the bartender would have to make right infront of you. We did not go for the food, having eaten already down the road.

The service was fantastic, as was the company of the other patrons. One being the bartenders mother, who stopped in to bring her lucky son a homemade meatball sub. Possibly the best I've tasted (generosity run wild in VT), they should look into getting this wonderful lady into a kitchen. There was a problem with the keg of Earl, it was an extreme foam bomb coming out of the taps, but the bartender kept pouring it in increments for us which was nice.

Anyways, this place is really a little gem. Be mindful of when you visit, I couldn't see spending a night there if it was really busy but would have no qualms about enjoying an afternoon there when its quiet. I would love to give this one a higher mark for atmosphere but the atmosphere is too conditional on the day/time of the visit.

09-29-2010 16:44:53 | More by naproxen

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.8/5  rDev +10.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I've been hearing about this place for quite a while, last time I was in town I actually couldn't find it when looking for it. It's literally right across the street and up one or two buildings from The Alchemist.

Came in, this place is very cozy as others have said it's fairly small, maybe 12 seats. But he's got about 10 taps of awesome stuff as well, when I was there on 9/9/10 he had:
Aged Petrus
Cisco Darkwoods
Burton Baton
Youngs Chocolate Stout
Hill farmstead Earl, Edward, Florence, and the Nelson single hop IPA.
Allagash Dubbel

Basically he's got a somewhat small selection but everything he's got is fantastic. He had some sandwiches and knockwust, also a cheese plate. All pretty reasonably priced. His beers were all in the $6-8 range for decent pours in the proper glassware. I think that's a bit pricey however everything is really good so it's worth it.

Next time you're in the area check this place out, the owner is an awesome guy. Very personable and nice and right as I can in he told me about all the beers and gave me a sample before I bought it.

09-10-2010 12:41:36 | More by kingcrowing

sapvt

Vermont

4.8/5  rDev +10.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I heard a lot of positive things about this place and none of them did it justice.

Great beer selection. Rick is a big fan of Hill Farmstead (with very good reason) and it shows. He was pouring Edward, Florence, Earl, and Nelson Sauvin last night and had a couple kegs (including Edith) lined up next. Also a Trapp Dunkel, Cisco Darkwoods, Petrus Pale and one or two more I'm forgetting. Outstanding. There are some great bottles available too (Orval, Westmalle, etc.) but I can't stray from the amazing local taps.

Rick is very accommodating and a great guy to talk to. I could sit for hours at this bar and talk fishing and beer.

We need more places like this, totally intimate settings run by good folks who have a real passion for beer. Thanks Rick!

09-03-2010 13:12:14 | More by sapvt

koopa

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$$

I headed over hear after a day at the Alchemist upon the recommendation of several Alchemist patrons. Small bar...maybe 8 seats total, solid tap lines, and Rick the bartender/owner was a very nice guy to talk to as well as being quite generous with samples. He just kept pouring samples and bringing them over to me randomly throughout the visit! I recall seeing the following on tap: At least 3 Hill Farmestead brews like Edward IPA, Citra, Harlan IPA, plus other goodies like Old Rasputin, Bavik Pils, Mikkeller Warrior Single Hop, Cisco Dark Woods, etc. Super nice locals and a great place for a nightcap before stumbling back to my room at the Stagecoach Inn!

08-06-2010 13:03:24 | More by koopa

Goldorak

Quebec (Canada)

4.36/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Even though I've had a stellar time during my weekend in Vermont, I can't help but be a little pissed that a town as small as Waterbury not only has a world-class brewpub, but now they have a killer Beer bar as well.

So after an incredible meal and Beers at the Alchemist, where I got to meet YouBrewIDrink, we hopped across the street at the Blackback. Tiny place, as in less than a dozen seats, all bellied up to the Bar. What makes this place out of the ordinary is the fact that they also sell fly fishing equipment. Kick ass.

Selection was small, but very well picked. Bavik Pils, a single hop IPA from Mikkeler, three (!) from Hill Farmstead, something from Belgium, etc. I think the only thing missing to make it the perfect Beer bar tap list would have been a sour ale.

Service was great, both Dana and Ricky were super nice, were really knowlegable about Beer, never hesitated to hand over tasters, and made you feel right at home the moment you walked in.

This place is the perfect compliment to the Alchemist, and I liked it a lot. Damn you Waterbury!!

07-27-2010 00:32:28 | More by Goldorak