North River Tavern

DoubleSimcoe

New York

4.21/5  rDev +4.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$$$

This joint looks like a cheap neighborhood watering hole inside and out, but the 54 taps elevate it from blandness. Looks old and worn-out, it is smoky and the clientele is mostly blue-collar and redneck-y. So what?

The beer selection in the non-smoking room reads like this: Founders Backwoods and Breakfast, Dogfish Palo Santo, Southern Tier Mokah, Red Hare Chocolate Porter, Mikkeller… 14 high-gravity taps here, and 40 in the main bar. Here you’ll find the usual Sweetwater (four taps), Allagash White and Curieux, Sam Adams Merry Mischief, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel, Deviant Dale’s.

Service is nice, one of the bartenders had no problems giving me samples of those high-gravity brews I favor. And the place is not noisy despite the crowds. They sell growlers to go, which is something no other bar in the ATL area does, as far as I know. Supposedly GA law says you cannot sell beer growlers if you sell spirits, but this place offers both. Your growler must be filled before 11:30pm and must leave the building, though.

The wife’s glass of Deviant was $7.50, not too bad. But my Curieux and Backwoods were $12 and $12.50!!!! Holy Mother of Krist. It is cheaper to drink beer in Manhattan or Moscow…

So even though we had a good time and loved the beer selection, I never went back during my ATL vacation. All the beers I would drink are way too ridiculously priced. But if you go for regular brews, this is a very worthy place in the ATL.

01-04-2013 04:18:04 | More by DoubleSimcoe

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev -4.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

When you walk in, you know that you’re in a good drinking establishment, neither too pretentious nor too sleazy. It does look a little too much like a chain bar, even though it is a stand-alone tavern. Staff are alert and clearly well-trained, helpful but not too friendly. They have a few TVs, which were off when I was there. Maybe they turn up the volume only during a major sports event such as the Super Bowl. Food is standard but tasty. Beer selection is definitely impressive - mostly good craft brews with an emphasis on the locals. Sure, there are the usual megabrews, but they make up only a small part of the selection. Worth a visit if you live in Atlanta or on the north side of the Atlanta area. Or if you’re visiting.

04-14-2012 02:43:59 | More by Cyberkedi