Otto's Pub and Brewery

slvrmon82

Delaware

5/5  rDev +22.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$$

This place is great. Right in the heart of Happy Valley. The atmosphere in nice and kind of rugged with lots bare wood and hop bags and old Pennsylvania memorbillia all over the walls. The old stuff is a lot of fun to read. The service was great fast and polite even though it was busy. The menu is extremely vast. Almost to vast from Duck to smoked RIb Eye to Grassfed Burgers. Food is great and the beer is better. Almost always have 12 beers on. 6-8 regulars and 4-5 seasonals. Including 2 hand casks and a weekly furkin. The beer is a bit pricey but not in comparison to downtown state college bars prices. All and all a great beer and you must try the DDIPA or if it's on the Sumatra Stout.

02-19-2008 20:08:56 | More by slvrmon82

pcsnyder

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -4.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25 | $$

I love going to Otto's. I always enjoy their beers, and they have an interesting menu and tasty specials. My husband and I usually try to get out there at least once a month, often more than that. They have a Pub Club thing and a gift shop with all kinds of beer-related nifty-gifties. If you're in the State College area, it's worth a visit.

05-07-2013 13:05:39 | More by pcsnyder

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4 | $$

Stopped in here on the way to the Voodoo release, I have been to State College Hundreds of times but this was my first trip here. Very nice building with lots of room to spread out and watch the NCAA games on the TV's. Large bar in the middle with lots of people at it. Service was good. We didn't have to wait for our beers and food and he was able to suggest a few beers to try.

Quality was pretty good, beer was in the correct glasses and the food was fresh. Speaking of food, I got the brisket cheesesteak and an order of corn fritters, both were quite tasty and affordable. Selection was pretty good. I saw a few things I would have liked to try, my first selection was all gone but I was able to get the rye IPA on cask instead and it was decent. Prices were pretty good all things considered.

Overall a nice brewpub that I will definitely return to in the future.

03-24-2013 23:21:11 | More by orangesol

nh2032

New York

4.05/5  rDev -1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Stopped at Otto's before a PSU basketball game.

Impressed by the space. Several large dining areas, a large bar area, and a decently sized gift shop. We were seated in the dining area with the pizza oven.

I think they had 10 options on tap when we were there, including 2 cask offerings (barley wine and English IPA) and 2 guest taps (Mad Elf and a cider). Good representation of different styles. I had tried most of Otto's bottled offerings already so I went with the Arthur's English IPA on cask and was very impressed.

The menu has a good selection ranging from sandwiches to burgers to pizza to real entrees (steaks, etc). Of the 4 meals we ordered all were good to very good. Prices on food were reasonable too.

Worth noting that the gift shop had a decent selection of other breweries beer to go including Troegs and other locals. Absolutely worth a stop if you are in the area.

11-24-2012 21:39:27 | More by nh2032

pburland23

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Stopped into Otto's on Friday night with my dad. We were in State College for a golf weekend and Otto's was conveniently just up the road from our hotel.

It was fairly busy when we got there and the hostess told us it would be a 35 minute wait. We took a pager and headed to the bar for a drink. Fortunately, two guys at the bar were just leaving so we were able to take their seats and avoid a wait for a table. The atmosphere was pretty standard for a brewpub. There were a few large flat screens showing sporting events which was fine by us. I also really dug the collection of vintage beer signs and posters.

There were about ten beers on tops, two on a cask and a guest beer on tap as well. My dad and I opted for the Mt. Nittany Pale Ale. I also had a Slab Cabin IPA as well. Both were quite tasty and I always love getting a pint in an imperial 20 ounce glass.

The menu was pretty standard with some exceptions like pizzas. We both opted for burgers. I had the Ottonator which had pancetta, grilled onions and cheddar on it. Really excellent burger. Lots of flavor. The fries were quite good too.

Service was prompt, friendly and attentive. The bartenders were in constant motion and seemed to be enjoying their jobs. Additionally, there was a retail store in the front of the restaurant. I picked up a six pack and a few bombers to take home with me.

Dinner for two including three beers was $31 which you can't really beat. Overall, I really enjoyed Otto's...fresh, handcrafted beers and quality pub food. I'll definitely stopped by again the next time I find myself in State College.

05-13-2012 14:07:11 | More by pburland23

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.7/5  rDev -9.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4 | $$$

I frequent here quite a bit as I live in the area. I occasionally get some of their food.
I enjoy the atmosphere there as it is a little bit older then where people my age (my kin) typically like to frequent. I enjoy the more relaxed less dancey feel of the place.
They have a nice layout with two separate bars (where the one operates on busy days). The service there is really quite good. They are typically quite quick to greet you and ask if you would like a drink ( I typically go to the bar, but on occasion am seated - they are good there as well). The food selection is sorta standard fro a brewpub in my eye. Pizza, sandwiches, salads and a few meals. the pizza is good, but other then that I don't have much to comment on (I typically go in for just beer or beer and a very light appetizer (which are good by the way)). The prices are a little high, but again gauging from the atmosphere they are more geared toward the middle aged family./ single man with a little more disposable income then someone like me. The beer however is very reasonably priced. Overall a nice place to sit, drink and think.

01-08-2012 02:38:54 | More by Darkmagus82

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$$

We stopped in for lunch on our way through State College after celebrating Christmas with family in the area. I've been to the new location once before shortly after they moved in.

The new location was once a Quaker Steak & Lube. The facility fits their operations to a 'T'. The main entrance takes you through a gift shop area where you can pick up a growler and other items or apparel that adorn the Otto's logo. The brewery is housed in the left portion of the building where there use to be some sort of auto service shop. The pub is to the right with a large curved bar in the middle with seating for a dozen or so people. Adjacent to the bar are restrooms and the kitchen located back a hall.

The restrooms (at least the men’s room) seemed very clean with all the modern amenities. The entire building is well kept and is even next to a hotel incase you happen to be in need of lodging.

The service started off exceptional and remained great during our entire visit. The staff seemed highly knowledgeable about the beer and other menu items. I never once had to ask for a refill. The beer selection was great and reflected the winter season perfectly. We started things with a cheese quesadilla and then nachos. I ordered the Cuban sandwich and sweet potato fries. The food was exceptional and the Spring Creek Lager was one of the best craft brewed lagers I’ve had to date. I ended up leaving with an growler of this beer (Ba review pending).

This is a great place to visit with some exceptional craft beer and food offerings. We try to make it in at least once a year.

12-28-2011 00:07:43 | More by CraftBeerTastic

merc7186

New York

3.84/5  rDev -6.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

This was the first time I had been to Ottos since they had moved from their older, smaller location. When I was there previously, it was low noise, few people, same selection and service. The current location has a very big bar area that seats about 35 people at the bar and has at least 15 tables/booths in the bar area and they are all full (good for them). The place is decently lit, the atmposhere is up tempo, 3 big TVs in the bar area and the place is hopping. They have 8 taps of their beer, 1 cask of theirs, 1 guest cider and 1 guest tap. The bartenders are plentiful and attentive and the prices are reasonable (2.50 for 10oz or 4.00 for pints). The bestt (and only) micro brewery in State College.

09-14-2011 00:29:55 | More by merc7186

jifigz

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -6.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

This place wasn't bad at all. I spent my time at the bar but I ordered food as well. The beers I had there all were pretty solid, except for the Hefe, which I thought could use some work. The service was good, food wasn't too bad, and everything was clean. I liked the glass side of the building where you could see some of the brewing equipment. The bartender seemed really cool and always ready to fill my glass. The place was decorated with random tidbits of Pennsylvania brewing history (old brewery crates, advertisements, etc..) and also had a nice gift shop with pint glasses, T-shirts and what not. This is a nice place and somewhere I like to go as often as I can.

08-20-2011 20:45:59 | More by jifigz

Buggies

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Absolutely loved the place. First off, the server was friendly... and returned often to the table to see if we needed anything. Next, the food was amazing! It came out very quickly, and it tasted great. They had a sizable menu, and it all the ingredients were locally produced which I think they are very proud of.

I only managed to have two pints while I was there (had to drive back to Altoona). I had the Arthur’s Centennial Pale Ale and a Spruce Creek Lager. Both were quite yummy, and I would have drank more but I had to drive.

Lastly, the place was clean which for me is a bonus... I don't mind taking my kids. They even have a really nice kids menu... both my kids enjoyed eating the food as well.

Overall, one hell of a joint. Although I only managed to drink two pints this visit, I have sampled many of their other beers at tasting events. Bottom line... great beer, great food, responsible prices.

06-04-2011 00:45:11 | More by Buggies