The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

coldriver

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

Our usual go-to place in Fort Worth. Really like the historic building in the Sundance Square area. Great selection of taps and frequently rotated. Always seem to have new beers coming out of Austin which aren't bottled and can't be found elsewhere in Ft Worth. Patrons are typically beer savvy (but not snobs) although you still see guys ordering vortex-bottled super-cold swill. Curtis, the manager, always seems to make the rounds and is happy to talk beer. Monday pint nights are a real bargain at $3. Can get quite crowded at times inside but the overflow seating on the outdoor deck overlooking Sundance Square is great as long as temps are under 100. Only real problem I have is the beer menu - updated once a quarter. Seems like I spend about 20 minutes a visit back and forth with the waitress trying to establish what is actually available. How hard would it be to print a daily (or at least weekly) beer menu?

08-01-2011 01:55:36 | More by coldriver

jjayjaye

New York

4.21/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

Correcting previous post. Review was written about the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium in Fort Worth, TX.

I've been to Flying Saucer (Fort Worth, TX) three times. It was very easy to find and the first time i was able to park on the street right in front of the place. I have also used the parking garage.

It's pretty much a single large and very open room with high ceilings. There are plenty of tables. I prefer to sit at the bar in front of all of those wonderful taps. The first night i went they were preoccupied with hosting a trivia night, but the staff was attentive and knowledgeable. When i asked for a barleywine my server hooked me up with Sisyphus, which is made by Real Ale Brewing in TX and was wonderful draft.

I can't speak to the quality of the food but i observed others enjoying theirs. The one thing that they did there that i had not seen before was a sort of beer kiosk that you could use to browse for beer selections and print out order chits. Looked like an interesting way to keep tabs on what you've had. They also had a Brewery Night - buy the beer keep the glass gig that was cool. I snagged a FS pint glass for the collection.

Reviewed on: 02-03-2007 14:34:19

06-29-2008 17:41:16 | More by jjayjaye

robbyc1

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5 | $$

A great location in downtown Ft. Worth, nice walking area. The menu here does not blow you away, sandwiches, etc. plus Brats, but better than average.

Atmosphere is layed back, cool, inside is nice, outside if you want more heat. Looked like regulars at the bar, many couples eating and drinking, mostly a middle agers, not kiddies. Good vibe from the servers, they changed the TV to an actual sport for me on request.

Service was prompt and solid. Quality of the food and drink was good, no problems there. I counted 78 taps, with some out but not many. Maybe 20% were macros, but some good unusual German selections, American micros abound. Lots of specials, and on the Sunday when I went (and on any Sunday I believe), it was $3 for any Texas-made pint. Good selection and the bottles are very reasonably priced though I stayed with the taps.

Definitely a destination in Fort Worth, recommended.

07-04-2010 22:37:19 | More by robbyc1

Bagman007

Texas

4.08/5  rDev -3.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | $$

I usually go here between Thursday and Saturday nights. They have live music outside some nights so they charge a cover. It is usually difficult to find a seat, but it isn't overly packed. Can be a somewhat lengthy wait for beer depending on the night. Excellent selection of beers though. Huge menu to select from. They have something for everyone. I have never tried their food so I can't comment on that. Reasonably priced beers and on some nights they have some really good deals. Great place to hang out downtown.

12-02-2008 00:55:13 | More by Bagman007

sprucetip

Alaska

4.16/5  rDev -1.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

I'm told that the old building was much homier and beloved by all, but they had to move to make room for a parking garage, or something like that. But the atmosphere is quite pleasant at the current location, even if it falls short of the old one. On the first of two recent visits it was quite busy, and we had to poke around a bit to find a place to sit. On a follow up visit I got there earlier in the day and had no problem getting a front row seat at the bar.

On the first (busier) visit the young female waiter did a good job checking in with us at regular intervals, and had a hand written cheat-sheat, addressing the many inaccuracies on the menu that is only printed once every 3 months, that she shared with us. She knew some things about the beers, and did a good job. On the second visit I asked the bartender if there were any resources for knowing what they actually had on tap and he said "me." Because they weren't busy then that worked fine, but as people got off work and it got busy, the staff were not able to be as attentive and it was difficult to ask questions and gain information.

I really, really don't understand why a bar with 80 taps, many of which rotate, only prints its menu quarterly. From a purely business perspective, as management, don't you want customers to spend as much money per unit of time spent on the stool? They are screwing themselves by not having an up to date menu available. If it takes me 10-20 minutes to figure out what you have and what you don't and then make a decision and then get it to a busy server, that's time I am not spending money, though I am taking up space. Help me help you by letting me know what you have. On the second visit I got a manager and mentioned to him how other bars were using the BeerMenus site and how I had seen it work effectively for other bars, and describing how myself and a bunch of friends had all gone to a bar, unplanned, because we saw that they had tapped St. Bernies Christmas. Four dudes went there and spent money on a night we had not planned to because we knew they had something special on. The manager did not seem remotely open to what I was saying, and said it "takes time" to update a list. Really? It's takes the time equivalent of a facebook post. I've seen other places that use video screens or chalkboards that they update in real time when a keg blows or is tapped, and others print a fresh menu daily. They sell more beer when they do this, it's a no brainer. Anyway, that's my rant on that issue. The staff were good and knowledgeable, but their hands are tied by the corporate policy.

Quality is good, selection is good. Not amazing, but solid. A lot of Texas beers, and I haven't had too many yet that have impressed me, but sellers and drinkers need to support the local and regional breweries, in my view, even if it means there are a few less tried and true hits on the list.

I haven't eaten there but my brother and wife like to eat there. It's a bit pricey, but they have specials like $3 pint night on Mondays, and $3 Texas pints on Sundays.

12-30-2012 04:52:33 | More by sprucetip

Atlas1

Texas

3.8/5  rDev -10.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$

This is a great draught house in Cowtown if you're looking for good beer, but it can be hit or miss when it comes to atmosphere. Sometimes, it's nice and laid-back, with no real hustle or bustle and you can enjoy a beer and conversation and stretch out a bit. And sometimes, mostly nights, it's a ridiculous college-age meat market for TCU kids and local brats. Don't get me wrong, this probably would have been (was?) me about ten years ago, but it's just kind of annoying these days. I'd prefer it if I could go in on a Wednesday or Thursday night and not have to fight my way to the bar for a Subliminator Dopplebock, but so it goes. Still, they have a nice selection of beers on draught, and the service is usually pretty good, despite the crowds. I don't live in Fort Worth anymore, so my visits to the Flying Saucer are more spread out now, which is probably a good thing for this review. If I frequented the place more often, I'm sure I'd be tired of it by now. As it is, I find it a great joint to stop in for a quick pint on an afternoon when I'm home visiting.

09-23-2006 23:43:34 | More by Atlas1

gtermi

Texas

3.96/5  rDev -6.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 5 | $$$

The Flying Saucer is one of the best places in Fort Worth to grab a pint of craft or import beers. They have one of the greatest selections I have ever seen in my life. The beers are always fresh and never taste funky. I have not had any of the food here, so I can not quote on that. The only thing I hate is the little skimpy girls as our waitress. I just feel they are too flirty and all they want is just a bigger tip. Other than that, it is by far the best place in Downtown Fort Worth to grab a beer.

09-30-2011 04:48:55 | More by gtermi

mugglesandhops

California

3.58/5  rDev -15.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

I had to come down to FW for business a couple weeks ago and I knew this would be the first place I would go to as soon as I got to town. Really easy to find, big 2 story building, I enjoyed reading all the saucers on the walls. They have a LOT of bottled beer but not so much on tap as I was expecting. There are just too many to name so im not even going to try. I had a Young's Double Chocolate, Dogfish Head Pumpkin, and my wife has some cider, I can't remember. I also ate a slice of pizza which was okay but nothing special. The waitstaff wasn't very great. I sat there with an empty glass for 10 minutes or so.

10-27-2008 19:36:52 | More by mugglesandhops

goochpunch

Texas

3.49/5  rDev -17.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | $$

Pretty nice atmosphere. Not too smoky, and it was all rather laid back. They had an outdoor section, which looked nice, but it was a bit warm that day. Taps seemed to be a bit too cold. Service was decent, although it took a longer period of time for me to be served than I've experienced in larger and busier bars. Selection was decent, but I'm mostly butt-hurt over the fact that there were no beers from Real Ale or Live Oak, yet I know for a fact that the Addison location has, at least, Live Oak offerings.

Overall, this wasn't a bad Flying Saucer, and I would surely go again. My only huge gripe is the layout of the bathroom. The sink is located about half a foot form an open urinal with no divider. To take my wet hands from the sink to the soap dispenser, I had to get my hands even closer to the guy who was pissing right next to me. I had to handle the situation very carefully as to not splash his crotch with sink water. I don't like being that close to another dude's piece.

05-26-2006 03:24:16 | More by goochpunch

kosmoraios

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 3 | $$

I've been meaning to visit this renowned establishment for quite some time, now. Excellent selection of beer - their beer menu is 4 pages total, small print. The wall is lined with taps, if it's not here, it's truly rare. Very knowledgable and friendly staff. Small place, mostly tall bar tables, some couches and lounge chairs. Parking is not easy, but it seems that most of the parking is free after 6. Gets noisy after 6 PM, but a fun place to be, especially if you enjoy beer. And if you don't, you're at the wrong site.

11-02-2005 03:03:58 | More by kosmoraios