Keegan Ales

madmanjf

New York

4/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $

OK, The Beer .... three regular varieties, which I'm sure have been written about and reviewed extensively, so I won't bother to try and add to it. I will say that it'd be nice to see some seasonal varieties and some experimentation at the pub. I believe this is in the works, and it's long overdue. Maybe a pale ale, a hefeweizen or an extreme beer such as a belgian.

The tasting room re-opened earlier this year. I must say I was never able to attend when it first open, so I cannot offer a comparison.

The bar itself is nicely done .... congrats to the carpenter who put it together. The top is covered with pale and roasted grains. Supposedly, there is a "bar fly" in the mix, and if you find it you get a free drink. Anyone know where it is? :)

The food .... small menu, sandwiches and hot pressed paninis mostly. It's good food and fairly inexpensive.

Speaking of inexpensive, I forgot to mention the beer is only $3 for a pint. This is simply a great bargain and any self-respecting beer snob would be foolish to not take advantage of it.

There are some guest beers on tap that rotate, but to be honest, I have not taken advantage of this. Maybe it's just me, but for some reason I would feel disrespectful if I ordered one. I'd be curious if other people feel the same way, but kudos to the owership for being willing to support other local NY breweries.

The atmosphere is rather unique. It has an antiquated agriculture feel to it and works well. There are bands frequently and they have iPOD/MP3 night ( I don't recall the night of the week ) where you get your very own 15 minutes of fame as a guest DJ. Be warned, I was told they have pleanty of tomatoes to throw at you if you have bad taste.

Check it out !!!

07-24-2007 19:08:02 | More by madmanjf

merc7186

New York

3.03/5  rDev -20.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 2.5 | food: 2 | $$

For the record, I am not a local playing homer on my review..I live on the other side of NY state.

I walked into the place and it seemed like a members only club. It has a very strange low key vibe to it when you walk in. The bar is a little small and sits about 10 people and has several tables and a couple of dart boards around. The quality of the beers were average, nothing really sucked nor blew you away. The service was decent as the abrtender was friendly and attentive. The selection of the beers was mediocre as they only had 5 in house beers on tap, no externals..which were Old Capital (blonde), Hurrican Kitty (IPA), Mothers Like (milk stout), Joe Mama (coffee stout), and Oktoberfest (marzen). I ordered the Pulled Pork sandwich ($10 bucks) which I thought was barely mediocre and over valued. I got the sampler platter of beers which was 8.50 for 5 - 4.5oz samples.

Overall, I am always welcome to trying a new brewpub and experience new beers. On the other hand, that'll be my last time here, nothing impressed me enough to want to return.

10-27-2011 02:32:54 | More by merc7186

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.94/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Stopped by with the girlfriend this past weekend while staying with my parents nearby. Very low-key establishment, nothing fancy at all, very informal and casual. Geo, the head brewer, was working the bar and was very friendly and welcoming. Young guy for a head brewer!

We didn't eat but food prices seemed fair enough. It was late afternoon and it was pretty quiet but they do have live music in the evenings some nights.

We shared a flight and had a pint each. On tap was Old Capital, Mother's Milk, Joe Mama's Milk, and Hurricane Kitty.

Old Capital was a refreshing but kinda unremarkable pilsener. Mother's is a sweet milk stout that's very nice, with a thin mouthfeel, medium carbonation and good roasty flavor. Joe Mama's is brewed with coffee and boasts a strong and delicious black coffee flavor. Kitty is an IPA that's on the maltier side with fairly subdued hop bitterness. DIdn't really stand out for me after spending the previous evening with Flower Power, Double Jack, and Hop Stoopid.

Anyways, definitely check this place out if you're anywhere nearby. It's definitely cool and the stouts are very nice. Looking forward to seeing how this brewery evolves and what they offer next.

07-26-2011 17:51:54 | More by tobelerone

aerozeppl

New York

3.83/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | food: 3 | $

Swung by here with avryle, drseamus and dmeadows after the last Captain Lawrence release.

They had Super Kitty on tap so we had to stop. The setup is a little weird. You go into a room with some table and a stage that they do live music on. To the right there is a little counter to order food and have growlers filled. To the left is the bar proper with a massive open area with some picnic tables. The bar was cool as it was grain in clear plastic. They offered flights which were a great deal as well as pints of the standard beers and smaller glasses of the bigens which were Super Kitty and Joe Mama. They also had Xtra gold on tap which was nice to see. The food was decent. My check got messed up but Tommy himself fixed it which was cool. All in all this is a nice place. Not a destination but definately worth a stop. It is right off the Thruway so if heading that way stop by.

02-26-2010 16:52:28 | More by aerozeppl

drseamus

New York

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $

Keegan is divided into two parts for no easily identifable reason. The right room has food and growler fills and the left room, attached through an internal brick wall which clearly was an external wall at some point, has a nice bar, several picnic tables, and some dart boards. 

They have about a half dozen taps which had all the Keegan offerings, including Super Kitty, plus some Captain Lawrence Xtra Gold. Prices are pretty reasonable and they offer sampler sizes as well as pints. 

The food is weirdly diverse including everything from tamales to sandwiches. The tamales were perhaps a touch dry but still pretty good. 

Overall, the place is a diamond in the rough that is Kingston.   

02-09-2010 03:21:58 | More by drseamus

donniecuffs

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -4.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | $$

A: VERY, very laid back, wooden floor, welcoming environment, complete with a grizzly-looking guy in the corner, a friendly staff, and boardgames for your pleasure. It gave off the impression of a great place to come for happy hour drink specials as well as comraderie.

SEL/Q: They only had four beers on tap, but what they had was certainly of above average quality, with Mother's Milk, Old Capital, Hurricane Kitty, and Super Kitty. They didn't have on tap what I was on a somewhat fanatical quest to find (Joe Mama's), but they did have it in 22oz bombers for sale, though a bit pricey.

SRV: Very friendly, down-to-earth staff, who seemed to know a thing or two about beer..and arm-wrestling..and football..and the Buffalo Bills..and so on , and so on.

F: I was surprised to see that they had a small kitchen, but we had already planned out our afternoon (which turned out to be an under-whelming experience at SkyTop, so we would've been better off staying here) so I guess we'll just try the food on the return field trip.

01-19-2010 06:27:40 | More by donniecuffs

cavedave

New York

4.3/5  rDev +12.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $

Keegan Ales, what can I say.

Looking for a stuffy atmosphere, holier than thou staff, with a faux london pub atmosphere, with beer menu designed pretentiously, full of wall street commuters and yuppie posers ordering beers the names of which they learned to pronounce in front of a mirror? Keegan Ales ain't for you.

Looking for a down to earth gathering place, with 2.00 mason jars on Thurs., acoustic music later in the evening, electric music on Sat.'s. Where their finest beer is always on tap, and it's all located in a foundry building, circa 1880's, implements of which prominently are part of the decor? Where the smells of the brew room filter into the two drinking halls? Keegan ales is for you

The crowd is salt of the earth too, united by one thing, love of fine beer, and to drink it with each other in the fine company of those artisans, and the head artist, who created it.

We have felt this is our best kept secret for a while now, but the word is out so no sense keeping my own silence longer. Are you salt of the earth and a lover of fine beer and good company? You'll love it here, I guarantee it.

12-20-2009 20:09:33 | More by cavedave

UDbeernut

New York

3.66/5  rDev -4.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | $$

Keegan Ales brew pub is located just minutes for Midtown Kingston, and a short drive from the Thruway.

The atmosphere is strange to say the least. Two large open rooms with a hand full of picnic tables. Small 15 person bar located in one of said rooms. Peanut shells line the floor around the bar as they seem to be the snack of choice.

The bar tenders were friendly and prompt. No complaints there. Beer served in clean glassware.

Selction was their own beers. Seem to have 3 always on tap. Did have two rotating beers. had the Hurricane Kitty which was good, had a Pumpkin Ale that was also good.

Did not seem to serve food, as that was contrary to previous reviews. If they did... no one was eating.

Over all, a good place.

Cheers!!!

12-08-2009 23:07:53 | More by UDbeernut

BrewSomerville

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Atmosphere was sort of wierd. They had a big huge open space in the centre of the room. There were picnic tables around the outside and some stools around the barr. A very old beat-up couch and chair in the corner that looked like they had been scratched up by a cat. The picnic table thing sort-of reminded me of Germany, only the picnic tables in Germany are much longer so you sit with new people that you haven't met. Peanuts all over the place.

The beers were great. I had the IPA and the stout.

SErvice was good. Very friendly. The Head brewer gave us a tour.

Good selection, at least a half dozen taps. Good variety in styles. Malty, hoppy, yeasty, etc.

Prices were wierd. Very cheap for a pint, could have even been less than $2.00 per pint, then it cost $21.00 for two six-packs to go.

09-15-2009 03:37:03 | More by BrewSomerville

Gavage

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$$

Stopped in on a Friday mid-afternoon to have some pints. The bar area on the left is in the dingy cave-like room that has some picnic tables and plenty of floor space. The half-square bar area seemsout of place at the end of the room with about 12 stools. Hard liquor and wine are also available here. Locally produced art (that you can purchase) adorns the walls. There is a large room off the bar area which has a huge window that overlooks the brewery operations.

There is a beer refridgerator located in the bar area selling sixers and pre-filled growlers.Tap wise there were 5 beers available. The standard Hurricane Kitty, Mother's Milk, and Old Capital were on along with Joe Mama Milk Stout and a White Ale. The beer was very fresh and tasty.

Service was friendly and quick. The bartender seemed to enjoy some small talk since the wife and I were the only two customers. The cost of the beer to go was a bit high, as the Hurricane Kitty sixers were $10.99 each.

This should be a must stop for any BA in the area. Check the live band schedule too.

05-19-2009 17:36:54 | More by Gavage