Steelgaarden Lounge

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -6.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Have hung out here several times for different reasons. Some nights it's to watch friends do karaoke, other nights its just to sit back on the comfy furniture and sip a brew. The place is usually dimmed when it comes to lighting. The vibe of the place is usually pretty chill. The bar tenders are very attentive to the customer never had to wait more than 5 minutes for even several drinks to be ordered and made. The bar area is kind of small but there is plenty of other seats around to relax in. The place is a little pricey which I think keeps the crowd to a good capacity. Overall it's nice there and you can get a wide selection of beers.

06-17-2011 03:59:31 | More by Knapp85

cooch69

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

This bar/lounge is a nice place to kickback and drink a few. It is very cozy with a few diferent atmospheres for your own personal comfort. There's a bar which also includes a bunch of high tables and a big lounge with a couple pool tables and a lot of leather sofas, chairs and candle lit nooks.
The beer selection is for the most part the some on draft as it is in the other bar with the exeption of around 75 bottled Belgian beers covering most styles.
The food is the same as the restaurant as well. I has their food before but not in this section. It is all good though.
A nice place to relax for a few hours, however it was mostly self service in here and the lines were pretty long due to the staffing.
But definetly recomended for fans of American beer and Belgian beer alike.

11-29-2010 23:54:32 | More by cooch69

haazer

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Recently stopped in here after musikfest in Bethlehem saturday night. I had been in here once before and had their excellent oatmeal stout and wit they have on tap. The place is very dimly lit. Small tables set up around the place with candle lighting, as well as lounge seats and couches. Very comfortable and laid back. Pool tables, and two different bar area's. Everything is well kept and clean. Definitely an upscale vibe. I came this particular night because I heard about their selection of Belgians. I was impressed. New to the amazing beer scene I got to try the incredible Rochefort 10, as well as the Orval Trappist Beer they have. I felt like a fat kid in a candy store with their menu, but due to funds(and beer already consumed) I had to settle for only trying those 2. I did however get to purchase a St. Bernardus Abt 12, and a Delirium that was supposedly the last one they had in stock. Will try those on my birthday around the corner! The guy who was serving me these nectars was also nice enough to refer me to another place in Bethlehem called Abe's six pack and deli that offers single bottles at cheaper prices!! Cant wait to theck that one out too. All in all a pretty sweet place.

08-16-2010 22:04:51 | More by haazer

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -3.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$$

This is in the downstairs area of the Bethlehem Brewworks. Whenever I go to the brewworks, I usually hang out in this part of the establishment because I enjoy their selection of Belgian beers. I like this place because it's small, cozy, and has a little bit of a NYC flair to it (in my own opinion). I can always find one or two beers on the menu I want to try. For this particular area, there's not a ton of Begian beer places and I think it would be worth checking out. My only gripe is, depending on what day and time you're there, parking could be a little difficult to find as that part of downtown Bethlehem can be pretty popular.

12-24-2009 03:06:37 | More by jzeilinger

bernardus

Virginia

4.16/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

This place is in the basement of the Bethlehem Brew Works and we headed down after dinner above. The atmosphere is totally different than that of Brew Works with a laid back atmosphere and very dark. There were a few pool tables down there, very limited seating at the bar, and besides a few couches here and there, it was mostly standing room only.

It took a while to order from the bar but once we did I went with a De Dolle Oerbier which I've been meaning to try for a while. It did not disappoint and was kind of a cross between a Belgian Strong Dark and a Flemish Red....really great beer.

The selection beyond the Oerbier was stellar as they had around 70 or so Belgians with a few American style Belgians like Ommegang. We only stayed for one unfortunately but the prices were a bit high, which I guess is to be expected of a Belgian beer bar. Still, the list was impressive, and I'd definitely come back.

10-21-2009 15:31:45 | More by bernardus

Durge

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev -4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Dark and trendy, downstairs from the mother Bethlehem Beer Works brewpub. Candles burning on an assortment of intriguing conversation tables and loungey seating arrangements. The bar itself is fairly small and features all the Beer Works brews from upstairs along with an impressive assortment of exclusively Belgian styled brews, a whole booklet full. Not being a real Belgian connoisseur I was a bit disappointed but the bartender was helpful and friendly enough to keep me there for a couple decent bottled offerings (having already sampled the upstairs stuff). The place is permeated with a discoteque feel, a fairly contemporary mix of fairly loud music, but you can talk over it easily. There are a couple of pool tables. Not very crowded on a Tuesday night but not dead. Definitely a trendy feel, mostly a hangout for the hip youth of Bethlehem but it grew on me after initial repulsion. If you dig Belgians this is pretty impressive but I was surprised it was all bottles, nothing on tap but the home brews from "upstairs". Still, hard to complain given the overall assortment, good to see.

09-24-2008 05:05:11 | More by Durge

DaveHS

California

3.78/5  rDev -11.1%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

It's not the same since they switched brewers. I have fond memories of the peach lambic. It was so earthy and yeasty. Very complex and subtle. The new beers are mostly cloying strong ales. Triple bocks, super sugary Belgian style quads, etc.
So give a few of the lower ABV brew works beers a try, and move on to the beer list. Its easily one of the best in the area. I have found some gems here, including most of the Oak Aged De Dolle series from a few years ago, and lots of interesting Christmas/limited release ales.
The food is served upstairs, and has never been anything other than adequate.
The crowd is my main complaint. Popped-collar, fake tan yuppies make up the majority. And they crowd the pool tables. And the bad techno music playing constantly doesn't help. But its a small price to pay for a beer list this good.

09-23-2008 08:36:20 | More by DaveHS

mymrnngjckt

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -18.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$$

Visited this place several times so I thought I would finaly give it a review. Located below the BBW. A very, very dark place. It igves it a nice big city feel. A small bar with couches, two large tables and two pool tables. The beer I consumed was fresh. The draft selection was the same as the upstairs BBW with one additional tap, Hoegaarden. The bottle selection was great and included primarily Belgian beers. The service was good and the staff was eager to look in the back for any thing on the list that wasn't in the cooler.

All-in-all, I enjoy the Steelgaarden more than the upstaris BBW.

01-22-2008 17:35:03 | More by mymrnngjckt

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

I'm sure the BrewWorks above has some great micros of their own, but I can't manage to spend any time up there when I know how many bottles of delicious Belgian varieties are at the Steelgarden downstairs.

My favorite thing to do is arrive early, grab one of the couches, and sink into the dark atmosphere. The key here is to go on an "off" night. Don't go on a Friday or Saturday evening if beer appreciation is your main motivation (HINT: they will bring the beers up to you if you're eating in the restaurant upstairs. They don't advertise it, but if you ask they'll gladly do it). It's a packed, college-y meat-market there on weekend nights, WAY too much cigarette smoke. I can't even taste the beer when the room is swimming in smoke. But if you go on, say, Thursday afternoon, you'll face a daunting selection of Belgian and Belgian-style bottles, always served in an average size goblet. Would be nice if they served in the beer's/brewery's accompanying glass, but that's asking a whole lot. They even let the customer pour, which is super cool. Staff is only as friendly as they need to be (in my 6 trips there), but they know their stock for the most part. Found great stuff like Urthel Quadrupel and Biere Du Corsaire, which I've never seen on the shelves in my home area of VA/NC. Beers are always fresh and the temperatures are acceptable. Last time I was there (July '05) there was even a homebrew store across the way!

01-25-2006 23:04:08 | More by Metalmonk

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

After my second visit to the Bethlehem Brew Works, it seemed a good time to head downstairs and try out the Steelgaarden Lounge. Listed separately on BA it seems because whilst it has the same owners, it has different opening hours and the beers downstairs are not all available upstairs.

In line with the Bethlehem Brew Works décor, the interior of the darkened Steelgaarden is industrial in its flavor, yet it has a more relaxed, almost night club type feel. Down the stairs from the BBW, the original bar is to your left, and this is where I took a seat with my drinking partner for the evening Ericaweizen. A tour of the establishment on the way to the pissers revealed a rather cool laid back interior, a pair of Pool Tables and lots of comfy chairs & sofa’s, darkened corners and alcoves to while away the early hours of the morning. It seems that recently the Steelgaarden has invaded a nearby store and expanded, a second small bar and an extra Pool Table has appeared in what used to be a Pet Food store allegedly. The dimly lit interior makes it very easy to relax, the changing light colors and often funky music adds a night-club feel yet it is never in your face, more reticent in its character.

The Steelgaarden opens at 4pm every day and closes around 2am, and I think, on reflection, I would love to head down here for a brew rather that the Bethlehem Brew Works itself after work. It was rather late, maybe midnight, by the time we got in here, yet we managed with perfect timing to get a pair of Stools at the original smallish bar that seats around 8 or so. Service was pretty decent, the wait staff were kept busy, but we soon had a Beer List and it was a no-brainer to opt for two Goblets of the Abbaye Des Rocs Triple Imperiale….oh my was that f**king good!!!

The beer list is nothing short of impressive, especially given the surroundings and lack of competition nearby, as well as the rather decidedly “non-beer-bar” feel to the Steelgaarden; it is one that demands a tip of the hat.

Several draft beers from upstairs are pumped down to the bar, but Belgian draft brews also included the excellent Abbaye Des Roc Triple Imperials as well as Hoegaarden, plus a couple of others which I forget, but I’m sure Delirium Tremens was listed. The Beer List is all about Belgium; a stunningly varied and interesting selection including many favorites. Trappistes from Achel, Chimay, La Trappe, Orval, Rochefort (including the rarely seen 6°), Westmalle and Westvleteren (when available). Other stand out breweries include Fantôme, Maredsous, Corsendonk, Kerkom, St.Bernardus, Binchoise, Bon-Secours, Val-Dieu, Urthel, De Dolle, Tripel Karmeliet, Abbaye Des Rocs, Deliriums, Achouffe, Silly, Dupont, Caracole…and so on. The list of lambics is particularly outstanding; Cantillon, Hanssens, Girardin and Lindemans, Druivenbier was also listed. There are some US Belgian style brews also; the best of the rest are from Ommegang, Heavyweight, Stoudt’s, Allagash & Weyerbacher. The Beer List is punctuated with many interesting brews such as Dupont Saison avec les Bons Voeux, Blanche de Saisis, La Chouffe Biere de Mars, Bière du Corsaire Cuvée Speciale, Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Red Ale as well as a few French Ciders.

All in all a terrific selection, and whilst it is true to say that prices are not cheap, set in the context of the area and surroundings, the odd session in here is manageable. Also, when I ordered a 750ml of the Lindemans Cuvée René for $8, and a 1994 vintage arrived…well, maybe value isn’t that bad. Get it while you can.

So a great beer list, nicely relaxed surroundings, fellow BA Ericaweizen and her legendary bad jokes plus a busy but attentive server, all was good in the World and it seemed like we were set to close the place out…….then enter stage left a large “Wedding Party” rabble, much shoving pushing and drunken idiots at the bar…..it was just too much, so rather reluctantly we cashed out and left, a real shame….

An Excellent Beer List, but my recommendation would be to come here when it’s a little quieter than usual, at least to get the best from it and enjoy your Belgium brews.

Thanks to fellow BA Ericaweizen for the tour of Bethlehem and the surrounding PA beery countryside during my Memorial Day weekend, and for the Growler of Middle Ages 10th Anniversary Double IPA to make up for the early exit from Steelgaarden!

Highly Recommended.

Last Visit: Sunday 29th May, 2005.

06-06-2005 03:03:50 | More by TheLongBeachBum