The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

mattkoon

South Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

the flying saucer delivers as soon as you walk in the door and see the long bar with a huge variety of taps behind it. they have a very large draft selection. you can even order "beer tours" where they will give you a tray of samples so you can try several beers in a visit. the food there is good and the female servers dress in schoolgirl uniforms... which is just an added perk. the saucer also will have live music from time to time which makes for a fun expierence. its one of the better beer bars in columbia if you aim to get a taste of several different beers in one sitting.

02-15-2011 15:23:38 | More by mattkoon

katahdin01

New York

2.68/5  rDev -31.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 1 | selection: 3.5 | food: 2 | $$

I have been to Flying Saucer in Cola, SC three times. The service was comically slow. Waitresses were unfamiliar with the selections listed on a board as specials. *Stock*: many-many of the non-seasonal beers on the menu were out of stock. We ordered appetizers which took over one hour to arrive, despite the slow crowd (2-4p). Burger was overcooked. Other Flying Saucer locations I have visited were fine, this one seems to be an anomaly. The waitresses, decked out in the traditional (for this location) mini-skirts, seemed pretty spaced out and were not able to answer any of the most basic questions (about the beers) from others in our party. On the third visit, I brought some concerns to the manager, about the very slow or absent service, and the low stock. He seemed aloof, disinterested.

09-08-2012 11:58:05 | More by katahdin01

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

If you've been to one Flying Saucer you've been to them all, or at least you know what to expect. Lots of taps, usually deals on local beers, plaid skirts with knee-high socks, passable food. You can generally find something pretty special on tap (2009 Abbey St Bon Chien this time) and lots of very solid beers of many styles.

Convenient to downtown hotels, this was only a 2 block walk from the Hampton Inn. Columbia looks like a sleepy town to me, and although a World of Beer just opened (never stepped foot inside) Flying Saucer is an easy and reliable choice.

01-26-2012 13:08:04 | More by TurdFurgison

ZenAgnostic

Texas

4.14/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Noticeably smaller than the Flying Saucer in Austin, TX. Otherwise, pretty much the exact same menu aside from a different selection of local/regional brews.

Not cheap. The constantly rotating "fire sales" on the chalkboard are your best bet for getting a good beer at a decent price.

While this place has a pretty big number of beers, my main beef with it is that any beer geek has probably had the vast majority of them. Their craft beer selection seems to come straight from the shelves of Albertsons or some low end beer store.

On the plus side, they did have a nice selection of Trappist beers. Pretty much one from each brewery except for Westvletern, obviously.

Worth going to if you're in the area and want some craft beer you've probably had before. Otherwise, your best shot at finding something new is just to hit up Green's beer store.

09-18-2011 17:40:04 | More by ZenAgnostic

Brewski4Drewski

South Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +6.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$$

The Flying Saucer is the only bar and eatery in Columbia, to my knowledge, that I feel comfortable going to drink at and handing out my hard earned cash. The vibes are solid, lots of stuffs on the wall and couches to sit and chill at. Good ambiance. Dart boards and arcade games are there for those who enjoy them. Long bar with dozens of tap choices. Large selection of bottles as well. Overall the pub-ish feeling bar has a good plethora of beer (if not the best in downtown Columbia). Flying Saucer's Beer Goddesses will make sure you are thoroughly lubricated and informed, they are required to take tests on the menu first and foremost, the beer. As the name implies the serving staff might be the best also, 2nd maybe to Hooter's. The bar staff is good, but some better than others. Holler at my man Judson, (usually wears a black "Weiss Ass" shirt)he is by far the most knowledgeable and just overall a cool guy. Show them love and rest assured you will see the love returned. As for food I have only messed with the Luxe Cheeseburgers (standard burger with gourmet cheeses ex: gruyere, cotswold, goat, etc.) and cheese fries, which are satisfying bar food. The Saucer gets my vote and I usually fly 1-2x a week. Maybe lower prices would make it the top destination. Only gripe I have here... more dark beers!!

08-01-2011 17:19:22 | More by Brewski4Drewski

gatorbreath

Fiji

4.15/5  rDev +5.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 3 | $$

Come through on Sun-Mon nights for good deals on local beer, and pint nite!

This place offers the card where you can achieve one revolution by trying 200 beers and getting a plate on the wall, then you can do it all again. This idea was bitten by a restaurant nearby. The concept is cool, keeps people coming back often, and makes for less of a Bar environment.

Lots of couches to sit, tables for friends, room at the bar.

Service is good, the girls know whats up with their beers because they must take tests, etc. The bartenders always look out.

Rare keg, buy the beer, get the glass, pint nite, usually up there 3z weekly. Enjoying the vibe.

Lots of pretty ladies, lots of TV screens for sports/events, and the suds are most definitely flowing.

They have a few decent eats as well!

Enjoy!

07-17-2011 13:38:29 | More by gatorbreath

biermark

South Carolina

2.4/5  rDev -38.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 2 | service: 2 | selection: 2 | food: 4 | $$$

We been going to the Columbia, SC Flying Saucer for 5 years. Just like the review below, a step above BMC but barely.

After several managers, the place has steadily declined from the best beer-bar in Columbia to a so-so joint. The first to go were high gravity pours and live bands. The selection of drafts has steadliy declined, almost the inverse of the best local beer shop Greens. Belgian pours avg more for a snifter than for a 750ml. Many craft and import pints are the priced the same way. The happy hour 22 oz tall glasses at pint cost are gone, replaced by -$1 on pints. The place is being ran into the ground and it's really sad. The Charlotte FS is much smaller, doesn't have as large an outdoor deck but has much more going on. Beer Advocate mag is full of unique places, Columbia used to have one.

Captain Keith - step in and save this place!

05-25-2011 20:31:31 | More by biermark

southside

South Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$$

It's the best place to grab a craft beer in Columbia, but that doesn't mean a whole lot. It is an awesome place to someone just getting into anything other than the BMC beers, but to people who drink beer as a hobby it is nothing too amazing. The atmosphere is really cool...they have bands occasionally and porch is great when the weather is warm. The prices are a little high and their beer on draft is never very impressive and mostly subject to local beer and anything you can pick up at a gas station.

03-31-2011 03:27:33 | More by southside

alanforbeer

South Carolina

3.35/5  rDev -14.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 4 | $$$$

Unfortunately, this is the best bar you'll find in Columbia. They do have a large selection of brews, but most of the more interesting offerings are available in bottles only, not on draft. The one true upside to their lineup is that they offer a pretty good array of local stuff, lots of Highland, Thomas Creek, RJ Rockers.

I have been to this place many times and have always been served by a moderately to incredibly attractive female undergrad. It's a little weird, actually...

Food is decent if you know what to order. I recommend the brats. They also have a darn good German-style potato salad.

My primary complaint about this place is the prices. This can be mitigated by going on a Monday night (half-price pints). They have other deals on other days of the week, including half-price local brews (i.e. the Carolinas) on Sundays. They also get occasional "rare" kegs, for which I'm sure you'll pay an unreasonable price, I don't even bother to ask.

02-27-2011 02:23:48 | More by alanforbeer

mmonagh1

Maine

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5 | $$

The beer quality and selection are excellent, including of regional beers. Also, the menu changes, with new beers added regularly. The food is good with the beer, and includes hummus, smoked salmon and a good selection of cheeses and meats. The physical space is big and relatively open, so the atmosphere is good but not exceptional. The bar and the booths are the best. It is also nice to sit on the deck. Like other Flying Saucers I've visited, the service is mixed, since they hire young women who seem to have uneven beer knowledge and interest - some know a lot and care and some don't.

07-30-2010 02:24:13 | More by mmonagh1