Albany Taproom

Do you like beer?  I do.  I'm sure I'm late in telling you that beer is undergoing a renaissance of sorts.  The days of being satisfied going to a bar and drinking the normal mass brewed swill that they pass off for beer are gone.  Consumers now have access to a great selection of craft-brewed beers.  It's a wonderful time for beer and consequently its a wonderful time to find little spots like the Albany Taproom.  

I probably can't tell you anything about this place that you wouldn't find out from looking on their web page or reading some of the other reviews so I'll just give you the best tip I can think of and let you do with it what you will.  Here goes: If you love beer...trust the bartender and have him/her build you a flight.  I haven't met everyone that works at the Taproom but Drew was on duty when we arrived and with just a little direction he put together an amazing tasting flight of four beers for $12.  This place is easily one of the best hidden gems in the East Bay.  Go North young (wo)man...stray from the safe streets of Berkeley and try something new.  I promise you won't be dissapointed.  if you're looking for a night out...hit the beer place and then walk a few blocks further to catch a movie at the little speakeasy theater right up the street.  Trust me, it's worth the time.  

(p.s. the burgers are fantastic too...but this isn't a food first restaurant.  Go for the beer)

We found ourselves at the Albany Taproom on a hot East Bay night.  I had a terrific Belgium blond beer and my husband sampled their numerous hard ciders.  The service was great.   We shared a burger and fries as well as wings.  The variety of beer was amazing.  The Taproom is big spacious not constrained feeling like so many other places.  Thumbs up--it is on our list of favorites.

Nice clean place. Very good beer selection. We ordered beers, and burgers from next door (Grazzys). Can't wait to go back.