Do you like beer? Â I do. Â I'm sure I'm late in telling you that beer is undergoing a renaissance of sorts. Â The days of being satisfied going to a bar and drinking the normal mass brewed swill that they pass off for beer are gone. Â Consumers now have access to a great selection of craft-brewed beers. Â It's a wonderful time for beer and consequently its a wonderful time to find little spots like the Albany Taproom. Â
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. Â Here goes: If you love beer...trust the bartender and have him/her build you a flight. Â 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. Â This place is easily one of the best hidden gems in the East Bay. Â Go North young (wo)man...stray from the safe streets of Berkeley and try something new. Â I promise you won't be dissapointed. Â 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. Â Trust me, it's worth the time. Â
(p.s. the burgers are fantastic too...but this isn't a food first restaurant. Â Go for the beer)
We found ourselves at the Albany Taproom on a hot East Bay night. Â I had a terrific Belgium blond beer and my husband sampled their numerous hard ciders. Â The service was great. Â We shared a burger and fries as well as wings. Â The variety of beer was amazing. Â The Taproom is big spacious not constrained feeling like so many other places. Â Thumbs up--it is on our list of favorites.
Review Source:Veggie friendly, despite the burger-centric menu. The bar shares its kitchen with Grazzy Burger and are connected.
The black bean fiesta burger was a fantastic alternative to meat. Great onion rings and a lot of burgers that I'd like to come back and try. Plus, tons of beer on tap and bottle, as to be expected with a place with the word taproom in its name.
The beer menu is organized in a way that makes it easy to sample and the bartenders are knowledgeable and happy to pour samples before committing to a pint.
There are a handful of taproom Tuesday events with reps from each of the featured breweries. I was impressed with the list of participating breweries including Almanac, Firestone and an Oregon favorite, Ninkasi.
What a gem in Albany! I went here on Sunday afternoon to grab a beer with a few friends. When I arrived, they had already gotten a table, in the burger restaurant next door. I was a littler confused at first it there was two restaurants but I guess the two are connected.
So I ordered a beer at the bar, with the beautiful bartender, Anika, who is so friendly and welcoming! She greeted me with a smile and had a huge knowledge on beers and which beer had what in it. A beer rookie like myself was fascinated by it!
All in all, I had a great experience here. I didn't order the food, was just there to catch up with friends over some brews. The place is casual and has vegetarian options which is great for someone like myself who recently cut out meat. I wanted to order the sweet potato fries but I resisted the urge.
I will definitely be back!
Drove past this place on a random Tuesday afternoon when I had the day off, as I was on my way to Christopher's Nothing Fancy, just down the street, for a bite with a friend. Â Decided to check it out on my way back home. Â Always looking for a new place nearer to El Sobrante, where I live, that serves up good craft brews. Â The place was nearly empty, not surprisingly, and my friend and I chatted up the bartenders while drinking our brews.
Decided to bring another friend there that Friday, and test out the place during a busier time, and also try out one of the burgers from the adjoining Grazzy Burgers. Â We sat at the bar and experienced good, fast service, and my burger, the Merguez Lamb burger was spicy and delish. Â Had a couple of really good brews I'd not yet tried, so all around a good experience.
Went back again on a Saturday, about a week later, and again sat at the bar. Â The place was busy, but there were several servers/bartenders and they seemed to be helping others, but for whatever reason, we were completely ignored. Â I made eye contact with 4 different servers, multiple times, and still nothing, not even "I'll be with you in a moment", nothing. Â About 10 minutes went by, and I was getting ready to leave. Â Usually, if I leave a place and I'm disappointed in the service, I don't ever go back, and because I like this place, I was really praying that someone would wait on us. Â Finally, one of the servers saw us there with nothing in front of us, and after wiping up a puddle of water that was in front of us, took our order. Â Phew! Â After that, we had a couple of beers, and I had a beet salad from Grazzy's and my friend the Grazzy Burger, and both were really good. Â Beer was also really good, and the menu had changed since last going there, so I left happy.
Went back again this past Tuesday for Pint Night with Almanac Brewing Co. and a few friends, some of which had not yet tried the place out. Â It was a busy night, but the staff seemed to have hit their stride, and we were served quickly. Â I was the only hungry one and I had their special burger of the night, which had goat cheese and a lemon aioli. Â Yum! Â I think all had a good time, and I'll definitely be back for another pint night. Â Free pint glass - bonus, and they had raffles all night. Â Glad I gave them another chance.
Finally there is a taproom just north of Berkeley. They have around 20 craft beers on draft and several bottles in the fridge. For Bud, Coors and Miller you are in the wrong spot. This place server's delicious craft beer.
The next door hamburger place Gravy Burgers delivers the outstanding food on your table or at the bar.
I am just so happy now that we have the Albany Taproom in our lives. The joy that comes from sampling fine crafted local, domestic and imported beers is a huge interest of ours.
My guy and I love beer sampling. He decided to surprise me by taking me on a surprise date night. He picked the night that Drake's Brewing Company was having a Meet the Brewer event. It was a very thoughtful date for a beer loving couple like us.
We ordered two Drake's samplers. Everything they had on tap that night, which was one more than the offering. The owner threw an extra sample in, so we could try them all. We got a free pint glass by Drake's for trying the beer that night. So nice!
I also ordered a Cider, which was almost 7% APV, much higher than the average and very crisp and clear. AMAZING choices on so many taps.
Besides all the great taps, they have fridges full of specialty bottles. We took the opportunity to stock up on some great beer. Some for as low as $5 each bottle. We bought so many we had to get a to-go box. Love being able to pull out a nice bottle of beer for dinner, like others drink wine.
Albany Taproom is our new favorite spot. It's a wonderful addition to the neighborhood and a beer lovers oasis.
I went here recently and had the "Golden State Of Mind" Brew on tap. It was pretty good. The person working was really helpful and recommended that specific beer since it was on the lighter side. The atmosphere was chill // The food side was alright, however, i am really not a burger fan. I had the garlic fries & onion rings with herbs n spices... I would recommend those as an appetizer. I also thought it was cool that the waiters had Ipads :-)
Review Source:I appreciate the effort here, but the execution is lacking. We went in on a weekday evening and they seemed a little in over their heads. The bartender seemed to be doing double duty and didn't have much time for his customers. The beer list was pretty good, but compared to other beer bars in the bay, it was lacking in creativity. The most noteworthy thing I saw was a dry hopped cider. The atmosphere is airy and light, which is not exactly what I want in a beer bar, though the opposite is available across the street at the Mallard. The bartender didn't seem to know much about the beers they had, and neither did the man who appeared to own the place. They do have an interesting selection of bottled beers that are apparently available to be opened for an additional charge.
In the end, I guess this place wasn't designed for me. Maybe my suburban dad would enjoy it, though.
I feel like I need a second visit to really get a sense of the place. I hate judging a new establishment when it is brand new and still working out the kinks. I attended the grand opening. We were lucky enough to get there almost at opening time to secure a great table on the tap room side. My daughter was entertained by all of the helium balloons.
Due to opening night confusion, our order was not taken for awhile. We were happy waiting with our beers. To make it up to us, the server gave us a round on the house which, I did not feel was necessarily warranted but was appreciated none-the-less.
The one area I hope they have improved upon, is the POS check out on the tap room side. There was one terminal and all of the bar staff were queued up with credit cards or cash in hand, waiting to do their transaction while the thirsty patrons could only watch in horror, knowing it was going to take awhile for them to get a beer.
Like I said, I don't want to judge them on opening day for kinks like this so I am reserving my negative impressions for a second visit soon.
Welcome to Albany. I have been watching and waiting for you, as many others have as well.
Posting the same review I posted for Grazzy Burger, since we ordered from Grazzy Burger but ate and drank in the Taproom:
I had a very different experience than some of the other reviewers. Â The restaurant and tap room have only been open for a month, so I'm wondering if some of the negative comments were due to it being a new operation. Â I went on a Wednesday night, and sat in the Albany Tap room which is connected to the restaurant.
The restaurant and tap room is family owned, and we had different members of the family serving us throughout the evening. Â They were extremely personable, friendly and efficient.
We were impressed with their knowledge of all the drinks they serve (over 35 brews to choose from) and provided us with excellent recommendations. Â They also shared the history of some of the brew companies with us which definitely enriched the experience. Â FREE SAMPLES!!
All of our dishes were quite good.
We especially enjoyed the lamb burger which was cooked to perfection (a true medium) and had just enough spices to give taste, but not too much to overpower the taste of the high quality meat.
A previous reviewer mentioned their frustration that the fries come out before the burger which happened in our case, but the burgers followed quickly so it wasn't a big issue.
We had no service problems. Â Everyone was attentive.
We plan to eat and drink there again.
This is a cool place to get craft brews! They've got over 30 beers on tap - listed on the chalkboard on the wall next to the bar. It's reminiscent of the beer chalkboard at beer revolution in Oakland. But this place is brighter and more spacious than beer revolution, so it's got a different atmosphere. It also shares next to the burger joint next door where you can order food from and have your beer with. They let you sample the beer before committing to a full glass.
Review Source:What a nice space!! I have had most of the beers they have on tap already, but that's like saying "I've driven almost all the Ferraris and Lamborghinis in the world..." There are bigger problems in the world...
Hopefully they'll rotate stuff in and out, but even if they don't, what a nice selection!
I'll have to try the snacks next time
The Albany Taproom is a nice casual addition to the great watering holes on the San Pablo Albany/El Cerrito corridor (others are Club Mallard, Hotsy Totsy, Elevation 66 and, if you care more about getting your swerve on than having high quality beer or mixologist cocktails, the Melodee.) They have a great selection of beer on tap for the beertologist. I know, look it up, there is no good word for the beer knowledgeable. Of which I am no longer one, but it is fun to belly up to a bar where they are excited about what they are selling and every one has an opinion. My kind of place.
As mentioned below, you can order a burger from the place next door. They also have a menu of bar snacks. Be aware that the snacks and the burgers come from two different kitchens. We ordered burgers and bar snacks and the burgers came first! We thought the chicken wings and fries we ordered from the Taproom kitchen were very good and a great accompaniment to the beer.
You can order flights, four 4 oz glasses, of beer to get the most out of their wide selection of beer on tap. We like flights, we feel we get the most (experience and booze) for our money. We put together our own flight, mostly from local breweries and it was very, very good. As you can see from the photos, the selection is large enough to verge on becoming overwhelming. A suggestion to the Taproom: have suggested flights as well as the "choose your own." Each bartender could have a signature, or there could be genre flights ("IPAs" or "Pilsner Style")...it's a bit rough for the novice to decide. We heard this from others at the bar that night also. Â That's why only four stars, for making me think and for not having the whole food next door/here thing worked out.
The service and the patrons were super friendly. It was a nice place to hang out. Give them a try and forgive them the rough patches that come with being brand new.
For more reviews of local places, check out our Facebook page Eat Oakland.
Best beer selection I've encountered in the East Bay. They serve a limited selection of white and red wines, but this place is for beer lovers. I was incredibly surprised to find 21st Amendment Bitter American, Stiegl, Weihenstephaner, and more on draught. There are 20+ beers on tap. Not just another man cave with too many IPAs, the taproom has a wide range for many different tastes.
       O'Ryan is the man - our bartender with great recommendations for me (the opinionated beer lover) and my fiancee (the beer newbie with a beginner's palette.) The food from Grazzy Burgers next door is good, definitely better than your average pub food. I will definitely be back here regularly to try cool new beers and expand my beerizons.
Wednesday, oh Wednesday, you're almost more difficult than Monday. How to get through Hump Day...? Try a new taproom, of course!!
I was grateful that it was relatively quiet; we got a huge round table all to ourselves. Fo' fun we ordered a flight of beer. All options were listed on the chalkboard, on paper menus (yes, they do exist), and on-line (here! <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.albanytaproom.com%2F%23%21beer-list%2Fc1jo3&s=8451f1b89b114f66bf620edbe57eec08dd3894999d4c8f77c4b07f4a1438cf9f" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.albanytaproom…</a>). The very helpful bartender answered my questions about the myriad brews and made suggestions based on my preferences. I was tempted to order the beers with the funniest names, but my friend did that instead. Varieties I tried: Belgian, malty, scotch-y, sour with a fruity finish. What, doesn't help ya? Go have a flight and discover your own faves!
We were pleased as punch to discover that Grazzy Burgers, a restaurant that lives in an adjoining room, allows Taproom customers to purchase and consume food in the bar. We made a significant dent in the menu. In addition to beef, they offer various alternatives - including a salmon burger, portabello mushroom burger, Asian chicken Katsu burger... plus 6 different types of salads, regular and sweet potato fries, and a veritable buffet of aioli dipping sauces. Such a smart business decision to have these 2 places next to each other!! If you do decide to stick with Taproom fare, they offer a hummus plate, fries, chicken wings, and other classier-than-average bar fare.
The ambiance is fairly sterile and the place could use some more character (anyone know an interior decorator?) but it's a solid place to go for a good beer after work. 'Specially on Hump Day.
A great new addition to the East Bay Craft Beer scene. Came across this on a Friday night on our way to The Mallard, which is across the street.
A man i assume was the owner was inside and talking it up with patrons. He said they have roughly 100 in bottles for sale to go or for here for $1 corking fee, plus 32 taps.
Staff were friendly, helpful, and not at all snobbish. This place is must visit for any beer fan.
I plan to go back, very soon!
Kinda disappointed! Has great potential but the bar staff did not seem interested in their customers. I understand its a new place but it seems as if they hired people with no beer knowledge or people skills at all. Tap list is great but staff continued to ask if we open a tab and what we ordered. They also we very slow with the customers and we waited 10 minutes for our first beer and it wasn't even crowded! Step it up Albany Taproom and I will be back.
Review Source:Pros: Great Beer Selection (draft and bottle), knowledgable bartenders, no pretentiousness
Cons: From a design point of view, the logo, lighting (general and behind the bar) and feel of the place lacked personality and coziness I'd expect from a place like this.
I'd go back for the beer and bartenders, but wouldn't settle in for a long time because of the way the place feels.
Wow, in the last 4 days they have now:
- changed it so that you cannot order burgers from next door (Grazzy burgers) at the tap room;
- no beer menu; beers are now only written on the wall
- service is much faster (apparently "they are still working out the kinks"); food in about 15 min rather than the 40 min we experienced 4 days ago
- still some inconsistencies: e.g., did not provide plate or silverware until we asked
- the burger was a bit overdone; asked for medium rare, received well done
Lots of changes in very little time!
Wow, we really wanted to like this place since we live not too far away and enjoy beer on tap, especially trying different beers on tap. Â However, the entire experience was a disgrace from start to finish. Â It's as if no one there has either worked at a restaurant/bar or even visited one before. Â Here are the "highlights":
-- We visited on a Monday night, the place was reasonably busy but not slammed. We had a table with a nice central location but the table picked up the constant vibration from the nearby refrigerator.
-- We waited at least 10-15 minutes before being able to flag down someone to order some beer. Â Then probably 10-15 minutes more before receiving our beers, while observing many folks walking in, being waited on, and receiving their beers immediately.
-- I had to find out about the taproom food menu and the daily special by overhearing the staff tell another customer about it.
-- I asked for the food menu and the bartender explained down to me that there were too many beers and they rotated too often to print out the menu. Â That's neat for you, but I understand that, and that's not what I asked.
-- We decided to order off the burger menu and when one of two burgers materialized, the staffer asked who it belonged to. Â We asked, "Well, what kind of burger is it?" She responded, "I don't know, I'm just bringing the food out." So, "Is there cheese on it?" She said, "I don't know," set the plate at the center of the table and left. [I realize that is appropriate for a separate review but it did happen while seated in the Taproom.]
-- I appreciate not being rushed, but we had to work hard to flag down our server to ask for the check. Â Once the check arrived, an entirely different person came to apologize because we hadn't received our food. Â Indeed it had been a while, but I do remember a meal that evening.
-- We realized too late that the glasses we had in front of us (12 oz) did not correspond with the pour advertised for what we ordered (16 oz). Â By this point, though, all that was left was to laugh at the whole evening, chalk it up to an "interesting" experience, and get out.
Is this because we don't look like the types to instagram our food or do an online review? Â It's too bad, because we are established with no kids, and can spend an awful lot on beer and food. Â We won't be back.
My boyfriend and I have been eagerly awaiting the grand opening!! Albany Taproom is just what Albany needed, and the perk of having Grazzy Burger connected is fantastic!! The beer selection is huge, easily over 100 beers. Between 2 of us we tasted about 11 beers which we had never had before, the bartenders were very knowledgeable and friendly helping with questions and suggestions. I am very impressed and really look forward to becoming a regular as well as being able to quickly stop in to purchase bottled beer to go along with a to go burger. Great Job!!!
Review Source:Albany taproom
-Awesome beer selection (32) Â on tap, some rotating.
-knowledgable barristas.
-lots of seating at bar, tables
-snacks available or eats from Grazzy burger next door
-hard to find micros availablie in bottles to go.
-easy to find parking nearby
-beers reasonable pricing(5+)
-free samples
Wow. Â Awesome selection of 32 beers on tap. Â Plus a nice selection of unusual bottles. Â Nice big TV. Â Beautiful interior and knowledgeable staff.
Also the chicken wings are incredible! Â Seriously... this alone makes it worth the trip. Â Honestly the best I've had anywhere in the neighborhood. Â
It's cool that kids are allowed on the Taproom side too... just not AT the bar.
Plus a flight of ANY 4 4oz. beers is $10??? That's a hot damn deal!
32 amazing beers on tap! Â Everything you could ever hope for. Â Rare Belgians, amazing Porters, awesome sours, and a plethora of IPAs! Â This is the new spot to check out beers in the east bay. Â And only a trot away from the el cerrito plaza bart station. Â I haven't had the food, but my girlfriend says its amazing! Â Try the pita and dips. Â The goat cheese mousse will make you go "whoooaaaaahhhhh!"
Review Source:
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