I decided to get a couple of our growlers filled to enjoy on Saturday night and to bring back home for the holidays. Â I called ahead because I was told by the bartender in the taproom my previous visit that they only filled growlers after a certain time. Â When I spoke to a representative, they didn't exactly know what I was talking about, but explained that growlers can be filled all day long within the hours of the taproom. Â I don't exactly know what DB worked there on my last trip, but it definitely left a bad taste until recently. Â
This time I had no problem getting my growlers filled and the bartender was very helpful. Â I figured out he was the one I talked to on the phone and took care of business. Â I ordered a jug of Cold Turkey and one of Aces and Ates. Â While he was manning the taps, I glanced at their selection of glassware and decided to do a little extra holiday shopping. Â I got a variety of glasses for no more that $15 bucks and the bartender hooked me up by wrapping them up and putting them in a random bag since I was juggling a lot of glass. Â
I decided to try out the Cold Turkey that night since it was a newer make, Â It took me a few pints in to truly enjoy it. Â It is a hoppy pale ale that it best sipped through the night, otherwise it would be a very rough round of pong. Â
Aces and Ates  is a great winter stout that I cracked open on Christmas day after opening presents.  Due to the high gravity, by early afternoon I was reasonably drunk, preparing me for spiked nog and ham. Â
With a deposit already paid for the growlers, the Cold Turkey was $10 to fill and the high grav Aces and Ates $15. Â
Big Boss remains in my top 3 breweries of the Triangle!
This place just gets better with every visit. i came back out here last night with a friend and had a few beers and played a few games. the place was pretty packed when we got there and Valentino's  food truck had the entire parking lot smelling Oh so good. to keep it short, i really enjoy this place every time i come here and highly recommend  it to anyone who has not yet tried the awesomeness that is Big Boss.
Review Source:I really enjoyed my low key evening at big boss with my hubs. Â Bartenders were super helpful and chatty, no huge crowd meant it felt
Aid back and easy to get around. Â Would totally recommend this to anyone who is looking for a comfy place to grab a beer on a Friday evening. Â Bathrooms were nice and tidy as well, thanks for that!
The Big Boss Taproom is one of the best places in Raleigh to relax and grab a beer with friends. They always have their regulars beers on draft along with a few unique beers you'll only find here. Â Pints are typically priced $3.00-$4.50 making it a great deal. Â
The atmosphere is usually very relaxed with the opportunity to play darts, shuffle board, pool and/or table tennis (for free). Â The indoor bar space can fill up quickly but don't worry there is amble outdoor seating for nights when the weather permits. Â
Typically they have at least one food truck serving food. Â I'm fairly confident you can bring food to eat but don't quote me on that. Â
The only downfall, which is to be expected as most breweries are off the beaten path, is that you won't be walking home or to another bar when you want to leave. Â It's pretty much off by itself off of Atlantic Ave so be prepared to get a taxi if you won't be driving home.
Do you like cheap and delicious Big Boss Beer draft beer, including rare beers that they only serve at their Taproom? (nods)
Do you want to play FREE games such as pool, darts, and shuffleboard? (nodding)
Do you enjoy tasty food trucks, outside picnic tables, and fun music? (more nodding)
Do you want all of these things in one awesome spot without the douchiness that seems to pop up in other Raleigh area watering holes?? (feverishly nodding).
My friend, you need to go to the Big Boss Taproom.
Big Boss is an off-the-beaten-path-hole-in-the-wall that is excellent for craft brew lovers (why would you come to a brewery if you weren't?!). They always have 4 or 5 regular brews and normally have 3 or so rotating taps. They normally have something for every kind of beer drinker...beware the high gravity, though, or you won't make it down those steep steps! Shuffle board and beer at Big Boss make an excellent low-key Thursday or Friday night!
Review Source:I'd really love more places to have beers from Big Boss because when you walk in the doors you're greeted with so many wonderful selections other than Angry Angel and Bad Penny, including my favorite: Blanco Diablo. Â
The staff is friendly, and they have dart boards, a pool table, a ping pong table, plenty of seating both inside and out.
Every Tuesday my friends and I go to Big Boss for the weekly run club. It starts at 7 and the run happens on the greenway around the corner. After the run a food truck is always there and cold beer is always flowing. There are often raffles as well though I have yet to win one :(. It is always a good time and I have met many different people through this run. A definite A+ in my book for run clubs.
As for Big Boss it's a great little brewery. Every second Saturday of the month they usually have a brewery tour which is informative and interesting. To go along with this tour they tap a few kegs and you can get beer for $1 from it. Â I'm not too into their beer but many people love it. Â Warning... doing this tour in the summer can be a little warm as the big doors are thrown open to allow everyone to fit and move about. Sometimes during the year they will have bands play.
The bar they have upstairs is a bit of a different atmosphere then many other bars in Raleigh. It's very laid back with a dive bar type feel. It's not very big and doesn't have a whole lot of places to sit. They have darts, a pool table, and ping pong which is a big plus in my book since I like to do things while I'm out having a drink. A word to the wise if you're playing ping pong, make sure the windows are closed. My friend and I were playing with the windows open because it was warm up there and ended up losing a ball to the outside. We found it in the parking lot.
If you are looking for a laid back atmosphere with a small selection of beer and activities this is the place to be.
Mr. Keith F.P. M and I went here and had a ball. Â Excellent quality brews... Â I recommend the High Roller... Â We each had several... Â They're easy drinking and have a lot of horsepower too. Â There are enough activities here to keep you interested for a few hours... Â Pool, ping pong, darts, sports on the TV... Â They were playing boomin' tunes too... Â Primus. Â Very rare that you will go out and hear them being played.
People were really friendly here too. Â This is a great place, I would def go back.
Thank you Uncle Main for making this a required stop to go to...
I've been maybe half a dozen times over a few years, and I always leave happy. Â The place is so playful. Â You are greeted outside with a food truck. Â You are encouraged to bring this food in. Â It feels like you are going to a secret club when you walk up the stairs. Â I love the shuffleboard table. Â I know none of the staff, but they are so friendly and non-pretentious. Â No sideways glances when my crew unknowingly asks for Margaritas or bud lites or coca-colas. Â They are patient and helpful and serve great beer. Â Even the most hesitant of my friends (from the bud lite drinkers to the non-drinkers) have left so impressed. Â Raleigh is extremely lucky to have such a place!
Review Source:Been going to the Big Boss tasting room since it opened some years ago.  Another one of those places that used to be illegal in NC, no food just beer and only Big Boss beer.  I like IPA's and BB has had some doosies but why they settled on the High Roller recipe is beyond me.  I really don't like their beers.  The amber to dark ones taste burnt.  Had Angry Angel once at and Applebees or some franchise place over in Fuquay and it was very good.  To the uninitiated, this place is a dungeon on top of the brewery.  You have to really  like beer and their beer to go here.  It is in a really run down industrial part of town but only a few blocks from Highwoods.  Their beer is a little spendy if you ask me and sometimes they short pour which I will not stand for.  Anyway that's about it.  If you like drinking in a place that looks like it was decorated by crack addicts and only serves beer brewed on premise, then this is hole (I mean brew pub) is for you.
Review Source:Two friends and I decided to venture over to Big Bosses taproom. Â I have always been a fan of their Bad Penny and Angry Angel beers, so I wanted to see exactly what they offered at their facility. Â We pulled up in the gravel parking lot. Â It was chilly that night, so the outdoor smokers where at a minimum. Â Up the stairs and into the main bar area. Â It was a packed night for a Tuesday. Â What I liked were all the nook and crannies people could get to and sit down. Â We found a room in the back with a sofa and set up camp there. Â Our trip to the bar was ok. Â The bartender seemed a little out of it and this caused our first round to take a little longer. Â It seemed that the large crowd on a Tuesday night seemed to have surprised them. Â We did get our drinks and settled in. Â They, of course, were delicious. Â We only ordered pints, but flights were also available. The facility is great. Â You have free pool, Ping-Pong, and shuffle puck. Â The real meat of the bar is the conversations. Â People seem to always be engrossed on everything they are discussing. Overall, this is defiantly a bar I enjoy and will be returning to in the future. And keep supporting local business and drink Big Boss!!
Review Source:So cool to see how popular Big Boss and the tavern have become. We started going a few years back when there was no body at the bar. Â It was a new place and not known about. Â Now, it's not unusual to find the place packed inside and out. Â Occasional food trucks in the parking lot .... a fun unassuming place that's just easy and relaxing for after work, and the beer ...one of the Triangle's best! Â Blanco Diablo is my personal fav! as well as Harvest Time, Aces & Ates, and Monkey Biz-ness. Â They'are all pretty great!
Review Source:"A blonde, a Jew and a China man walked into Big Boss Taproom..."
No no no, this is not the starting line for a joke, this really did happen, several times actually, since the group of us (hereby self-proclaimed as the "Big Boss Posse," or "Bosse" for short) love to come here and hang out every time we decide to get together.
"A total dive," that is what most would have labeled the Taproom; while that may be correct -given the chipped paint on the wall, the wobbly and scratch-filled tables, and the toilet that requires "the jiggle"- but there are more charms that keep this taproom filled with merry patrons. The brews on tap are always delicious like the regular lineup Bad Penny or High Roller, and their seasonal experiments like cocoa flavored Big Operator, pumpkin spiced Harvest Time, or coffee (provided by local bean master Larry's Beans) infused Aces & Ates.
Have you ever play drunk billard or drunk darts? I bet you do. But what about drunk ping pong? How about a drunk game of "Scene it" or "Monopoly" or our crowd favorite "Apple to Apple?" At the Big Boss Taproom, you will never run out of interesting things to keep you happily occupied.
Now with the addition of regular food truck visits, thirst is quenched, hunger is fulfilled, and with a warm body and buzzed mind, everyone goes home satisfied. Now, Big Boss Posse, Assemble! #OccupyBigBoss
The taproom is not fancy. It is not elegant. It is not trendy. You won't find small-batch bourbon mini-milkshakes infused with bacon grease and local corn husks or whatever concoction is fashionable with 'mixologists' at the moment. Here, all you'll find is good beer made well, and plenty of it.
Along with their standard beers on tap, including Bad Penny and Blanco Diablo, Big Boss also features seasonal and specialty beers such as their autumn offering, Harvest Time, and the amazing Big Operator, laced with hints of raspberry.
Also available are games like ping-pong and darts -- always the best things to mix with alcohol -- and two TVs behind the bar. Seating is limited inside, with a few tables in the main bar area and a handful more scattered in small rooms off the main. The outdoor patio features a few picnic-style tables and a low wall that's convenient for sitting as well, which is especially nice in good weather. For me, the only downsides to the taproom are the sometimes-high noise level (I'm a little hard of hearing) and the staircase. Bad knee + heels + stairs + beers = not the most fun combination for me, though I'm told it amuses my friends!
Is it dive-y looking? Indeed! But don't let the warehouse look put you off -- Â Big Boss is the place to come when you like quality beers in a friendly space, and welcoming, beer-loving bartenders. No trends or pretenses here; just beer.
If my hubs was writing this, he would give this place a 5, me, it's not my cup of tea for 5 stars but I did like the place a lot.
I recommend a group of people as it seems to really promote fun times where the group can drink some yummy beer (LOVE BAD PENNY) and play shuffleboard, ping pong, darts, or pool. It wouldn't be the type of place were I would go with hubs or just a friend or two...not sure why, just seems like it would be weird.
Big Boss is situated off of Hodges Street, which I have to say, being from Raleigh and living here all my life, I have NEVER gone down Hodges Street as it seems like only seedy things happen down there. (Yes, I'm judgy......and cautious). I was pleasantly surprised when we drove up and saw this place that did not look like we should be going in. There are no big signs and it seems pretty deserted all around but when we got in, we were comfy and glad it was a cool place.
Don't get me wrong, I love the beers! We got a flight of 4 different types of beers for $5 and then when we chose the draft we wanted, we got them for $3.50 each. Super dooper deal! We hung out for a while as we were with a group of folks to celebrate a birthday so it was ideal!
Hubs got on a ping pong spree and now prides himself as the Ping Pong Champ. That coupled with beer and what looks and feels like a frat house and he is in heaven! I was happy to oblige, besides great company can make just about anywhere a great time!
I finally went! Yay! I've been drinking Big Boss beers (bad penny, thankyouverymuch) for a few years now, as I like to get the local stuff, and FINALLY managed to get over there last Friday, you know, during the first waves of Irene. We got there in between the squalls, so that was good, because we got to hang out on the patio. OMG cheap beer and cool games (I love shuffleboard) and righteous people. There's potential for difficulty navigating the steps very late in the evening, so always use the handrail, people! Safety first!
Review Source:Hooray beer! Â And hooray for the Big Boss Taproom! Â While I wasn't a huge fan the first time I stopped in, many moons ago, the BB Taproom has really improved over the past two years. Â It's not hugely different but the inside feels a bit warmer, cozier and cleaner than before. Â The addition of a pool table, ping-pong table and darts means you got some entertainment options besides 16 oz curls. Â
With standard pints at $3.50, $5 for Big Boss specialty beers, you can drink some of the freshest and most delicious brews at a bargain! Â Service is quick and there's plenty of seating space, inside and outside. Â So go-go Big Boss Taproom, the perfect spot to get your pre-game on....
I've been meaning to get here for a while since I'm a full fledged Bad Penny addict and am lucky that it is readily available in any local grocery. Â My wife and I decided to hit this place up on a Saturday afternoon soon after they opened. Â The inside of the taproom has a larger common area for the bar and then a series of rooms where some contain the dart boards and others couches, etc. Â I nice mix of bar games to go along with your beer makes this seem like a pretty fun place to hang. Â The staff were very nice and the location has plenty of parking. Â The beer selection was plentiful and they had their usuals on tap as well as a handful of rotating seasonal brews. Â I tried 3 different variants and loved all 3. Â You can also get flights if you want to try a little of everything and they also fill growlers though you can't drink it there....you gotta take those home. Â I can see myself getting a crew together to throw darts here more often in the future.
Review Source:I'll admit, when I first rolled into the industrial park where Big Boss resides I thoughts to myself: "Self, it's 10pm on a Friday night and you're driving around an industrial park in search of beer? New low."
As I rounded the last corner before Big Boss I saw the lights of the outside patio with a friendly (and later rowdy) crowd of beer-drinkers.
With a sigh of relief, we parked and headed inside. You'll head up the stairs (not wise to attempt in heels) to the taproom and set your senses free. With a whiff of fresh beer lingering in the air you'll most likely hear billiards, ping pong, darts and/or shuffleboard being played in the rooms surrounding the bar.
My friends and I joined the crowd at the bar where we ordered two flights of beer (at $5 each) while we got our bearings of what was located in this hidden, hip little spot.
My friends and I settled in a dimly lit room with couches and commenced a rousing game of "20 Questions" which later turned into "Would You Rather?"
Final verdict: very snazzy spot. But I can foresee it being a bit annoying in some of it's busier hours. This taproom reminded me of a party house equipped with a built in bar with fresh, tasty beer. I shall return. Thirsty.
Well hot DAMN! It's official: I *am* low maintenance!
While I live but a stone's throw from the over-gelled, under-dressed debauchery that goes down each weekend on Glenwood South, last night my band of merry-people and I decided to keep it low key and ventured out to the Big Boss Brewery.
Rumor had it that hidden deep within this fortress of fermentation was a ping pong table, and two of my guests were players of the bring-your-own-paddle variety. Myself, I was just along for the ride. Or so I thought. Hours later, they had to drag me kicking and screaming (Blanco Diablo still in hand) from the shuffle board table :) Â
The room (or room*s* really) have the feel of a WWII-era hideout (complete with quite the collection of pinup girls) and offer a number of entertainment options - and I do love a good game whilst sipping some suds. Between darts, table shuffle board, pool and, yes, even ping pong, and the occasional trip to the patio out front for a breath of night air and conversation, Horniblows is perfect for the ADD drinker.
As for the beer, they offer a $5 flight making it easy for you to quickly (and cheaply) find your fav among the eclectic Big Boss line. Â
The nostalgia-inducing music was spot on (by which I mean the crowd was largely made up of thirty-somethings and every song reminded us of high school or college...), the dress code was all over the place (from t-shirts and flips flops to pink shirts and boat shoes), and no one was too cool for anyone (could Big Boss be the great equalizer??).
In short, we had a blast, made new friends and got our buzz on, and for that I give Big Boss a very solid four stars. And now it's going to be really hard to get me back in a dress and heels....
The hubs got an email about the Big Boss Brewery free tour, and since he loves the Bad Penny (Big Boss's  Brown Ale) we decided to go check it out. They give free tours every second Saturday of the month, AND you can purchase tickets for $1 to get a full draft beer (3 ticket max).
The location is actually closer to our house than we thought, so that was a bonus. When we arrived, it was PACKED. People drinking outside everywhere. Once we got inside we got our beer tickets and headed straight to the guys pouring the beer. The only complaint about this was there wasn't a listing of what the beers actually were, so I had no clue what I was drinking. I kind of got a soup nazi feeling from the pourers, so I just took my beer and walked away. It was delish, but still not sure what I drank. We then got a in a group and followed our tour leader through the brewery. He was a very funny and entertaining guy, and I am pretty sure running a brewery is the best job ever.
After the 20 minute tour, we got our second beer and headed up to the bar area. Love it. Pool table, ping pong, shuffleboard (most underrated bar game ever), etc. Could totally see myself ordering many many drafts and playing shuffleboard for a very long time. No fancy setting here, total college bar environment with really good beer.
Can't wait to go back and try more beer. There were also 2 food trucks outside selling burgers and mexican fare - total bonus!
The only thing this really has going against it for me is location. I'm in Durham; it's in Raleigh -- but it's also in a little more out-of-the-way Raleigh than where I usually find myself. Otherwise, you'd probably find me chilling on the lawn or upstairs near the pool table on the regular.
The service: casual, like the atmosphere, but with recommendations at the ready should you need 'em.
The beer: I confess, I haven't found myself as big a fan of Big Boss brew as most of the beer aficionados I know. Chalk it up to taste (or ignorance?). Obviously they've totally got the brewing thing down, since their beers are spreading all over the place. Expect to find me sipping slowly at an IPA.
The events: are tops! An oasis for food trucks in Raleigh, organizers of pumpkin carving contests, and outdoor music celebrations, hard to beat the mini street parties they throw together with ease.
Great dive bar attached to the Big Boss Brewery. Â They don't serve food but you can bring your own. Â Lots of great side rooms to hang out with friends. They also have a couple of pool tables and dart boards.
For those that don't know, this is Big Boss Brewery's "tasting" room / tavern that serves their current rotation straight from the tap. Â
I didn't know they served anything other than their beer... but then, I've never asked either ;) Â (why would you!?!?)
It's a little off the beaten path on the side of a warehouse with a gravel parking lot, but definitely worth tracking down!
Enter the BigBoss building through the front and just follow the signs. Ascend the narrow stairs to enter Horniblows.
The place is dark and wooden with little nooks and crannies that give the whole place an underground feel (which causes a little cognitive dissonance since you just came up a loooong set of stairs) Each room has a single source of entertainment - a jukebox, darts, an arcade game, a pool table and a ping pong table so you can pick your room by activity. They've even recently added free wi-fi, if you, you know, need that ;)
The taproom functions well as a quick stop before grabbing groceries at the nearby Trader Joe's or Costco, but one could, actually, spend a good part of the evening here. There are food trucks out most nights now, Klausies and Kokyu seem to be the ones I always run into.
But now for the best part - the beer! Seasonals and specials dot the chalkboard behind the bar. Price, description and ABV content are all laid out for you. All you have to do is choose your adventure! I particularly enjoy some of the brews that you never really see in stores. The raspberry oatmeal stout and the Aces and Ates are quite wonderful.
If you're in the area and a fan of local beer, there's no reason not to pop in and order a pint or two. And bring some friends along so you can make good use of all the free bar games provided.
**food truck and wi-fi mentions are relevant as of 3/17/11
Great beer on tap. It can get busy, but so can any place. I really like that you can bring food in yourself due to it being part of the brewery. I don't exactly understand the rules here, but who cares! If you are able to get the side room with a bunch of friend and a great pizza, you will be very happy.
Review Source:3.5 stars - upgrade to 4. Â Big Boss/Horniblows Tavern mystically transforms hops, barley, malt, and water into an outstanding elixir called BIER! Â If rating the establishment for the magically brew, it would easily be rated a 5! Â They serve outstanding bier, and only bier, nothing else. Â NO foo foo drinks, no bourbon, no wine (I think), and definitely no food - only bier. Â I was fortunate enough to show up on the night that they tapped the IPA, my favorite! Â The IPA ranks as one of the top three or four IPAs to date. Â Cost? $3.50 a pint! Â Plus, you can purchase a growler at a pretty affordable price too.
Why the relatively low ranking?  Décor needs improvement, unless it is the "look" and décor that the owners are seeking.  Very rustic, actually reminds me of a "frat house," very simplistic, primitive... for a Monday night, the place was pretty busy at approximately 2130 (9:30 pm) when I visited.  The downstairs is the brewery, the upstairs consists of the "bar" with several adjoining rooms/sections - table with benches, section with a pool table and ping-pong table - both free!  However, no television sets to watch games/ESPN, etc.  Not a problem, you are there to imbibe in bier - nothing more, nothing less. Clientele was an eclectic crew - mostly college kids, a few "older" (I know, it's all relative what "old" is considered), but compared to college kids, definitely "older."  They were playing guitars and singing.  All enjoyed the good brews available.
Thank you for GPS - for without my handy-dandy unit, there is no way that I would be able to find this place! Â Located in a semi-industrial section of downtown Raleigh, the water tower (pictured in one of the reviews) is definitely a landmark to track your way to Big Dog/Horniblow's Tavern. Â Great place to have a bier or two or three...
This is my favorite bar.
The staff is always friendly, and so are most of the customers. The seasonal beers rotate often, so even when one of your favorites is no longer available you're sure to find something else you like.
I'd suggest avoiding it on Monday nights, otherwise you'll be subjected to live folk music of dubious quality. They keep the normal music on in the main bar, which is a nice gesture to those of us who don't care for the jam session. But it always kind of bleeds through, and even Big Boss beer doesn't make some things worthwhile.
If you're a cool person who enjoys a laid-back atmosphere, then head there any other night of the week.
Thanks in advance for avoiding Horniblows if you are loud and/or obnoxious drunks who yell about fighting each other when you get tipsy, the kind of people who "save" one of the few tables even when you'll be in the other room playing pool for hours, or desperate guys trying to awkwardly pick up on women who are doing their best to ignore you.
Horniblows tavern is the tasting room for the Big Boss Brewery and one of my favorite places to hang out in the Triangle. The bar is located on the top floor of a giant warehouse and serves nothing but the beer they brew downstairs (and some wine options). All of their regular pints are $3.50, with their seasonal and specialty beers (stuff they don't bottle) running $5. Since they don't serve food you're allowed to bring your own, they also have take out menu's available so you can order a pizza etc. and have it delivered-which is one of the things that makes this place awesome in my book. This is where I go when I want to go out, but I want to go out in what I'm wearing right now...the atmosphere is extremely casual and laid back and there's free pool, ping pong, and darts which is always a plus.
Review Source:Horniblows has great beer, no liquor, a few cheap wines, and friendly staff/clientle. Â They have a crummy ping pong table and an *ok* pool table, but the games are free, so it isn't so bad. Â
Pitchers of beer are relatively inexpensive, considering the beer is 3.50-5.00 a pint. Â I sometimes think that the beer should be less expensive, considering it is made right there in the building, and there is no extra cost to pay to transport the stuff. Â Don't think that you're paying any less for Big Boss beer at their brewery than you would pay for it anywhere else (unless you get an entire pitcher -- and 6 packs may cost 0.50 less than they would at the grocery store).
There is some contention among my cadre of compatriots about this place. I adore it; drinking home-brewed Big Boss beer on tap in a dimly lit room sitting on ancient, mismatching couches while playing a game of chess is idyllic to me. The small environment and huge beer diversity may baffle the 'get crunk on energy-beers and shake myself to whatever rappers are telling me is cool' crowd but to me it is divine. It's like an opium den without all the opium. They get bonus cool-points for being able to see the brewery from the bar while ordering; it's fun to be reminded of all the industry, the blood sweat and tears (metaphorically, I hope) that go into the creation of arguably humanity's favorite beverage.
Review Source:I think that this is my favorite bar in Raleigh. Â First of all, you have to know it's there otherwise you wouldn't just stumble upon it. Â They've got great beers that they brew. Â You can take home a crowler (sp?) of one of the beers on draft. Â It just feels like you're in a speak-easy and I guess that's what I really like about it.
Down side: can be super smokey, there is fluorescent overhead lighting that can be a little harsh for a night time affair - think classroom lighting; both the ping-pong table and the pool table are a little jacked up; Â the furniture is second hand 70's dorm room (see review of cup a Joe).... Â but even with all of that - I still love it.