I live in the center of college bars and I must say Black Sheep knocked all these typical bars off the charts. Â The bartenders are great, the ambiance is mellow and welcoming. Â If you're looking for a bar where you can sit and chit chat about life then this is the place to go. Â If you're looking to dance and find love (yes some people actually go to bars for that) then do not even consider trying this place out. Â I wasn't a beer fan before, but after a couple of visits to Black Sheep I have acquired a taste for fine beer. They have anything from raspberry to banana and watermelon beer. I'll definitely be back soon. Hope to see you there!
Review Source:Yeah. Loved this place. Great beer selection. Small hole in the wall feel but clean. Great vibe. Great service. No food other than frozen pizzas and free hotdogs. You can bring food in. The also have a cask ale on tap. Being from Miami, a $6 craft beer is very fair. I'm definitely coming back next week! Can't wait.
Review Source:This place was downright gross. I came here with a friend on a Saturday night, and since it has pretty good reviews on here I figured it would be safe. Â Yet, judging from the crowd outside we were a bit hesitant. Â We stayed here for 1 drink and left. Â
The place smelled like old spilled beer on a dirty floor in someone's musty basement. It was really gross. The crowd gave me the feeling of walking into a party with a bunch of 21 year old's who just started drinking for the first time. The place seemed dirty to me too, the smell and the air made me feel dirty. I felt like I was in a humid basement. There was a group of girls playing a board game too which was odd and added to the feel of being at someone's teenage, crappy basement party.
The only thing this place had going for it was the sort of lounge like seating area it has in the back.  Some genius in there was keeping the door open which let in all the outside cigarette smoke as well and stunk up the place, which I know isn't the bars fault per say but  I couldn't wait to get out of this place, it was just awful. Obnoxious crowd, bad smells, not my idea of a good time.
Sorry, I'm a pretty fair reviewer and I rarely give very negative reviews but this place just didn't work for me.
My friend says this of the place ... "As far as this reviewer is concerned, it is NOT the cats pajamas. This bar gets 1 paw out of 9"
Disclaimer: this review might be slightly prejudiced in favor of the BSAH for nostalgic reasons. They still know what they're talking and drinking about. I learned from experience that this bar has everything you need to get some serious beer education, sans the snobbery.
They have the best pour of Guinness in the state of New York (they claim ...and I believe them), they rotate their beers quickly but not so fast to give you whiplash, and they get some of the most hard-to find kegs in the area. That includes that big old city at the end of those train tracks (BSAH is less than 5 minutes walking distance to the Mineola LIRR).
Add Jenga, free hotdogs and trivia nights and I'm sold. I'm pretty sure there's drink specials. I didn't even care.
My impression of The Black Sheep Ale House is that it's clearly one of the landmarks of craft beer character on LI that exudes a consistent high level of service with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Having been there many times either by myself or when I recently brought 75 people with me, The Black Sheep embodied what I wanted in little craft beer bar with welcoming pint of something different from the taps, or better yet, a cask.
From the exterior of the place situated on the high corner of Roslyn Road & 2nd St, one gets the impression that the Black Sheep is yet another Irish-style bar, which it was for many years prior to its rebirth in 2010. Shining neatly in its black suit with gold lettering, the entrance opens into the heart of the bar area with a line of taps going down the length of the bar with supporting bar features and colorful chalkboard of what is on tap, its serving size, and abv content (and maybe hop % too).
Walking the length of the bar, the path hits juncture that opens into a broad sitting area with brown/tan tables and chairs. There is also a well situated side door on to Roslyn Road, which has served me as a good exit when leaving.
Adding flavor to the background with a magical bar with great reach in its purchasing for the benefit of its vibrant and changing customer base, one can easily find several good beers to try from at any time. The bar is very conscious of maintaining its friendly service levels as its bartenders lean over with a smile to pick up your order and they also know their products, which in itself is a refreshing difference rarely seen on LI.
One of my highlighted visits to The Black Sheep during LI Craft Beer Week last year featured a stunning cask of Long Ireland & Blind Bat Brewing's Saison, which was clearly one of my best experiences with cask ale, outside of the Blue Point Cask Festival. I had to applaud the bar for taking great care with the cask, as it does with all of its tap equipment.
My only note about the venue is that it doesn't have a real bar menu, though it does have some snacks.
Looking back at my good experiences with The Black Sheep, it is always in my mind as one my top places to go on LI for great beer.
I think the owner's reply to one of the harsh reviews sums it up well.
This place is not a total dive nor is it high brow craft beer snobvile, it's simply a good bar that is very knowledgable & caring about their beer selection. I cannot understand why anyone would view this as a bad thing, but maybe that's just me.
Service was very good & draft beer options were excellent. I also liked the vibe of the place quite a bit & will definitely go back.
Sorry guys, I just can't get into it.
YES, they have good craft beers on tap.
YES, the bartenders are pretty nice.
...and YES, they serve free hot dogs.
So why two stars? The ambiance just doesn't do it for me. When you walk into the Black Sheep it doesn't scream, "we only serve awesomeness - beer nerds and snobs welcome here!" Instead, it screams, "We're a dive bar that will do $3 Jaeger shot and Budweiser specials! Wooo!" Â Alot of the time the crowd also seems like they are part of the latter crew which is cool, its just not for me.
This is the real deal.
Very little Ale Houses can even compare to this place. Its the cream of the crop of all beer enthusiasts! Goes without saying they have the best beer selection from anywhere else.
Free hotdogs and snacks!
Everyone that works there are very friendly. Try to avoid the Trivia Night, gets way to crowded (Good for Business).
Don't even think of asking for a Coors or Bud here, the costumers my kick you out! LOL
Well, in life we are often judged by the company we keep. Â Sadly, that also goes for businesses to be reviewed on this site. Â While Black Sheep would probably earn four stars from me for the bar itself, allowing such an atrocious pub trivia game on the premises has lowered your rating in my eyes.
I stopped by recently mostly to check out this pub trivia game. Â But first I took a look around and was impressed by the homey feel of the place. Â I was less impressed by the flock of twenty-something hipsters that have apparently taken over the place, but I did like the upscale beer list and the knowledge the bartenders had of it. Â However, where were the "regular" beers that somebody over 35 might like? Â Are you trying to discourage everyone else from coming back to your place? Â Because these kind of ultra-hoppy beers definitely have a limited appeal, especially at the price point they are offered at.
So I hung around for this so-called trivia game, narrowly missing being able play the first round of "famous Bobs" because the trivia host decided to start *early* that night.  I did get to play the next round of "name the movie director," which was mildly interesting, but when things made a turn for the worse with a round of "name the nicknames of N.Y. college teams," I was not impressed.  When the answer that pops into your head is "who gives a shit?" you know have a problem with your game.  And when the host announced that the last round would be a visual round of Pokémon characters, I headed for the exit.
The sad thing is that the hipsters thought that this game was just fine and dandy. Â I guess they didn't mind that the host seemed barely awake or that the game of four rounds took two hours to play. Â So I can only assume that they just didn't care about the game itself and where happy just to drink beer. Â But anyone who has ever played a reputable, carefully-written pub trivia game will be disgusted by this half-assed effort by local company, "Trivia Is Party."
Ultimately, the overpriced, niche beer selection and lame trivia game left me leaving disappointed in the place. Â But I am over 35, like drinkable beers and enjoy well-written trivia games, so I was obviously not the demographic that they were going for.
If you're in Queens or Long Island, probably the best beer bar outside of Manhattan. The place has a huge rotating beer list. It's reasonably priced for what you're getting of the craft beers and the service is good.
If you want to order from the bottles, Lagunitas Lil' Sumpin Sumpin is an incredible deal and possibly the best beer the brewery makes.
They also have free hot dogs, which is so random, but I guess it's a great snack if you're had one too many. There are board games sitting on a cabinet. The walls are loaded with huge TVs with whatever games are on.
I wouldn't go too far out of my way for it, but if you need a bar with some delicious craft brews, check it out.
We came here after our wedding with a few friends since we had an afternoon reception! Originally my sisters wanted an after party but then they could not make it. After realizing the bar at our hotel was too small and not much action was going on there we decided to come here. We had a great time. We ordered mini-pizzas and they were super delicious, they gave our group free champagne after they had realized my husband and I just got married, I enjoyed a METs game on television and the METs won so I was high fiving a few other METs fans in the bar. Visiting here was a fun experience I'd definitely suggest the place to someone or come back soon.
Review Source:Tons of beer on the menu.
Great Trivia Night on Wednesday!! I love trivia!
My bf and I joined the Yelp Team headed by Drew, Community Manager of Long Island and we sailed through the food trivia question section. Pressure is on because can you imagine a Yelp Team losing on food questions??!! hahaaha....Well we got the job done!!! Barely but we did it. Actually we tied but there is a chugging contest to decide on the winner....thanks to Randy H...we won the Chug Off!
Free hot dogs too! They were good hot dogs too.
Fun night!
Beer!
Free hot dog.
Start Trivia night.
Fun!
More beer!
Again hot dog.
More trivia.
More beer & hot dog.
More fun!
More drinks.
Yelp Team wins Trivia Night!
Great place for games, trivia fun and drinks.
Tip: Trivia night is Wednesday.
Tip: Great beer selection.
Tip: Free drinks if you win a round of trivia!
I went here with some friends last night and had a total blast. The place was filled to the brim, which surprised me since it was a Wednesday. The trivia was conducted well; albeit I didn't actually do much for my team, aside from batting my eyelashes ;)
Crazy impressive beer selection (definitely ask the bartender for samples), nice vibes from everyone, music was a good mix, and free hot dogs for those who are brave enough. I love bar food, so I was a little disappointed that they didn't have a menu of their own, but there is an odd little joint across the street that serves bar-eque food, so that did the trick.
If this place wasn't so far from home, I'd probably be a regular. In any case, I'm sure I'll be back.
Came here for Trivia Night. Place was packed! I didn't know so many hipsters appreciated a good round of jeopardy.
The Black Sheep has a great selection of beers. (Move over Croxleys) And you get free hot dogs (at least on Trivia night you do)
The bartenders are very nice and super friendly. There is a nice alcove in the back where you can have a modicum of privacy. Parking can be tough in the area however, it is very close tothe LIRR station.
Trivia Night at Black Sheep! Now that's my kind of fun.
This place is great. Let's start with the fact that when you walk in the front door you're met with (what seems like a mile of) beer taps. So many choices! I loved the fact they had a large selection of IPA's and even cask beer. There's a huge menu board behind the bar with the beers on tap or you can ask the bartender for a beer menu. Most of the beers were between $6 and $7.50, that's pretty competitive for the area. They even have Delirium-tremens for $9, a personal favorite.
Head further into the bar and you'll find the tables in the back with board games. It's a fun place to hang out with friends. I was there for trivia night so this became center stage for the trivia game. Each table played against each other and the rounds include spoken clues and visual clues, some of the rounds were pretty tough. So now you put together an amazing selection of beers add in a comfortable place to hang with friends and throw in a game of scrabble, it's a winner.
Oh, speaking of wieners, they also have an unlimited supply of hot dogs cooking up all day long. And best of all the Hot Dogs are FREE!
The bartenders and waitresses here were very fast and friendly. Just the way I like it. I really like this place, I'll definitely be back to explore the beer menu at Black Sheep. You should try it too,
Two thumbs up from me, it's a winner! I'm giving up a coveted 5th star for Black Sheep.
100 Beers available?!?!?!?! Â What!?!?!
The Black Sheep Ale house seems reasonably small, which is what makes the fact that they have 100 beers available to patrons such a good surprise. Â There's a few things I look for when at a bar. Â I want the bartenders to be attentive, I want the place to be clean, I want clean beer glasses (can't say how often this is not the case), and it doesn't hurt if they have board games. Â The Black Sheep Ale House fulfills all my desires.
I came here for bar trivia with the good folks from yelp and not only did I have a blast, but I also met a GREAT group of new friends. Â If you go, consider to try the Mckenzies seasonal, which is absolutely awesome! Â The one thing I would say I wasn't thrilled about was that they don't have any food available. Â Yes they do have hotdogs for you, and the have bar snacks as well (which is a HUGE plus), but there was a moment when I thought to myself, "What I wouldn't give to have some cheese fries right now!" Â That being said, there are some good eats just across the street.
If you're in the area, or like bar trivia, or just want a good bar to go to... head to the Black Sheep Ale house. Â The place is fantastic and there are just not enough ways to describe how awesome it is.
Crowded on the weekends, pretty hard to maneuver around. Â I'm pretty sure you won't be able to take advantage of their board games on the busy nights unless you want your pieces knocked everywhere. Â It'll also be incredibly hard to hear your friends while playing. Â This can also all be bc there was a live band playing that night. Â
Their list of beers is insanely extensive & written on a blackboard behind the bar. Â I haphazardly chose one of their many pumpkin beers which unfortunately I didn't like too much. Â On the bright side, there are about 50 billion others to choose from next.
Crowd skews youngish, twentyish -- popular local bar with a great vibe so it's packed. Â Trivia night on Wed!!
This bar is quite far for me to go often but I must say it is definitely worth the travel time. It's a really relaxing place with a great selection of beers. So many choices! I've yet to even scratch the surface. Did I forget to mention the prices are decent? It won't break your wallet! The employees are the most polite and friendly people I've ever met. Guess that's the difference between NYC and LI. They have plenty of TVs for you to enjoy whatever sports games. They have free hot dogs cooking on the side for customers. I'm sure no one would turn that down. Remember this is in a LI bar not a hot dog cart in the city. Not to worry though, if you want to bring your own food, feel free to. They don't mind.
They have trivia nights on Wednesday! It is pretty fun. You get to team up with your friends in hopes of winning the game and getting a free round of beer! Definitely a good incentive! So you can gain some knowledge, get drunk and have fun with friends!
The walls of the bathroom are chalkboards! Write whatever you like. Some of the comments are pretty funny. Guess that makes going to the bathroom enjoyable too!
I definitely recommend this place for people to hang out with friends.
Beer!
I liked this place immediately because 1) they have a LOT of beers and not just the same ole, same ole. Â 2) Staff are *extremely* friendly and helpful and 3) trivia.
They also have free hot dogs all the time in the event that is your thing or you brought your fat bastard significant other or friend. Â There are a load of TVs there to keep you abreast of whatever sport gives you a chubby and the music was much better than many places I have been too.
The physical location is what a bar should be -dark and inviting and with enough stools and tables scattered around the front room to give everyone some elbow room. Â The back room is also well spaced out and gets hopping.
Beside the free wieners, they allow you to bring in food from elsewhere and some in our group did just that. Â Good for them, not so good for the bottom line on the establishment - but hey, I don't own it.
The bathrooms were clean and didn't stink of piss, which is always a bonus. Â Double bonus: Â there are chalkboards on the walls of the bathroom so you could entertain yourself writing something deep and meaningful while draining the lizard.
Prices were very good - better than expected actually. Â
The only downside is that parking is not that easy  - there is a small lot behind the place otherwise you have to park a block or so away and hoof it over.  Minor issue.
Go!
Dogfish Head. 120. On tap? Yes Please! And Thank You Very Much!
Plus... 24 additional craft beers on tap and dozens of bottled beer. And free Hot Dogs! Â The bartender really knew his stuff. He was knowledgeable and personable. Although I was old enough to be everyones mother, I did not feel out of place or uncomfortable. We watched the football games on multiple TV's and chatted with the patrons. Prices were great and the bathroom was so clean that I Â actually sat on the floor to write on the chalk board ( yup, a chalk board in the bathroom)
But that IPA was a dog in sheep's clothing. Didn't even see it coming......
This is my kind of bar. "Chill bar" is what some would call it. Good for a great beer (I have yet to try a cocktail there) and some low-key convo. To save you time I'll list the excellent qualities:
-Plenty of TV's around the bar and outer room
-Free Hot Dogs (everyone says "gross" at first and then eats one 2 hours later)
-Board games for borrowing
-Good tunes
-Hella large brew list
-Good prices
-Space to move
-Chalkboard in the bathroom
-Wed trivia night is a great time.
-They serve pizza's but also allow you to bring in outside eats
-Bartender and manager on site who know what their doing and talking about
That's really all I can ask for in a corner bar. Kudos BSAH!
Absolutely love this bar.
I may be biased because I live so close and come so often, but the owner is a sweetheart and appreciates all of his customers. The Bartenders are awesome as well, very personable, and they have no problem explaining the selection to people who are just now deviating from good ole' Coors and Bud Lights.
They let you taste the beer before making a commitment too!
All in all, if you're looking for a comfortable place to unwind during the week and enjoy your love of beer and having a good time with some super nice people. Black Sheep is it darling!
oh yeah, BTW
Board games and FREE hot dogs. YAY
I stopped by after visiting my cousin in the hospital after she had her beautiful baby girl. Â If I lived in the area, this would be my local bar, for sure.
Lots of great tap craft beers: Â Barrier, Spider Bite, Great South Bay, just to name a few. Â And, they had a Barrier beer on cask which was especially cool.
My favorite thing about this bar?? Â They have BOARD GAMES to play while you're there hanging out with your friends! Â A def. plus!!! Â
Lots of televisions for whatever it is you might want to watch. Â For us, it was the Olympics!
Oh, and don't forget, you can get yourself a hotdog, which always is a great addition to a great beer!!
Trivia night (on wednesdays) Is always packed. The staff were super friendly when I told them what beers I was into and suggested two excellent choices.
I'm really glad this place exists. Theres a shortage of decent bars in long island that you can have a good craft beer at, enjoy the bartenders taste in music and hang not too far from the train.
Hotdogs? YES THEY HAVE FREE HOTDOGS and 4 dollar drafts when I went. Cool place. Check it out!
Greatest selection of beers, I would say in the area. The bartenders are very friendly and really try to make it a place "where everybody knows your name". Theres no kitchen but there is a hot dog cooker. They offer free hot dogs and you can buy some cooked frozen pizza. Lack of bar food is my only rant.
Review Source:Want to feel like a black sheep? Try ordering a beer here.
Although the beer selections is phenomenal, the service at this bar is simply atrocious. I get ignored by hipster bartenders enough in Williamsburg, I don't need to deal with that in Mineola.
I'm an experienced bartender who has spent the past 7 years working at a 4 star restaurant in a nearby neighborhood. I am absolutely sympathetic to a staff being slow on a busy night, but the service I have received here the three times I have gone is simply unacceptable. Unless they step up their game, I will not be back.
Lose the black rimmed glasses, put on a smile.
This place is fantastic. It has a huge rotating craft brew draught selection with a good variety, and an impressive bottled selection. Â The bartender (Rachel) was fun and knowledgeable about what she was serving. And who can beat free hot dogs all night long?
This is very quickly going to become my go to bar. It's surprising how few people there were on a late Wednesday night. I hope more people start frequenting this fine establishment.
Have been going weekly since December, frequently at the suggestion of my wife. We haven't been frequenting bars on a regular basis in 25 years--but it is nice to have a place where "everyone knows your name". Â The draw for me is the selection of unique domestic beers; I'm not sure what my wife loves about the place, but she has found some obscure brews that have apparently struck a chord. Â (Cosmos are apparently quite satisfying as well.) Â The only downside is when superlative beers are replaced by unknowns, but finding new favorites is one of the wonders of the establishment.
About as eclectic as the selection of brews is the clientele. Â Seems that anyone can be comfortable here. Â
I've found the bartenders to be very personable--willing to engage or leave you alone--never overstepping your space. Â There have been some events with no cover charge and buffet food and/or entertainment that are great draws--and indicate that the ownership cares about the customers. Â I'm hoping that a promised kitchen is in the future, but for now the bar pies (excellent!) and free hot dogs (haven't tried) bridge that gap.
If you like beer, this is the place!
Anyone with a brain in their head would like this place. Some can even love it. there is a wide variety of brews so there is something for everyone, from super hoppy to roasted and sweet. Not only is the staff extremely friendly, but the clientele is as well. It is a great place to make friends, if you like. But no one will bother you if you prefer to be left alone.
Review Source:Great place for beer lovers. The best selection in the area with a whole wall describing what's on tap. There are printed menus describing the options, with brews from as close as brooklyn and as far as oregon. They even let you sample them before you commit!
We tried a delicious porter, a sweeter brown ale from Dogfish, Delirium Tremens and a Hennepin. Yum yum!
Other highlights include good sports viewing in one area, great seating in another, and basic bar food.
The only downside was that people smoke right in the doorway and you can smell it inside. It was in my hair when I got home.
I work in the area and was thrilled that this local place added a bunch of taps and kept some of the original charm. Boasting itself as having the perfect pint on Long Island, the former O'Donnell's Pub now has 25 taps. Soon they will have some Real Ale Hand Pumps as well.
Although they don't have a kitchen - they have free hot dogs during the day. Additionally they will be more than happy to share some local Takeout menus with you.
They will take any request to heart when you want to bring in new beers or breweries. They also keep locals on tap - such as Brooklyn, Keegan and Greenport harbor to name a few.
This bar has great potential... they have live music and will add some brewery takeover taps in the future.
Nassau County needs a place like Black Sheep - and I'm glad they're in my area. I expect more to come!!
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