Federal Taphouse

Wow, just going through the reviews on yelp and I gotta say I had a great experience here. Now keep in mind I did not eat here so this is based off some great brews and a great bartender. I was impressed with the amount of taps that they had and the different beers they had to offer.

They ranged from NY to California and everything in between breweries. We came in with about 4 other people and the place was empty, now granted it was a Tuesday but still we had no problem finding a spot and soaking in some hops. The bartender (i don't know his name but he had a shaved head) he was really nice. I love talking with a bartender that knows his brews and this guy knew his stuff.

All around had a great drink enjoying some great beers. When I come back to Lancaster in March 2014 I will be stopping back in here to grab one or two of there great beer selection. CHEERS!!!!

As a Lancaster expat, I'm always curious when new, interesting sounding places open in my former town. On a trip home, I rounded up some family to check the Taphouse out based on another friend's Facebook post, and, well, it was... okay.

Luckily, we were there on a slow Monday night, I can only imagine how impossible this place gets when busy. But having the attention of the waitress only goes so far when she's unable to answer any questions about the beer.

If you're going to bill yourself a craft beer bar, with (ostensibly) 100 beers on tap (which is too many for any one venue, frankly), then your servers... ALL OF THEM... should have at least a cursory knowledge about what to suggest to the craft beer novice who might want something similar to, say, a Stella Artois. The descriptions on the beer list are insufficient to give an idea of the complexity of the beers ("tastes like dessert" is not enough), and to add insult to injury, our server told us they only allow ONE TASTE per customer?!?!

Tasting is a mandatory aspect of any decent craft beer bar, and to put a limit on 1/100th of what they are supposed to have is unforgivable. A server or bartender can easily tell when someone is abusing the privilege, there's no reason to punish someone who wants to expand their palate when it comes to beer.

As for the food, it was a very mixed bag. Our charcuterie plate was fine, but rather scant for the price. My friend's pizza was dry and looked like it was sitting under a heat lamp for an hour. As others have mentioned, the wings are unwieldy and not anything spectacular. I thought the Beet Salad was delicious, and the sausage plate likewise earned raves. It does seem to be a bit overpriced, which may have more to do with the overhead in a restaurant this enormous than the quality of the ingredients...

Maybe things will shake themselves out at the Taphouse, but unless the management takes the concept seriously, loosens up on the sample restrictions, and demands an education on the part of the staff, I don't have very high hopes for things getting that much better.

The Federal Taphouse hasn't been open for even half a year yet, and it is already one of the most (if not THE most) bustling place to be on the weekends in Lancaster. Well I mean, with one hundred beers on tap-- how could it not be? Regardless of how busy, however, it is still possible to be served a drink in a timely matter... getting a table is another story.
I went one time in the afternoon (when it was only slightly busy) and sat at the bar. The bar tender, or maybe better to call him a bar genius, was fully equipped to answer any of my questions about the 100 beers they have on tap. He let me try 2 or 3 IPAs before making my choice, and was very helpful with informing me all about the ingredients, flavors, and origins of the beer.
The space is very large and open, which makes for a nice atmosphere, especially when they are packed. The upstairs cocktail bar is not finished yet, but I can't wait to check that out too!

Recommend: #11. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, San Diego, CA, ABV 7.0%, 16oz, $7
One of the best IPAs on the market today, light and aromatic with a great
balance and good hop kick.
Glitch: Don't even try to come here without a reservation on the weekend, unless of course you don't mind having two, three, four... drinks at the bar before being seated.