Ironworks Brewery and Pub

If this was the last place on earth serving booze, I'd probably just quit drinking.

Solid 3, working its way to a 4. I've been here twice and my experience improved dramatically between the two visits. The firs visit was in August. I ordered a beer and got a beer. Yesterday, my coworker and I stopped by for a beer after work. We're both big craft beer guys and Ironworks isn't really known as a craft beer destination. We ended up chatting with the assistant brewer for about 15 minutes. They've increased their selections and are working on a pilsner now, which is only a week in the fermenter and already shaping up nicely. He even poured us some tasters. That was awesome and really cool of him to do. He's very proud of what he's created. He shared a lot of information about future batches and places they are working to distribute to. He was really friendly, as was the bartender and another gentleman I imagine was either the owner or manager. I was really impressed. This place has a reputation as a dive bar, and don't get me wrong, it has that classic pool-table, rough and loud bar look to it, but don't be fooled. You can come in here for a beer after work or a long night of drinking with your crowd. Sure, they serve Bud Light, but they also have 8 micros brewed in the back and some friendly staff. I can see me uping the rating another star if future visits go well.

I am torn between a three and a four star here.   If I were rating solely on the brewery part of the establishment, I would give the beer four stars.  I love the pale ale and my husband loves the stout.  Careful though, it has a sneaky alcohol content.

The atmosphere is what I would give the three star rating.  Ironworks is kind of hidden away behind the old McDonald's (ha!) and a dance studio.  When you walk in it is very divey and has a sea of chairs and tables that are difficult to navigate. There are 3 pool tables in the back which are regularly taken over by some very skilled looking people with their own cues and cue bags (?).   They are all very nice, but it still isn't so inviting for people who just want to casually play pool.  We have been here for open mic night and a karaoke night.  Both are what you would expect, though the open mic night was much more enjoyable for me.

The food all seems to be frozen bagged bar food.  Don't get me wrong, I love $2 corndogs, but you should know that this isn't a place to get "pub" food in the European sense.  This is something that wasn't clear in reviews when we first moved here, so I thought it needed to be said.  

I guess upon further review, this sounds like a 3 star rating.  But I like this place and I like the beer.  And as it is the only brewpub, or even bar for that matter, in this area, I give it 4 stars, because it is what it is and you should take it for just that.