Happy Hour Review: Brewer's Art

The Brewer’s Art is the type of establishment that you can bring anyone to – for dining or for drinks. Sophisticated hopsheads will be pleased with the huge selection of beers from around the world, but local-craft brew fiends will be excited to try the half-a-dozen house beers, brewed on the premises. The ales, stouts and lagers are joined on the drink list by an impressive offering of scotches, small-batch bourbons, and a very respectable wine list.

Happy Hour shines on Sundays and Mondays, when it stretches from 5 or 4 PM (respecitvely) all the way to close at 1:45 AM (Tuesday–Saturday, it’s 4–7 PM), and all house beers are just $3.50 per pour. On a recent Monday evening, the front dining area boasted a lively crowd, ranging from the students from nearby education institutions (MICA, UB, Hopkins, UMB, etc.) to professionals of all ages. The second bar is below-ground, and was not at all crowded, although there was a healthy flow of people up and down the stairs.

The dining menu contains an array of ambitious and varied foods, from red curry mussels ($10) to grilled miso-glazed octopus ($13), to heavier fares like grilled lamb ($25) or chicken schnitzel ($23). One of the best deals is the rosemary garlic fries ($4), which is big enough to share over a glass of deliciously cold Riesling (Hogue, Washington State). The housebrew pints also make a good pairing, especially at happy hour prices.

House beers worth highlighting include the seasonally offered Sublimation, a light Belgian-style beer, with a sweet honey note and slight spiced bitter aftertaste that rolls off the tongue delightfully. It’s smooth and light enough to be consumed with a meal. The Monument Ale is also a refreshing brew, with a pleasant hoppy strength created especially for the monthly summer concerts in the park.

On a weeknight, the establishment had loud music blaring, ranging from 80s Prince to old school R&B like the Jackson 5. Conversation flowed, food was tucked into, and beverages were happily sipped as the staff moved seamlessly thru the crowds.

1106 N. Charles St.; 401-547-6925