March 17, 2012
I went here for the first time today with the wife and kids. I know St Patrick’s day probably isn’t the best time to bring the family to a pub, but they enjoyed it. The beer selection is really good for the area with probably 20 taps and a bottle list that’s at least a hundred deep. The food we had was fantastic, my wife and daughter raved about the French onion soup and my shepherds pie was great as well. Our server was less than attentive, but it was busy and hes did apologize more than once and took some stuff off the bill for making us wait. I found the beer a bit pricey, 5 bucks for Guinness, 6 something for smuttynose. 8 for breakfast stout and choklat. I’d go back again the selection a food were great. I would have rated higher if the prices were a bit more reasonable.

February 10, 2011
Big likes: beer list, atmosphere and interior, location. Likes: food (based on one dish). Unsure about: beer serving - unfortunately my Pannepot Reserva seemed off and at $10.50/glass was a bit of a letdown; I don’t know alot about proper decanting from taps but the bartender was doing this awfully fast and seemed intent on just getting the glass filled to the top (i.e., no head); oddly, my saison was served in a shaker; server also seemed awfully intent on having me order something when I barely had time to look at the beer list, and then when I did order something she came back and said they didn’t have it (OK then fix the list!). Overall liked it though and hope I have another opportunity to go back here.

November 11, 2010
The Amesbury Ale House is located in the former Pow Wow Grille. Nice old building in downtown with tin ceilings, a long bar along the left, booths on the right and seating on the first and second floors in the back. WE sat upstairs with a nice view of the Pow Wow River waterfall. Service was a little scattershot, but you could tell she was trying. We were quite a distance from the bar and she was serving a number of upstairs tables. She admitted a lack of beer knowledge and it showed. She only knew of beers through the menu and when there were typos on the menu, they followed through "Ballash" Point Sculpin was one of the faux pas...Quite a good selection of rare taps although a number of IPA offerings were not available and the tap list had not been updated. Rarities included Struise Black Damnation II and Angel Share. Beer was served a little colder than I desired, but in the correct glassware. There are also 2 casks although there was only 1 live one. Food was OK, not great, but not why we were there. Overall beer prices were as expected, food prices a little high, but overall good value and a fine visit if in the area - only a couple of minutes off I-95.

April 17, 2010
Very nice beer selection and knowledgeable waitstaff. Beer selection turns over frequently and they always have at least one offering on cask. Know how to pour a nice pint.