January 29, 2012
Went Thursday afternoon for an app and Saturday night for a drink. Very busy Saturday, only a few free tables. This place has changed a lot recently. Staff was very open that they used to only finish the beer on site with the wort being brought in. That has changed and they now brew from start to finish and have hired brewmaster Greg Nash. They had four regular brews and two seasonals, all of which were either average or better. They also had an excellent selection of high end guest bottles. The decor was also renovated this fall and looks rather upscale and bright for a basement pub. Overall, it seems like they are working hard to improve in all areas.

July 5, 2011
Had a very late brunch at the Mustache then headed downstairs to try the beers here. The place was neary deserted, but not surprising given that it was 27 degrees and sunny, and Rockbottom unfortunately has no patio. Very nice modern pub environment, spotlessly clean. Quick and friendly waitress, although not much in the way of beer knowledge. As others have noted, the brews here share the universal quality of coming across as a bit thin and simple, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say awful. Worth a stop to try a few new beers and support a new local effort. Incidentally, no relation to the Rockbottom chain that is found throughout the U.S.

May 22, 2010
That was a waste of money. Commercial beers using the same yeast for most of their brews. to say that I was dissapointed is putting it nicely. I had a hard time figuring out what the difference between the beers were. Awful beers.

April 28, 2010 [ Updated April 17, 2012 ]
Since the Rock Bottom has completely overhauled its practices I’ve decided to re-review it. The ambiance is still pretty great. The service is good, but spotty (a waitress once threw my plate on the table and I ended up with half my fries in my lap, and received only the most cursory word of apology). The food is miles ahead of what it used to be but the quality is up and down on a daily basis. At least the beer is good now. Fantastic really. Dominated by Greg Nash’s ballsy hop forward IPAs with some lighter and darker brews to balance out the selection. They also have a rotating selection of guest bottles that seem to come almost exclusively from Premier Wines. Realistically, you can eat well and drink a couple brews for ~$30. ~$20 at happy hour.

October 27, 2009
A beautiful setting below My Father’s Mustache. I agree there are ressemblances with C’est What, more modern, warm, friendly service....Barman was from Qc City, so it was fun to speak ones own language. Simple varied pubfare, a it pricy. Beers need more oomph.

August 4, 2009 [ Updated December 18, 2010 ]
A dark, downstairs pub that is truly beautiful. Exposed river-washed stone for the walls, long polished bar, and a lot of dark granite and wood. In many ways, it reminds me of C’est What in Toronto. A large modern fireplace dominates the center of the room, directly across from the bar. The beers are technically fine, but I do feel that they could be amped up substantially. The IPA is substantially underhopped, although I think the brown ale was pretty good. My server was very friendly and efficient and knew quite a bit about both the running of the brewery and the ultimate plan for the pub. Technically, only the fermentation happens in the pub and the wort itself is produced off-site... which makes the lack of flaws in the brews all the more impressive. I do hope this place is successful... it’s got a nice ambience and a cozy feel for the winter months, although the darkness is likely problematic for the summer months. Glad to see a new addition to the Halifax beer scene.

January 31, 2009 [ Updated May 21, 2012 ]
Downstairs underneath My Fathers Moustache. Cool place, rock walls with a view of the brewing area. Staff were friendly. Comfy seating areas. Seems cosy for the winter and probably cool in the summer. Overall a decent enough place, Food is pretty standard. Home cut fries are excellent. The beers are nothing spectacular but still worth a visit. The IPA’s are the stand out beers created here with some soild stout and porter.