July 27, 2009
My #1 favorite bar. No TVs, no loud music, no Coors Light. Two levels of laid-back, well-lit bar tables. Trivia on Wednesday nights, and 22 draft beers at any given time, almost always well-priced. There is a very limited amount of food, but what they do have is authentic and delicious. (The roast beef is the signature item, but the bologna plate is an underrated second choice.) They usually have Genny Cream Ale and Prior Double Dark (aka Saranac Black Forest) for under $3, and a diverse selection of beers from all around the country. It’s the perfect place to have an easy pint with good friends.

May 12, 2008
VERY unusual look and feel for a beer bar. This is a beer bar no doubts with about 20 taps and even an exclusive beer. However the place looks like a big smoke-meat old-fashion restaurant. Tap menu is quite ok in quantity with about 20 taps although there wasn’t any killer beer (except one, more on that later) but not boring beer either. We’re talking here, good but not great beers from standard known American breweries (Rogue, Magic Hat, and such). This bar really seemed to focus on locals/north-east coast breweries. I was there too late to taste any of their smoke-meat but looking around me it seems like a nice place for a snack. Now the COOL, VERY COOL thing about this bar. They have an exclusive beer, a cask beer, the Clark’s Amoryale which is brewed by Middle Age. I’m not a big fan of Middle Age but let me tell you that if you are a fan of authentic English-style cask ales this is well-worth the detour.

March 1, 2008 [ Updated April 10, 2008 ]
THIS is the sleeper of Syracuse. I suspect that many who come here to Syracuse will miss out on this quiet pub with much respect for their beer. The staff is great. They only have two items on the menu: Roast beef or Turkey sandwich. They are both excellent. They have about twenty-couple taps with at least one hand pump. They get some pretty interesting stuff on tap here. I like the fact that they serve their ales and lagers at their appropriate temperatures. Quiet place that is beer geek friendly and mostly free from the college crowd.

July 24, 2007
As close to an English pub as you’ll find in Syracuse. I love this place - brings me back a bit to Yorkshire every time I go. No music, no frills, just excellently maintained beers and people behind the bar who know what they’re serving and what they’re talking about. As noted, 22 taps that are constantly rotating. The guide here is a little off in terms of price - 2.50/pt isn’t what you’ll be paying for the higher abv brews, although even these are less expensive here than they are at Blue Tusk. Out of the 22 taps, expect about 10 to be macro - the rest filled with a lot of rarer locals and some greater-volume micros like Rogue, Stone, Magic Hat. Hot roast beef sandwich is amazing and is served from open to close. Other sandwiches available during lunch hours, as well as cheese plates and pickled eggs. Great, great place.

July 13, 2007
A very pubby feel. Very good beer selection and always well-maintained--never a skunked or stale barrel. Tasty sandwiches which seem to complement all of the beverage selections. Having a cask ale tap scores huge points with me. I’m from the Syracuse area and just writing this review is making me homesick.

June 17, 2007
Very comfortable pub atmosphere with a nice selection of quality micros from around the world. Indoor and outdoor seating. Upstairs (balcony) and downstairs seating. Very friendly, generous bartenders. Didn’t try the food.

December 17, 2006
Dec. 17, 2006. If I’m in metro Syracuse at lunchtime, a visit to Clark’s Ale House is a better-than-even bet. I love three things about this place: (1) the excellent, albeit relatively-small, selection of quality micros; (2) their famous roast beef sandwiches -- sawn off a slab before your eyes and placed on a large soft bun to be topped with horseradish; and (3) the sidewalk seating, a wonderful vantage point from which to watch people go by downtown during the exceedingly short season when being outside in Syracuse is a pleasant experience. Service at the beer/food counter has always been quick, friendly and courteous. The wait-staff have always offered a taste sample of any of their beers before an ordering decision is made. More informal and lacking the posh menu of the more upscale Blue Tusk, Clark’s is a great place to grab a quick sandwich and top-notch pint before heading back to work or up the Hill to catch the Orangemen in action at the Dome.

February 28, 2006
my favorite bar in town.not much selection ,but what ilike. the one sandwich is plenty for me and i like to sit on te patio and watch the world go by

January 1, 2006
Pretty cool rather divy, cozy joint. Not much of a bar, more of a counter setup with lots of bar tables and stools in the narrow room, most at the window for an exciting view of downtown Syracuse! Small, eclectic tap list changes rapidly; I was there twice about 9 days apart and a quarter of the taps were different. Like Blue Tusk, the focus is on NY state; not nearly as big a selection as that joint 2 blocks away, but much cheaper. Both worth a visit. And the roast beef sandwich really does rock.

July 29, 2005
Great atmosphere, very cozy. Knowledgeable, friendly, efficient staff who care about their stuff. Very cheap prices, gives me the impression that the patrons rotate a lot and yet the place would never be full. Similar selection to the blue tuck, far less taps, but more to the point. Only one sandwich as food, but it fills a hole and is quite tasty, if unspectacular. I feel well here.