Latest reviews from Reading

“We came here on 26.7.2019 after visiting a David Allan Coe concert close by. Very nice small beer bar, quaintly decorated and a lot of charisma. Very good beer selection from Spaten (Munich) to Firestone Walker. Another beer bar you wish to have in your neighborhood.“

Schlenkerla 1734 days ago

“We came here on 27.7.2019. Seems this red brick building was a former fire station. A few memorabilia from the old days are displayed inside. The brewhouse is behind the bar and hardly visible. Outside a spacious patio with the usual games. Roughly 10 beers on tap. We had the NEIPA and the Blood Orange IPA, both were quite good. As they had a seafood event they were serving beers only in plastic cups, but made an exception for us. Was a very nice gesture.“

Schlenkerla 1734 days ago

“Canal Street is very hit or miss. Table service is usually very slow...I prefer to sit at the bar. If they are hosting an event like a wedding in the ballroom don't even bother...2 bartenders trying to cover a wedding and pubs means long waits and the kitchen will be slammed. Its a shame because Canal Street used to be great.“

bob_with_1_oh 2338 days ago

“The venue is what used to be an old car dealership. The stock of beer is all sold in 12 packs or cases. Very few single bottles are available for purchase.

Pennsylvania got rid of the case law last year. Yet for some reason this place lives in the past. It is worth a look if you need a 12 pack for a family get together or party. I can’t comment on the prices because I don’t live anywhere near the area. “

AirForceHops 2668 days ago

“Biggest selection of beer in my area. Staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. Definitely worth a trip there if your looking for a great beer selection.“

BroadestTom 3324 days ago

“Great beer selection and great food at a good price.“

BroadestTom 3331 days ago

“Good food and decent prices. Nice little spot in Reading.“

charule 3379 days ago

“Pretty cool place, nice ambiance. Decent prices and selection. Odd part of town but as a parking lot.“

charule 3379 days ago

“What can I say about Mike’s Tavern? My favorite bar in Reading, PA. Pete C. Invented beer bars in Berks Co. during the1980s. Mike’s is an old steel worker bar. Pete moved back to area a few years ago and purchased Mike’s. He has a full bar with 4 taps. Usually a pilsner, IPA, a stout and another. The cooler has nice selection of bottles. It is not the Ritz, but it has a fun vibe. Great place to go prior to a Reading Philies game.“

Macegan75 3480 days ago

“m a local and this is where locals go for some reason. Talk about high school reunion every holiday. Ok prices, poor selection of craft. Im forced to go more often then not.“

charule 3566 days ago

“What a gem!!,you won’t find many places like this anymore.One of the best beer bars in reading,period.Although pete doesn’t have food there is an ample supply of other snacks,and free pretzels.ALWAYS 5 WORLD CLASS TAPS AND A COOLER WITH ENOUGH FOR ANY BEER GEEK’S FANTASIES.JUST STOPPED IN YESTERDAY AND HAD RACER 5,SIDEKICK PALE ALE,AND GREAT LAKES PORTER AT $3.50 A POP.IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER.“

FDMONTREAL 3568 days ago

“i can’t believe more people have not discovered sofrito.start with the food fantastic next the beer,you won’t find a better lineup with fresher taps always rotating.my last visit i had founder’s double trouble,coronada idiot ipa and madura from tampa.WHAT ELSE COULD YOU WANT WITH A GREAT OUTSIDE PATIO.“

FDMONTREAL 3579 days ago

“Lot of beers on tap, and a good selection. If you sit at the bar the service usually really sucks. Pub grub is pretty good, nothing to write home about but good.“

josewasabi 3702 days ago

“Great beer bar. Probably 10 taps, and a fairly decent bottle selection. Now serving chili dogs which are very good.“

josewasabi 3702 days ago

“The Reading area really needed a beer destination like this, and they finally got it. The overall feel of the place is really nice. It’s just off business 422, but seems like a whole lot farther away. The decor is really homey and comfortable and the servers and bartenders are friendly and inviting. The beer selection is pretty massive! The food isn’t all that bad either. I had a personal pizza when I dined here, along with a nice surprise dessert of DFH WorldWide Stout! I don’t get up to the area much any more, but if I do, I’m sure to stop by and visit again.“

obxdude10 3709 days ago

“Stopped in after leaving work in the area. Looks like your neighborhood sack o suds on the outside. The bottle area is clean and organized and the staff were friendly. Prices were a bit on the high side. Off to the side they have a mini deli with keeno and stuff which was filled with a bunch of loud ghetto looking drunks. Probably wont be back.“

vlan1 3731 days ago

“Ambiance - was a little strange. The neighborhood is slightly dodgy. I heard one of the staff say several times, "I’m coming over to smell your wife’s underwear drawer!" to another customer, I’m assuming the knew each other, but it’s sort of weird, and kind of unprofessional. The place is organized and the indoor area is really nice, but sort had an AA quality about it. Service - was helpful, and the one lady was really doing her best to help me locate really off the wall stuff. The folks that frequent there were very helpful and one gentlemen helped me locate some great brews. Selection - I’ve been to other places, and they are smaller and it seemed like they had more than this location. However, what I will say is that Mari’s does have a lot of really nice beers, and whatever companies they carry, they seem to have most all the beers that company carries. One thing I thought was odd, was that there really wasn’t much in the way of Czech, Russian, or East European beers, or really many other beers from around the world. It’s definitely more stateside focused, and that’s ok, but would have liked to see that. Food - not sure they had more than chips and peanuts Value - The beer prices aren’t that competitive versus other bottle shops, here and there some were right, some where way up there. I will say that I did get a nice Duvel glass for $6 which seemed very fair. A long drive for me, I might stop down again, but it’d be rare.“

DandyWolfFloyd 3741 days ago

“Great place for individual bottles both warm or cold. One drawback that I’ve noticed is many of their bottles don’t have prices listed. You have to take it to the checkout counter for pricing. They also do tastings of various micros.“

jimski 3901 days ago

“Good selection of draft beers, and great wings.“

jeremytoni 3916 days ago

“The Knight’s Pub is a traditional English pub with a modern flair. Providing expansive views through folding glass doors allowing customers to enjoy the beautiful landscapes during all four seasons. The doors are open during nicer weather to provide a comfortable open air atmosphere. The Knight’s Pub has something for everyone including a large outdoor fire pit to enjoy a drink and the company of friends. Wednesday is flight night that includes beer, wine, and martini flights with half-price appetizers. Menu includes high-end pub grub and the option to order from the Stokesay Castle restaurant menu. They have a few craft ales on draft, at least one of which is brewed just for their pub. My understanding is the ale/s are brewed by Union Barrel Works.“

TreborWhip 3987 days ago

“HISTORY: Bixler’s Lodge was built as a barn in the mid-1800′s and was owned by the Krammer Organization. The barn housed an old-style, hand-pumped fire truck for the Krammer Factory located across the stream. It also housed animals and was used for farming. From 1903 to 1906 The John Babb family owned the property. For a short time in 1907 it was owned by the Eckert family and Deppen Brewing Company. In 1907, the Stony Creek Mills Building Association purchased and owned the property until 1931 when James Bixler, Sr. bought the barn. For a short time, hoedowns were held upstairs for entertainment. However, with the help of local stonemasons and carpenters, it was transformed into Bixler’s Lodge in 1934. At that time, local people would bring in stuffed animals, rifles, and handguns to display and hang from the wooden beams. The Bixler family sold the property in 1981 to Joseph and Helen Quaglia. The Quaglias continued Bixler’s tradition until 1989 when Scott Woodward purchased the establishment. Mr. Woodward enlisted the partnership of Brian Hartman in 1991 and continued serving the Stony Creek and Reading areas. In 1993, Brian and Doreen Hartman became the owners of Bixler’s Lodge. With over 70 years of serving fine foods and drinks, we believe Bixler’s Lodge to be one of the oldest historical restaurants in the Reading area and hope to continue the fine tradition for many years to come. RATING: Great local pub where I can always count on a great meal with a cold ale. Daily/weekly specials abound along with the regular menu. Usually has 3-5 craft beers on tap that rotate seasonally. Antique rifles hang from original 150 year-old wooden beams. Also, check out the old cast iron "toys" displayed on the fireplace mantle. Usually always a fire in the fireplace during winter months. Sit at the bar on a Friday afternoon/evening and enjoy jumbo sour dough pretzels with horseradish cheese dip.....awesome! Reservations recommended for dinner.“

TreborWhip 3991 days ago

“Located in a less than desirable part of town, however, huge selection of ales to choose from and fairly reasonable prices. Helpful associates to help you find a particular style or brand. Go during the daytime and you shouldn’t have any issues.“

TreborWhip 3996 days ago

“A very nice six pack shop. Very clean. If you cent find something try here. Mexican music is blaring in the background. 6 pack discounts on mix/match.“

charule 4014 days ago

“I haven’t been here in some time. I used to always go during the holidays until it become way too popular and overcrowded. Nice ambiance and a decent selection.“

Art 4093 days ago

“This place is awesome. If you ever find yourself in the area it is worth a drop-in. I grew up in the area and didn’t know about this place until I was home for the holidays. I was impressed by the selection. Be careful of out dated beers, since they have a big selection, turnover isn’t high.“

Art 4132 days ago

“Slow, shitty bar tenders but overall nice people that own the place and help with mix and match selections. Nice setup but always too crowded. Huge patio=wasted space. TONS of good beers but overpriced. Never tried the food.“

Dscales22 4139 days ago

“Nice place that really fills my void of not being able to drive to Capone’s or Pinnochios. Has a nice cooler setup with several aisles of brews seperated in an intelligent way. The service was very kind and the woman behind the register was very kind. I didn’t ask for any help in picking beers but I did overhear the store owner talking about a lot of beer with another client. I definitely felt the knowledge was available. Selection is huge. I picked up a mix six with evil twin, hair of the dog, and more. No food rating. They had hotdogs but I didn’t have one. Prices were a little higher than some other places but the selection made up for it. Tart of Darkness and Oude Tart ran me $23 each.. but I don’t see them anywhere else in the area. I will be back, often.“

boxofrane 4210 days ago

“Located in a strip mall not far from the Albright campus. Most of the store is a bottle shop although there’s also a small area roped off as a bar with 6 taps and a few tables and chairs and pool table (I’m guessing that’s the more part.) without a somewhat dodgy clientele but that part is easily ignored. This is primarily a bottle shop and what a selection they have. Over 1000 bottles by the likes of Mikkeller, evil twin, emelisse, cigar city, lost abbey, port brewing, duck rabbit, dogfish head, nogne o, etc. beers are arranged by nationality with a very large domestic craft scene. Cans are arraigned separately. They also have a 14-16 coolers. This being a college town the BMC was flying off the shelves but the staff asked if I needed any help. The only drawback are the prices. They’re 20-30% higher than you’d see in surrounding states. But they do give a 20% discount for a mix 6 so it mostly evens out. In terms of the sheer quantity of their quality it’s safe to assume this is one of the top beer stores in the region if not the nation.“

DiarmaidBHK 4276 days ago

“I remember adding this place a few times here before, but it always got deleted. Not sure why. I haven’t been to Mari’s in a while, since I don’t live in the Reading area any longer. This place is definitely a dive, but the selection is worth the scare of going in. The clientele can be a little shady at times, especially if you stop by in the later hours of the evening. The service is a little inattentive, but then again, I never really needed any help in picking anything out or finding anything.“

obxdude10 4289 days ago

“Nice pub near the river. Always has interesting ales to choose from. Although the taps are slightly less than other craft beer establishments, they have quality ales and don’t waste their time with "junk" beers. Have not eaten there so I can’t comment on the food. The bar staff appeared knowledgable and proper glassware was used.“

TreborWhip 4352 days ago

“Staff lacked knowledge, improper glassware and poor layout of bottled beers, which made it hard to locate certain brews. When we asked the staff about a handful of beers that were "on special" we got the deer in headlights look. I’ll still go just because they have a better selection than anyone in the area as far as a pub goes, but it’d be nice to see the training and reception of staff become better developed.“

jpaulson 4372 days ago

“Basically a hole in the wall, that I only went to, to pick up bottles to take home. Very good and varied selection which allows you to get anything in there as a single. Also, a 20% discount is applied for 6+ bottles. Easily the best selection in Reading, but definitely a rough neighborhood and crowd. The workers don’t know much about the inventory, let alone, craft beer in general, but the layout is easy to navigate. Would definitely stop here again, if in Reading.“

Steve_0 4380 days ago

“Very big place that a had a really cool vibe, which was really weird considering it was in Reading. Good food and service with good prices to match. About 12 taps, including firkins, and easily 150+ bottles. Very good place for craft beer and any bottle can be bought to go. A must stop if you are in Reading.“

Steve_0 4380 days ago

“Recently moved 3 doors down to a better, larger spot and modeled well for a beer store. Its not fair to rate them as a bar or restaurant because its mostly take out. The area is not so good, but its the best place to find beer in the area and to try a variety without having to buy a case (a stupid PA law). NOTE: if you buy 6 different beers of the same size you get a 20% discount!!“

doubleipaguy 4390 days ago

“Great selection of beers cold or warm. Staff is friendly and some of them have beer knowledge. If they don’t they will tell you. With the craft beer market explosion I don’t think your going to find a better place for bottles in the reading area. I’ve been going to mari’s for years but since the reopening I’m there 2-3 times a week now. Just to see what new stuff she gets in.“

IPAhater 4441 days ago

“This place was one of the first six pack shop I ever went to. We used to stop here on the way to Al’s Diamond. I think they moved down a few stores since the recentl reopening. The business model hasn’t changed. It’s mostly a bottle shop but they have afew taps and serve hot dogs etc. There were two gruops of hispanic gentleman who were having a good time. The difference this time around is a huge warm section on shelves. The carry most pruducts we can get in PA. Alesmith, Russian river, Lost Abbey, Voodoo, Firestone Walker. The service is friendly, not crazy knowledable but willing to learn. The prices are high for Berks county but the more I think about this the more I realize they pay the same for a case as I do in Mont Co. I just worry that the average Berks countian will not want to pay these prices. But I am glad to see this place slightly reborn.“

Macegan75 4457 days ago

“This place is by far the BEST CRAFT BEER SPOT in Berks County. No one has a better or bigger selection on town. The prices are very good and the service is fantastic. There are new beers arriving on an almost daily basis and they go above and beyond to satisfy customer requests. So if you are in Reading PA and you want some great craft beers, come into Mari’s and get a mixed 6 pack or 3 or a basket full of the big bottle stuff. I am sure you WILL not be disappointed. And also, they have beer tastings EVERY Saturday from 1-3 and the tastings are FREE. You can check on ratebeer to see what upcoming tastings they are doing!!“

DwalkMaris48 4469 days ago

“Visited on a Friday night, which hurt the ambiance a little. Noticed a definite change in clientele around 10 PM or so, went from being mature and professional to young and a bit unfriendly. Thankfully, that’s about the worst thing the place has going for it. The service was decent - most of the bartenders were pleasant and attentive. One, not so much, but can’t hold that against the staff as a whole. The selection is wonderful. Dozens of taps, and good taps too. They have a couple of your usual domestic suspects in bottle and tap, but the majority is craft. Great seasonal rotations too. My party had some of their offerings from their late-night menu, with mixed results. The fries and cheese was good, and reasonably priced. The muffaletta was decent, a bit expensive. Lastly, the mozzarella sticks were overpriced and tasted a bit generic. I would like to hit up the dayside menu to get a better opinion in the future. Value is good, nothing seems overpriced - in fact, some of the beers might even be underpriced. Most every serving is right around $5. Overall, doing a damn good job, and hope to see them stick it out.“

Drewcifer81 4562 days ago

“The Liberty Taproom is a welcome addition to Reading, PA. 30+ drafts and 420+ bottles to choose from is hard to come by anywhere let alone Pennsylvania as a whole. One can mix and match six packs to go for $13.99 choosing from 300+ bottles priced from $3.50 to $4.00. One can also mix in other bottles priced from $5.00 on up for a small up charge. Large selection of 20_+ OZ bottles are all 20% off the tagged prices. All of the food is fresh and made in-house. Nothing is coming out of bags, frozen; including the rolls, wings, etc. Large outdoor patio, live music, this place is well worth visiting.“

Blakebecca 4650 days ago

“Visited yesterday with my Dad and friend Jeff. This used to be Nick’s Chat a While years ago. Double dorrs open to a small hallway that leads to the bar and bottle shop to the right. The bar is located int he center of the room. Nice set up with just the right amount of space for tables. The bar is a high top with granite tile (cheap) and wood trim. The have a computer screen on the wall with the updated tap list. Out of 30 taps at least 20 were worth while. I was not impressed with the glass ware but he proces were good. The food is OK, which is not bad for Berks county. The bottle shop was nice. With Alesmith, Founders, Bells & Voodoo just to name a few. This place is exactly what this side of Reading needed. Nice place.“

Macegan75 4689 days ago

“Nice place in Reading for bottled or draft beer. Decent food and prices. I’m afraid the Liberty taproom is going to vastly outdo this place but it’s nice to have options.“

fata2683 4695 days ago

“very hokey place that I have not been to in over a year, but used to frequent for a beer or two. Decent rotating taps and occasionally live music.“

fata2683 4695 days ago

“Great place right off of 422 in the middle of the city. Really nice selection but due to crap PA beer laws, everything is sold by the case so plan accordingly.“

fata2683 4695 days ago

“The Liberty Tap Room opened for business June 13, 2011. The Grand Opening will be held sometime in July 2011 at which time the outdoor patio and website will be completed and their hours will expand to 1100 - 0200 daily (presently 1600 - 0200 daily). At present there were 32 beers on tap and by July they will stock in excess of 450 bottles. The bottle shop has an entire wall of coolers where you can mix/match 6 packs of 12 ouncers at a set price that is currently $13.99/six pack. The patio is being revamped and the website is under construction. They call themselves a "gastropub" which, by definition, refers to a bar and restaurant that serves high-end beer and food. My wife had the "Baltimore" which is a large crab cake sandwich and I had the "Muffaletta", a sandwich made of ham, cappacola, salami, and cheese with special sauces grilled on a kaiser roll. Both were delciious and generous in size. Service was quick and the staff was friendly and professional. An excellent selection of draft and bottle beer is available as they specialize in craft beer from around the world. Liberty is located in my neighborhood so I know we will be back many times. Like a fine bottle conditioned ale, this place will only improve over time. My biggest recommendation would be to serve the multitude of ales in a glass style commensurate with that style of ale. Most ales are seved either in a pint glass or tulip glass. Additionally, certain ales should be served at different temperatures based on style. For instance, an Imperial Stout should be served around 50 - 55 degrees in a tulip or snifter type glass rather than at temperatures of 37 - 40 degrees and in a pint glass.“

TreborWhip 4698 days ago

“The service can be hit or miss here. Very good selection of beers and the food is quite good here.“

jacobm52 4767 days ago

“Very big fan of the Ugly Oyster. They have a pretty good selection of beers and the Oysters are top notch, along with the Ugly pretzel and wings!“

jacobm52 4767 days ago

“Overrated watch what you buy a lot of cases are dated especially the belgiums. Mike the owner is snub , does not even have the courtesy to say hello just looks down at you from the edge of his hanging glasses. Pay $2-$5 else where for freshness and service“

butkus 4899 days ago

“Food has always been good and is served and prepared well. Beer selection is OK, would like to see more craft beers. “

TreborWhip 5336 days ago

“What a find! I was looking to go to the Legacy Brewery to see if they had a tasting room and found that this bar was on top of the brewery. Walked in and was floored with the smell of hops from downstairs. The beer list was admirable with about 50 bottles, 3/4 of which were bottles bigger than 12oz. They had about 12 quality beers on tap with a hint of what they were tapping in the future. If you are a beer drinker and happen to be in Reading (lol), check it out!“

gsmitty80 5341 days ago

“Pretty good selection of American craft brews, German, Belgian, and other European countries. They even had Rochefort Trappist, however, a 12-pack of 11.2 ounce bottles was $69.99 plus tax. Typical of Pennsylvania where you have to buy everything by the case, 12-pk, or 6-pk.“

TreborWhip 5356 days ago