Black Bear Saloon

No Longer In Business

The Black Bear is in a nice old building in the centre of town. It has wooden panel on the walls, pewter panels on the ceiling and a long perching shelf down the middle of the room. Unsurprisingly it seems to cater to students, with various offers on different days of the week (a trivia quiz on Tuesdays with $5 pitchers of Miller Lite; buy a burger and get a free draft beer on weekdays between 1200 and 1500). It has a few craft beers but isn’t really a beer destination. The service was very friendly and enthusiastic though and we enjoyed it there, especially the impromptu entertainment. The man sitting next to us at the bar ordered a sizzler which set off the fire alarm. Within minutes a fire engine and about five very rotund firemen turned up. Both their arrival and their successful intervention (switching off the alarm) were rewarded with claps and cheers! Had they risked their own lives to save a puppy from a burning building they couldn’t have been hailed as greater heroes. (Visited 30 October 2012).

Not a bad spot for lunch. About a dozen beers on tap. Some kind of 2-for-1 happy hour special on Mon+Tue.. but those beers are miniature.