Barley John's Brew Pub

Recommends

Beer Critic

Joined 3 years ago

My new favorite restaurant!. Barley John’s is my new favorite restaurant. Their beer is excellent; my favorite being their house IPA. My wife and I went for lunch and agreed the food was very good. The bartender was very busy as he was also waiting on tables, yet he did a great job and even had their brew master stop by our table when I asked if it was possible to meet him. If you are in a hurry and want to be waited on hand and foot, go somewhere else, but if you want to relax and enjoy great food and possibly the best craft beer you will ever have, you need to check this place out.

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hawkstar

Joined 5 years ago

Great beer, above average food, small space. It's best to go to Barley John's in the warmer months when there is seating outside. Inside is cramped, but I haven't had any problems with take-out.

The food prices are a bit higher than some bars, but Barley John's uses quality ingredients. You get what you pay for! Mixed greens instead of iceberg lettuce, interesting pizza toppings instead of canned mushrooms and Cisco cheese.

I also promote the spicy items on the menu. Not too many places in MN have the balls to use habaneros and other spicy peppers, but Barley John's has a few items on the menu that utilize spice perfectly.

Doesn't Recommend

Maiero

Joined 4 years ago

Fun but not very good. Sure, this place brews its own beer, but what it needs is some more customes. Then, the food might not be so terrible and the beer -- which is excellent -- wouldn't be so overpriced. I love Barley John's but it needs a lot of improvement.

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janedawson

Joined 4 years ago

Awesome food and the best beer to match!!!. My husband and I love to go out on date night. Our favorite place is Barley Johns!!! The grilled pizzas, artichoke dip and the seafood specials are my favorite. If you're in the mood for a burger, the buns are homemade and fit for a king.

I love the Wild Brunette beer-it is one of a kind! We always grab a growler ( half gallon jug) to go. What a crowd pleaser at the cabin. On Wednesdays sometimes we enjoy the 1/2 off bottle of wine and sit outside on the patio to watch the sunset.

On Tuesdays our kids eat for free...our kids love the french fries and the homemade mac and cheese and a kiddy cocktail made just right for kids.

Don't miss this jewel of a restaurant. You will not be dissapointed.

Doesn't Recommend

movelab

Joined 4 years ago

Don't go here for food or ambiance. We went here based on the star rating. The place lacked any charm. The bar was tiny, and if you like TGIF's food then you might like the food here. We left before we ordered as the menu was horrible. The beer was good, but that's about it.

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JCSLCL

Joined 5 years ago

BIGGGGGGEST HOME BREW BEERS!!. Most people come for the beer. They have 4 "always" beers. A Bitter, IPA, Wild Brunette (a brown wild rice brew), & Porter. The last 3 are all strong, about 8% abv. They always have seasonals. They also a have a many guest beers, as they like to call them. They also have a good wine selection if your into that. The menu's selections are of a pub/bistro type. The food is good, but come for the BEER! Many home brewers frequent the place. If you want to learn or talk about beer, this is the place to go.

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bobomojo

Joined 6 years ago

The best bar in the Twin Cities. Quite simply the best bar in the Twin Cities. BJ's is a brewpub: they brew their own beer, from start to finish, on-site. They even grow their own hops on the premises. Their beer rates easily as the best in Minnesota, and both the ratebeer and beeradvocate websites consider the "Dark Knight" (a seasonal brew) one of the best beers in the world.

The food is amazing. Almost everything is made from scratch. The pizzas are incredible.

The actual restaurant is a little cramped, but the patio is large and inviting. Spring, summer, and fall evenings can be spent around the patio's fire pit, enjoying some of the finest brews around.

In fairness, some people are surprised to find that they cannot get a Miller Lite or Bud at the restaurant. While the bar does offer some beers not brewed on-site, they are primarily higher-class beers from both America's and Europe's finest breweries.

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spooner5567

Joined 8 years ago

Not Impressed, but I'll give another shot some day. Went there once over the summer on a weeknight. Service was mediocre, and although the beer was 'good' it was way overpriced. (A pitcher of Pear Cider was purchased for about $40- a great value!).

I'll have to see if their happy hour offers prices that are more in-line with the area, bar.

Doesn't Recommend

grad_girl_1

Joined 9 years ago

Overpriced. Barley John's has pedestrian decor and is in a very cramped space. I've been there twice, and as other reviewers have noted, I found the service so-so. I therefore found the prices out-of-line: for dinners, they charge what I'd expect to pay at a formal restaurant such as McCormick and Schmicks, but the atmosphere is more like Perkins. I thought the microbrews were ok to good, but the food was nothing special...I was expecting much more given the prices.

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libbiepup

Joined 7 years ago

Always had a great time!. The food is excellent. Their twist on "american fare" is refreshing. Their beers are pretty good. The service is friendly! I always have a great experience!