Full steam is awesome. They have a great beer selection and variety. Their persimmons winter is my favorite even for someone who doesn't love dark beers. It is very high percent alcohol. This place also has a huge indoor area and darts and some other activities to entertain. Great place to go grab a beer...or 3! read more

Good atmosphere, but the beer is strangely average. They do a good job with the marketing and experimenting with new beers, but when I go, I prefer the more traditional beers, like their Rocket Science IPA. Fullsteam was a big contributor to revitalizing this neighborhood, so I will always be grateful to them. If you haven't been, you should go to check it out. There is a lot of stuff to do, like ping pong or pinball, or they have a nice outdoor patio. read more

Having moved to the area in 2012, Fullsteam was one of the first places I visited and to me they embody the whole Durham scene. Everyone seems to love them but for me they are just ok. Parking can completely suck on a Friday or Saturday night, there is no central heating/cooling in the main area, and it's a crap shoot to whether or not they have their ping pong table set up. They have lots of board games but most are missing pieces, the dart boards have seen better days, and they no longer offer ladder golf. Of all their year-round beers I only care of their Beasley's and because this place is so popular, getting a drink or seat can be a challenge during peak hours. Now with all that said, a lot has changed over the years. They now produce a wide range of seasonal beers with the summer basil and the fruit cake in winter as my favorites. They almost always have a food truck, trivia on Thursday nights and they offer "free" Yoga on Sunday mornings. During my most recent visit I noticed they are carrying a lot more beer options on tap and the bartender was very pleasant and offered us up plenty of samples. I have hopes that with return visits I will find more beers that I enjoy. I love to bring out-of-towners here to show them what makes Durham great and tend to visit during the day when things are more low key and I can dominate my husband at ping pong. read more

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Fantastic branding and marketing: just learn to make a good beer. It's not that difficult.

If you want to hang out with a bunch of grad student hipsters hanging on to cool for dear life, this is the place to go. The beer is average at best. I think the only reason this place has survived is because the locovores cannot stand the idea of their beer dying out. I would rather go for quality or at least value. read more

My boss sent me here after I was informed via the Fullsteam Twitter account there would be free WiFi at this location. I walked into the bar to find it dark, air conditioned, full of people, and noisy (who wants to hear Cage the Elephant and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs when they're supposed to be typing up a business plan?). And you won't believe this. The back wall was lined with 22 taps of BEER. And not all of them were Fullsteam. I caught a glimpse of some Ponysaurus, Mystery, and White Street. They also had CIDER from Foggy Ridge. That's not even local! Virginia is something like AN HOUR north! Among snacks, there are Englewood Church peanuts and Zapp's chips available. In JALAPENO. Do you know how SPICY that flavor is? It will only make me want to drink more beer. So will the roasty, salty peanuts. Smart thinking, Fullsteam. I'm onto you. I came to the conclusion that my boss is a real jerk for having sent me here. I could have been in an artificially-lit cubical farm that is QUIET save for the occasional whir of the printer or the clicks of elevator doors as they hiss open and shut.. I could have lost myself in my spreadsheets with my headphones in, avoiding all communication with co-workers for long stretches at a time. But NO. I was sent here instead. With a Cackalacky in this pint glass in front of me. read more

Kids? Dogs? Hipsters? Blue Devil? Tar heel? All are welcome at my favorite spot in Durham! Whenever it is a nice night, I am begging to go there. My husband and I pack up some bones to keep the dog busy (because a visit to Fullsteam is never short) and make the trek. Why do I keep coming back? (1) The food trucks - As a student, I love the cheap eats. As a local, I love the variety. (2) The games - Foosball, ping pong, arcade games, darts; they have it all. Plus, trivia night on Thursday. (Just watch out for the PhD students!) (3) The beers - Owner, Sean Wilson, is always coming up with creative concoctions using local ingredients; changing his menu with the seasons. My husband's favorite is the One Hop Rye IPA and my pick is the sweet potato lager, the Carver. But, you can't go wrong with their Fullsteam lager. (4) The atmosphere - Where else do students, parents, kiddos, hipsters, and dogs all mingle together? The big wide-open space and picnic tables makes everyone feel at-ease and welcome. It is like your favorite park from your childhood, but with beer. Other good-to-know facts to prepare you for your visit: - You can order beers in 6oz for $2, 12oz for $4, or pitchers - They don't close for private events, so don't be surprise to see some office or birthday parties - You can buy their growlers at Sam's or inside for $10 with a $4 bottle deposit - You can bring your own food inside. - Great place for large groups read more

The atmosphere and actual space are amazing. And yet, the beer is so average and a bit expensive. I guess my 2 stars is maybe a penalty because of high expectations, but with so many good beer options in Durham I only go here grudgingly when my friends want to-and I've noticed that it is always my friends who don't really like beer who want to go... read more

I don't understand people's enthusiasm for this place. I really, really want to like them, but every time I go they disappoint. The quality of beer is unpredictable, averages at blech, and maxes out at Pretty Good. Twice (that I know) of they've sold a contaminated/otherwise failed batch of beer - once as a "sour mash" carver and once as a "Compare-A-Bull" Toro Cream. I could go on and on about the beer problems. I think that all of the unusual ingredients help hide brewing mistakes, and maybe also make people more ready to accept off flavors as interesting rather than bad. I also find it a little annoying how suspicious they are with the IDing. I get the need to be careful, but it's hard not to feel unwelcome and it takes all the smooth spontaneity from buying a drink for an attractive stranger or a pitcher for friends. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's been a consistent feature of my experience there and worth mentioning. The only unqualified positive points I can come up with are the space, which in fairness is pretty great, and the proximity to other bars & food trucks. I avoid this place all I can anymore, but when I found myself there again last night it didn't take long for me to know that they're the same place as ever. read more

Fullsteam Brewery is a salt-of-the-earth bar and brewery that caters to Durham's community of "too hip to know what's hip" crowd. A blue collar feel and look, with a crowd of fun and intelligent discourse? At a bar? I know huh? The inside is a warehouse with two large beer barrel doors that lead to the bar itself. There's a ping pong table and some video games when you first walk in. It feels a bit like the atrium of a hockey arena at first. The main room is filled with picnic tables...and yes...you heard me right...picnic tables, and dogs. What? Yes, people bring their dogs here. Speaking of dogs, Fullstream's Rocket Science IPA has some serious bite. This beer has more hops than a dunk contest. The other beers sampled...or um...seriously researched for this review...were the Working Man's lunch, a dark chocolate ale that has a lighter taste that is smooth and very drinkable start to finish. The Carver Sweet Potato Ale is a sweeter ale that has a hint of spice...nice...but not my favorite of the three. There's a small stage in the corner that looks like a great place to host some local music. The atmosphere here is perfect to meet people or for groups to hang out and tip a few. The biggest bonus for a bar filled with dogs, is the array of food trucks nearby. Who doesn't want Polish sausage or pizza when they're drinking? Lastly, If you've never been invited to Fullstream by any of your friends that seem to always know the great spots, you might want to reevaluate yourself. read more

I hate this place. The beer is shit. The staff is usually unfriendly. I almost have a panic attack if I get pushed into going... I hate that this place wins awards - there is so much better beer in the area. It's got the food trucks outside - but they shouldn't get a pat on the back for other people's businesses, instead go to the food trucks then go to Surf Club. read more

Just a wonderful Durham spot to hang out, have a beer, and relax. It attracts a great crowd- chill people- that want to have a low-key but very fun evening. :) read more

Fullsteam - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We went a few weeks ago. It's housed in a nice new warehouse/contemporary type building. The architect's name is still posted, and she is very well known, so they put out some money in this place. It's looks like a well heeled brewery, very clean and artsy, plus a hand built stage is in plain view in between the Foosball table, pinball machine and other old time games (say they aren't old, as they were there when I grew up...I digress) My husband and I bellied up to the bar and found a bit of AC hitting us which felt good, it was freaking hot and humid (gotta love summer's in Durham, my hometown) but they we doing their best to keep it as cool as they could while being inviting to all that came hither. We tried the 2 dollar a glass sampler option, 4 brews (one was out already) with about 6-8 oz in each. The beer was a bit on the warm side, but so was my personal thermostat so it was the theme of the day. All locally made with timely ingredients, one had sweet potatoes, one with basil (more of a wheat beer) and another was a smoked porter. The taste of beer is such a personal thing, so I'm just going to comment on two. I'm partial to darker, carmel, amber type beers, like porter's and also, pale ales. I don't care for IPA's because the bite of a pale ale is enough for me. But...their IPA was good, it had a bite, but smoother and not as harsh and lingering as some I've tried. The winner that day was their smoked porter. At first I thought this was going to be overpowering and too much. Not at all. It had a lightly smoked taste, that faded and left a nice porter finish. My husband was so impressed with the Porter that he asked the gentleman behind the counter about how they got the smoked flavor in the beer. It just so happened he was the brewer of it and then enthusiastically described the process. He even invited my husband to come and watch him do it next week. This guy (he reminded me of Gene Wilder from Willie Wonka, in a good way) is clearly doing this job as a passion and it shows in their beer. I'm excited about this place. Plus since they don't serve food, yet....they were more than happy with ordering a pizza. Pop's Back Door knows the route well. Watch out Chapel Hill, we're downtown Durham and we're kicking your downtown boo-tie! read more

Fullsteam - Trying a flight in the right order - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I've been here several times and I have to say that this is a wonderful place to hang out. However, their own brews are not great - the Rocket Science IPA is probably the only passable one - their lagers are flat and lackluster. Come here for the atmosphere, which is a unusual mix of young alternative energy and family-friendly charm. read more

Highly recommend this brewery! Prices are a little high, but still reasonable. Flights or pints are available as is light bar food. Dogs are welcome and there are tons of games to play, as well as cornhole. There's a stage where bands can play for live music. Indoor and outdoor seating. I really liked 5 of the beers and am definitely impressed by the variety they offer. Read the menu well to make sure you order something you'd like. If you're not sure what to order, just ask the bartenders - they will help you out and make suggestions based on your preference and/or what's popular. read more

Good vibes at this place. Love the corner it's on because there's a lot to walk around and check out. Also love that they have events almost every weekend. Beer is great, locals are fun to meet. I recommend this place read more

This place is awesome! I can't say enough about them. I've tried all their current beers, and love the Summer Basil Ale! The sweet potato is really nice too, not too hoppy, not too sweet, and malty. it's very palatable. I've liked and respected all their beers, even if I wouldn't order, say the porter again, because porters are not on my lists of favorites. As others have mentioned, it's smoky but very light for a porter. Very nicely crafted. The space itself is fantastic. Very steampunk, rough around the edges, but also refined. There's lots of tables, and board games! How great to hang with friends, drink great, reasonably priced beer, and kick some ass at Connect Four! I love the half pints, as a fan of cold beer, they're great, and no more expensive than the big ones. As for the lack of air, it's NC in August people, reduce your carbon footprint and deal with the warmth. They have big ceiling fans, and industrial stand fans that keep they air flowing. It's a great fun spot for lovers of craft beer, and I for one am very excited to see what else the cats have planned for awesomeness in the future! read more

+ love the beers with the fun flavors! persimmon!? basil?! sweet potato?! + they serve tasters so that lightweights like me can try multiple beers! + nice place to hang out with friends. there's ping pong, foosball, pinball, and stage with picnic tables. + they let your byo-food b/c they don't serve food. - neighborhood seems kinda sketch. but maybe it's b/c I don't live on that side of town. read more

I've got to break from the pack on this one. Good place for sure. Love the pinball machines and video games, though they are a little tight on letting the kids play without an adult hanging right over them. Good trucks that visit. Nice that they host a run club. Good, and creative, but not great beers. And the service can be a bit lacking. As funny as it may sound, I've had bartenders look right over me and ask some hipster behind me what they wanted instead - the hipster vibe of FS can be a bit much at times. That said, it's on our rotation, and especially if you can hit it on a quiet time on a quiet night, it can be very nice to sit at the bar and chat with the staff. read more

What a great place! Not only do they have some of the best brew in town, but they are big supporters of community organizations and individuals. How could you not love this place? Locally-grown ingredients! This place is great. read more

I love this place!! Their beer is unusual - and awesome. The staff is friendly and attentive, even when the bar is packed. They don't serve food, but they now have a few snacks on the menu and there is usually a food truck parked outside. read more

Fullsteam is different. It's a brewery, not a brewpub, so you can bring in outside food. That's one of the reasons why food trucks flock to the area--great symbiotic relationship going. Also a great spot for birthdays because you can bring in cake to eat with their beer--no pressure of a dinner or a big hubbub--people can come and go as they like. They only serve their own beers (and some wine I think?), no liquor. They usually have about 8 beers on tap: their mainstays (the sweet potato Carver, their Toro cream ale, and their chocolatey Working Man's Lunch (I'm forgetting their fourth) and seasonals (like their Cackalacky or Basil Summer Ale). Their beer is usually pretty good. I'm a big fan of their Carver and Toro--good but drinkable beers that aren't overly hoppy. Their seasonals can be hit or miss. I love the heat of the Cackalacky, but their bacon beer was one of the worst beers I've ever tasted. But, I've found that it's the same for almost all the craft breweries in the area--so I'm definitely not going to hold it against Fullsteam for being creative and going out of the box to take a risk. As a resident in Durham for several years, Fullsteam has always been my favorite bar in town. I've been there at all times of day and the week--on packed weekend nights when you couldn't find a place to sit, on an empty Wednesday night to grab a slice of Pie Pushers and a pint, and on a Saturday afternoon. Maybe I like Fullsteam so much because there are always food trucks outside and I LOVE food trucks. Although that's part of it, Fullsteam has a charm of it's own, outside of just being in Durham's budding hipster-ish warehouse district. The warehouse is huge--and one wall is glass so you can see the brewing equipment. The bar is sort of contained in a small room, which can get crowded. There's two other really large rooms, which have darts, a ping pong table, some old-fashioned video games, and a ton of benches. The long tables with benches make it great for groups. Also, there's outdoor seating to the front and side when the weather's nice. It's definitely nothing fancy, but it has a casual charm. Also, I've noticed people complaining about kids running around. And, kids are usually only there on Saturday and Sunday afternoons--and that's just Durham, for lack of a better way to put it or explain it. Before reading those reviews, I never thought twice about it--just took my food in, grabbed a pitcher to split with friends, and enjoyed hanging out a bit. Also, if you're a trivia fan--their Thursday night trivia is awesome. Because you can bid points on categories, it's much more strategic than just answering 30 questions correctly. Finally, their website has a lit of which foodtrucks come which days under schedules, which is really helpful! read more

I don't know where to start about this place! I love it. All their beer selections are tasty but nine times out of ten you will hear me ordering the Rocket Science IPA. If you are hungry, there are typically food vendors just outside the doors, and they even have a few snacks behind the bar. Also keep in mind it is completely ok to bring your own food in and eat at one of their many tables! Live music, open mic, trivia, pinball, ping pong, there is always something interesting going on here. This is probably my favorite spot in Durham. Cant beat the 4$ pints! read more

Sean has done a great job over the last 10mths turning Fullsteam into a place where anybody and everybody can hang out, enjoy good conversation and consume outstanding beer. read more

Hey I take back a lot of what I said. This place is a slice of heaven. The clientele sets an open minded and friendly vibe. The bartenders could be friendlier - not all but some. Great beer and chill atmosphere. read more

Been here a couple times... once in summer and once in winter. Both times have been good times. I'm not hip to the craft beer scene so the bartenders have always been good to help me figure out what I want to drink! There are games (video and board) for your use. This is a great place to sit, enjoy a pint or two and catch up with friends. read more

Fullsteam is a great place to hang out (and to bring your dog!). And you gotta love the food trucks that cycle through. There's no other place like it in Durham. I think the beer is solid (if unspectacular). My go-to beers here are Rocket Science IPA and Cackalacky. The best brews I've had here have been their specialty ones, particularly the Bourbon Barrel-aged Working Man's Lunch. But alas, they aren't always available... read more

I definitely wanted to like this place more than I actually did. The atmosphere is like the beer tasting at the end of a brewery tour minus the tour at the beginning. My biggest complaint is the lack of air-conditioning. On top of that I'm not the biggest fan of Fullsteam beer and it was too crowded to get served quickly. It does have a pretty cool atmosphere though and I would definitely recommend going their at least once. read more

I have mixed feelings about Fullsteam as there are both pros and cons. On the plus side, I really like the space, the growing neighborhood, and the food trucks outside. They offer a lot of beer which I have found hit or miss. I love the First Frost, which I think is the best beer I've ever had in the Triangle, and really like the Fruitcake beer. The bartenders are consistently outstanding as well. My major con is that I've never been a big fan of most of their beer (with the exception of the above). It would also be nice if they could list (perhaps on the blackboard) their guest taps, as they seem to have interesting beer there. Another con relates to your feelings about having lots of kids in the bar. On the one hand, it's great that Fullsteam is family friendly and gives parents the opportunity to take their kids out with them. On the other hand, I imagine it can be off-putting to people who don't have kids or who have gone out and leave their kids behind. It's really about the vibe that you prefer. Overall, the pros outweigh the cons and I'm really glad that we have a place like Fullsteam in the Triangle. read more

I'm not sure I get the high reviews. Parking - Parking is a headache. We talked the valet at The Pit into parking our car after circling the area several times. Brewery- Big empty tables in a brewery. That's it. No table service while we were there, except for in the bar which was in a separate room. read more

Loved this place!! The bartenders are really nice and generous. The beer here was really really cheap but still good. I love the atmosphere of this place as well. You can play arcade games, play ping pong, change the music to your liking, play darts, and see the brewing machines at work in the back. Great place to hang out! read more

Went last Saturday night for the first time and was very impressed with the beer. Two IPA's that were just awesome. The layout of the place is open, cool and casual. Check out the beer being made, throw darts, listen to music, hang out at the indoor picnic tables or play games. It's all pretty much there. read more

Fullsteam is a sweet deal. An industrial atmosphere for an industrial type of service yet, as I learned tonight at their geeks n taps event, caressed with the hand of post industrial stewardship. A pretty cool event for those interested I learning a bit more about what's in that social lubricate often drinked call beer. The topic of interest, for the mental as well as the taste of course, was hops. After sitting with a fullsteam brewer and several other chemists and biochemical engineers, my understanding of how hops important relationship with beer has leveled up. For instance, did you know hops prevents the bad bacteria from forming and hurting the yeast yet adds a significance of bitterness or sourness to the enjoyed final product depending on the time of innundation and the amount of time spent dancing with the yeast? Ha, well I do thanks to fullsteam and their collaborative geeks-n-taps event offered to the thirsty knowledge seekers out there. If you come by sometime in the near future be sure to try the unadvertised kumquat brew on tap. A fitting beer flavorful light to accompany any fine early spring day ahead. read more

While visiting a friend I went to Fullsteam for late night trivia. The building resembles a warehouse with the brewing room in the back. There is limited bench-like seating, a game room with a ping pong table, a side room with the bar and restrooms and the brewery behind the storefront. Customers are allowed to bring their drinks outside but beware of the obnixous drunks breaking glasses. The selection of beer is strictly local but cheap at $5 a pint so you can try multiple. The area where this bar is located is a little seedy, especially if alone. Lots of food trucks for the drunks or nondrunks with the case of the muniches. Parking situation is crazy so plan to carpool. read more

observations on Full Steam after finally making it back for a second visit -Very unique and cool space that has an industrial feel to it (because it used be an industrial building) -The Summer basil ale is really good -Food trucks hanging out front is certainly not a bad thing -One of the bartenders kinda resembles Zack Galafanackas read more

I love Fullsteam. The building is great, the beer is good and there's always a great mix of people hanging out there. Come for the cheap, good beer and the food trucks and relax in the warehouse bar playing darts, ping pong or arcade games. Or sit outside and enjoy the nice weather. Either way, you will always have a good time at Fullsteam. read more

Visiting Durham for 48 hours and went to this awesome bar. Hopping. Puppies everywhere, ping pong, a girl selling cupcakes at the front. What more could I ask for? Maybe the food trucks that usually park outside (Fullsteam doesn't serve food, so you can bring in whatever you want). Casual indoor and outdoor tables, quick friendly service, good selection of fairly priced drinks. Only weird things are the number of kids running around and the giant fan at the entrance which made me freeze to death. Overall, I could see myself coming back when I visit. read more

This area of the triangle is super cute!!! Very up and coming hipster. The beer is pretty good and we loved their flight paddles that are in the shape of the state! I wish they had a better outdoor seating area. Their Coffee is for Closers porter is VERY good! read more

Love this place...its where Durham comes together for great beer! This place was made for summer...food trucks, folks enjoying the weather, good beer, a great atmosphere...its dog friendly, runner friendly, people friendly...they have games! Check out the events, there is always something going on. As for the beer: they have something for everyone. The Working Mans Lunch is popular, I always love the Summer Basil. Everything is worth a try. If you haven't been here yet, grab some friends and go enjoy one of our beautiful North Carolina evenings here! read more

A community center that just happens to have a brewery attached. Don't trip over the assortment of kids, dogs, and hipsters. Always has a food truck or two parked out front. I've seen belly dancers, bands, men on stilts blowing bubbles, the Olympics, and an arm wrestling tournament while hanging here. Beer is good but not great. I get frustrated with the overly adventurous beers. Wish they would concentrate on making solid beers in distinctly different categories. Too many lagers. read more