Waites would be great - 25 min line for beer? Easy fix to have a runner. Too slow. Beer was good

We loved this atmosphere , very welcoming and kid friendly. Let's start with the beers. I mean, it's an ipa. Taste like they want to be a normal beer but ate too much barley and now we have to act like they all taste good and we love them. Good beers honestly. Food was fantastic. Honestly, ranch was weird because it was purple but very tasty. Easily the best fries I've ever had. Honestly the should take those fries, fry them another minute longer. Throw some garlic on them then load them up with blue cheese, chopped beef. Jalapeños red onion and buf sauce! read more

Grain Theory - Peri peri roll, hummus, chicken tenders, salad. - Breweries Near Me - Abilene, Texas

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Great place to get some craft brew with a good view of downtown just outside of the bar! They also sell coffee and other merchandise as well as food! read more

This a bar and restaurant where you get to start a tab but it comes with a card that unlocks the kegs and you pay for what you pour. The idea is ingenious. Small microbrewery with great beer. They have quite a few tables and also a large private event room. It was a very clean establishment and a friendly staff. We had the private room and we stayed a little past closing. They were nice and politely reminded us they were closed. For food I got the special which was a lamb gyro. It was amazing. It had so much meat. The homemade tzatziki was really good. The fries were really good too. Soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside. I highly recommend this place regardless if you live there or passing through. . read more

Grain Theory - Lamb gyro with fries. - Breweries Near Me - Abilene, Texas

Fantastic place! The beer is awesome, I had two IPA and they were very balanced, west coast style like I like. The staff was really cool and welcoming. And finally, their place has a great patio with a street view. read more

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Stopped as we were passing through Abilene because of the Yelp reviews. Had the jalapeño barrels, bratwurst and a peri peri chicken. All was really good. The seating is not very comfortable but if you aren't stay for any length of time, it's okay. Lady at the bar was very informative and gave us samplers of all beers that we wanted to try. The Chardonnay was excellent. Would definitely stop here again. read more

Funky upstairs bar & restaurant. We did a flight of the specialty craft beers. Service was good. Recommend for someplace different to try. read more

Grain Theory - Craft beer flight - Breweries Near Me - Abilene, Texas

Love their food and ciders. they provide table games and events for the community. Have always received friendly service.

Wanted to go have lunch and drinks with my husband. First stop was Grain Theory. We discussed another eatery downtown but ultimately decided to check out GT because I've been wanting to try their fish and chips forever. So glad we did! The fish and chips were phenomenal!!! He got one of the Bock beers and I got a pineapple cider, so good! We will definitely return. The atmosphere is very family friendly, games are set out throughout the dining area, it's bright and clean inside. If it wasn't blazing hot outside we might have sat on the patio. The ladies room was extremely clean and smelled nice. The staff were super nice and friendly. read more

Grain Theory - Fish and chips - Breweries Near Me - Abilene, Texas

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Grain Theory is a Brewery that happens to serve food. I don't drink, so take that as you will. Atmosphere: Located on the 2nd floor of the building located on the corner of N. 2nd and Pine. It's a gorgeous 5000 sq. ft area with lots of seating and most importantly a really nice outdoor balcony with plenty of tables. 1 Star Service: You grab a menu when you walk in and then can find a seat and peruse it for a bit. When you are ready to order you walk up to the register and place your order. Staff was fantastic. Very helpful, cheerful, and knowledgeable. When your food is ready your little vibrator will go off to let you know. 2 Stars Food: Our order: We started with the Biltong (African Beef Jerky) and Pretzel Bites. For entrees we ordered the Steak Frites and the Fish & Chips. The biltong was good. I could have used a little more of a peppery bite, but the chew was good. The pretzel bites were perfect. Crispy outer crust with a soft chewy center. The beer cheese was also spot on. The frites (fries to us Texans) are their calling card. They are marinated over night and then double fried for an absolutely perfect French fry. Just as the pretzels were, these are golden crispy outside with a soft creamy center. The flatiron steak was cooked perfectly (sous-vide) with a good beefy taste. The fish & chips consists of the same frites but with a HUGE beer battered Alaskan pollock fillet. It was good as well. Maybe a little more seasoning in the batter would punch it up a notch. Otherwise everything was good. 1.5 Stars read more

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Had a great lunch here. The patty melt had good flavor and of course their loaded fries were excellent. The Dunkel was outstanding: subtle malty flavoring with a slight sweetness. Good vibe and service. read more

Great atmosphere, tasty food! I can't give my opinion on their craft beer, but their breakfast tacos and mimosas were exactly what we were looking for! They have three different options when ordering the breakfast tacos. For $7, you can choose two of their three options which are bacon, sausage, or sweet potato with beans. Tried the bacon and sausage both were great. They technically do not have a "brunch" menu, but this spot was perfect for our casual brunch. The seating on their balcony is pleasant. Definitely a great spot that's perfect for big groups! read more

Grain Theory - Breakfast Tacos - Breweries Near Me - Abilene, Texas

The service is terrible. It's the only place in Abilene on a Friday night that isn't jam packed. The reason is due to they make the patrons wait in line over and over because they refuse to hire any waiters or waitresses. You have to order your own food, pick up your own food, and then wait in line to get a second beverage or close out your tab. After this a tip is expected. Never going back there again to waste so much time waiting in line. read more

We were road tripping through Abilene to Austin and had to stop. First of all, the craft recipes they are using here are legit. We are huge IPA fans and love hazys. Our favorites were the Starship Alpha and the Perfect Baseball. I like that you can order in 3 different sizes. We got the taster 4oz sizes so we could sample more. They also have a decent sized wine menu and some good merch. The brewery is on the second floor and you order at the counter. We also ordered food- which was great! The pretzel bites were perfect and got chomped up very quickly. The fish and chips and house made sausage dog were delicious also. And we couldn't decide which fry sauce to try- but luckily they had a sampler of that so why not!? You get a pager and head to the food counter when your food is ready. Ours came up quickly even though it was moderately busy on a Monday night. We highly recommend this place and will definitely be back even despite the long boring drive between Austin and Abilene ‍ read more

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The food was ok but not the best food. The staff was nice. The ambiance was nice. The price is a little high. read more

The burger was good, the Brussels sprouts were great and so were the beers I tried. That said, there's too much friction to get a 2nd beer. I was asked if I wanted to leave my tab open but then I had to wait in the same line where you order food to get the 2nd beer. By the time I got it, my food was getting cold. The net of it is the food & beers I tried were good but the broken process of getting a 2nd beer made the service seem subpar. read more

Had a really great lunch passing through Abilene. I'm always game to try a local brewery and this one did not disappoint. Had a couple west coast IPAs that were exceptionally well done and finished up with a Belgium penta that was really something special. The food was also great - we had fish and chips, loaded fries, and a nice big salad - definitely not you bog standard "bar food". Counter service had a fairly long line, but it moved really fast and the lady running the till was top notch. Lots of seating and a friendly atmosphere. This was a great suprise in Abiline. read more

Nice atmosphere lots of food and drink options. There know for beer but have anything from coffee and tea to steak and fried fish read more

Grain Theory - Beer pairing tray - Breweries Near Me - Abilene, Texas

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Best wings I have ever had. Great beer and setting on the second story was a great view. Chill vibes and typical brewery service. read more

Grain Theory - Blonde Ale - Breweries Near Me - Abilene, Texas

God beer. Nice people. Dog friendly. I tried several of their beers, and all were good. I stopped by in the afternoon after a very tough day. Only a few people were there, so my dog and I hung out on the nice shady balcony overlooking downtown. The weather was beautiful. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable about the beer. After decompressing and having some tasty beers, I decided to order some food. Had the patty melt. It was ok for bar food, but not what I would go there for. I'll go back next time I'm in town and get some more of their delicious beer. read more

Grain Theory - Breweries Near Me - Abilene, Texas

I'm amazed by this place, we even came 2 nights in a row. The speedy delicious food, the friendly staff, the cute interior, the huge outdoor spaces, the *self serve drinks.* All bars forever should have this self serve option, you get a card then pay by the ounce. Just amazing, you can try everything if you so choose! Tons of seating, we prefer the back room it's pretty empty and the kids can go more wild. Love the games you can check out. Most of the food is really unhealthy, but their salads are actually creative and amazing. And they have jackfruit meat alternative available, it was great. Definitely will return. read more

Amazing place! If I lived here(there) I'd be there too much! Beer was excellent-full flavor! Food-we had a burger and homemade brat! With all the dips! I want to clone this place back home! Brother John had coffee and he didn't complain! read more

Pleasantly surprised. Went into it this journey with skeptic expectations. Coffee+Brewery+Food? How in the world is that going to be pulled off? Well, Grain Theory is doing it!!! Cortado was pretty much perfection. From presentation to taste. Wow, blew me away. Can't wait until next time to see if it was a fluke.. GT Salad -cheese. Tasty, fresh nice touch. Steak & Frites- Lip smacking good. Dipping sauces little under developed. But still good. Out of Biltong this day, but excited to try it next go round. I also did not try any beers but I'm sure they are tasty and well thought out. V60 Magic- If you know you know! Barista was so kind and you could tell she loved her craft and the process. Stop reading and go! read more

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Good spot. Friendly atmosphere. 2023 OctoberFest was a great event. Excellent steak salad.

Love this spot!! Living in Abilene can make you feel stir crazy, but Grain Theory was my saving grace!! Such a reliable spot for good food, good drinks and a good time. There's outdoor and indoor seating available. The outdoor spots are especially nice in cooler weather as it is on the 2nd floor. Lovely breeze and you avoid the street traffic below. Their menu isn't extensive, but every item is worth trying. The quinoa salad is nice and rustic. The steak and fries are amazing. My go to is usually the fish and chips. But you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The brews will also change so you get some joy out of trying new blends. It's not just beer, they have teas and spritzers. They also have a large room in the back where they host movie watching or game viewing parties. Eager to go to one in the future. If you're looking for a chill and relaxing time, this is the perfect spot for you! read more

Good beer and nice staff. Kate was very patient and helpfully. Could use some more comfortable seating

Awesome food, drinks and friendly staff! I love the open layout of this place and the balcony views are a great addition! read more

Drinks and food were pretty good. Outdoor balcony seating was great. They need to figure out a way someone can close out at tab without waiting in a line of 15 people ordering drinks and food. Sheesh read more

This is an awesome place to come spend a little time. Good seating and the service has always been good. The cards are a different way to serve on tap, never seen that before. All the food I've had here has been basically "scratch-made" and delicious. read more

The food reviews don't lie - this place is great. Who knew you could get South African flavors in Abiline! But if your palate isn't adventurous, never fear, the food options are very approachable. Bitlong is a beef jerky type dish but really, it's what beef jerky wishes it was. It's more tender, subtly flavored with balanced seasonings. Very enjoyable indeed. The fish and chips is a solid and popular choice but the steak frites is really the standout. The chimichurri is perfectly done. The steak is perfectly seasoned and prepared and the sauces are interesting and tasty. All the way around, we were super impressed! Family owned and operated. #eatlocaleatoften read more

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Craft beer and gourmet food, what's not to love! The churro beer was amazing. Not sweet but it definitely gave the vibe of snacking on a churro. The fish was perfect (but no tarter sauce sadly). The patty melt was absolutely worth the trip alone. So come for the beer, stay for the amazing food! read more

Their fish and chips are as good as and better than any fish and chips in Europe and the British Isles. Okay, there was that one little hole in the wall in Amsterdam. But I'd put Grain Theory up against even that one. read more

A spectacular spot to go for a beer, wine, coffee, and even great food. The space itself is awesome. Open to the outdoors, inside tables, perimeter patio on the 2nd level with views of downtown streets. Really cool set up. The food menu is well above average with a good diversity of delicious apps and plates to pair with your drinks. I have not gotten their coffee yet on my visits but the wine and beer is truly worth trying out. David and Jeremy are two of the 3 owners I got to meet and chat with for a bit and they are amazing people doing some great stuff for their customers. The stuff they think up is just amazing. You see it in their beer and their food. I love the biltong as an appetizer and then the international sausage plate is a must in my book! The crudite plate is also a nice touch to pair with wine and beer of course. They have some kind of beer for every palate, even a picky beer person like me can be pleased. Even when busy this place has a good system for keeping orders coming out fast, you never wait too long for food to come out consistently good each time. Just a really darn good place to come for unique craft beer, good wine, great food, affordable prices and good times all round. read more

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Actually the beer was just okay, but the food was really good. Had a chicken sandwich with Frites (fries). Hit the spot. I am not an IPA fan, so someone else might find there beers better. The line to order the beer was longer than I usually would wait. Seems odd to have one place to order beer and another for food. Seems like there might have been a third place to order coffee drinks, not sure. Was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of people there, but it was a Saturday evening. Felt a bit crowded due to all the customers. Wasn't an outdoor seat empty to see if that would help. Will try it again, as I crave the chicken sandwich and frites. Maybe the beer selection will more to my liking. read more

I cannot brag enough about how cool this space is and I really enjoyed my time at Grain Theory while I even got a little work done. They have a ton of seating inside and they have a beautiful outdoor patio area with plenty of tables as well. Abilene has come a long way in a few years and GT has helped in making a difference. I ordered the Steak Frites which turned out perfect. Medium rare center, tender and juicy- it also had a nice sear to it. Out of curiosity, I also ordered the brat and the GT bowl. The brat was delicious with a sweet onion garnish with some really tasty mustard. For the bowl, very hearty and flavorful and my only fuss was that it was a little dry. I asked for more vinaigrette and that made it taste perfect. I was impressed and have already let a few of my local friends know about this place. If you're in the area, it is worth trying. Next time, I will be trying the beer and the coffee. Another perk for me is that the menus are at the front where you walk in and there is no rush to order. When you've decided what you want, there is someone at the counter waiting for you. It also appeared that they would host large parties in the back where a room called The Blakely is located. This space is very big and very well done. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought that I was in Dallas, Houston or Austin. Cheers! MLA read more

Grain Theory - Awesome drink menu - Breweries Near Me - Abilene, Texas

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Some of my good friends took me here for lunch for my birthday. I've been wanting to go to this new establishment in downtown Abilene but had not had the opportunity. I'm so glad they chose this for lunch. The atmosphere is perfect and the food is delicious. I had the quinoa bowl with grilled chicken. So good! I can't wait to take my husband here. read more

Grain Theory - Quinoa with chicken - Breweries Near Me - Abilene, Texas

Great ambiance great personality great beer found this uber cool stop after getting our passports was a great pit stop on a sunny warm winter afternoon sat outside was awesome read more

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Good food, great atmosphere. Not a huge beer drinker, but their coffees/lattes are awesome and they also have a decent wine selection.

Just what Abilene needed. First time trying this place out and it was also our first date night in 6 months. Great place for couples, groups, and families. Good food and drinks and even better vibes and atmosphere. We had the steak frites and the steak was cooked perfectly. Loved being able to sit outside and overlook downtown with a glass of wine. Food was great, drinks were great. Will definitely add this to our favorites in Abilene. read more

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Wonderful atmosphere and great food and drinks. Needs to be on your list when you visit.