Excellent service and a lovely cozy atmosphere. I love the tacos, delicious! I had a fun birthday dinner and drinks. read more

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Came here with a groups of friends for dinner, drinks, and trivia on Thursday! Such a fun spot for a craft beer and watching sports in general and I can see why this spot is so popular in the summer. The space is really cool, it's 2 stories with bar and booth seating. This was our first time doing trivia here and it's ran so well! Orders are also taken on sheets that are written by you which makes service super fast and organized. The bartender was really nice and friendly and checked in routinely as well. The pretzels were really good and portions were plentiful. My tacos were a bit cold but had good flavors and my friends enjoyed their burgers and tacos as well. The pretzels were hot and soft. Great line of beers, ciders, and sours. Will definitely be back! read more

Madison Pour House - Nashville hot tacos, hot Pretzels, vig burger - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

Great spot for craft beer! Extensive tap, bottle, and can list. There's plenty of option types for everyone. They have cider and seltzers also. Some of the prices are a little higher than average. The food menu consists mostly of different types of tacos, which are appealing. Tacos come 3 to an order with chips and sals for $16. We ordered 4 different types and shared. Three out of the 4 types were cold, unfortunately. Parking can be tough. Place is definitely worth visiting, and we will give them another chance. read more

Madison Pour House - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

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Wonderful staff, great beer and tasty specials. Hidden gem. Not a beer drinker? Great cocktails

Great trivia and great ambiance. There's a great drink selection for beers and ciders. The everything pretzels were delicious. The cheese dip wasn't the best I've ever had, but still good. read more

Madison Pour House - Everything pretzels - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

Madison Pour House has the right combination of a high number of beers on draft (and in cans) of interest to me, and a low-key atmosphere, at least on evenings where there are no special events taking place, such as trivia. The variety of beers available on tap should be enough to satisfy anyone's interests in a 4-glass sampler. Be sure to check the small chalkboard to the left of the bar to identify the numbers of the drafts on the menu currently not available. The food menu is pretty "pub basic," mostly salads, tacos, burritos and such. You cannot order tacos in a "mix and match" style, so if several of you want a variety of tacos, order separately and share. I was able to try the spicier chicken tacos. They're quite tasty, but mine were served lukewarm. The staff were friendly and helpful. This is definitely a place I would bring my out-of-town beer loving friends. read more

Madison Pour House - My flight of stouts and some Nashville hot chicken tacos. - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

Tofu scramble was solid. The tofu was cooked to perfection (very convincingly egg-like) and accompanying vegetables were equally cooked well. One of the best tofu scrambles I've had so far. The home fries could have been cooked a little longer and mashed a bit (they were a bit dry and too perfectly cubed). The Buffalo chick'n sandwich was solid, just the right texture and taste. Fries were good. Also had a chai latté which was delicious! I would have had two if coffee didn't make me so jittery :) read more

Madison Pour House - Broccoli, cheddar and roasted red pepper Tofu scramble with home fries & the Buffalo Chick'n (vegetarian) sandwich with French fries - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

Cool, cool vibe here and the pricing structure keeps out the drunken college rifraff. Most patrons seemed to be thirtysomethings, though it was an eclectic mix of folk overall as there seemed to be some freaks, some yuppie milennials, and some preppies as well. I like that. Can't we all just get along? Basically a killer taplist with 30 taps total. I will say I was a little bummed that on my Saturday night visit five of the 30 kegs had already been kicked and were unavailable, including my first beer of choice. The bacon mac and cheese is quite likely the best mac and cheese I've ever had. Wicked cheesy and the smokey love made me want to marry this dish. Talk about good lovin'! This dish was unequivocally worth the 12 dollar price and will fill one person to his/her gills without making him/her puke...the "just right" kinda full I'd say. Most definitely get the smokey bacon...as Vincent (John Travolta) said in Pulp Fiction, "bacon tastes good!" Beer pricing structure is definitely on the high side, so take your time in here or bring along a very fat wallet. Most 16 oz. pours will run a good 8 to 9 bucks, yep, 9 bucks and most 12 oz. pours tip the scale at $7. Keep in mind these are the serious craft beers that are difficult to find for the most part and you won't have a freak out session at the cost. If you're looking for 5 dollar pints, keep walking, this ain't your place. The upstairs area with the look through ceiling is a unique and smart touch. I dig it. I don't think they have real waiter or waitress service here as I didn't see any. You seat yourself and order and the bartender will bring over your goods. Kinda different that way. I'll be back here again for more beers and more mac and cheese lovin', no question. Oh and the on-street parking always drags me down, but it is what it is...be ready to circle the block to keep lookin' for that truly valuable vacant spot. read more

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40 amazing beers on tap and always great food. I try to stop here any time I am in Albany. Used to drink here a lot while i was getting my masters read more

Madison Pour House - Artisanal brew works BB Brown and hoegaarden wit - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

Been here a few times and I've had a really great experience each time! Drinks are great, venue is beautiful, food is fine.

Tasty food and friendly staff. The beer list is a big one and the atmosphere is a warm pub environment when not crowded. Utica Club in tall boys is a plus (classic). read more

Madison Pour House - a can of beer on a table - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

Wow, we have an embarrassment of riches in the Capital Region when it comes to places to get a great beer. Yes, I thought I would hate this place when it first opened up. I saw the photographs of the green walls, and the whole thing looked like it was trying too hard. But I don't hate it. I really like it. That said, I've only ever been here for the beer. But I come here for the beer quite a bit. Because they have great beers, and they treat them right. Tap lines get meticulously cleaned. Glasses get pre-washed before use. And kegs that have been sitting around get pushed out with special clearance pricing. Hill Farmstead, I've had that here. Grimm Ales, check. Other Half, yes sir. But they also get hard to find beers from around the world too. I have to say that I'm not crazy about the television sets. Sure, there are people who like to watch sports while drinking beer. I get that. But the places I love the most realize that glowing screens are a distraction from the purpose of public water holes, and make the hard choice to cut the cord. read more

THAT.BEER.LIST! I can't say much about the food because I rarely eat here, but they have one of the best beer lists in Albany and one of my favorite patios to enjoy said beer on. 40 beers on tap AND an extensive collection of cans/bottles -- it's like they're daring you to not find something you like. I'm a sucker for sours, and I know that I'm guaranteed to always find something tasty here. There's nothing like riding my bike here to have a couple pints with friends on the patio on a warm summer night (or any night really). read more

The pourhouse is truly the place to be to grab a few drinks and food with friends or coworkers after a long day. The atmosphere is sort of hipster but laid back and welcoming. There are no seats at the bar but the tables on the first floor and half booths are upstairs as well. The beer list is ever changing and if you're not a beer fan, they have ciders and sodas. The menu continues to be promising and weekdays from 2 to 5pm, they offer all their hot dogs at a dollar each! The mac and cheese served in a hot cast iron skillet, potato wedges with a house made BBQ style sauce, and the Brian Griffin hot dog (mac n cheese and jalapeños atop the dog) are just a few of my faves. There are also plenty of toasties (their way of saying sandwiches/paninis?), salads, and a variety of local beers. They seem to be more quiet during the happy hour to early dinner weekdays but the weekend is when the crowds check this place out. read more

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This place has more beer taps then I know what to do with, and they do a good job of updating the beer list form time to time. Staff is great and this place is fantastic for trivia or to catch a soccer game. read more

Now that an appropriate period of mourning has passed in memory of the loss of the original Mahar's Public House (MPH) at this location, I finally made my first visit to the Madison Pour House (MPH). While the acronym may not have changed, there is very little else that remains the same. There are still the same number of steps to enter or exit through the front door. There is still a walk-in cooler behind the south-east window. There is still no seating at the bar and that's about it for what remains the same. The first change we noticed upon seating ourselves at a table was that one of the bartenders brought us a bottle of tap water and two glasses. Nice start. The beverage and food menus were already on the tables. There are typically 40 beers on tap and an additional two on cask engines. All are offered in 5 and 10 oz. portions, but oddly enough, only slightly more than half are offered for sale in 16 oz. portions. The key to this quandary seems to be that any 10 oz. portion that sells for more than $5.50 might have to be priced at a level considered to be too steep for the customer. And based upon the four beers that I sampled, I'm likely to agree with that. The beer menu suggests that you consider a Four-Pack - four 5 oz. glasses all priced at their listed price. I decided to take up that offer with four different stouts. Elysian Split Shot ($3; 5.6% abv) Crossroads McCarthy's Irish Stout ($2.75; 4.3% abv) Carton of Milk Stout ($2.75; 4% abv) Grimm Double Negative ($5; 10.2% abv) The first three on this list cost $7, $6, and $6 respectively in 16 oz. portions. I imagine that they would probably charge $14 or more for the Grimm in a 16 oz. portion. While the abv of the Grimm is twice that of many others on the menu, there are also beers on the menu as low as 5% abv that are not offered in 16 oz. portions. But enough about the beer. Well, not just yet. I also want to say that my wife had The Brown Note from Against The Grain ($7; 10 oz. 5% abv) and we both thought that all five beers were served at a temperature too cold to allow the true flavors to really be apparent and appreciated. We did also order some food. We shared the Beer and Bacon Brats ($6) and an Irish Toastie ($10). The Brats were five bite-sized pieces of bratwurst wrapped in bacon, baked, and served with a side of very spicy Dijon mustard and pickled onions. These were very tasty and the bacon was nicely crisped. The Irish Toastie consists of Irish bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, and chives pressed Panini style between slices of sour dough bread. This was another very nice dish, the sourness of the bread contrasted with the sweetness of the caramelized onions. Overall, the service was ok, the food was good pub food, the selection of beers was excellent, and the room temperature was cold with the front door open the entire time we were there. I guess that's one more thing like the old Mahar's. Got to save money on the cost of heating the place. read more

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We stayed the night in Albany after visiting nearby Hyde Park for the FDR museum. Albany in general--previously not on my radar--is a neat town and the stretch of downtown in which Madison Pour House is located is particularly cool. First off---great beer selections! A ton of craft beers on tap to choose from. I sampled two, both of which I loved (an IPA and a milk stout). Those washed down some of the salty and delicious baked pretzels with cheese sauce and stone ground mustard we were scarfing on as appetizers. I opted for the Far East sandwich while my wife got the fried chicken sandwich. I mistakenly thought I was getting a Thai style noodle bowl (didn't read closely) so was a bit surprised to see a grilled chicken sandwich arrive---but it was pretty great and spiced/sauced/topped to taste just like a Far East Bowl. While we were eating downstairs there was also pretty great live music going on upstairs, a band mixing '90s alt-rock cover songs with what I presume were originals. Good music for sure. The only thing I didn't like was that the food menu was pretty sparse--I see other/different selections on the Yelp menu so they may rotate daily/weekly/etc. We did find things we wanted to eat and they were good though so I can't complain too much. The decor/atmosphere inside is also very cool. read more

Great small pub. Good good, massive selection of beers. Crowd seems to be eclectic but definitely not college-y

Great service and staff. Trivia is the place to be on Thursday nights!! Nice rustic atmosphere with traditional bar fare

Really kewl place...loved the beeah selection bartender had outstanding customer service place was decorated for Halloween and looked awesome... in the area for my nieces family weekend at RPI and would def come back/recommend Only thumbs down cheese sauce for pretzel not ready til 5..sad panda I heart cheese waiting on my bag o donuts mmmm read more

Madison Pour House - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

This place has a great selection of beer on the regular and some creative cocktails. I find the cocktails a bit over priced for the size of the drink and location of the restaurant/pub. I have eaten here a few times and usually walk away hungry- portions are relatively small and I always prepare myself to just have a snack and drinks there. That being said they do have a burger on the menu that I have seen in person but did not taste and I think it's prob the most filling. I have tried the nachos, deviled eggs, and grilled cheese sandwich. The grilled cheese is a good upgrade on cheese and flavor but buyer beware the "Italian meat" that is rotated in based on chef choice could in fact be bologna-- this is not something I would have expected and wasn't thrilled about. I really thought the bologna distracted from the cheese and pesto. They have several trivia/game/podcast events/nights and I really enjoy those-- well run and a great way to meet people. read more

Each time I've visited the Madison Pour House, it's felt like sacrilege. Like many others, I've been and continue to be bummed that MPH stands on the hallowed grounds that was once occupied by Mahar's, an Albany institution that was like a second home to many of our area's beer connoisseurs. And while nothing can ever fill the void left by our beloved Mahar's, MPH is certainly making it easier to cope. The beer selection at the Madison Pour House is fantastic. A quick glance at their beer list reveals that everyone in your party will find something to enjoy. I was pleased with the diversity of their selection, not getting stuck offering 25 different versions of the IPA. MPH offers your standard pint, as well as several smaller glasses, which is great when you're not sure what to order and want to sample a handful of offerings. While the selection doesn't begin to touch what was offered by Mahar's, it is more than enough to keep your night as lively as you want it to be. Where MPH beats Mahar's, as well as other local competitors, is their food selection. Sure, it's standard pub fare - sandwiches, pretzels, salads, meat/cheese boards, and other snacks - but the menu is offered at a reasonable price and doesn't try to be more than what it is. Each time I've had food at MPH, I've left feeling satisfied. I most recently tried their pulled pork and it was delicious, sweet, and with just enough spice to even things out. The portions are ample and come served with homemade chips. Madison Pour House is a great place because it has an identity all its own. While it may seem to have the same old trappings of every other pub in the area, I think that it brings enough to the table to separate it from its competitors. Give it a try. read more

Madison Pour House - Pulled pork sandwich - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

Disclaimer, this review is for the food, not for the alcohol. Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon, we were quickly seated and we chose to sit upstairs which offers a nice Birdseye view of what is an eclectic old taphouse. For those of you who wonder what non-alcoholic options could this place possibly offer.....they have Boylan sodas which are awesome. For our app we ordered the Rizio nachos which are alcohol infused spicy Italian sausage with an Alfredo cheese and pepper relish. The sausage - super fabulous. I would have prefered the crostini it was served over be swapped for chips because I'm not a fan of dry bread but to each his own. I then got the gyro. You may wonder what business does a bar have making Greek gyros. Well Madison Pour House puts up a very respectable fight, because the beef was so tender, juicy, and delicious. My husband got the fried chicken sandwich. No it is not your school lunch's fried chicken patty. This was spicy, crispy, served over cole slaw, BBQ sauce and bacon so it was pretty much fantastic. Service was solid, very laid back, one of the other yelpers was right, it is hipster. But lucky for me I was wearing my Star Wars shirt so I fit right in. read more

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I rocked back and forth between the 4 and the 5.... I chose the 5 because I couldn't really think of too many cons. Eclectic fusion between an old school English pub and modern day hipster-chic you can't get closer to a "are we still in Albany?" experience than at the pour house. A far (but welcome) cry aesthetically from its predecessor, Mahar's, but in terms of beer selection, I think it meets (and dare I say, exceeds) the standards set by the old establishment. I've been here for after work drinks, dinner, weeknight bite/ drink, late night game/beer you name it we've come to pour house for it. the beer selection never disappoints. A few of my faves include the BBA goose island (my all time fave so far), Boulder chocolate shake porter, and a chai- something- beer, I can't remember the name. Regardless I've always been happy with my selection. It's bitter sweet because they rotate their selection so I've been longing for the goose island BBA and haven't have it in months! But at the same time, you won't get bored. Huge bonus in my book is that you can order 5 oz pours which is perfect for me since I like to try a bunch of different beers when the selections is this expansive. Now for the food- The pretzels!!....yes, please try. Always served soft and steaming, these are little bites of doughy goodness and they come with a cheese dip (my fave) and a Dijon mustard. I get them every time- no matter what. I've also had the honey basil toastie, good but I expected it to be way better. My husband had the Mac in the buff (buffalo Mac n cheese) and raved about it. The staff is great, particularly one waitress (don't know her name although I feel like I should by now). If she's your waitress, you'll know. She's excellent, very engaging sits down to review the menu with you and always has excellent recommendations. Love her outfits too. read more

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Welcome to the neighborhood! As have many of our neighbor's, we've been missing Mahar's. While there are plenty of terrific beer bars in town, the closer to home the better. I can walk to this location so having more than one beer is an available option. Onward. I had my first of what I expect will be many visits today. I was greeted by Dan, the general manager. Clearly excited to be open and help. Also had good service from Ciaran. He knows his stuff. Also enjoyed the company of Andrew. Get the theme? They all introduced themselves and want to get to know their customers. Very impressive. The facilities are top notch. Very high quality but not over the top. A place in which you can be comfortable. Max, a visiting brewer from Olde Saratoga, gave me a tour of the keg room. It is a stand alone insulated building with top quality plumbing. I am no expert but Max's giddiness convinced me. The beer list is a delight. I had a Stone Anniversary IPA and another IPA on cask from Olde Saratoga Brewing Company. The Stone was massive. The Saratoga was perfection. Food? Not too much currently for vegans, but the beer hummus was a delight. Loved the fried pita that came with. Dan even asked for suggestions, in response to which I asked for more vegan chow. I am optimistic. There are TVs but they float between the first and second floors. If you want to see them, they are there. If you don't, I don't think you'll be bothered. Just delighted! read more

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I'm a big fan of the chill and descrete atmosphere, outdoor sitting during the summer and friendly staff. They also have a great selection of craft beers for very good prices. read more

There's nothing quite like fish tacos and cold beer in the summer. I'd been to the Pour House previously for drinks, so I knew the beer wouldn't disappoint, but the food was unchartered territory for me. The bandit soft shell tacos get two thumbs up! They were light, fresh, and flavorful. The tuna was seared nicely and was a perfect pink in the center, the grilled tomato bruschetta salsa and avocado were tasty and added a pop of color to the dish, and the wasabi sour cream provided a much welcomed burst of heat. The side of corn chips was rather uninspired, and although I would have preferred they be served with some salsa or be subbed out altogether for homemade potato chips, I would definitely order this dish again. The beer list here is as good as any in Albany. They carry close to forty beers on tap and twice as many in bottles. If you're like me and enjoy a variety of different brews, take advantage of the build your own sample pack; four 5oz pours discounted slightly from the regular menu price. The Lagunitas Citrusinen Blood Orange Pale Ale was awesome; hoppy and full of citrus flavor! Great food, a large selection of beer, and a relaxed atmosphere make the Pour House a great option for after work drinks or a casual outing with friends. I will absolutely be back to try more of the food and work my way through more of the beer list! read more

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This is honestly the coolest, coziest spot in all of Albany. Step inside and be transported to the UK in an instant. The bar is made up of a rich, chocolate colored wood, similar to the exposed beams that are directly overhead. A kelly green bench with a vibrant tartan patterned cushion lines the length of the wall, and is a comfortable spot to enjoy beverage or two. Behind the line of taps on the wall is lovely slate colored stonework and overhead are wrought iron chandeliers. It's a feast for the eyes, this place! There are no stools at the bar (only a foot rest) and that area fills up quickly. Thankfully there is a second floor to retreat to which overlooks the bar below, so you don't feel disconnected from the crowd. In terms of food, so far I have only tried their "nachos," which are more like bruschetta but still very tasty. I will definitely be back to try a toastie and the beer hummus, which I have read a lot about. Mahar's was a tough act to follow, but I think that the Pour House is up to the task. I will definitely be back to this European wonderland! read more

Madison Pour House - So perfectly cozy - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

Nice chill spot to grab from a huge variety of beers. I'm in town for a week and checked this place out. The bartender service is excellent. The beers selection is awesome and there is a patio area to hang out as well. Recommend checking it out. read more

Madison Pour House - 40 beers on tap! - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

Old world pub style.comfortable ambience, great staff. My server Courtney provided excellent service whilst helping me navigate the vast beer list with very good suggestions. I love this place, check out their snack menu. read more

Madison Pour House - Mezcal and jacks abbey - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

We thought the food was pretty good (evidently our first visit was after a menu overhaul, so a few fan favorites were missing), and we appreciated the wide beer selection! The cocktail I ordered was sub-par, but I should have known not to order a cocktail at a place that doesn't specialize in them. One thing that we found super distracting was our server's attire-- I am all for wearing whatever makes you happy and comfortable, but her nipple piercings and braless-ness were so obvious and awkward when we were ordering and they were a foot away and at eye level, which also made my husband uncomfortable. I suppose I think the diner's comfort is more important than the server's in this sort of situation, especially if it makes us think twice about returning next time we're in Albany. read more

Third stop of the evening was the winner. Friday evening June 22, 2018. We originally were headed to Barcelona's for wine & tapas. But their lot was full (15 cars). And their residential neighbors don't want anyone parking on their streets as indicated by no parking signs every 15 feet. So on to the next spot. We found a parking spot right in front of The Point Restaurant on Madison Ave in Albany's Pine Hills neighborhood. We were told that the wait was one hour. We were confused as less than half the tables inside & out were occupied. No further suggestions offered by hostess. So on to the next spot. We walked next door to the Madison Pour House. We were greet by the staff and told we could sit inside or outside. We ordered drinks at the bar. Informative & happy bartenders to help you navigate through their extensive and unusual beer selections. 40 drafts & 100 bottles. Also cider and wines are available. We then moved to a table outside and were greeted by Ariana who took our second drink order and brought us menus. The Friday special was a build-a-bowl meal. You pick a protein, three veggies, & one sauce which are served over rice & black beans. He had one Italian style and one Tex-Mex style. Excellent idea, good execution, and a great value at $9.00 per bowl. All in all a serendipitous evening. Glad we tried the Madison Pour House. Hats off to the staff for their warm welcome and service. We will be back. Thank you. read more

So glad we were staying nearby this bar! It was a great find. We walked from the Massry Center after a concert. They had a solid beer selection and gluten free bottles so my bf was sold. He had the Ipswich Celia Saison (GF) and I had one of the wild ale (sour beers) on tap. They have an extensive tap list and a solid bottle list too. They also serve bar food. The pretzels looked awesome! The space is just right - bar on the left and seating on the right. We had no trouble grabbing a table in the back corner and cozied up in the booth seat along the wall. Great German-inspired bar with lots of good options for a quality beer sipping experience. read more

My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this place while we were waiting to get seated at Cafe Madison next door. They offered free coffee while we waited so we sat and checked out the menu. We are both huge craft beer lovers and immediately decided we needed to come back soon, which we did. They have an extensive list of craft beers ranging from stouts to IPAs to sours. They have drafts, cans, and bottles. We went and got two flights of 4 because we couldn't decide what we wanted to try. We were not disappointed! They also have food, which we didn't try, but looked and smelled delicious. It didn't get too busy in there. If you follow their Instagram page they have a ton of different events and specials. If you're a craft beer lover, this is a great little spot! read more

This place is gold! Can't wait to be back in the old hood soon and get some beers. My friend is a gluten free girl and they've got multiple options for her. The bar food is splendid and worthh paying extra for. I like that it isn't just another college bar and the crowd is great. The service is usually great to No complaints from this little lady read more

So good. I love dropping in to try a few beers that I have never heard of and grabbing a bite - whether I am craving salad or a burger - both are fantastic. The beers are always changing which is a great thing - and it keeps me and many others coming back with growlers in hand. I had a salad that hit the spot- simple and clean. Good dressing on the side and pickled carrots - a surprising delight. I love to finish the night with an old favorite! Which they somehow make possible. This is a a place I can rely on for a good beer a good eats anytime! read more

This is my favorite bar ever. Amazing staff, beer, snacks, and vibes. Will never stop coming here as long as I'm in Albany!

What a dump. I was willing to put up with that but after taking a seat and waiting for 5-10 minutes for someone to at least acknowledge my presence I got up and left. Place was maybe at 25% capacity, several employees behind the bar, but they couldn't be bothered. Skip this place, it sucks. read more

Very limited menu, but I think they stick to what they know , and it's all pretty good. They had Nintendo 64 night when I went the one night, and that was pretty cool. Very laid back small place , but nice atmosphere and felt right at home even though I don't drink. The burger was good , not sure if it is still on the menu. Also had pretzels I believe , and they were soft and good. Would recommend giving it a shot , especially if you like to have some drinks. read more

I truely wanted to like this place! I thought the inside was cute and the concept of the upper deck seating was nice, but we walked in at 7:30 last night hoping to get food and sadly left hungry and thirsty. Although it was busy, there were tables open, however, we could not find a waiter and or waitress anywhere, or even find a sign or any indication on how to get a table. We even tried walking upstairs but found no wait staff. If you want food don't go here! We ended up going to the Orchard and had a great meal and drinks, so there's a happy ending. read more