Cool little local bar, had a customer from out of town with me. Waitress was very helpful with having him order Speidis. Bar tender was fun and very attentive. Will go back! read more

Amazing beer list. Savory prime rib sandwich. The perfect bar. Nice servers too. In a main drag, east to find.

When you name yourself "The Ale House", you better have a good selection of beer, and they deliver! Cozy atmosphere and good pub grub help to make your beer drinking experience flawless. It's a nice quiet bar with a great selection of beer with fantastically friendly service and clientele. Highly recommend. read more

See all

Pizza was great after a long day of driving. Huge selection of beers. Convenient location.

I hadn't been to the Ale House for 30 years - it's changed, a little. Friendly service - limited bar menu but we had good food. It used to focus on beers from around the world (which I was looking forward to) - now it's craft beers. It's nice and warm in there - enjoy read more

Awesome I'm every way!!! Great service! Great food Great prices! Great music stream! read more

great selection of beers . wonderful staff with lots of knowledge. I feel like I'm walking into Cheers. Charlie.

Friendly staff, great beer selection, great food. Try the pretzel! read more

It's "Cheers" and still very welcoming to the many business travelers who stay in nearby hotels. You'll make a friend for life here. Food is excellent. Pizza, steak sandwich, burgers on an open grill. For the sophisticated beer palate or novices entering the craft beer world. Huge selection of draft, cans and bottles. VERY friendly and knowledgeable staff . Finish 60 different beers in one year and your name will be on the "Wall of Foam" read more

There's nothing worse than a beer establishment with outstanding taps but terrible service. That's like walking an extra two miles through a desert to get to an oasis. Table service was non-existent, and so we needed to scream over the locals crowded around the bar to order additional drinks once it got busy. And this took about 10-15 minutes. Forget about paying; that was closer to 20 minutes worth of futile attempts to make eye contact with the bartender. I'll most likely come back next time I'm in town visiting Binghampton because of my insatiable curiosity about what they have on tap, but I'll be better prepared to wait next time. read more

The Ale House - a car parked in a parking lot - Pubs Near Me - Vestal, New York

If you're in Vestal and you don't want to hang out a major restaurant chain's bar, this is probably a good place to go. There are usually a good number of people here and there's a good selection. This pub is located on the Vestal Parkway near Binghamton University. Walking to it from BU is not really impossible, but let's not call it easy. There are some parking spots right in front of the bar, which is located in a multi-store unit. As the adjacent mattress and pool stores most likely won't be open doing your visit, parking won't be an issue. As earlier mentioned, there is a pretty expansive beer collection (around 36 beers). However, it might take you two or three tries to chose one that is currently available. From what I've gathered, there are also numerous snack options. read more

Maybe a 3.5 but depends on the night. I think the prices are ok. At least they don't and tax after the fact like fire and flame. And I think the beer diversity is much better here. Food is bar food. Nothing more. Not bad but after a couple pints who cares. I think the service is better than most joints. read more

The Ale House - Mmmmm...beer - Pubs Near Me - Vestal, New York

I have been coming to this place for 10 years! I absolutely love it! Best beers in town and hands down best Shirley Temple!!

A great little bar with a good beer selection and decent prices. Parking is kind of weird (it's behind the building), and it's small enough inside, which I didn't mind. The pizza was also fantastic! read more

The Ale House - The pizza is delicious - Pubs Near Me - Vestal, New York

Tough call on Ale House. There are things I hate about the place; there are things I love. The good: Surprisingly, I like the pizza, and I got a steak sandwich there one time that was pretty good. The beer selection is good by Binghamton standards, and they have the Passport system where you try 36 different draft beers and 24 more beer with at least one from each country offered in order to get your name engraved on the wall. Yeah, I'm up there. The bad: Service is usually awful in terms of speed and they are often rude. A friend of mine asked for a glass of water only to be told by the bartender, "I don't have time for water." This was after waiting for 15 minutes to be served. The owner kicked us out one night for being "loud." Ummm, it's a bar, not a funeral home. I'm sorry I didn't realize I needed to be using my inside voice. Most importantly, the place is tiny. I think it's a fine place to be when it's not too busy, but once it gets busy later in the evening, it's tough to move around, let alone have a conversation. A mixed bag. I recommend going there early in the evening before it gets too crowded. When it's slow, it's actually quite a nice place to have a few drinks. read more

UPDATE 2015-09: I'm going to update them from three to fours stars. Even though many of the problems listed below remain, especially the frequently slow service and somewhat expensive prices, at least now the have their beer selection listed on beermenus.com, and also provide a relatively updated single sheet printed beer menu. This eliminates what was formerly one of the most frustrating drawbacks of this bar. This fact, combined with the admittedly best beer selection in the area, make four stars a necessity. ORIGINAL REVIEW: A study in contrasts. PROS: With 36 taps, they have the best craft beer selection in the area. Even though the BBQ restaurant "Food & Fire" has 40 taps, the Ale House's 36 taps provide more and better choices for the beer purist. Cozy ambiance. Sports on TV. Pretty good music piped in. Friendly service most of the time. CONS: Long wait for service when the bar is crowded. The bar is frequently understaffed (almost never see two bartenders), and with the bartender filling out everyone's "passport" beer tour cards (a promotion to try different beers and keep a record on a pre-printed card), the time to get a beer can be really slow. I wish there was a was to determine how packed the place is before driving out there. Beer is pricey here. At least $6 a normal pint, and small-glass portions of Barley-wine or other stronger or rarer beers often cost even more despite the smaller portions. Very small and often hard to get a seat. Weird hours: They never open for lunch, their "Happy Hour" ($1 off regular price on pints) goes from 6pm-8pm, even though they open at 4pm on weekdays, and if you want to relax and watch a game on the weekend, forget it. They are closed on Sunday and only open at 6pm on Saturday. I can't count the number of times I've been running weekend errands on the Parkway and thought of stopping for a beer, only to be disappointed when I remember they are closed. Food selection is unimaginative, portions are small, and prices are high for what you get. There is no fryer (might be a good thing). The Buffalo Chicken pizza is excellent, however. Growlers: They don't have them. They have something called a 'jumbler' which is half the size of a growler. TOO SMALL! Not worth the effort. OVERALL IMPRESSION: When not crowded, a great place to have some somewhat expensive craft beer. When crowded, not even worth walking in the door. read more

People were always talking about The Ale House while I was in college. This was the place where the SA went to drink and talk about other dorks in school. They have 30 beers on tap, yeah yeah yeah. I couldn't care less. If you do care, send a comment this way. The patrons are bland and the "famous" crackers and cheese sucks. It's a joke. Table crackers with slices of cheese and chopped raw onions with hot mustard dining hall sauce. 5.95. Yeah, it's famous for being a six dollar basket of crap. There is no fryer - that means no wings, no fries. And for me...No reason to come back. read more

I had come here 6 years ago in college and had never gone back. My date at the time loved the beer "passport" and from what I saw when I went back during homecoming weekend, others did as well. My boyfriend wanted a drink but we didn't want to go all the way downtown for it so we came here. Our intent was just a drink but we ended up having food as well. He ordered the victory pilsner flight and a beef sandwich and I ordered draft Woodchuck cider and a pork speidie. Both food items were delicious and good sized portions for under $8. Our total bill came to $38 plus tip considering he also had another beer. It's a small place and you should park at the back and use the 3rd most inner door in the back, which really doesn't look like an entrance but it is. Definitely a small town bar with good food and beer without the frills. read more

You'll probably be surprised by how good it is. The Ale house has an AMAZING beer selection and great service. It isn't fancy but is a totally legit little bar that sits in a lame-looking strip mall. Nice welcoming locals at the bar with knowledgeable bartenders. Park in the back which you can access from either side of the strip mall. read more

If you are a fan of craft beers - The Ale House is far and away the best bar in town. The have 36 beers on tap, with a section that is always changing with the seasons. They have their popular "Passport" which allows you to try each of the beers they offer in exchange for your name on the wall. However, do be warned that this place is extremely small so getting a table or a spot at the bar is often a challenge. Also - the beers run $6 a pint, so drinking there can get pretty pricey. I've never tried their food but have always found the bartenders to be friendly and have always had a good time hanging out there. read more

30 beers on tap... imports, microbrews... How could you go wrong? Apparently, even this formula can't guarantee greatness. The place has so much potential... it just fails to live up to it. Perhaps I am a little biased having lived in that magical country that can turn only 4 ingredients into over 5000 distinct and mostly wonderful brews. I think however, that it was the pub itself, and not the beer that earned the 2 stars. Let us start with the beer. They have a wonderful selection of beers on tap. There are many flavored varieties from microbreweries in the northeast and elsewhere as well as some of my favorite imports. They even have trappist beer on tap... Chimay if I remember correctly (ahh, Chimay... one of my favorite trips...). The problem is, on any given night half of them are out!! When I went to order a beer, I always needed a backup, and a back-up of the back-up... etc as invariably my first 3 choices were out. If they just found someone who knew how to keep the beers in stock they could improve at least a star. The beers on tap are rarely rotated so it is difficult at best to sample all of the beers they 'offer'. I also believe in my heart that they do not clean the lines as they should. I have gotten many a beer that has left a sour taste in my mouth. The service is so-so bordering on crappy. The kitchen food is good... again, providing that you can get it. The bar tenders attention is hard to grab... even with the display of money. Speaking of money... Prices are bordering on outrageous. Parking is ok... Getting off the parkway to the parking area is haphazard at best though. The bar is kinda small and claustrophobic. I would recommend going to Sams if you want to sample different beers... you will save yourself a small fortune. It does however, provide an alternative to State St. read more

A must do if you prefer excellent beer choice, small crowds, and friendly service. Don't let the outside fool ya, hidden local gem. I will recommend this place to everyone I see. I didn't eat, but the pizzas looked fine. Everyone in the place was knocking them back. I only went for the beer. read more

Tons and tons of specialty beer and they have a quirky "passport" system where they keep track of the beer you order from different countries. It's a good way to keep it interesting, and keep you ordering. It is not cheap, but a fun spot to get away from the usual. It's never super packed or filled with completely trashed kiddies. read more

It pains me to write a crummy review for the Ale House, as we used to spend almost all of our time here when we lived in Binghamton (2007 - 2010) and absolutely loved it. We never really minded the prices, which while expensive for Binghamton, are right on par for more major cities and, of course, the tap list is generally fantastic. Their pizza is good, and we used to stuff ourselves with cheese and crackers which, while basic, are kind of perfect for a group. I stopped in recently on a Wednesday, and while checking out the beer list, overheard that all their beer on tap wasn't cold, and they were only serving bottles. Aight, no big deal. We sat down at the bar when a three-seat space opened up, and many people had left due to no beer being on tap - it was not crowded, and I can certainly understand service taking a while when it is (though in the past it had always been wildly efficient, even with only one person on). We waited probably a solid ten minutes, trying to get the bartender's attention and she just blatantly ignored us until our third friend showed up (who knew the bartender) and then it was all smiles and what can I get you. It just made me really, really sad to see how far the service has fallen, and that apparently they're only interested in serving you if you're a regular. We celebrated many birthdays there, ordered cakes from another of their awesome servers who's an excellent baker, felt at home, and always stopped in when we were in town. I doubt I'll return after our last experience. read more

Beer is amazing and the pizza is weirdly great. Unlimited supply of different beers for all beer lovers. Definitely a place to visit if passing through. read more

Good variety of different beers, not the typical brands. AWESOME pizza! Ordered chicken bacon ranch with white sauce and it was perfect!

When I moved to Binghamton in August, my roommate's first priority was taking me to the Ale House. It's been a biweekly tradition ever since. The Ale House has an excellent selection of beers,both on tap and in bottles. I knew I'd be happy there on my first visit, when I saw that they had Anchor Steam on tap (and a few weeks later, Achor Porter, and now, Anchor Christmas!). I'm currently making my way through an Ale House passport. You drink every beer on tap and a selection of bottles over the course of a year. After you finish the beers on tap, you get a free beer and a glass. Once you finish the whole thing, you get a tee shirt. It's good motivation to try things that you normally might not. One thing I like about the Ale House is that I've actually learned something about what kind of beers I like there, because I've had access to so many more. The place is absolutely tiny, and when I go with a large group we spend a lot of time hovering around people who look like they're nearly done so we can swoop in on their table the moment they leave. If you go on a night when a major game is on, expect to wait around for a table. The service is excellent. Donna always takes wonderful care of us, even when things are busy. The food is alright. I don't really like the cheese and cracker platter, but the pizza is pretty decent (especially the buffalo chicken). The Ale House can get really pricey really fast. Assume $5/beer and you'll be safe; though some (like the lambics) are a fair sight more. Also, it's walkable from BU. I think it's a pretty easy walk in good weather, less so in the cold. Overall? Highly recommended! read more

It is a very cozy place to get away from all the dancing crowd and just have a good conversation with friends and meet new people. And it does help to have some really 80 so beers to try. Some are just great, while others you might not what to try based on your taste. It is always best to ask for a taster before you order the whole thing. The DJ plays music from all genres and the bartenders offer great service on food and beers. This place offers no liquors. As mentioned by other reviewers, they have a Ale House Passport. Try all the beers on the list, you earn yourself a Ale House Mug and a name on their wall. The passport is basically a list that keeps track of which beers you have had. They keep your passport for the next time you visit. The majority of the crowd arrives early and mostly leave by midnight to head over to the downtown district of Binghamton where the clubs are. It is however a hole in the wall, with little space to move or find at the bar during peak hours (6pm - Midnight). So arrive early, and have fun. read more

The beer selection is amazing, but the pizza, equally amazing. Love craft beer, but we come here often because my women craves the pizza. Get the pepperoni with ranch on the side or get the buffalo chicken ... the best read more

a great many brews from which to choose, not cheap, btw. It's small, but it seems like this place has been around FOREVER. And who can pass up the cracker basket Jeff O mentions? Raw onions and stomach-searing spicy mustard!! I can. I'll stick with a beer, thanks. read more

The place that I wish was walking distance from my house! Traveling for business I decided to check out the Ale House. It is small with a dive bar vibe but CLEAN! Happy, funny, attentive staff. Huge selection of beer and a full bar. There are so many beers on tap and in cans you need a road map to help you find your way until Erin comes over and steers you in the right direction. I had the chicken sandwich and it was good. Guy next to me had a pizza and was pigging out on it. Like other reviews have said the food menu is limited but good and anyway you are there for the atmosphere and THE BEER! Perfect example, guy sits down next to me and Erin says I have the perfect beer for you, gets him a pour and he loves it, through their conversation I find out that he has not been to the place in two years! read more

The food menu is great but limited. The beer menu is great and unlimited. If you like beer you need to come here Ms. Erin will take care of you and direct you to the perfect beverage to coif. In this part of the world this is a must stop read more

Great beer bar. Good food choices that are yummy!!! So glad new owner Erin is in charge!! Nice job!!! read more

A plethora of beers and ciders to choose from each visit. Start with the pretzel and their pizza is wonderful. Friendly, local small town atmosphere. Give it a visit, you'll be glad you did. read more

First of all, the woman who owns this place is awesome and clearly knows her stuff. Ladies of the craft beer community, the Ale House is a must-see (dudes too ;)). But seriously, the inside of this place is nothing special but it's so cozy and makes for a great time. The boyfriend and I just finished our first beer tour and will definitely be doing another one. We're always impressed with the large and ever-changing selection of beers. The only thing I could think to improve this place would maybe be some different food options. I generally can't drink as much beer as I would like here and eat the awesome pizza without getting too full too fast and the other food options just don't do it for me. Some pretzels and beer cheese would definitely keep me from staggering out the door though! read more

This was my favorite bar in college! Not only did I spend my 21st Birthday here but I spent almost every Monday for several years here. They have a great Monday Night Football crowd, awesome draught selections and the nicest staff. I wish I could have taken this bar with me when I graduated. If you have any taste at all you would love this bar! read more

Love the beer selection, 36 taps, great variety. I also had a marinated grilled chicken sandwich that was cooked perfectly and served on a fresh roll with potato chips and pickles on the side. read more

The Ale house has a lot of beers. After going somewhat regularly for a couple years now, I'm amending my original review on the matter of beer selection. There are a lot of good beers that come through here with enough variety that just about anyone can find something that they prefer. Over the winter there was a phenomenal selection of stouts and porters to try, which is pretty much my happy place. Their food is OK, but the menu is pretty sparse. They don't have a deep frier here, so, don't expect typical fried bar food. Their pizza is decidedly good though, and they make a very solid spiedie. There isn't much seating, and it gets crowded quickly. Sometimes it takes a LONG time to get a bartender's attention as they often leave to clear tables, or get a food order or something and there's only one tending bar most of the time, even when it's busy. They have a challenge called the passport, where you have to try 60 different beers within a year, you get a pint glass after the first 36 and you get a hoodie and your name on the wall when you finish the rest. It's a good way to get yourself to try new things and branch out, but, often that means if you find something you like you'll be reluctant to have it again because it won't help you finish your card. One thing is certain though, the owners and bartenders at the ale house are passionate about beer. They are ready with recommendations and eager to help you discover new beers based on your preferences. It is always a friendly atmosphere and is certainly a local establishment worth patronizing. Seriously though, i wish they'd get a bigger place. read more

Absolutely my favorite bar in the greater Binghamton area. Great beer selection, amazing food, and a staff that really makes you feel like family. I have never been let down by The Ale House, and am happy to call it "my bar" if you have a problem waiting for a busy bartender or that they don't have a deep fryer, feel free to go somewhere else. I'll stick with my good beer selections, and steak sandwiches. The Ale House is like my version of Cheers, it's where everybody knows your name... read more

The Ale House is a place that can easily become *your* bar. I went there in the late 80s and it quickly took on the atmosphere of "Cheers." Though I haven't lived in the area for almost twenty years, Tim and Diane the owners, still know my name and always welcome me back. So why is this a great place? * A large beer selection. Over 30 on tap and over 120 available. All of the other drinks you might want are available too. * The World Tour. A fun "beers of the world" promotion that Tim has been running for over 20 years. A great way to try a lot of different beers, win some prizes and get your name on the plaque. * Atmosphere. The Ale House is small but it has a great pub feel. Lots of wood, a copper top bar, classic rock, many TVs with sports, darts and a video game machine. * Food. While one reviewer bemoaned the cheese tray, which is not a signature snack by the way, the pizza alone is worth the trip. Add to that a grill (burgers, hot ham and cheese, spiedies) and you won't leave hungry. * People. The Ale House draws a diverse crowd: Locals, college students (mostly grad), profs and it all works. Generally no stupid drunks and if you sit at the bar by yourself, people are friendly. If you're into the club scene, dancing, looking to hook up, this may not be your kind of place. But if you want a place to spend memorable times with friends, great beer and food, then it's worth your time. For me a trip back to the Binghamton area is not complete without a visit to The Ale House. read more