my absolute favourite place to hang out at in hamilton. it's a bit of an eclectic place with some funky decor, and it has a very chill, dim dive bar type of vibe. pop in here frequently enough and you'll meet some of the locals who are a cool bunch of people. the bartenders are sociable and provide good service. they even have a decent collection of board games. the number one reason i often show up here is because of their tap list. like the brux house, the brain rotates out their taps all the time, which is perfect for craft beer elitists like me who set out to try all different kinds of beers. however, they always have one or two beers that are pretty easy-going for those new to craft beer. they also boast an intriguing cocktail list which i will eventually try out. aside from alcoholic beverages, they do tea, pour-over coffee, sandwiches, and desserts. i'd say that this bar has everything you need, except for an extensive food menu read more

I had to do it again because I just do. 5 stars why go to other bars. I'd rather drink an ipa on Mars. Smoke cigs and watch passing cars. read more

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Coming from the Craft beer capital I made many efforts to try local and when eating nextdoor I could not resist a chalkboard that said 50+ beers. Most placed I'd been to had small selections of their own beer, but to me you have to really diversity to get to that 50 plateau and I was right. 50+ beers from all over (even back home). Steady changing selections of all craft, some local, but as varied as anyone can get around here. It's dark, small, warm, cozy, inviting, but ultimately weird. Hipster AF. I was glad to see some classic cocktails on the menu which I also tried, but there is a weird bottle neck at the chalkboard as it narrows to the bar opening which makes ordering just awkward if the bar itself isn't open. They do an interesting thing asking for your name instead of tabbing you via a card to hold, but that also doesn't seem to be a Canadian thing like it is back in the States. My pisco sour was excellent, fresh juice, fresh egg white, well shaken, though I'm more a fan of metal on metal and I'm starting to think kold-draft is a luxury as many places simply don't have it. Kold draft or even 2+ inch molded ice has a very unique clang that I like. Ultimately bad if your shaking with glass though. My friends had a few lagers and ales which Hamilton is more known for than IPA's. We sat at the back where it was quite and we could hear ourselves instead of shouting over people. They have board games which I imagine is great fun and even a back patio which I imagine goes off in the summer. The staff are friendly and pretty knowledgeable, but I'd have like to seem a little more eye in the sky control, in that regard it's more barista than bar. On any given night here you'll hear conversations of beard oil, compost, prius', and other hipster topics. It's quietly romantic and dark so no one will bother you whatever your opinions are. If a Portland hipster mated with a San Francisco hipster, The Brain would be their baby. read more

It's a interesting looking bar, but drinks are very bad and a bit overpriced. Staff was not friendly at all and I had the worse caipirinha of my life. I understand not caipirinha, I'm Brazilian and professional bartender. If you come stay with the beers, it's an honest selection. read more

This place is a cute little hole in the wall that if you didn't know it was there, chances are you'd walk right by. The space is super small and narrow with not a lot in the way of lighting, but it gives a nice atmosphere. There are board games to play while you hang out, plenty of craft beers to choose from and don't be afraid to pick your bartender's brain about a new beer discovery. Oh, and you have to try the pie. You NEED to try the pie. The peanut butter chocolate, and smores pie were tried on our visit, and yes, the bartender was able to pick a beer that complimented perfectly. Now, the only reason I didn't give this cute lil haunt a 5 is I found it to be a smidge pricey, and the seating? Not comfy enough if you really want to hang out for a while and have a few rounds of beers and board games. Old church pews and antique wood chairs do not create a comfy butt and back. Needless to say, we'll be back :) read more

The Brain - Smores pie, with made in house whipped cream - Bars Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

I'd heard of The Brain numerous times from friends and enemies alike, but not until moving down closer to the James North area of Hamilton, did I actually get out to see what the fuzzle was all about. The beer selection is AWESOME. There were a couple of beers that I had not seen before, as well as a lot of my microbrew favourites. The music has been pretty good too. Jeremy Greenspan owns/runs this place, along with Ken Innouye. Drop in. Very relaxed place, and perfect for some pre-drinks before heading down to This Ain't Hollywood read more

This place is great. No bells and whistles but I can get a delicious Manhatten for 10 dollars! You are doing it right! No food just drinks but nice unpretentious place in a sea of pretentiousness! read more

Cute little bar, definitely pricey, definitely a good selection on Draft. Not so good on the general alcohol front. Staff is nice (mostly) and definitely a cute dive bar. read more

Love the cocktails here and the vibe is always vibrant and chill. Patio could be better but the bar is where it's at.

Bottom line is that this place is a dump. They are often out of stock of most common liquors and mixes, but wait for it ... always plenty of Pabst since its the hipster beer du jour. The bathrooms are often less than stellar, which wouldn't be so bad if the toilets would flush, since they seem not to more often than they do. The other half of the equation is the icy reception the crowd and staff provide free of charge to customers who shave, maintain their personal hygiene and do not conform to the hipster standards which seem like a uniform code in the place. Luckily the place is easy to pass on since Augusta Street has plenty of varied and lively bars with more typical open and friendly Hamilton types, great atmosphere and well stocked bars. read more

The beer selection is super! The girl at the bar was very knowledgeable about the beers and I would love to come back and try more. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed and it's a good spot to hang out. read more

A great narrow little pad with a really comfortable ambience. Drawings on the walls, different chairs everywhere, and friendly staff and patrons. The sign is just a picture of a brains -- very medieval style. The Brain is my go-to spot on James North, and maybe all of Hamilton. read more

The ambience is very relaxed. The music is very mellow. It's packed. Reminds me of Portland Oregon. Board games are abundant as well as the drink variety. Would love to come here again read more

Love this place so much. Great beer selection (soo many, much craft) and wonderful ambiance. Only downside is that they don't have much in the way of food. That said, it's still my favourite bar in Hamilton. read more

Cool place to hang out with friends. Like their brain coffee mugs and vintage candles on the table.

The food was nothing spectacular and the service was decent, but my friend really liked the place so I'll give it another shot. We're going back there later this week so I'll update this when the time comes. read more

Great bar. Huge selection of craft beer, would highly recommend the bayside honey cream ale. Possibly my favourite beer. But huge selection on tap and bottles. Great cocktails. Don't usually find a pisco sour or a Caprinha on the menu. Makes me feel like im back in South American, which is a nice nostalgic feeling. Great atmosphere. Something a little dark and dingy, but I think that's what's so great about it. Also super cute and creepy bathrooms. Their pies are fantastic, and so are their meat pies and samosas. Good food, have gone there for lunch before and had their salmon bagel and their sandwich. Super tasty food. Only complaint is that getting a table is pretty hard, almost any day. But that's probably because it's a cool bar. Would recommend if you want to have a chill night at a bar. read more

Amazing beer selection! Great crowd and a friendly staff. Best Negroni I've had outside of Florence, where the Negroni was invented! My favorite Hamilton hangout! read more

nice cozy place but the bartender complains about people ordering food and was told to go read the board when asking about something. very good selection of beers but very poor in service. this has been the case on 2 of 3 visits. read more

Best bar in the city. Love those big beers! The owner has an incredible hand for cocktails. Let it be known. Good meat pies and you can smoke and drink at the same time. Great beer selection although Old Credit is pretty much my go-to. read more