This place is great in so many ways! I was here in the spring, and we sat in the outdoor garden area. This has tables with umbrellas, a play area, and a disc golf area, as well as fire pits. The menu has a huge draft selection as well as coolers full of canned and bottled libations. The cashier was friendly and efficient, but not particularly helpful. While they don't have food, there are several places in the same shopping center that have take-out options, and it's fast and easy to have something quick to pick up. read more

Always busy, it is great their staff is very efficient in getting the line down. We did not eat the food truck that was there but I heard it was good. We went for the concert series and the sound quality was great? And there is quite a lot of seating! Will be back! read more

The Glass Jug Beer Lab - The back area of the glass jug RTP! - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I usually go to the glass jug downtown, but I really wanted to try their Valentine's Day flight and it was only available at this location. So one Sunday morning when I got done watching my nephew play hockey, I decided to take a detour on the way home and stop here. I got there right as they opened and was the only one there besides the bartender. He was super enthusiastic and helpful and got me set up with the flight right away. I went and sat in the room with all of the steel brewing barrels. I nibbled on chocolate and sipped my beer as I looked around at all the interesting things. Right when you walk in the front door, there is an amazing bottle shop or selection of local beer. It was really quite amazing and much larger than the selection at the downtown location. Completely understandable since they have a lot more space here. The bar was nice and had really neat lit up menus with a lot of beers on tap. They also had two separate indoor seating areas that looked like they could sit quite a few people. It was chilly in February so I did not venture into the outdoor area behind the building. I'll have to try that if I come back. My most favorite thing about The Glass Jug are their specialty flights. I got the Girl Scout cookie flight last year and this year, which is a cookie paired with a beer, and I really enjoyed that. I actually had a Valentine's Day flight at the downtown location last year, but it did not come with chocolate. This year, the one with chocolate, was the best flight ever!!! It was absolute amazing. So now whenever I hear that they have a specialty flight, especially with chocolate or cookies, I will be making an effort to come back to visit. So much fun! read more

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I'm glad to have a branch of this microbrewery close to where I live. This review marks my third year as a patron. I come with my neighbors to have drinks and catch up, or I come to browse their collection of craft beers to enjoy at home. This location features small, local breweries and select imports. They also brew beer on site. Ask for their house offerings at the counter. Have extra time? Take a seat at the bar and strike up a conversation. The Glass Jug features a regular schedule of events that they host out back in their beer garden. I've come for live music, fireside hangouts, and food trucks. There's plenty of community-building opportunities. read more

Always love coming here. This time we came for trivia- which was hard mostly because the topics were kinda niche but in general it was fun. Got a glass of cider and bought some cans to go! read more

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Just discovered this spot, and it instantly became one of our new favorites in the area. The atmosphere is super welcoming -- you can tell right away they really care about making it a comfortable place to hang out. The beer selection is fantastic, with a great mix of their own brews and options from other local breweries, so there's something for everyone.The space itself is really well thought out -- cozy and bright inside, and the outdoor area is huge and perfect for relaxing with friends or just enjoying a laid-back evening. What stood out the most was the easygoing, friendly vibe that makes you feel part of the community. Everything about our visit was great -- the drinks, the service, and the overall atmosphere. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking to unwind and enjoy a great beer. We're already planning our next visit! read more

Pleasant staff and very welcoming to all. The service is above and beyond here. I enjoyed the Ginger beer that's on tap. I appreciate being able to try the beer before I purchase. I came here on a Friday night for a free comedy show. The comedians Cabell and Tony were the funniest. I like that there was a food truck on site but I had food at home before arriving. The ambiance here was okay for a brewery space. The outdoor area was gravel and patio picnic tables which weren't the most comfortable but bearable for a free comedy experience. read more

The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Glass Jug represents me and my wife's new favorite place to have a beer in the Triangle. We somewhat stumbled upon Glass Jug when the brewery we initially planned to visit happened to be closed. I'm glad we pivoted, as we had an excellent time and great beers here. The unassuming storefront leads directly into a bar with 20ish solid selections on offer. While the beer brewed on premises is great, Glass Jug smartly pours beers from a range of other breweries, adding to the quality of the selections. There appears to be something for everyone from IPAs to stouts to sours. If nothing on the draft list appeals, plenty of beer by the can or bottle is available for purchase. While the storefront and bar area seating appears limited, Glass Jug boasts plenty tables in a bright, separate, glass enclosed "atrium" next to the tanks. Even better is the huge, beer garden style backyard with plenty of benches. There's even a play area for kids in the backyard. When we left in the early evening on a Friday, a food truck was in full swing and a stage was being set up for live music. Overall, we felt impressed by the quality and variety of brews on offer, as well as the pleasantness of both the indoor and outdoor spaces. We won't hesitate to return next time we want to have a beer in the area. read more

Very cool place with great servers who are very knowledgeable. No food menu; but often has food trucks nearby. Great place to pickup cans or just stay and drink. read more

I enjoyed a perfect fall evening on the back outdoor patio at Glass Jug with a good beer and friends. We stopped by before heading to a nearby beer tasting event around 5:30pm on Saturday night. It wasn't too busy yet. They have a good sized section of beer on tap from breweries in and outside of NC. The bar area can get a little crowded (My suggestion would be they have their point of sale devices on both ends versus just one), but there have always been 3-4 guys working so it moves pretty quickly. They also have a section where you can buy snacks (peanuts, chips), but prices seemed a little high which I guess is to be expected. My group sat outside on their large patio where there are 20 or so picnic tables. Live music was playing (and for once it wasn't too loud to still talk to your friends without yelling, like most places), and a Mediterranean food truck was set up. I liked the murals they'd painted on the back of the building. While I didn't check it out, there's a large collection of beer you can get to go (or drink on site with a corkage fee). read more

The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great beer. Friendly staff. Fun fire pits outside with comfy chairs. Bonus playground for the kiddos. Food trucks were yummy as well as are the many food options around the strip mall! read more

Very fun spot for drinks, eats (BYOF), and music. Outside of their own selection, their RTP location has a large variety of drinks from other local breweries. Very large back patio area with tables and events. Very nice vibe there overall, the staff and patrons are friendly and inviting. *murals in the back are very dope! read more

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Good for a drink afterwork with friends. Food Truck around and we loved the terrace outside to play some games with friends. The ambiance was really casual and there were lot of people having a drink and enjoying themselves. It's dog friendly. read more

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This is my first time visiting The Glass Jug after having it on the radar for us to visit 6 weeks ago. The RTP location is an intimate location upon entering. It was interesting that I didn't see any glass jugs in the decor to connect with the concept. I actually believe jugs to be a rich icon within the South, so I was looking forward to seeing something unique with jugs in this brand. The offer this wintry Tuesday evening on draft that I chose happened to be FatBoy from one of NC's very own infamous local brewery: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. I am a huge fan of craft beer and the full sensory experience. This selection was quite satisfying for my palate. Our beertender was very attentive with our experience with the the German Chocolate Cake English Style Porter. This beer was every bit of a dessert porter! Our beertender was incredibly knowledgeable of which beer would balance out the sweetness of this porter and came out of his way to present a sample for us at the table. It was just the remedy we needed. This hospitality definitely increased the value of our experience here. The entertainment for the evening created an interesting ambiance and vibe. I would love to experience other local DJ styles within this space. Looking forward to exploring more beers here in our beer adventures. Cheers read more

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Amazing selection of craft beers, ciders & wine. Didn't have a drink on tap but would definitely return for that.

Was out here checking out the area and looked like a cool pub in the area to check out. When I arrived it was early morning so kinda dead. Venue - Place is chill with a store with lots of beers, and a tap area with house brews and good selections to choose from, seating area inside to chill, and a large outdoor area to chill and enjoy drinks. Pricing - The norm for going rates on pours and flights. Service - Very friendly lady in the front and knowledgeable on her drinks. Parking - Lots of parking in the front. Overall it's a nice cool place to come chill with friends or even the family. read more

The Glass Jug Beer Lab - a view from above of a bar - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place is awesome! It has great beer choices as well as hard kombucha for the non beer drinkers. The outdoor space is also great for larger events and you don't feel so crowded. The best part is, you can take beer to go home! read more

Absolute wonderful place! Nathan was the best bartender I've ever had. Outside seating was wonderful and location was beautiful. Service was impeccable!! Nathan needs a raise!!!!!!!! read more

This was a great little space for a surprise birthday party. I don't know the specifics of reserving the space so I cannot comment about that. We had about 15-18 people and I don't think the space could accommodate many more people. We brought in some snacks and a cake. There was no food or food trucks available. There was plenty of beer !!!! Restroom were also easily available. read more

The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Party time in the Atrium - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Cool place. Hadn't been to this location since the moved from just around the corner, ha like over a year ago, or more??? Boo. Just happened to be waiting for a seat for lunch at True Flavors, (an hour wait, booooo), when I thought beer (yay), and walked around the corner. Interesting place inside, and a separate seating area just outside of the fermenters. Staff was really knowledgeable and engaging, and they had a pretty large selection of cans and bottles outside the bar. We sat at the bar and had a peak at the menu. Decided on one of their IPAs, "More Research". It was delicious. I was actually surprised that it was so good that we had another, then another, that's it, I swear. Ok, it just happens that they can their beers once a week (Crowlers -- 32 once can/growler, get it, lol), and they had More Research, so I bought 2 for later at home. Now that I had found my new favorite neighborhood brewery, or whatevs (taproom, hmmm I digress), time for brunch. It was still another 30 minute wait.....Booooooo read more

The Glass Jug Beer Lab - My girl. Watching me drink a beer. - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Meh quality beer. Place seems to have lots of going on here but nothing attracts me to come back. read more

The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

My wife and I stopped in for a beer before going to the ACC baseball tournament. It is in a strip mall so there was a lot of parking. There is indoor and outdoor seating. There was a lot of beer options both to drink there and to buy to go. Lots of local beer to pick from. The outdoor area has umbrellas over the tables which is nice on hot sunny days. You can bring in your lunch and eat it there with cold beer. Staff were ok.. they seemed distracted with a delivery guy so there may have been a delivery issue. Beer to go is a little higher than what you find in big chain stores like Total WIne, but I think that is to be expected. Cool place. read more

Great spot to grab a drink! They offer some good draft beers at good prices. They had some yummy sours the last time I visited. They have lots of seating both inside and outside (front and back). Plenty of parking. read more

Good beer. Friendly service. Pleasant atmosphere with view onto street and surrounding buildings downtown Durham. Convenient location next to Durham Food Hall where we picked up some pizza and samosas. read more

Talk about strong, flavorful beer! As a prize at a casino night, we won a few cans of their limited release good prime Belgian-style ale. I had not tried their product before so I was pleasantly surprised at how strong and satisfying it was. The cans are packed with flavor and the flavors change as the beer warms to room temperature (if you are patient enough to let that happen - I am not). We are looking forward to checking out their brewery/shop after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to their website they typically host numerous events including running clubs, knitting clubs, trivia, and all-female beer education events! read more

The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Good Prime Belgian-Style Ale (highly recommend) - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We're new to South Durham and are finding out we have a lot to explore, especially in the craft beer department. Discovering The Glass Jug was definitely a win! While the location is somewhat underwhelming generally, you wouldn't know the difference once you're there. Cozy bottle shop with TVs for all the sports games etc. plus an outdoor beer garden! The atrium offers additional seating and a different vibe. Play bean bag toss outside, or start a friendly competition of Catan or Connect Four inside. Okay so the atmosphere checks out. Let's move on to the beer. Color me impressed! Couldn't pick just one craft beer, so went for the flight (obviously). Normally I end up with one favorite and want nothing to do with the other three beer selections but actually, much to my surprise, I liked every beer in the tasting. So much so, that I wandered around the bottle shop afterwards to take 3 of the 4 beers home with us! Probably would've gone 4/4 but you know, budgets and stuff. I did think the prices were high-ish, but then I reminded myself this is craft beer! Well worth the enjoyment. For those of you not into beer or with a gluten intolerance, there's quite a long list of wine as well as cider available, too! A couple of tips: bring your own food! It is welcomed since they do not have a kitchen. The outdoor space is pet friendly. They do have umbrellas for some shade. Plenty of parking available. Be sure to take some beer home with you! read more

The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Flight of hazy IPAs and the Fourth Dimension sour brewed in house! Also pictured: Backyard BBQ takeout. - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Glass Jug beers are delicious - I have enjoyed every beer I've had here, most recently the Hazy IPAs on tap (Opacity and Artificial Intelligence). Outdoor seating out back is gorgeous and there's a lot of it. The one complaint I have is that the beers are only 12 ounces here, but priced at six or seven dollars just like a 16 ounce pour would be elsewhere. read more

The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Artificial intelligence - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This is our go-to place. Great beer selection with bartenders that are like friends. Love the outdoor space. Wednesday Trivia with Pickle is the most fun, unique trivia my friends and I have found. Digging the new Pickle Stage. Glass Jug doesn't serve food, so we often pick up delicious empanadas at Sarah's a few doors down. read more

Came here on a Thursday evening, and it was pretty busy! I had been here before and wanted to return due to the fun/cool atmosphere this place is known for. It was nice to see they are doing well given COVID. That being said, my boyfriend and I were not impressed by the customer service. The bartender seemed very uninterested. When it was our turn to order and we expressed we weren't quite sure/ready, he somewhat rudely told us to step back and get out of line, and that all drafts are on the screen (which is obvious, given how large the screen is). I've honestly never been to a brewery where a bartender hasn't immediately responded with recommendations on what's popular or their favorite picks. It was a huge turn off. Upon receiving our beers, we checked out back, out front and inside and no tables or seats were available. It was actively raining and the only tables out back that were open were soaking wet because they had no umbrellas on those tables. So we stood outside under the overhang where they have tables and chairs out and figured we'd wait for something to open up. Same bartender comes outside and tells us due to COVID we can't be mingling not at a table and that we have to find a seat, and walks away. I completely understand the restrictions due to COVID are not convenient and that places are trying their best. I completely understand that weather/outdoor seating has become a key factor in many places being able to be open. That being said, he did not offer a solution for us to sit and enjoy our drinks comfortably. No, "let me grab some extra chairs and put them under the overhang for you guys" or "let me get an extra umbrella for a table out back"; there was actually plenty of room to socially distance and set up alternative seating inside and out front. We saw him do this to one other customer in a way that suggested he really did not care if people stayed or left. He offered us up a table that had no coverage while it was actively raining! So, we finished our okay beers as quickly as we could just so we could leave and go somewhere else we felt more comfortable at. Given that it was raining all day I feel like the seating situation could've been planned out. Perhaps they weren't expecting to be that busy, and were overwhelmed and it was an off night. But we probably won't be returning to this place, as there are other breweries in the area with much better customer service. read more

Love their beer. There's always a few mainstays (Transparency is great), and a great selection of seasonals and one-offs. The bottle shop is always bringing some of the best beer from around the State and across the country beyond. Bartenders are always friendly and make great recommendations. My top local watering hole for sure. read more

The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Harry Potter trivia night - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place is a bit odd. It's located in a strip mall surrounded by about four restaurants and a boot camp. The inside is cute and bright - bar is to your left in a separate room, there's a larger room to the right and then a little outdoor area. Stars for atmosphere. The drinks selections are definitely funky, and not really in the best way. I had a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and a Vinho Verde and both tasted like they were pretty inexpensive/not the most flavorful wines. My husband and his friends tried various beers and weren't excited about any of them. So, if you're looking for a spot with cool-ish vibes, but not worried about having the best beverages this could be good for you. read more

Great beer selection, casual place to hang out, friendly and knowledgeable staff. Looking forward to visiting again.

In full disclosure, I'm writing this review during stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review is not about The Glass Jug as a brewery or bar, but about their bottle shop. They have a small but varied selection organized by beer styles. They mix local/regional beers with offerings from other states and areas. As with a lot of bottle shops, you can grab cold beers from a fridge and you can also create your own 4-pack or 6-pack. You could order ahead for pickup but I just popped in on whim. I also like that they support local charities (they were collecting food for the Food Bank a few weeks ago) and that the staff is generally friendly. I think I've only tried one of their experimental beers so I can't comment on the overall quality of the beers that they brew. Sign up for their email newsletter and get updates on new offerings and events (once things get back to normal). read more

Tons of selection of beer in cans/bottles all organized by type of beer which is perfect. Prices seem on par with the area. I do believe that the glass jug also brews their own beer but I didn't try theirs. We were in the area from CT and this is the first beer location we stopped to check out. There were also a bunch of beers on tap with a bar. The bartender was nice but very disinterested, just cleaning around the bar. I just wish she was more interactive, we would ask a question about a beer or brewery and she only was yes or no, not conversational at all to any of the people at the bar. I'm just used to bartenders being excited and wanting to talk about beers! Oh well, cool place. Looks like there's an outdoor area too. We would be back if in the area though to buy some cans. read more

Always a great selection of beers for take away as well as on draft. They brew a nice assortment of styles and do wonderful collaborations. Each year I look forward to their Oktoberfest celebration as well as the Advent Beer Calendar box. Staff is also friendly and helpful. read more

Decent beer selection and space. Several employees working but only one that seemed to be concerned about customer service. House beers were serviceable but nothing special. I liked the other location far better because it wasn't as flashy but employees seemed more concerned about customer service. Will likely return as I have had good experiences--but my last one was very average. read more

Cool spot featuring a nice selection of local brews on draft along with a couple of their own. Atmosphere is very laid back and actually a little quiet even for my liking. Overall, would probably come back more to pick up bottles than to stick around given the proximity of some outstanding breweries. read more

This place is an amazing hidden gem! I'm so glad I found this place and it's so close to where I live. They have a wonderful ambiance, and I had a great time. Things I liked: - They have sour beers! - Awesome bartenders - Board games - Their meads were awesome - The bathroom (because I have to review bathrooms lol) was wonderful! It's so clean, spacious and it has awesome (and cheap) art Things I didn't like: - They close at 10. I wish they would stay open later cause it's a really nice hang out spot Overall - worth checking out. I'm definitely coming back read more

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Great selection of beers on tap as well as an awesome bottle and can inventory. The in-house beers were all awesome! Go here if you like the Belgian/strong ale style. Everything was balanced and well made. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. They don't have food but do allow outside food in and can give you some tips for the local restaurants. A great find! read more

The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Beer flight! - Beer Bar Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

A great beer brewery in Durham close to RTP. It has a lot of outdoor seating in the back, and a bunch of parking in front. It shares a parking lot with a lot of other establishments, including a DMV office, and some other restaurants. This is a good place to meet with coworkers after work and have a few interesting combinations of beer. I hear that the beer menu changes often. I came in one day after work with a few coworkers. The bartenders seemed a bit overwhelmed with the small crowd that was there. I cannot imagine how it would be if the place was really crowded. Overall a really really Pleasant place to go have locally brewed beer and socialize. read more

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