**INITIAL REVIEW**…read more
Apparently, the Yelp Skynet a.k.a. the AI that green or red flags reviews, doesn't like the actual name of this pub despite the fact it is the pub's name. Ergo, I will use the abbreviation VI for the remainder of this review.
Besides that, you really can't go wrong going to any of the pubs in Historic Cocoa Village. VI is one of the pubs on the eastern side of the Village, in between the famous Fat Donkey's Ice Cream and the furthest east pub in the village, Ryan's.
Appearance-wise, the outside fits primarily with the building, but there are some minute details that give it its own personality, primarily around its name. There is also a section of the road and sidewalk that have been garrisoned for VI as outdoor seating and games such as bean bag toss. Indoors, it is definitely your kinda pub that many of the patrons are friends. The right side (East) have long tables with many pub and drinking games such as Hook & Ring and Shut The Box. There is a bookshelf filled to the brim with board games in case patrons prefer traditional or childhood classics. The left side (West) is the "Patio," a room that is decorated by numerous plants, neon lighting, widker and a black-and-white checkerboard floor.
Finally, the middle of the pub is the actual bar, in the form of an L-shape serving a nice arrangement of beers from many breweries, cideries, distilleries, and meaderies across the United States. I had the Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale by Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co. Other beer selections I would recommend include the Pineapple Cider by the famous Carib Brewing Co. and the Mango Cart by Golden Road Brewing. Personal note on the latter: Mango Carts, well for me, only taste good when straight from the tap. Cans are not good.
And the food, it is minimal, but boy does VI know how to tug at my heartstrings as everything they have features, or could feature, cheese. They have pretzels with cheese, pickles with cheese, and my personal favorite, grilled cheese sandwiches. And for the more sophisticated patron, they have numerous choices in charcuterie boards, too.
I will also state the drink prices are a bit on the high side compared to some other places I been to. And there are two restrooms that are single-serving and gender-specific. I don't believe the latter has to be gender-specific because they are single-serving. The barn doors are an interesting choice because they are not very good at blocking sound. I guess that is why VI blasts the music so nobody can hear the flatulence.
Speaking of music, VI does have a small corner stage for small acts, possibly singular, to perform. Unless there is a pull-out large stage for outdoor performances, I don't see big bands, per se in higher number of members, performing here unless they can all jam in that tight-spaced stage.
Ultimately, I am going to give VI three-out-of-five stars for this review. They are a solid pub that has all the fixin's of a good bar to go to. Maybe it is safe to say they really don't stand out too much, especially amongst the more unique bars in Historic Cocoa Village. But still, a good place to have a drink with friends with that "Everybody knows your name" kinda vibe.
