The minute he first saw the space that became Barrel Down, president Mike Winn decided it had to be a beer hall, given its high ceilings and long, deep shape. His first instinct was to give it a Bavarian theme, but then he had another thought. “Some of the finest craft beers in the world are being made in the U.S. now,” Winn says. “So why not make it an American beer hall?” With his co-owners, he did just that, and now the bustling spot serves some two dozen U.S. craft beers on tap, many of which are hard to find elsewhere, like Left Hand Brewing’s Milk Stout or Almanac Beer Company’s Dolores Farmhouse Ale. Pull up a stool at the long, gleaming bar or communal table, then order a pint and a tempting bar snack, like fresh-baked beer-dough pretzels with dipping sauces and crisp cauliflower “popcorn” with ginger aioli. Heartier fare (burgers, salmon, chicken panzanella) is available too, as is weekend brunch.
The minute he first saw the space that became Barrel Down, president Mike Winn decided it had to be a beer hall, given its high ceilings and long, deep shape. His first instinct was to give it a Bavarian theme, but then he had another thought. “Some of the finest craft beers in the world are being made in the U.S. now,” Winn says. “So why not make it an American beer hall?” With his co-owners, he did just that, and now the bustling spot serves some two dozen U.S. craft beers on tap, many of which are hard to find elsewhere, like Left Hand Brewing’s Milk Stout or Almanac Beer Company’s Dolores Farmhouse Ale. Pull up a stool at the long, gleaming bar or communal table, then order a pint and a tempting bar snack, like fresh-baked beer-dough pretzels with dipping sauces and crisp cauliflower “popcorn” with ginger aioli. Heartier fare (burgers, salmon, chicken panzanella) is available too, as is weekend brunch.
