Tuesday 11th of May 2010 10:16:17 PM

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It was late on a Saturday afternoon that we decided to go to The House Pub.
We had some food at our favorite Mexican joint before going because they don't serve food.

The bar is on a corner and there was plenty of parking available in the nearby lots. We immediately took a seat at the small bar with about 10 stools.

Despite the large windows, I would still say this place has the "dank" that I like in a good bar. It is an old building and there was plenty of wood and brick. There were a couple of TVs, but not overly intrusive. The music was at a good level that allowed conversation... at least until a band came in later.

Behind the bar,the entire wall is a chalkboard menu. They only have 12 beers on tap, with a mix of good and not so good. I prefer draft beer, but the real treat is the bottled beer selection. There must have been over 80 beers. (I didn't actually count.) I had some delicious beers from Stone Brewing and Dark Horse. They also had many others, but I cannot remember them all.

The bartender/owner, Steve took good care of us all night long. It was fun to talk beer with him and it was clear that he liked beer. It is nice to see someone taking a chance on a different kind of bar in this land of yellow beers.

In addition to the beer bar room, there is a lounge type of room upstairs with another bar and couches for seating. We were told that they don't serve the full selection of beer upstairs, just the 12 taps. They are concentrating on martinis and scotch instead. I suppose you could walk down and get your beer yourself. We only took a quick tour of the upstairs because it had been reserved for a private party.

While it was dead quiet when we first arrived, the place did get more crowded after 9. A two man guitar jam started up and a bunch of pub crawlers flooded the place. Not usually my kind of scene, but we had staked out our spot at the bar, so we survived.

Overall, we had a great time at The House Pub. The beer selection is mostly bottles, but it is better than I have at home. The prices are reasonable, but may seem high if you are not familiar with the beers. I wish there were backs on the stools and a bar foot rail for comfort. I like to hang out for a good long time sipping my beer. I will be back.

Thursday 28th of January 2010 05:48:49 PM

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I frequent the House Pub as often as possible. They have over 75 different varieties of beer available on tap & in the bottle. They also have a full liquor bar. Their belgian beer selection is way above average. They probably have the best beer selection in the Fox Valley area! Local brew clubs enjoy having social nights at the House.

The main room isn't very large, but the bar seats about 10 people with high top tables as well. They have a game room up stairs with more seating, games, and a fireplace. They also have a Martini Lounge.

The Pub has a great downtown location, about a block down from mainstreet. It's easy to find. Parking is available on the street or in the lot across the street.

If you're a music lover, the House Pub is great for entertainment. They have a juke box, but they are known for their live entertainment. They have a weekly open-mic night where any musician can come in, sign up, and perform. They also have some great live bands playing on the weekends.

Overall, the House Pub is a great place to go for beer. One of my favorites! You can't beat the beer selection for the suburbs!