Thursday 20th of November 2008 01:52:56 PM

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This person needs 3 or more reviews on the site for their scores to start counting.

I think this place might have started off with good intentions. The reason I checked this place out times was for the cask ale. One time in 2006 I had Alpha Klaus on hand pull but now the hand pull never seems to be working.

Each time I go here the beer selection gets worse and worse. Mac's is BMC oriented but has had other choices on draft like 3 Floyds, Rouge or Bell's.

The floor layout is roomy with a bunch of comfy booths and tables and a big bar. But the staff is really unhelpful and spacey. The beer menu at the tables is not up date concerning draft choices and the waitress frequently does not know what is available either. I really hate having to get up and check out all of the handles at the bar because no on working can tell me what is available, but this is what happens at Mac's.

Overall, Mac's is disappointing. The food is average and the selection is ok. If the cask is fresh and working you might enjoy yourself though.

Monday 14th of April 2008 10:52:56 AM

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This was a recent stop in a quest for cask ale on Division St.

Yes, they have 2, count'em 2 handpumps. One was dry, and I expect that may be the norm, since they've never been on simultaneously after a few visits. Govnor's Red Ale was on, and served in a questionably tapered "imperial pint". The cask ale was decent, but the rest of the experience begged for something different. We didn't stay long enough to try the food, but I hear they do a decent burger.

Once we arrived, there was a horrible smell at one end of the bar (sick patron?), accounting for 6-8 open seats on that side. We opted for a table toward the back of the front room, and waited some time for service (to no avail), despite the room only being half-full. Low lighting, a couple odd brass chandeliers, and booths along the wall. Crowd was 30 something, urban professional, at least one "wooo" mating call was heard that evening. The neighborhood dynamic has slid downhill in the last couple years. Gone are the unique hole-in-the wall bohemian places, steamrolled to make way for high-end boutiques and prix fixe dining.

At the bar, the bartendress seemed a bit overworked and spacey. I asked for 2 pints of the cask ale, and got the response "we're out". There were 2 handles, one was clearly labeled, the other was blank. After pointing to the labeled one, I got the beer I asked for.

Selection was dismal, the high point being DFH 90 min, and the cask. 5 craft taps included Honkers and Rogue Santa's Reserve, but the rest was all Blue Moon, Miller Lite, typical stuff. Maybe 10-12 craft options in bottles. I've been avoiding this place for a reason, and this visit just confirmed my suspicions.