The New Road Brewery’s review is actually a little unfair because it was written after the second time that I was there.  Normally Phillytown tries to capture the first impression, but I was too lazy to write it up the first time.

The first thing about the New Road Brewhouse is that it is hard to find and there are inadequate signs to show where it is.  Once you get to the building it gets confusing because it is actually in a small mall-like building on the second floor.  Once you find the building and realize that it is up on the second floor, the doors have dark panes in them, which makes the place appear like it is closed.  This is not a good way for attracting business.

Once you get inside you’re money.  New Road has a very nice ambiance.  It’s not really bourgeoisie like some places in Old City like Cuba Libré, Brasils, etc., but it’s very nice for a brewpub, being much nicer than Victory and maybe compatible to Manayunk.  Needless to say, it’s nice and your date would not get pissed off at you if you brought her there. 

The layout of the place is longer than it is wide, but it is very large.  As you enter the door there is a dining area, then it splits up to a large bar on your right and more dining on your left, and ends up with a stage, pool table (for a game of stix), and an open area.  The layout of the bar area is nice and there is a separation between the dining areas and the bar.  The only bummer is that the bathrooms are at the entrance, which can be a bit of a hike. 

So let’s see, next on the list . . . food.  The food at the New Road is good, and similar to other brewpubs, they also serve wine for those with a more discriminating palette.  The choice of entrées is very diverse including seafood and ethnic food but the prices are reasonable with nothing over $20.

The New Road is right down the street from Ursinus College, so they are definitely trying to draw in the student crowd and offer some great specials like:

Monday nights: 20 cent wings

Wednesday 9-10: $1.00 Beers with Student ID

Thursdays: $2.00 beers

For more information or new/changing specials, please go to their web site because there is no way that even the premiere Philly website could keep up with their ever-changing specials.  The above is just an idea of the specials that they have.  So go to their web site because I do not want to get any bitchy emails saying: “We went on Thursday night and their beers were normal price.”  Here’s the link, use it.

And for a final note, one of the times that I was there, the New Road’s second annual goat race took place.  Yes that is not a mistake . . . goat race.  As is a fur covered animal with a beard and horns who is only slightly less finicky about what they eat than Elbo.  It was a very interesting event.  The New Road had a German Umpa band and some volk (not a typo the German word for folk) where dressed up in lederhosen and the traditional female garb.  The band was playing polkas (a god awful type of music) and then everyone went out to see the goat race.  Ich errate, daß es ein deutsches Ding ist.

- As reviewed by The Nutty Irishman

His other reviews include: Brasils, The Erin Pub, The Elephant and Castle, Oscar's Tavern, The Samson Street Oyster House,  Maggie O'Neal's, Barnaby's, Shampoo, Rio, The Great American Pub, & The Boat House .