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The beer selection is great, the beer quality is great, and it's great to see hand pumps serving cask beer. However, I was disappointed in the size of the head they serve, although 20oz glasses are used I received a gigantic head on my beer. When I asked for a 'top up' I was told that it was company policy to serve that size head, and they refused to fill my glass. At those prices you expect a full pint What a swindle!
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Doylestown, PA
(08/20/2009) |
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I've been burnt here a number of times, beer not tasting like it should. Great selection though. Place is way too crowded, you get a headache.
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Kenneth Kloby,
new york, NY
(05/27/2009) |
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People in my homebrew club suggested this place to me and it was worth it. I ordered guiness stout soup and it was extremely good. I want to try to make it on my own. We ordered sandwiches and you have to order fries or chips separate. I was surprised that a $2 basket of chips was almost an entire bag. Food very good and the wall of taps was perfect for paring. i didnt care for the cask because it was brooklyn brown and it had a sour feel to it. i wasnt sure if it was the beer or if it was cleaned properly. it was nice to cantillons in bottles and prices on the beer were not bad at all. its not that pricey of a beer bar for its location of the expensive area of the country, manhattan. the bartender was nice enough to let me try a few samples before i settled into ordering the next one. i would love to return back to this place again.
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thomas sup,
schnecksville, PA
(02/03/2008) |
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This place made a big impression upon me before I had tasted my first pint there. With its cathedral ceilings, dark wood paneling, abundant leather chairs, and bar-long tap selection, I came up to the bar to see a friendly face asking what I would like. My order came from a pamphlet publication that functions as rotating beer menu and my choice was the 'T Smisje Speciale, which was close to a biere de garde or saison type of ale. As a friend and I consumed our rounds, we ordered a cheese plate, and it arrived quickly in first rate quality (not like the puny ones found in the trendy East Village).
After further exploring the grand interior of the place, I found the bathrooms in clean condition, a grill in the back, and a cool party room open to all.
By the fourth round, we had gotten into the cask selections and were foolishly contemplating the magnum of Christmas ale (Baladin Noel).
I was happy the crowd seemed to be in their late 20's to mid 40's, which added to the civility of the place.
As this place is just a few blocks south of Grand Central, I would encourage anyone in the area to visit this landmark. It has strength in its presentation.
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rich ,
huntington, NY
(12/14/2007) |
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After a pint at d.b.a. (see review), I did what I have always done when in Manhattan: I had to stop here. In fact, in the ten or so years that Ginger Man has sat near the corner of Madison and East 36th, I have never visited New York without failing to drop by ā the best time to do so would be on an early weekday afternoon. But then no beer lover should take a bite from the Big Apple without drinking a pint or two (not to mention spending a sizable chunk of change) at Ginger Man, which is one best beer bars in the city if not on the East Coast.
The beer list has always been amazing! On tap are sixty draughts from around the world, many not being available in the US. Of course, cask-conditioned beer is always available. I appreciate the consistent freshness of the beers and the efficient, prompt and knowledgeable staff. The food aināt bad either.
On the hot July day of my visit the new beers were:
1. Aecht Schlenkerla Helles 2. Dinkle Aker Pils 3. Red Hook Sun Rye 4. Weyerbacher Muse 5. De Ranke Bitter Of course, the heavier styles are rotated in the colder months. (What a place!)
It is a handsome bar as well: high ceiling, a very long wooden bar that is opposite several booths running along the wall towards the back. In the front, to the immediate right are scattered a few tables and a couple of coveted sofas. In the back off to the right is another lounge area complete with additional sofas and comfy chairs. Need I say more? To be here is to be in beervana.
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Jerry Boesen,
Gaithersburg, MD
(07/11/2007) |
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Over Thanksgiving 2006 I stopped in for the 2nd time. The first time it was so busy I swore I would never return. This time I was in the neighborhood so I thought I would see how busy it looked. I got there about 4:30 and I was one of only 3 at the bar. The bartender was very knowledgeable and attentive. I think I've figured it out--get to the Gingerman while everyone else is at work.
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Bill Laubert,
Hornell, NY
(01/21/2007) |
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visited on 1/13/2007. great beer selection. not much in the way of food, simple bar grub. service was not good, waitress forgot our beer order twice (we only had two beers!). i would stop again and sit at the bar.
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paul,
binghamton, NY
(01/14/2007) |
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66 taps and a load of bottles! This is one of the best places in NYC for good beer. The place is new and nice, and they have a list of brews that's easy to navigate. When in on a Saturday night, we've walked out it't been so mobbed - 3 deep at the bar. In the afternoon, though, when it's not so busy, it's a very nice place to be. Guinness Stew is excellent. Sent back my Reuben last time though - it was 80% sauerkraut, 10% meat and 0% swiss and just on rye bread, not grilled. The Turkey & Brie sandwich on French bread has been great, as is the Beer Companion.
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Beerman 2000,
Clarks Summit, PA
(09/29/2006) |
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Spent a couple of hours here as a stop on a beer bar vacation to New York City. The selection is great and the service was outstanding. Our bartender helped us plan our next couple of stops while serving us some good brews. It's another good stop on any NYC beer visit.
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Jim Begley,
Las Vegas, NV
(05/27/2006) |
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Truly an awesome experience! I visited the Ginger Man with a couple of friends during a trip to the Big Apple last week. We visited the Ginger Man a sunday night, and even though the place was almost empty, we truly appreciated our visit. First of all, the bartender knew his stuff!!! He was able to suggest us new beers depending on our tastes, and allowed us to sample them before ordering. We all discovered new beers (which isn't hard to do with that kind of selection!) that we all appreciated. I even recommended the place to another conference-member I met: he was so enthusiast about this place he bought me a Ginger Man t-shirt as a way to thank me on letting him discover this beer-heaven!! Excellent service, excellent beer, sweet prices, definitely going back next time I visit NYC.
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Vince,
Montreal, QC
(04/20/2006) |
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I am bartender at the Ginger Man in New York City and I want to thank all the people who took some time to write a review of our bar. I would like to respond to some of your comments and concerns to help your experience be a good one at the Ginger Man.
About half our staff has been working here for over 4 years, and I am an 8 year veteran myself. That should tell you something about the place. It is a great environment to work in and we really do enjoy our jobs.
The clientele is a mixed bag, as some of you have noticed. Because of our location, we have a high volume of commuters and professional people who come to enjoy the big space, which we pack to the brim on Thursday nights (there may even be a line to get in) and every night during the "busy season", which is Oct-Feb. This can tend to give the place an anyonymous feel, but we also have a phenomenal collection of local regulars who have been coming in for years, and have developed a good relationship with the staff. If you'd like to enjoy a relaxing beer experience and chat, the best times during the week are very early evening, maybe between 4 and 6, Saturday nights before 10 (we get packed to the gills with young 20 somethings after 10), and Sundays.
As some of you have commented, it is a delicate balancing act to have 66 beers on tap, and to try to create a variety that appeals to everyone. We do beer and line maintenance at least twice a day, and because of our high volume, it is extremely rare that any beer sits around for very long, and we pull it promptly if it's past its prime. Fresh and tasty beer is absolutely a priority, and a lot of care goes into maintaining proper temperatures and promoting beers that excel the norm.
We offer small samples of our draft beers, and really try to give good recommendations. This is also a challenge we embrace. From the beer nuts who enjoy playing "stump the bartender" to the guy who walks up and just says, "what's good?", most of us have enough knowledge and experience to offer something to please. You may have come and had a server who was new and didn't answer your concerns as well as you may have wanted, but with time, all our staff become total beer nerds! We receive a few weeks of extensive beer training upon hire and have to take tests to keep our jobs. There's even been a couple of "blind" taste tests in our history, where we sit in front about ten beers have to get them right. This is an environment where the beer is the key, and we take it seriously and have fun with it at the same time.
As far as food, i've found that the Ginger Man is kind of a "snacking place". Our kitchen is actually called a "pantry" and it's small. Come before dinner, or come with a group and order some finger sandwiches and sampler plates. Nothing fried or grilled here, sorry guys!
Prices are what you would expect in Midtown Manhattan. Most of our pints are $6 (a little more for German Bocks and Belgian Beers) and and pretty on par with other beer bars in the city.
I hope this helps with any questions you may have about what you will find at our bar. For myself, i get a lot of satisfaction from meeting cool people with good beer taste, and i also really enjoy turning a novice onto something they'll come back for!
Happy beer drinking everyone!!
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New York, NY
(07/17/2005) |
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No beer bar anywhere, and I mean anywhere, can compare to the Ginger Man. (Andy's in Bogota is very cool too, but on a much smaller level) Yes, you will be paying NYC prices for a pint of beer, but the sheer selection of what is on tap in mind blowing. Every single time we go, I find new and interesting choice to sample. They keep the beer menu updated and current. It is never ever a disappointment. The food is actually pretty decent and not too expensive. Get the Beer Companion...it goes great with whatever selection you might make. Also, the Guiness stew rules. 2 suggestions, though...how about offering a beer sampler? With so many selections, I would love to try a few...and at $6+ a pint, I can only afford so many. Also, how about getting some local breweries on tap: River Horse, Troegs, Flying Fish, Lancaster, Cricket Hill, Climax, etc?
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Ed,
Nutley, NJ
(03/06/2005) |
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With the sheer amount of draft selections at the Ginger Man (over 60) you would almost expect there to be a drop-off in quality in the lines that do not get poured as often...not so. This establishment really knows how to take care of their beer. If you cannot find something that suits your taste on draft, however unlikely, they also feature a bottle list that is second to none. Where else in New York City are you going to find a limited edition barleywine from Nantucket's own Cisco brewers? Come on! I would, however, avoid the Ginger Man during weekday happy hour(unless, of course, you don't mind getting jostled by suits drinking Stella Artois.) But, don't let that stop you...this place is excellent.
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Kirk Struble,
New York, NY
(02/12/2005) |
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Fantastic selection of beers. I took a tour of the winter seasonals, and they have a great selection. Good mix of import and domestic seasonals. The bar is in a nice location in midtown, not hard to find right of 6th Ave. The bar has a classic pub feel. The food was average, and they have a limited food selection, which is fine, just don't come for the food. Come for the Beer! I ended up sitting with a random group of local professionals. So the clientele is friendly and laid back. Service was good. Bottom line, if you love beer and are in Manhattan, you should make a point to stop in.
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Chris Ware,
Fairfax, VA
(02/05/2005) |
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As an ex-rugger, I certainly am in constant thirst for a fine selection of brews, and alas I find myself time and again wading through suits to score one of their delectable pints. When stuck in midtown, this is a wonderful respite, but as a sizeable establishment, the service takes a rather sharp nosedive when bustling, so I recommend it at its best--afternoon drink-ups!
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Heather,
Hoboken, NJ
(01/30/2005) |
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I am the bartender on Saturday afternoon at The Ginger Man, and would like to send my sincerest apologies to the review on 04/05/04 from Binghamton NY. There is no wait service on Saturday. Perhaps that's why you and your family felt ignored. I'm hoping this unfortunate event happened when I was out of town, but if I am in any way responsible, I'm sorry. Please come in again and let me buy you a beer, because nobody's unhappy on a Saturday when I'm there. I would like nothing more than to make it up to you. My name is Susan.
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NY, NY
(07/01/2004) |
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Brooklyn, NY
(06/18/2004) |
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I come into the city from time to time and I never miss The Ginger Man. The selection is first rate and the service (especially Susan, the bartender) can't be any friendlier. If you are in Manhattan and need a top notch beer break you could do no better than The Ginger Man.
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Brian Johnson,
Ewing, NJ
(05/03/2004) |
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Was there with family on a slow Saturday afternoon. Was ignored for 10 minutes by bored bartender and waitress. They seemed to actually avoid eye contact. Lost my appetite for giving them my business (tips). Don't these people work for money?
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Binghamton, NY
(04/05/2004) |
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The Gingerman is a consistent top choice in NYC for great beers, ales and barley wines in season. Today was no exception.
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Geoff,
Morris Plains, NJ
(01/21/2004) |
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I am *extremely* fortunate to live just a block from this fine establishment, and have happily made it my home away from home. The beer selection of course is great, as you have read (including 1-3 cask ales at any given time, and a rotating sample of interesting microbrews and imports on draught). For pub grub the food is pretty good, the jukebox is tolerable (but could be better), the staff is exceptionally friendly (especially by NYC standards), and the decor and ambience is very comfy (including the living room-like setting in the back). My *only* complaint is that I wish they had a better sampling of wine, as sometimes I just don't feel like beer (heresy, I know). But all in all a destination worth seeking if you're in NYC, and within walking distance of Madison Square Garden / Penn Station.
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Tommy,
New York, NY
(01/20/2004) |
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more taps than any place in New York City, what else needs to be said? It can get very crowded, so it is better to go in off-hours. It very much has the British pub, wood-panel atmosphere.
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C Gould,
New York, NY
(06/12/2003) |
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I was really pleased with the Ginger; a splendid a generous offering of quality brews way too numerous to mention here. A virtual embarassment of riches! Service was excellent and they know their beer! Just make it there the next time you're in NYC and you won't be disappointed. Really!
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Tom Rothrock,
Centennial, CO
(06/11/2003) |
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On our tour of the 5 Ginger Man pubs (NY, Connecticut, Dallas Austin & Houston) last week, this was the first boozer we visited on the tour, having just flown in from England on Concorde we headed straight for the Ginger Man. As always a superb selection of beer, it was my 3rd visit and I have never been disappointed.
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Andy Oakes,
Budleigh Salterton, ?
(03/31/2003) |
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With 66 beers on tap, I'm like a kid in a candy store. The place gets crowded on Saturday nights. My favorite time to go there is on Sunday afternoons when I can drink in peace.
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Dave Jones,
Bloomfield, NJ
(02/26/2003) |
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