The West Coast brews beer snobs. Anyone who has ever passed through San Francisco, Portland, Denver, or Vancouver swears they’re dwelling in one of the world’s best beer cities, and why wouldn’t they? These cities practically spit out triple hopped IPAs, Trappist ales, and barrel-aged whatevers. After living in two of these cities and loving all four, I’m afraid I’ve become obnoxious about my beer too. I had was pleasantly surprised by how awesome Alabama was, and the craft beer scene and breweries in Huntsville definitely didn’t disappoint.
Heading to Alabama and need some help navigating all the best beer in Huntsville? Here are some of my favorite taprooms and breweries in Huntsville, plus the best beer they’re pouring.
The Best Beer in Huntsville
Straight to Ale | “The Drinking in High School Experience” | 2610 Clinton Ave W.
Tucked behind a high school gymnasium, Straight to Ale is what drinking in high school could have been if your friend’s older brother had better taste in beer. Straight to Ale is part of Campus 805 and located near some of the best restaurants and bars in Huntsville. If you’re looking for an easy night of barhopping, this could very well be your place.
The Beer: Monkeynaut IPA (7.25%)
The Review: Monkeynaut IPA is a mix of malty and piney flavors, but it drinks surprisingly sweet for an IPA. The real truth is that I’m a sucker for a beautiful can. The beer is great too, but the colorfully sketched rhesus monkey in a spacesuit is what makes this beer worth a try.
OTBX | “The Cool Spot” | 301 Holmes Ave NE
Old Town Beer Exchange (OTBX) is a wine shop and taproom in downtown Huntsville. Their draft list is extensive with elusive beers from Alabama and other Southern states, and their digital display broadcasts how many pours are left in each keg. With limited bar seating and knowledgable bartenders, the vibe is just right for a more serious beer drinker to dip their toes in the Huntsville beer scene.
The Beer: Varies
The Review: The draft list is constantly evolving at OTBE, but the list is exceptionally curated. Get a recommendation from the bartender, or order whatever strikes your fancy from a neighboring Southern state.
Salty Nut Brewery | “The Drinking at your Friends House Place” | 2406 Clinton Ave W
Salty Nut is an inviting microbrewery with a friendly indoor area and a cozy backyard. The ambiance is far from flashy, so Salty Nut lets their beer be the real star. I didn’t have time to make it to this brewery, but locals swear by it.
The Beer: Imperial Moustache Red (5.6%)
The Review: The Imperial Moustache Red has the deep red coloring you really hope for when you go for a red ale. What starts out as a roasted flavor evolves into an unexpected hoppy finish.
Yellowhammer Brewing | “The I Forgot to Grab Dinner Place” | 2600 Clinton Ave W
Yellowhammer Brewing is a brewery and taproom, recently relocated to Campus 805. They make their own beer and share a location with Earth and Stone – a woodfire pizza place. The casual atmosphere makes it a low commitment spot for a first date if you don’t have time to eat beforehand. Their Southern-inspired beers bear names like Miracle Worker, Hop Revival, and the Lickskillet Porter.
The Beer: Miracle Worker Belgian Tripel (9%)
The Review: The honey-colored tripel brings in complex fruity and dark flavors with the occasional floral note. It’s easy to drink, but just you wait until that 9%ABV to sneaks up on you.
Green Bus Brewing | “The Neighborhood Bar” | 206 Eustis Ave SE
Green Bus Brewing is an unpretentious brewery with lots of light and plenty of space to spread out. You can have your beer served in a purple plastic cup so you can wander the entertainment district, but stick around Green Bus for the social atmosphere. You might feel like you’re hanging at a house party rather than a crowded bar, anyway.
The Beer: Camper Van Blonde (5.2%)
Review: It wasn’t our favorite beer in Huntsville, but Camper Van Blonde did offer a light little reprieve from the heavy hops gauntlet.
Pints & Pixels Pub | “The Play Place” | 115 Clinton Ave E, Fl 3
Who needs decor when you’ve got a solid collection of 80’s arcade games? The beer menu at Pints & Pixels features a mix of super local and domestic beers, so grab something new and settle in for a few rounds of Paperboy.
The Beer: Good People Coffee Oatmeal Stout (6%)**
The Review: Straight out of Birmingham, Good People’s Coffee Oatmeal Stout is kind of a local staple. Into cold brew? This coffee oatmeal stout is absolutely for you.
** Looking for a local opinion? Stephen of Huntsville recommends “Candy Bar Pinstripe Stout from Blue Pants Brewery or the AstroNut Brown from Rocket Republic. Both of these breweries are located in Madison (which is less than 20 miles from Pints & Pixels) and have awesome tap rooms in their own right.”
8 Comments
Stephen Nugent
August 3, 2017 at 9:50 pmThe address is incorrect for the location of Straight To Ale that you describe, Earth and Stone pizza is located inside Yellowhammer but is not the same company, and Green Bus served you beer in a purple cup so you could walk in the entertainment district. The Good People beer you tried at Pints and Pixels is from a brewery from Birmingham. There are plenty of beer at that location from truly local breweries that you missed.
Taylor Record
August 4, 2017 at 9:36 amThanks for helping me make the post more accurate, Stephen! What is your best recommendation for a local beer at Pints & Pixels? I’ll add it as an edit!
Stephen Nugent
August 4, 2017 at 2:13 pmOf the beers that they currently have on tap I would recommend either the Candy Bar Pinstripe Stout from Blue Pants Brewery or the AstroNut Brown from Rocket Republic. Both of these breweries are located in Madison. Which is less than 20 miles from Pints and Pixels and have awesome tap rooms in their own right.
Taylor Record
August 7, 2017 at 9:49 amThanks a lot for the recommendation, Stephen! I’ve added your suggestions into the post. I’ll have to try the AstroNut next time I’m in Huntsville, I suppose!
Leslie Bruton
August 4, 2017 at 12:18 amGreat article about fun spots in Huntsville! Would you mind changing the address you have listed for Straight to Ale? The address for the location you’ve described/pictured is 2610 Clinton Ave W. We want to make sure all your readers end up at the correct spot! Thanks for including us!
Leslie, Straight to Ale
Taylor Record
August 4, 2017 at 10:03 amThank you, Leslie! I just made the update and so appreciate the fact checking. Thanks for the stellar beer!
Janet Smith
March 13, 2018 at 4:41 pmLiquor Express is our favorite taproom fro trying new beers. They have 100 taps and a seven page beer list with descriptions, ABV and most important IBU for those of us who don’t like hoppy beer. 1812 University Dr. NW, Huntsville AL.
Taylor Record
March 14, 2018 at 10:03 pmI didn’t have a chance to check it out while I was there. Looks awfully cool from the pictures!