Alcoholics Assemble: Gainesville Bar Update Open Thread/Suggestions

by CanWeBeMature on Nov 2, 2011 2:13 AM EDT

So here's the story: I graduated from UF three years ago and have only been back two times since - the first time i came away with a happy memory (UF baseball beating Miami to advance to the Super Regionals), and the second not so much (last year's LSU debacle). But this weekend I, like the prodigal son, will be returning for the Homecoming game against Vandy, along with Gator Growl, etc. The problem is that I'm a bit rusty on the Gainesville bar scene. Thus I'm soliciting your suggestions for where to go on Friday night for a good time, and Saturday afternoon/evening to watch the Bama-LSU game.

When I lived there, I did most of my drinking (and there was a lot of it) at Salty Dog when I was Midtown and Stubby's or Lillian's when I was Downtown. I'm fairly sure all three of these are still alive and kicking, but are there any new ones I should know about? I'm sure The Swamp will be absolutely packed on Saturday night, so watching the game there might be a bit of a clusterfuck. Also, I'm a bit of a beer snob (hence the Stubby's), but not obnoxiously so, so keep that in mind (i.e., I'd like a place that I can get a good beer). I know Stubby's was expanding around the time I left; what's it look like now?

I'm relying on you drunkards out there to guide me in the right direction. I'll be coming with a girl that went to a small liberal arts school in Northeast for undergrad, so she'll be of no use. Have at it!

Please be kind and use good grammar.

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The Swamp

Just avoid it. It is just as it always was.

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by Andy Hutchins on Nov 2, 2011 12:47 PM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

Yeah

Being in a fraternity meant that I spent plenty of time at The Swamp, but on Friday/Saturday nights it was always a bit much for me. Almost as crowded as Gator City (i have a philosophical disagreement with waiting in line to get into a bar).

by CanWeBeMature on Nov 2, 2011 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Which is a little different from when I was there.

Swamp would a zoo on Fridays, but empty on Saturdays. Actually sort of nice on a Saturday night during the fall to sit outside there and not have it be crowded. You know if as a poor college kid such as myself you enjoyed spending $7 on a beer.

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by The Bull Gator on Nov 2, 2011 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Sweet Mel’s is apparently a new place that just opened a few months ago. I’ve never been but these reviews seem nice.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/sweet-mels-gainesville

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by FlaGators on Nov 2, 2011 1:07 PM EDT reply actions

Mother's Pub is pretty good

or at least it was when I was there in July. Good variety of beers on tap, not overly pricey, not claustrophobic inside, and tons of TV’s if you want to keep track of the other games being played. The owner, whose name escapes me at the moment, is there pretty often, which bodes well for consistent quality.

My anti-drug is football, because sometimes it is a better hallucinogen than anything you can get at Burning Man. - Spencer Hall 9/28/11

by car.full.of.midgets on Nov 2, 2011 1:23 PM EDT reply actions

I've been to Mother's a few times

It seemed to be the place where my hipster friends always went, for some reason. But I’ll definitely keep it under consideration.

by CanWeBeMature on Nov 2, 2011 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Mother's has (had?) Magic Hat on tap

Magic Hat #9 is pretty darn good. So. Definitely worth checking out. I am unsure as to the status of the PBR at Mothers, but that might be responsible for the hipster infestation…

His name was Nick Bloomfield.
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by The Commenter Formerly Known as Not You on Nov 2, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Mothers

$2 PBR tallboys. $1 High Life (I think it’s 10z). They also have about 12 taps of various import/crafts (nothing special though). Cheap greasy food too. I went there every day from Jan ’09 to May 09 (and most days from May 09 to August 09), and probably still spent less money than an average night in Miami.

Stubbies is good, but expensive for Gainesville (but still pretty damn cheap). The Top is so hipster it hurts, but they have good bartenders and a pretty good menu. Salty Dog is fratastic. Gator City is gross. BJs has a good beer list, good food, is expensive and very far away, but is a good dinner spot.

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by Chekhov's Spread Gun Option on Nov 2, 2011 4:33 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, The Top is far too hipster even for me (and I have a higher tolerance than most for that type). I’ve been there and The Atlantic a few times when I was chasing around some hipster girls.

by CanWeBeMature on Nov 2, 2011 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

But did you drink on the porch at Common Grounds?

That place was hipster Mecca. Fixies, beards, and horn-rimmed glasses as far as the eye could see.

My anti-drug is football, because sometimes it is a better hallucinogen than anything you can get at Burning Man. - Spencer Hall 9/28/11

by car.full.of.midgets on Nov 2, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

That sounds horrible.

I’m so glad, I’ve never walked into that place.

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by FlaGators on Nov 2, 2011 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

hahaha

I went to plenty of shows at Common Grounds, but I definitely never overstayed my welcome.

by CanWeBeMature on Nov 2, 2011 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions

When it comes to Irish Pubs…

Durty Nelly’s is where it is at. ICB’s and Harp … HELL YES!

Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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by FlaGators on Nov 2, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Nelly's is good

too much smoke for me, though.

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by Chekhov's Spread Gun Option on Nov 2, 2011 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Ahhh. Yeah, I can see that.

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The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.

by FlaGators on Nov 2, 2011 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Tall Paul's

on SE 2nd downtown was glorious the few times I went there this summer-they have a lot of good beer at pretty decent prices, especially some of the local microbrews, and shuffleboard and various and sundry bar games. Stubbies in my experience went downhill the last few years-I last drank there summer of 2010 and during the last few trips I ended up getting some skunked beer. Plus it’s a lot more expensive than Tall Paul’s is.

I finally stopped lurking on Alligator Army to post about beer. There’s nothing wrong with that, right?

Go gata!

by theologator on Nov 3, 2011 7:14 PM EDT reply actions

Beer is the best reason to stop lurking

I checked out Tall Paul’s on the internet a bit, and it looks right up my alley. Might be a great place to watch the game on Saturday night. That’s unfortunate to hear that about Stubbies. It was one of my favorite places to just post up and talk to the bartender about beer. Hopefully they haven’t expanded too much since I left.

I’ve decided I need to check out the Swamphead brewery tomorrow afternoon before Gator Growl, because I’ve enjoyed all their beers that I’ve found on tap here in Orlando. Maybe I’ll take home a couple growlers.

by CanWeBeMature on Nov 3, 2011 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions