The brewery is what we'd call an early-night nightlife kind of place, as it's only open until 10:00 p.m. But this spot in the Broad Avenue Arts District is worthy of a stop, thanks to its two brewing brothers and their dedication to their craft. Davin & Kellan Bartosch (love those names) are the kind of guys who love the art of making beer, and have traveled throughout the United States and Europe to research and hone their craft, finally launching into the brewery world with a brewery and taproom. As brewers, these boys have won plenty of awards; they offer pints and growlers in the tap room ($5 for a pint and $13 for a growler and a fill). Wiseacre was the first of a handful of new taprooms that opened in Memphis in the last few years, and is the unofficial ground zero for the craft brew crowd as well as just a fun spot to hit on any given weekend. Ten taps flow with Wiseacre's Tiny Bomb, (a pilsner), Ananda IPA and a variety of seasonal favorites. There's a different food truck on site during the opening hours, and you can take some brew home with you in your growler or by grabbing a six-pack. The tap rom also offers brewery tours and beer education, so there's rarely a dull moment at Wiseacre.
Recommended for Pubs because: Wiseacre is hip and fun, a truly authentic Memphis twist of a pub.
Sally's expert tip: This is a credit card only spot - so be sure to bring along the plastic.
If it's beer and sporting events you seek, this popular bar just off Beale Street is a good choice. WHile primarily a beer bar, there is always a sporting event on the dock, especially in the hours before the Grizzlies take the court at nearby FedEx Forum. Inside, you'll find an atmosphere conducive to downing a few brews and having a good time: wooden furniture, pool tables, and plenty of Elvis memorabilia. During warmer months, the patio is one of the best places to hang out in Memphis. In case you need to put something substantial in your belly, Flying Saucer offers decent pub grub, and the aptly named Big Pretzel goes great with most beers.
Recommended for Pubs because: We think of Flying Saucer as the pub tourists love - although you will occasionally run across some locals, too.
Sally's expert tip: You can fill up on a Big Pretzel and beer - it counts as dinner to us.
The Fox & Hound is a chain, but gives off a local vibe thanks to its Memphis-centric decor. This is another spot that college alumni groups gather on football Saturdays for viewing parties and at any other time, every TV seems tuned to a different sports channel. When the sports world is quieter, the Fox & Hound offers paint nights to pull in the ladies.Food is typical pub grub and consistently good. We've brought the kids here before and it's not something we'd do again, however - while it appears family-friendly, younger kids tend to be annoying to the young singletons who heavily populate this space on college game days.
Recommended for Pubs because: This is the choice on days when you don't want to make a choice - you just roll in and they'll take care of you.
Sally's expert tip: On college game day Saturdays, it can be hard to find a seat - so arrive early to secure a spot and convince the bartender to turn your game on.
With exposed brick walls, two levels of lounging and dinging, and a corner spot in Overton Square, Local on the Square should easily become as popular as its older sibling - downtown's Local Gastropub. Upstairs, the feel is more lounge than restaurant, with plenty of cushy chairs and couches on which to perch while solving the problems of the world, and a cool half-u bar makes the space feel open and the people-watching easy. Crafty cocktails include a Velvet Elvis, with locally-branded 901 vodka (Justin Timberlake's vodka label),lavendar syrup, champagne and orange; the local punch bowl is a seasonally-inspired concoction which serves 4-6.
Recommended for Pubs because: Local is like your favorite upscale pub in London, with plenty of trendy snacks and great looking clients.
Sally's expert tip: Arrive early if you're hoping to perch at the bar for the evening.
You've got to love a place that was open in the 1930's - and was rumored to be a speakeasy during Prohibition - that's found its way back to being a hip joint in 2012. The Green Beetle (it can't be called anything else, as outlined in the building contract, apparently) was originally opened in 1939, kinda putting paid to the speakeasy idea. But whether it was a secret place to drink or simply a good cafe then, today it is a small, cleaned-up, old-fashioned spot to listen to a local band while chowing down on some large - and we mean large - portions of home cooking. Lasagna that regularly weights in over two pounds per serving, creamy, skin-on mashed potatoes with a twist of horseradish, and perfectly cooked collard greens share are what many come for, staying for the local musicians who take to the 'stage' until midnight or later on weekend nights.
Recommended for Pubs because: The Green Beetle is our fave spot for channeling your grandpa - and all of his work buddies.
Sally's expert tip: Come hungry and thirsty. You won't leave that way.
TJ Mulligan's is a local change with three locations, and our favorite is the on in the Pinch, an historic district in downtown Memphis that's near the pyramid-shaped (soon to be) Bass Pro Center. Mulligan;s offers a patio, a great inside space with plenty of TVs, and a focus on all things football, with MNF and TNF (plus specials and giveaways) and more pro football on Sundays, and college games run all day Saturday. The Grizz and basketball Tigers get their due as well. When Monday isn't a football night, it is a poker night, with friendly Texas Hold 'em competition.
Recommended for Pubs because: TJ Mulligan's is unpretentious, pours a mean draught, and offers an authentic neighborhood vibe.
Sally's expert tip: You can bring your kids to Mulligan's.
The next door and more casual neighbor of Chef Ryan Trimm's Sweetgrass is a bar/casual eatery that rocks during the NFL and NBA seasons - but we hesitate to call it a sports bar; let's just say this is a more upscale yet casual bar that just happens to host great sporting event parties. Next Door feels pub-y, with a long bar, almost the length of the entire space - and a mix of high top and conventional tables which can be thrown together to accommodate larger groups. The wine and beer offerings are fantastic (we love any bar that offers an Albarino as a matter of course), with a great selection of imported bottled beer and regional brews on tap.
Recommended for Pubs because: Next Door draws an eclectic crowd, from college students to well-heeled financial advisers, creating the perfect pub-ish atmosphere.
Sally's expert tip: Look for seasonal cocktails and locally-crafted seasonal beers throughout the year.
A real Irishman is one of the partners of The Brass Door (he's even named Seamus - love it!) - and his love of soccer and home prompted him to open the doors of the downtown pub, housed in what was originally a bank. With the tellys dedicated to English league soccer and Grizzlies games, live music and a super-friendly staff, anyone who's been to a real 'local' will feel instantly transported - this is the real deal. The pub plays home pub to the Memphis Goners, Arsenal's Memphis Fan Club, which means every Arsenal match comes with a nice crowd of people who are very, very into their team. As far as the pub grub, the menu is decidedly authentic and the beer list is top-notch. ploughman-style lunches to Irish stew, lamb and shepherd's pies and traditional fish 'n' chips,
Recommended for Pubs because: Walking into the Brass Door is like stepping into your village 'local'; the warm decor and friendly staff make it feel like home.
Sally's expert tip: The Arsenal games can start as early as 10 am on a Sunday, so if your team isn't Arsenal, be sure to check the schedule.
Everything about Celtic Crossing feels authentically Irish pub, and walking into the bar is like going through a wormhole into another dimension. Like any respectable pub, the decor offers a mix of tables and chairs, there's always a football match being beamed in from somewhere around the world (if you don't know what EPL stands for, this may not be your bar), and you can order just about any Irish whiskey every made. You can order corned beef, shepherd's pie bangers and mash and even Scotch eggs, or go for the more traditional American pub fare of a burger or salad.
Recommended for Pubs because: Celtic is like a little bit of Ireland, plopped down right in the middle of Memphis.
Sally's expert tip: While the outdoor patio is fab, there are no TVs outside, so if you're coming for the game, sit inside.
High Cotton Brewing has been crafting beer in Memphis for a while, and its small-batch craft beers have been a staple in restaurants around in the summer of 2014 to town for almost as long. High Cotton's Taproom opened in the summer of 2014 in a great warehouse-style space that features a long bar, reclaimed wood from historic Memphis settings, and a gigantic, lighted sign that proclaims BEER hanging over the bar, just in case there was any doubt about what they do here. Food trucks can be found on the street outside the taproom, where you can stay for a pint or two of its five or so beers - or fill up a growler and take your brew to go.
Recommended for Pubs because: High Cotton is like the ultimate Memphis take on a pub - it's full of cool people, unpretentious, and loads of fun.
Sally's expert tip: High Cotton only fills its own growlers; the upside is that for the $5 price of a growler (without beer), the brewery gives refills in a sanitized, chilled growler.