Pint's Pub: a true whiskey heaven

Pint’s Pub is known for many things. The brewpub holds the crown for the most single malt whiskeys outside of Scotland. It also brews cask-conditioned beers, which are more than rare stateside. And on top of all that, Pint’s also finds the time to cook up some traditional British eats.

In a place like Pint’s, the first task is to choose a drink—the trouble is that it offers a ton of enticing options. However, every page of its drink menu boasts that it has the largest selection of single malt whiskey outside of Scotland, so the obvious choice is to just buy some damn whiskey.

But even this decision warrants more deliberation.

With 260 choices of just whiskey, it can get a bit intimidating. So unless you are already a whiskey connoisseur, it is best to start with the Single Malt Sampler ($17).

The sampler is comprised of four different whiskeys, one from each part of Scotland where whiskey is produced. Or, reach out and ask the wait staff or bartender; they all seem to know just about everything about whiskey.

Also, be sure to check those prices; while most glasses at Pint’s are around $20, at least three are $1,000. Yep, one small glass of whiskey costs $1,000.

Fortunately, beer is a bit easier to handle and no less fun. While at first glance the selection might seem quite small, and way small compared to the whiskey list, Pint’s 11 beers are rather impressive. Every beer served is brewed in house, which means everything is good.

Cask-conditioned ale, or real ale, is rare, but by no means meant for everyone. Most beer is pasteurized and filtered. Real ale goes through two cycles of fermentation and retains living yeast, which may not sound appealing at first, but it’s damn good.

Pint’s calls real ale the “champagne of the beer world,” which means it is a must try for first timers, so get the Dark Star ($4.25). Another warning: real ale is served room temperature and not carbonated.

Pint’s also does very well in categories that aren’t $1,000 whiskeys or room temperature beers. The four keg-style, or normal, beers that Pint’s brews are also remarkable. Both the PhoneBox Amber and the Gael Force Scottish Ale ($4.25) are memorable brews, especially the Gael, which stands out with hints of non-fermentable sugars.

Lastly, make sure to order food, though it may be the least important thing to do at Pint’s.

While the New World Fish and Chips ($10.00) at Pint’s is nontraditional—salmon that is not battered or fried—it is worth its dollar. Or, if you are in the mood for something messy, get anything with gravy, like the Brewers Bangers And Mash ($9.00), because Pint’s gravy is delicious.

When the craving for something new or authentic from across the pond strikes, Pint’s Pub’s passion for good food and a stiff whiskey can more than deliver.