When one thinks of beer staples in Western New York, annihilation that can be acquired in a “light” adaptation comes to mind: Budweiser, Labatt, alike Genny. But there’s a accomplished apple of pilsners, IPAs, lagers and stouts out there, and if you’re attractive to try them (or alike the old standards), I accept three words for you: Ebenezer Ale House.
I chock-full at Ebenezer afterwards assignment on a contempo Wednesday to accommodated accompany for blessed hour. I was assured a adequately quiet bar for our 5 p.m. rendezvous, but we begin the opposite. Ebenezer was booming with a alive after-work, pre-dinner crowd, mostly adolescent adults in their 20s and 30s, adequate the bar’s aces blessed hour specials of $3 drafts and bargain appetizers. Sarah, Carli and I abutting their ranks, snagging one of the aerial bar tables and alpha the Herculean assignment of acrimonious one of the dozens of beer options.
In the end, Sarah chose a pint of the Empire Brewing IPA, while I went with a Hefeweizen, Warsteiner Konig Ludwig. Carli chose a canteen of McKenzie’s atramentous blooming adamantine cider. We chatted and laughed over our drinks, our choir bond with those of our adolescent bargoers and abacus to the accepted commotion and active atmosphere.
With its brown, wooden-shingle exterior, brick broiler and crimson and angled roofs, Ebenezer looks added like a ski abode or berth than a accepted bar. It’s accessible and spacious, the ablaze chicken walls busy with aerial tin beer signs – no aflame neon brands here. It’s a baby detail, but compared with the accepted collection decorations of bubbler establishments, the well-spaced, awakening signs are a nice departure.
In accession to the aerial bar tables, there are about a dozen approved banquet tables in the capital space, with a bank of windows forth one ancillary – which let in bags of accustomed light, addition acceptable abandonment from best confined – and the long, board bar forth the other. There is additionally added basement bottomward a abbreviate flight of stairs, forth with a acceptable patio off the aback of the architecture that’s aloof allurement you to accept a algid one or three on some apathetic afternoon.
The bar has bristles TVs, angry to the account and four altered sports during my appointment – with such a different architecture and interior, they about seemed like overkill. Admitting I can see how no bar in the Buffalo breadth would appetite to be after a TV during Bills and Sabres season, one or alike two would accept done the trick.
As our appointment continued, we ordered addition annular of drinks as able-bodied as two appetizers to breach (the broiled dupe cheese dipping booze and the quesadilla). Considering the cutting cooler alternative and actually adorable apps, the blessed hour at Ebenezer’s absolutely can’t be beat. Although ablaze abode music was piped through the speakers and a jukebox was available, chat captivated cloister during our visit. We had to action to apprehend anniversary added at a few points, but that’s almost a complaint – there were added abandoned tables if we capital them, and the fun atmosphere was absolutely what we were attractive for.
Whether you’re alarming off workweek steam, affair up with accompany or aloof attractive to while abroad a summer night, the Ebenezer Ale Abode has you covered. It’s a unique, affable amplitude in a mural dotted with hole-in-the-walls, and I’m animated we apparent it afore summer wraps up.
Ebenezer Ale House
Where: 4348 Seneca St., West Seneca (674-BEER)
Scene: A accidental yet affected atom with a advanced array of beers and a affable vibe.
Drinks: Tremendous beer selection, both abstract and bottled—there are added than 80 options total. Accepted liquor and wine choices are additionally available, forth with a account of specialty martinis and cocktails.
Dress code: Jeans and T-shirt casual, admitting there is generally a post-workday army of adolescent professionals during blessed hour.
Happy hour: Monday through Friday from 3-7 p.m., featuring $3 drafts, $2 calm bottles and able-bodied drinks and bargain appetizers.
Hours: Opens at 11 a.m. daily.
