The Bier Abbey
Beer, with church pews.
After more than a year of buzz, The Bier Abbey in Schenectady quietly opened its doors to the beer geeks on that side of the Capital Region.
His first time in business, owner George Collentine says he wanted to open the Bier Abbey "out of pure passion." He first ventured into the world of craft beer in the early 90s and was encouraged to open his own bar by the growing interest in microbreweries and craft beers, especially in the Northeast.
"We want to lean toward beer geeks and there are no places in Schenectady that really cater to them," he explained.
So what will beer geeks find there?
Pews
Well first, what is an abbey without pews? The restaurant seating is outfitted with pews from the 1860s, complete with the hymnal holders in the back. Collentine says they're from a New Jersey company that sells used church goods. There's a sort of thrill from enjoying a beer on a pew.
Attention to detail
Second, the Bier Abbey takes care of their beer. Collentine says 30 draft selections are always on tap, including one cask-conditioned beer. They range from craft Belgians to American breweries, and each one is served at the recommended temperature: 38, 43 or 48 degrees.
Also, to make sure each glass has just the right amount of head, Collentine says the taps are each adjustable depending on which beer is being pumped through them. Each nozzle has a control that can open more or less, depending on the carbonation of the beer. If the beer is highly carbonated and you don't want a glass full of foam, you can adjust the tap to get the right amount of foam for the differing brews.
A few loose ends
The Bier Abbey still has a ways to go until all its loose ends are tied up. Collentine says minor interior projects are still being done, they're still training staff, and the food menu is halfway finished. And when all that is done, Collentine can focus on getting the website up and running.
But he hopes to see his finished product as a "high-end pub" with a Belgian-esque menu -- one element he is sure of is fresh-cut fries served with a side of mayo.
Most importantly, he says he wants a place built for people to relax and socialize. In the mean time, the Abbey does have a few essentials for a beer lover: beer and a front patio.
The Bier Abbey is open Monday-Wednesday 4-11 pm, Thursday-Saturday 11:30 am-1 am, Sunday 11:30 am to 8 pm.
Find It
The Bier Abbey
613 Union Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
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Comments
Finally! I've been wondering when it would open, and had given up checking on it. I hope they have some sort of cheat sheet guide to the beers though. I don't want to have to ask about each one to decide if I'll like it.
... said StanfordSteph on Jun 22, 2012 at 1:40 PM | link
Went here on Tuesday and it was great! They have 4oz sizes for all their beers, so for someone like me, that was great! They do have a beer menu describing the type and flavors of all the beers on the board. Look forward to going back!
... said Jenn on Jun 22, 2012 at 1:58 PM | link
I've been here twice and it's fantastic! The selection is amazing - they really pulled some strings to get the beers they got on draft. I'm anxious to see what they'll offer in bottles and cans.
My family tried the menu last week, very tasty American style food. I'm going back tonight after work and trying the mussells and frites.
It's not mayo, it's special dipping sauce. The Merry Monk has it too.
This place has by far the BEST draft selection in the Capital District. Even better than Mahar's and the Ruck! The 4oz servings are a great alternative. Although I kinda wish they did it 4/10/20oz but they use real beer glassware and not just pint glasses like other bars.
... said Chad of Chad'z Beer Reviews on Jun 22, 2012 at 2:22 PM | link
I put up my experience and a handful of pics from my visit last week. Had a great time and I'm looking forward to going back (I just don't make it to Schenectady that often). I haven't had the food and I haven't met George yet but I'm sure I'll cross those two things of my list soon enough.
http://thefuj.com/post/25177528289/soft-opening-at-the-bier-abbey
... said the fuj. on Jun 22, 2012 at 9:15 PM | link
That blackboard menu is one of the most beautiful things I have seen in many a day.
... said Burnt My Fingers on Jun 23, 2012 at 1:46 PM | link
Hell yeah, looks awesome. I never venture to Schenectady, but I'm now going to have to for this.
>>It's not mayo, it's special dipping sauce. The Merry Monk has it too.
Are you serious? Not only is your information wrong, because it is in fact egg and oil based (mayonnaise) with different flavoring added at the Monk, but that's like saying "it's not a car, it's a motor vehicle."
... said ultraspank on Sep 26, 2012 at 11:54 AM | link