Touring brew haven: Yale pub crawlers tap the local craic

For decades, pubs have been an important part of Yale social life—students and faculty alike meet at local bars for quiet conversation and a drink, for festive weekend nights, and even for a taste of Yale and New Haven's music scene. For me, a pub is only as good as its atmosphere and the quality and selection of its beer on tap.

While beer taste and pub-loyalty are a matter of personal preference, here is a look at four pubs that offer varying levels of this double-edged "atmosbeer." If you are looking for a pub, these are good places to start; even if you already have a favorite haunt, it is always fun to try someplace new.

SARAH ENGLAND/YH

The first stop on my beer odyssey was the slightly out-of-the-way but worth-the-walk Anna Liffey's ( 17 Whitney Ave.), a popular pub among Silliman and TD students, and with cross-campus travelers in the know. It is a pleasure to have a pint at this shnazed-up traditional Irish pub—the modern and attractive decor captures the charm of a Dublin pub, the bar staff is extremely friendly, and the beer is delicious. It is a perfect place to come with a group of any size, or even by yourself to read in the evening. The clientele is a bit different from the usual Yale hang-out, which would also make Anna Liffey's a comforting retreat from the sometimes confining world of Yale. The selection of tap beer is reliable and good: Guinness,Bass, Harp, Newcastle, Cider Jack, and Miller Lite; and if you can make it for a happy hour (Monday through Friday, 5 to 7 p.m.), you'll get a small discount on your pint.

Next I went to an old stand-by, Rudy's (Elm St., between Lynwood and Howe), Garry Trudeau's, DC '70, old watering hole and a homey hangout for students ranging from FOOT leaders to football players. The decor at Rudy's is wonderful: old wood tables, wood-paneled walls covered with license plates and beer memorabilia, a giant picture of the Yale Bowl, and a pool table in the back. The atmosphere is lively, especially when there is live music (Mondays and Tuesdays; sometimes Sunday), and the crowd is a mixture of students and locals, but you're bound to run into someone you know. The beer selection is solid, offering Anchor Steam, New-castle, Shaefer (only $1.75), Bass, Guinness, UFO (not out of this world), Sam Adams, and Cider Jack. In addition to having happy hour during the week (Monday through Friday, 4 to 7 p.m.), Rudy's is renowned for its irresistable beer specials (nightly, after 8 p.m.): a sign above the bar announces that night's beer and special price, often a mere $2.50.

Kavanaugh's (1166 Chapel St.), my third stop, has become a center of Yale nightlife over the years. This bar attracts a snappily-dressed Yale party crowd, as well as a bunch of old guys who sit at the bar. Students of all ages come in large groups before, after, or instead of parties to sit at the cozy booths and down some beer. Kavanaugh's is also nice, however, for relaxed conversation with a couple of friends earlier in the evening. The pickings are pretty slim among the Bass, Sam Adams, Coors, Guinness, and Woodchuck Cider on tap, and the Guinness is sometimes a bit sour. But since you will most likely be getting pitchers and drinking from plastic cups, it doesn't really matter. Go to Kavanaugh's for a fun but crowded night out.

The last pub I looked at was the historic Taft Tap Room, Richter's (990 Chapel St.), known as the oldest pub in New Haven. Richter's caters to a slightly older (read: legal) crowd than the other pubs in New Haven, and its century-old wood paneling and giant mounted moose head harken back to the olden days of Yale. The atmosphere is classy but unpretentious, and Richter's offers remarkable selections at the bar to match. The astounding list of beers on tap, available by the pint, half-pint, or the infamous half-yard (a towering glass a la Homer Simpson's "pretty big" beer in Australia), requires elaboration: Newcastle, Guinness, Harp, Bass, Caffrey's, Harpoon, Pilsner Urquell, Beck's, Hefe Weizen, Sierra Nevada, Long Trail Ale, and Otter Creek. Wow. Combined with an equally large menu of bottled beers, this place is New Haven's brew heaven. And if you're in for a change of pace, try one of their single malt scotches or small batch bourbons—considered the best selection in Connecticut.

There is certainly no shortage of good beer or interesting pubs in New Haven. For my money, Anna Liffey's and Richter's have the most to offer, but the others have their own charm too. You can't go wrong: next time you meet for a drink, try someplace new.

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