Beer, if drank with moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit and promotes health.
– Thomas Jefferson
Nothing beats being scooped by your own editor. I dropped in to the Founding Father’s pub on Friday for lunch–chatted with the owner and took some shots–and had this afternoon slated for writing the entry, only to find that Queenseyes had beat me to it. Alas.
So, trivia contests aside, why else might you want to check out Founding Father’s?
For one thing, the decor. True to its name, the bar is bedecked with all sorts of presidential paraphernalia- portraits, magazine covers, busts, a remarkable piece of stained glass, and even the placemats (which feature a match-the-face-to-the-president game for you while you await your food). There are all manner of flags hung from the exposed beams, and the overall feel is very comfortable and historical. Take special note of the old brass cash register which was very skilfully updated into digital.
If you sit at the bar, it’s quite true that owner Michael Driscoll will happily drop trivia questions for your entertainment, and he knows his stuff in many different areas. The day I stopped in, the theme was sports- and sports geography. Did you know that NY state can boast the National Soccer Hall Of Fame & Museum? That’s right; it’s in Oneonta. I didn’t get that one.
Beer-wise, the modest tap selection includes standards like Guinness, Bass, Blue, Blue Moon and Yeungling. One beer they carry, however, is seldom seen in these parts: McSorleys Ale. This beer comes from a 150 year-old pub in NYC, who’s motto proclaims “Be good, or be gone!” The ale itself is an American Pale Ale, that pours out coppery with a thin head. The smell is lightly hoppy. In terms of mouthfeel, it is pretty well-carbonated and yet feels relatively thin- very drinkable. The taste is mainly a light, sweet malt, though some hops can be perceived at the beginning/middle of the sip. I’d liken it to Killians, to pick a commercial example, but it is certainly crisper and fresher.
Founding Father’s also has a kitchen, open until 4:00 am. If you work downtown, the pub makes for a great quick lunch spot. It was also voted as one of the best neighborhood pubs in the ArtVoice 2005 edition. They are located at 75 Edward street, between Delaware and Franklin.