The Shepherd and the Knucklehead Pub

529 Belmont Avenue
Haledon, New Jersey, 07508
(973) 790-9657

This was a "stumbled across" bar. Showed up there the first time on Columbus Day just as they opened at 4 PM. it was just me and my buddy Jed, and the owner Chris, so we got to chew the fat a bit about the bar, the beers, the whole deal. Previously, it had been my secret bar but then evil Davo found out about it and... For starters, it's just a great little gem out there in Passaic County. 20 beers on tap, plus another tap for a Lindeman's (usually the Framboise) and a fridge full of good bottles. Of the 20 beers on tap, roughly 1/3 of them are Rogues which is always a good thing. Amongst the other taps you'll find some quality regional breweries represented like Weyerbacher, Dogfish Head, and Victory. The lowest thing on the "beer food chain" is Dundee's Honey Brown but in all fairness, this bar is in close proximity to William Patterson U. and the kids need a "cheap drafts" beer to drink, and hell, it ain't Bud. Great jukebox.... lots on mixed discs and a nice Dylan '63 show. Apparently they do readings and have live music but I haven't seen it so I can't speak for it, likewise, they do cook some food but again, I haven't had it. Good quality bathroom graphitti, most notably the "women = evil" equation on the inside door. Finally, the owner Chris has indicated that he is looking to build a brand new bar a stone's throw away within a year's time. The new bar would be a combo steakhouse/brewhouse/beerbar with more than enough rom to accomodate live entertainment. can't wait to see it done up.

Andy's Corner Bar

257 Queen Anne Road
Bogota, New Jersey, 07603
(201) 342-9887

I should have ventured by here a long damn time ago. So much time wasted at shitty bars when Andy's was nestled practically right under my nose. Oh, dear boy, the pain, the pain.

Andy's is the deal. What more can I say? 8-10 rotating taps of great beers and a cask or two to boot, and let me tell you, you don't see cask anywhere out here in Bergen County. Andy's is a place where you'll see good regional breweries represented. Heavyweight, Flying Fish, Climax, Victory, Dogfish Head, Crooked River, Weyerbacher, Cricket Hill, Ramstein, and on and on and on and on.
Promos?? Sure they do promos. Breweries will come on out and showcase a handful of their beers, maybe something you haven't tried before, maybe something on cask, maybe something different you won't see elsewhere, and certainly you'll regret having missed it if you couldn't make it out there that night. I like seeing the brewers from the breweries come out and talk to us consumers about their wares. Pint glass giveaways and shirt raffles and the like.
A couple of coolers in the back housing a few dozen beers. Everything from American micros to good german Weisses to fine Belgian lambics. I'm like a kid in a candy store. "Ooooh, I want that, ooooh, gots to try that, but ooooh, I need that right now".

And undoubtably the most hospitable of folks. George, Tommy, Chris, Barbara, Joe, Skip...always a friendly, knowledgable face behind the bar. These are people who know their beer. I get greeted by name, I get a pretzel with my beer, and I get some great conversation.
Just a fantastic place to be. A great place to watch the game and a kickin' juke box too.