Westmont's Pour House Is a Beer Lover's Paradise

I really wanted to like . I had heard great things about its extensive beer and burger-centric menu, and I figured a Flyers/Phillies double header would provide an ideal opportunity to experience it for myself. I really, really wanted to like The Pour House. And you know what? I really, really did.

A little background: I was a bit apprehensive about when I learned it was owned by the same group that owns the P.J. Whelihan's franchises that dot the South Jersey landscape. Nothing against P.J. Whelihan's; it’s just your run-of-the-mill sports bar that offers pretty standard food and drink. But the beer list at The Pour House features 141 different bottles (including the notoriously difficult-to-find Brooklyn Black Ops) and an impressive array of drafts. Apprehension took a back seat to curiosity and I dove in.

I’m happy to report that my experience was positive. The Pour House is lined with televisions, but the focus is less on what they're showing than what’s on the plate or in the glass in front of you. Weekly drink specials are outstanding, with a number of wonderful craft beers available at prices you’re not likely to find anywhere else.  

The Pour House is certainly no secret; they don’t take reservations, and I faced a 45-minute wait when I arrived early Wednesday evening. Fortunately, the establishment offers some pretty nice ways to pass the time. I took a seat at the bar and started on some deliciously fresh $1 oysters (a Wednesday special) and my first beer of the evening, a Six Point Bengali Tiger IPA.

And that’s the best thing about The Pour House: It’s a beer lover’s haven. I spent half of my night ignoring the Flyers playoff game on the television in front of me in favor of studying the extensive beer list in my hand. It was far more interesting. I felt like a kid in a candy shop, overwhelmed by a nearly endless arrangement of wonderful choices and no idea what to choose.

The prices are on point as well. Plenty of the beers are priced in double digits, but they’re rare brews you’re not likely to find at the local liquor store, and it’s a seller's market. The food, too, falls squarely in the $8-$11 range, with only two entrees that I noticed costing more than that. I heard the burgers were good, and I wasn’t disappointed. The Jersey Burger I tried is topped with pork roll, beer mustard and a fried egg. It tastes as good as it sounds.

The Pour House may not be the ideal sports bar, but it’s certainly an ideal place for a good beer, a good burger and good conversation. With Keg & Kitchen opening down the road, Haddon Avenue in Westmont is transforming into a craft brew paradise.

Morsels

-Haddonfield is celebrating spring on Friday, April 27, at noon with Dish and Dazzle at Melange. The event features some of Haddonfield’s trendiest boutiques and is free to attend with the purchase of lunch at Melange. If you’re interested, reserve a place by calling Melange at 856-354-1333.

-, a full service organics recycling company, announced today that six Collingswood restaurants—, , , , and —will participate in its Farm-to-Fork-to-Farm composting program, which collects and processes compostable, organic waste. Kudos to all six for doing their part in making our planet a little bit greener.

-As always, you can follow me on Twitter @davevaliante, and feel free to send me any ideas and suggestions!