If there's one thing college students should know, it's beer. Though the University has slipped out of Playboy's "top 25 party schools" list, with a little searching students can still find anything from great music to local brews any night of the week.
So, in hopes of finding the best local beer, the Tableau staff sampled the two best brewpubs in Charlottesville: South Street and Starr Hill.
Both locations offer great beers in a thriving social scene, but no two bars in Charlottesville could be further apart in atmosphere. I doubt they offer each other any sort of competition. In everything from ambiance to beer selection, South Street and Starr Hill are nothing alike. While South Street provides an atmosphere where J. Crew and Birkenstocks seem most appropriate, Starr Hill's Gothic ambiance seems to attract an artsier crowd.
SOUTH STREET
South Street is an intimate bar and restaurant with an incredibly friendly staff that makes you feel at home from the moment you walk in the door. Located right outside the Downtown Mall, it might be a little far for some students, but believe me, it is worth the journey.
On any given night, South Street is a busy place. Don't be surprised to run into your TA here, since it's typically visited by graduate students, especially on Tuesday nights when the bar offers $2 beers. But with the laid-back atmosphere that surrounds the bar, chances are it will not be an awkward encounter no matter who you see.
The first thing I noticed about South Street is how comfortable it is. The bar is clean with plenty of seating and the booths feature high backs that provide privacy. My favorite seating sections, however, are the two areas with couches. Imagine sitting on a soft, fluffy sofa cradling one of the best beers you've ever had -- it's fantastic.
The atmosphere will make your evening. From the moment you enter the dimly lit, pine-colored bar, you slip into a laid-back, relaxed mood. The jazzy mural on the wall and the huge fireplace set the cozy character of this brewery.
STARR HILL
Many students at the University think of Starr Hill as merely a music venue. From Carbon Leaf to Kenny Chesney, artists from all over the world come to Starr Hill. But sometimes students fail to remember that there is a brewery with great brews right next door to the music hall. Starr Hill even bottles their own beers and sells them to other locations. But the way to experience Starr Hill's beer is to enjoy it at the bar.
Starr Hill is a dark and artsy environment that attracts people from all across the social board. Here you will find everyone from aspiring musicians and their groupies to undergrads trying to find a place to forget school.
The fact that Starr Hill is a music venue is never forgotten when you sit down at the bar. If you are lucky enough to visit during a concert, you will hear the music rocking out from upstairs.
With loud music blaring, Starr Hill is not the place to go to have a conversation about the world. Rather, this is a place to go to leave the world for a little while.
Music
By Alyse Shorland
While beers and foods are a stellar way to rate a restaurant, setting and atmosphere also play a considerable role in choosing an eatery, and music is an important component of the general ambiance. Starr Hill and South Street have similar settings, but their music varies greatly. Starr Hill usually features music from great, unknown jam bands, whose members frequent the bar. Conversely, South Street features mixes produced by its employees, and thus features a unique blend of songs ranging from Fiona Apple to Stevie Wonder. Regardless of which song is playing, each one will surely elicit an "Oh my God, I love this song" from the patrons.
Molly Seltzer
Old Elijah (South Street) This darker beer had a thick foam cap and a rich taste. The hops were sweet without being grainy, and wheaty without tasting like soy. Old Elijah was a self-sufficient beer that didn't need anything to compliment it or soften its flavor. A mouthful was smooth and well-blended, and the aftertaste was strong while avoiding any hints of bitterness.
JP Ale (South Street) This golden ale was a 2000 World Beer Cup gold medalist and rightly so. It has an aroma that smells like fruit drying in the sun and a taste to match. The first sip carries a small bite of flavor, but quickly mellows into a full flavor that is clean without being austere, crisp without being sharp and sweet without being sugary. This is a woman's beer if I've ever seen one, as it's light enough to drink without pinching your nose to get it down, but it's strong and respectable enough to avoid being called a lightweight.
Meg McEvoy
Satan's Pony Amber Ale (South Street) is described in the menu notes as "the perfect balance of hop, malt, and roasted flavors." Since I'm a beer-drinker who can't handle strong hops flavor, this smooth ale was my top choice. The aroma had hints of caramel, and the flavor of the hops was bold but unique, balanced with a sweeter malt at the front of the palate. The beer had a nice, neutral finish, and I could definitely taste the roasted flavors mentioned. Satan's Pony is South Street's most popular selection.
Trippel (South Street) This isn't a beer I'd drink all the time, but is an interesting choice. This Belgian-style beer is brewed to a pale straw color but packs a potent 7.2 percent alcohol by volume. The aroma was green, fresh and caramel-infused. The beer's taste delivered good character, with lively and assertive malt on the front of the tongue, without an overly hop-y finish. This beer's smoothness at the back of the throat makes it a good choice whenever you want to kick the alcohol content up a notch.
Mariko Fritz-Krockow
Amber (Starr Hill) Before I came to college, I never liked beer and am still very picky about what I drink. This is darker amber than the others. It features an intense mix of malty, nutty, chocolate-y, and fruity tastes which makes it unique from anything that I have ever had before. It took me about three sips to decide if I liked it, but now I think it will be my choice every time I return to Starr Hill.
Mojo (Starr Hill) This beer is only available on tap and is one of Starr Hill's most popular brews. It had a very small head which, interestingly enough, never disappeared. Mojo is a very easy-to-drink beer. It is thirst-quenching and slightly sweet with an intense aftertaste. It doesn't fill you up right away, so be careful not to lose track of your drink count.
Laura Sisk
The Belgian (Starr Hill) had a very strong taste and smell. For the dark beer drinker, the Belgian is probably a better bet than the stout. It managed to have a strong flavor without being overpowering, and the fruity aftertaste made it even more enjoyable than the other beers.
The Morning After
Still smartin' from last night's liquid fun? Try these hangover remedies -- you'll be out of bed and hitting the books in no time.
Hit the bottle...the Tylenol bottle, that is.
The battle against the morning after begins the night before. Pop a pre-game pill -- available on gas station and convenience store counters everywhere -- and you'll be set for a wild night with no repercussions, if the ads are true.
Walk it off.
Down a "prairie oyster:" Blend raw egg, worchester or tabasco sauce and pepper. Serve immediately.
Bodo's Bagels always clear the mind.
Sex.
Chug water.
Or, you can always have another drink, though Starr Hill and South Street don't open 'til the late afternoon.
Happy bar-hopping
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