These bars didn’t quite crack the Top 10 in this year’s competition, but who cares? We found the beer to be quite pleasant and the bars themselves even moreso.
Coaches Bar and Grill
1480 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side
614-457-3353
Beer: Bud Light
Tested: 6:10 p.m. Thursday, July 5
Temperature: 32.3 degrees
Visit this Bethel Road sports bar for cold beer, tasty sandwiches and either the giant patio out back or an indoor seat near one of the bar’s insane number of TVs — there are even televisions in the bathrooms.
Greek Street Tavern
3110 Kingsdale Center, Upper Arlington
614-457-9191
Beer: Miller Lite
Tested: 8:43 p.m. Monday, July 2
Temperature: 32.9
Don’t miss the gyros at this comfortable restaurant next to Giant Eagle Market District. We tried two versions, traditional and grilled chicken; both were stuffed to the gills, really hot off the grill and encased in the softest flatbread.
Keystone Pub
1081 Gemini Place, Polaris
614-847-0007
Beer: Bud Light
Tested: 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 5
Temperature: 33.4 degrees
Polaris isn’t just a fashion place; thanks to Keystone Pub, it’s also a motorcycle place. Ride by for the Yuengling Cruise-In every Saturday from 7-10 p.m.
Park Street Cantina
491 N. Park St., Arena District
614-884-2108
Beer type: Bud Light
Tested: 6 p.m. Saturday, July 7
Temperature: 33.7 degrees
Park Street’s own version of a Mexican gringo bar has a killer patio for those days when the weather is feeling a little tropical. There’s a focus on tequila and margaritas, of course, but the cerveza is plenty fria, too!
AWOL
49 Parsons Ave., Olde Towne East
614-621-8779
Beer: Bud Light
Tested: 6 p.m. Friday, July 6
Temperature: 33.8 degrees
It was the hottest day of the year when we took our beer temperature at AWOL, and even then the party was going strong at one of Columbus’ most popular LGBT bars. Even when the weather is unbearable, AWOL’s spectacular patio is a welcoming respite, complete with a wrap-around bar and plenty of seating.
Tilted Kilt
8665 Sancus Blvd., Polaris
614-888-5458
Beer: Miller Lite
Tested: 4:30 p.m. June 27
Temperature: 34.9 degrees
Tilted Kilt is a flirty franchise with Celtic-themed decor, a husky menu of pub grub and, most notably, many a lovely lady server in butt-skimming skirts and push-up bras. Beer is always served with a side of sexy, even if you’re not there for the girls — strapping young busboys in kilts also flit about.
Kildare’s
1576 N. High St., South Campus
614-294-2200
Beer: Bud Light
Tested: 6:58 p.m. Saturday, June 30
Temperature: 36.7 degrees
Kildare’s, a giant yet authentic-looking Irish pub, has one of the most impressive beer lists in the Campus area. Also impressive: Even though the Bud Light measured was fairly warm at 36.7 degrees, a friend’s classy Delirium Tremens clocked in at a much colder 28.8 degrees.
Red Brick Inn
292 E. Gates St., Merion Village
614-444-7637
Beer: Miller Lite
Tested: 8 p.m. Friday, July 13
Temperature: 38.7 degrees
Get an eyeful of the tchotchkes all over this quintessential neighborhood place. The bar menu is short but honest — try the breaded cauliflower with ranch — and the place has plenty of games to keep you happily occupied.
Dub Pub
5736 Franz Rd., Dublin
614-761-2728
Beer: Bud Light
Date and time tested: 7:01 p.m. Friday, July 6
Temperature: 39.1 degrees
It might not have placed in the coldest-beer rankings, but if want to cool off or just take a break from the sun, this cave-like sports bar is your place.
Winking Lizard Tavern
100 Hutchinson Ave., Crosswoods
614-785-9755
Beer: Miller Lite
Tested: 8 p.m. Monday, July 2
Temperature: 39.1
It was a tad embarrassing to order a domestic light beer at this bustling restaurant, which is famous for its extensive craft beer selection. Case in point: They’re tapping kegs of Great Lakes Christmas Ale on Friday.
Brews Cafe
116 Broadway E., Granville
740-587-0249
Beer: Miller Lite
Tested: 5:54 p.m. Sunday, July 8
Temperature: 39.3 degrees
Sure, getting to Granville can be a dud of a drive and this suds staple didn’t serve the beer we tested as cold as we would have liked, but Brews Cafe is absolutely worth a visit. With 36 beers on tap and a bottle selection that would impress the snobbiest of beer snobs, you probably wouldn’t go here to buy a Miller Lite anyway.
Loose Goose Tavern
668 Grandview Ave., Grandview
614-488-6114
Beer: Bud Light
Tested: 2:57 p.m. Saturday, July 7
Temperature: 39.4 degrees
Loose Goose’s loaded chips are definitely worth a visit to one of Grandview’s newest bars. A delicious mixture of kettle chips with fire-roasted corn salsa, bacon, cilantro and jack cheese, the appetizer is the perfect addition to your next round of drinks.
