Brewpub food menu

[Leithoa]

Whether I'm sipping on a light session beer or a palate wrecking IIPA it's nice to have something to nibble on between sips and conversation. So I was thinking(a dangerous activity), what are everyone else's favorite food items when they're at a brewpub or just kicking it with their drinking buddies?
If you had to create an appetizer/snack menu for a brewpub what would be on it? Would it be simple for the sanity of the chef or would it be gourmet to add another layer to your pub's identity?
I'm not planning on opening a brewpub, but maybe someone who is will be inspired by this list.

Smothered Fries
Covered in your choice of Mozzarella or Cheddar cheeses, bacon, green onions,and Chili

Soft Pretzels
Two large pretzels complemented by stone ground mustard and beer cheese

Breakfast Sampler
Five silver dollar pancakes, hashbrowns , 3 strips of bacon or 3 sausage links, and 2 eggs cooked to order

Fresh Chips
Fresh cut deep fried potato chips, made daily

Chicken wings
8 wings available coated in: Hot, mild, honey mustard, cajun rub, and Hot BBQ sauces

 

[Hammy71]

I hate going to a brew pub and they decide to serve pretentious culinary food. At a pub, I want pub food. The smothered fries, pretzels, chicken wings/tenders, burgers, pizza. Stuff like that. Anything that has a 'presentation'....should not be there. At least, that's what I want.

 

[Rockn_M]

I agree with Hammy71. When I go to a brew pub I want food that is terrible for you but taste awesome!

 

[UnDeadPresident]

Other than what's already been listed, jalapeno poppers, nachos and potato skins are great.

 

[daksin]

I wish some bars around here would start offering fried pickles. You just don't see them out here.

 

[Yellowirenut]

I am agreeing with all the above post.
non pretentious, basic and a bit salty
Soft pretzels and fried pickles a bonus!

 

[gratus fermentatio]

In addition to the great choices already listed, I'll add pickled sausages, pickled eggs, baskets of onion rings, taquitos, mini-chimis, and of course, pistachios. I used to hang out at a bar that had a big gumball machine, but it dispensed pistachio nuts instead of gum. We'd get a big double handful & sit there drinking beer & eating pistachios while playing backgammon & waiting for the pool table to open up.
Regards, GF.

 

[aiptasia]

I like pizza with my beer. We have a great high quality pizza joint that cares about the food they serve and the beers they brew and keep in house. That makes my dining options easy. Three day aged pizza dough makes for outstanding flavor in their pies, and they only use fresh, high quality ingredients for toppings.

 

[JonM]

My old neighborhood craft beer place did something called Scottish nachos - really thin sliced potatoes baked and covered with smoked pulled pork, cheese, onions, sour cream, etc. best pub grub ever.

 

[Copbrew133]

Call me pretentious, but I have had good mussels and fries with some Belgian beers while in northern France and I was a happy dude. I will say a good burger and fries with an IPA is prettty hard to beat though.

 

[alane1]

Fried calamari

 

[jeffjm]

Scotch eggs. The local place that was famous for them has closed and I haven't found anyplace else nearby that has them.

 

[Zuljin]

Oh heck yeah. Jalapeno poppers, aka armadillo eggs, and ABTs are great. Tater skins. Irish nachos. Chili cheese fries. Chips and caso or salsa. Fried or grilled sausage slices with cheese. Spinach and artichoke dip. Bacon cheese burgers. Chicken strips. Roasted salted peanuts. Salty soft pretzels. Any reason to have spicy and honey mustard. Sopapias and honey.

I gained 10 pounds writing this.

 

[Zuljin]

Scotch eggs. The local place that was famous for them has closed and I haven't found anyplace else nearby that has them.

Only recently had one. Was good with some mustard.

 

[JonM]

The fried stuff sampler - mozzarella sticks, o-rings, fries, poppers, chicken fingers, and fried mushroom caps.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

My old neighborhood craft beer place did something called Scottish nachos - really thin sliced potatoes baked and covered with smoked pulled pork, cheese, onions, sour cream, etc. best pub grub ever.

That sounds awsome! I'll add to the list fried okra. Maybe with some gravy ladled over it. Maybe cold boiled shrimp (peel & eat). When I was in Nurnberg, we used to get 2 Nurnberger wurst in a split Vienna roll with sauteed onions. And there was a guy outside (especially in winter) who had a big oven on a cart & he sold baked potatoes. He had every topping & condiment known to man & for about a buck you could get a huge, hot, tasty, freshly baked potato with about a pound of toppings. Awesome pubfood!
Regards, GF.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Stuffed clams maybe?

I might be grossly outnumbered here, but I do like the idea of the "gastro-pub". I think pub food can be elevated or remain approachable depending on what the pub is "going for".

One place in New York had japanese shiso peppers simply roasted in sea salt and olive oil on the menu. I ate 2 giant plates of them... glorious. Went nice with a brewdog.

 

[Mozart]

I love the salty and not terribly healthful suggestions thus far!

That said, I'd also consider having a few permanent choices, and rotating a few, keeping the food selections as 'fresh' and 'new' as the brew selections.

For those that rotate in and out, I think it might be nice to have them follow the 'theme' of the beer that rotates in and out - something like bratwurst to pair with a traditional German beer, just as one example.

 

[Cheesy_Goodness]

Fried zucchini is always good tasting, and practically good for you. Practically.

 

[pkrath84]

I'm a creature of convenience and I think street tacos are perfect. If I were to open a brew pub, I think I'd start the menu there!

 

[CreamyGoodness]

I like that idea. What's great about tacos is you can get creative and playful with the ingredients. It would also be a good way to get rid of leftovers "on special"

 

[Yellowirenut]

I like the idea of tacos also (real tacos not those things they have at taco hell)
Seems like the perfect summer paring. A few beers and A few tacos just like in the winter months you would have a few beers with a nice stew with cheesy garlic biscuits.

Drizzled is another key word I hate on a menu. pour that **** on.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I don't care what it is as long as it's good. There's a bad habit some places get into in frying some frozen s**t and calling it an appetizer.

 

[Pappers_]

Sausage, cheese and mussels are my top three choices.

 

[littletommy]

There's a place here in Southern Indiana called Buckheads Mountain Grille, they have a good selection of beer on tap, and a dish called Cheese Boulders. They are similar to a hushpuppy, but have melty, somewhat spicy cheese inside them.....absolutely incredible! It's kind of a blend of cheddar, cream cheese, and maybe riccotta, fried crispy, and served with marinara.

Damn, I think I might have to head over there tonight!

 

[Zuljin]

There's a place here in Southern Indiana called Buckheads Mountain Grille, they have a good selection of beer on tap, and a dish called Cheese Boulders. They are similar to a hushpuppy, but have melty, somewhat spicy cheese inside them.....absolutely incredible! It's kind of a blend of cheddar, cream cheese, and maybe riccotta, fried crispy, and served with marinara.

Damn, I think I might have to head over there tonight!

In corn meal? I told my wife of this and she wants to make them.

 

[feinbera]

Fried brussels sprouts. They taste way too good to possibly be healthy, but by virtue of being a vegetable, it's still possible to fool yourself.

 

[littletommy]

In corn meal? I told my wife of this and she wants to make them.

No, the only thing I can think of to compare the batter to is.... similar to Long John Silvers fish, no cornmeal is involved.

 

[stevo4361]

The fried stuff sampler - mozzarella sticks, o-rings, fries, poppers, chicken fingers, and fried mushroom caps.

This x1000. Lucky 13s cheesy tater tots (deep fried of course) in Spearfish, SD are pretty damn good.

 

[CidCitrus]

Now I'm hungry again