Blasted Barley Beer Company

This place is phenomenal, at least from a food stand-​point. Being from North Carolina, I find it difficult to find good BBQ. Surprisingly, I had to concede that their BBQ pork sandwich was pretty darn good. They had an incredible list of beers on tap, so much so that I had no clue what to order. I was allowed to try any beer that interested me to make the best decision for my meal (I decided on a darker, Huss Rice Pudding). By far the best though, was the Pork Belly Mac n’ Cheese. The seasoned flavors burst in my mouth and the crunchy housemade chips are the perfect compliment for the cheesy deliciousness.
Now, on to the atmosphere: Inside seating was a bit dim, and the music was present but not overpowering by any means. To dispel the dim lighting, they kept both the front and back doors open, where there existed seating outside as well. In the front is covered tables with large comfortable benches, and in the back is a firepit with tables scattered throughout and couches that just make you want to sink into them. Both locations made me almost wish I had sat outside!
All in all, this place, as a lunch or dinner venue, was fantastic. Everyone was friendly, the food was unbelievably tasty, and the ambiance was beyond pleasant. Have no doubt, I I will be returning here often.

Wow, if I built a bar, I would do it this way. The bar itself is huge with seating for over 30 people. The outside vignettes are exquisitely designed and easily accessible. This place flows beautifully. The staff is super friendly and welcoming. To be fair I was there on a Monday late morning, so it was not very crowded, but regardless I could see this place hopping with people everywhere. The food is superb, forget about your typical Fried bar fare, this is down to earth well made food that is actually good for you. Vegetarians and vegans will delight at this menu.
Plenty of TVs to catch a game. And the seating at the bar or the bar area is unobstructed for easy viewing from multiple angles. Bonus points for power plugs everywhere! Bathrooms are industrial chic and super clean.
Great place.

Love this place and the team here! I came here for NYE with my friends, and we had reserved a table for 8. It was in the perfect spot on the patio and the team was greatly accommodating despite the fact it was crazy busy during NYE. We had a great time, even though there were a number of miscommunications in the beginning. But what can you expect, it was a busy NYE!
The atmosphere was perfect and lived up to the expectations of my friends, I would gladly come back here for any special occasion or just a night out.
Thank you Dulia, you are the best!

Great food and tasty drinks! The atmosphere is fun, but relaxed. Perfect for Sunday brunch and hanging out. If you want to watch any games there are tv’s all around!

We came here for the New Year’s Eve Shindig! All of the service was amazing especially our server Nicole (I believe that was her name). They made New Year’s special and it was an awesome venue. I definitely plan on going back.

Pretty cool little spot on Mill Ave. I’ve only ever been here later at night, so I’m not totally familiar with it when it’s not a crowded, college kids bar scene. It’s a super clean place, the bartenders have always been really awesome when I go in there, and they have fun games. My only complaint is that the outdoor area has close quarters. Idk how many times we were by the outside bar area and ping pong balls were hitting us or whatever. Otherwise, pretty cool spot.

Great lunch spot on Mill Ave. The patio both front and back have a great atmosphere and have plenty of umbrellas for shade. The lunch service here is very fast and the staff is very friendly and have great suggestions! I am always looking for a place to accommodate our work group usually 5– 8 people, Blasted Barley is perfect. The lunch menu was awesome, great salad selection my favorite Smoked Cobb Chop. Check out the selection, I can’t wait to come back for happy hour and try out their happy hour menu.

The bottomless mimosas with friends are so fun! Go with a large group and enjoy the pitchers! Fun and relaxed environment with helpful employees.

Visited after a person on the corner asked us to turn. Said okay and it’s a nice enough neo-​urban pub.
BUT, after waiting a little more than 10 minutes with not a person stopping by, we left. Didn’t even get water.
No drinks and no courtesy = No patronage.
Maybe they’re better on other occasions…

Returned back to my home away from home Tempe for another Convention, I stopped by my favorite brewery and once again I was amazed by the beer selection. The food as always was on point, played a few games. The staff as always was very alert and helpful. Just the fun loving atmosphere always makes this place top notch. If I could I would do 10 stars.

Went in for a drink after a long day of conventions.
Service was fast and friendly.
Drinks were good and strong.
Our appetizer was pretty darn good, Popcorn of Sustainability. Try it when your there! Pork belly, parmesan and sage. Yum!

We came here on Saturday at 3:15 pm to score a few beers and some food before going to the summer ends concert. The place was busy but the hostess told me the wait was only 10 – 15 minutes for a table, we put our names in (didn’t get a pager or anything) and headed to the bar. The beer selection was good and the service was very friendly.
After about 30 minutes I went back to the hostess stand and asked how our table was coming along, and she assured me they were cleaning off a table and it would be ready soon. After ten more minutes, I go back to the hostess and she informs us that some random group just walked in and took our table. Apparently the manager told her that he couldn’t make them leave the table. Sooooo what the hell are reservations and putting your name in for?
After waiting a freaking hour for a table she finally comes up to me and asks «are you guys still waiting on a table?». Ummmmm yeah!!! Once sat we waited for a bit and when our waitress arrived she let us know service was going to be slow because she was stretched so thin; great.
We put in our food asap because we were trying to make it to the concert at five to see a performer. The pork belly popcorn was an interesting idea but I wasn’t a big fan; dry and lacking ingredients I just picked the pork off the top. We also ordered the pulled pork mac and the fried chicken sandwich. The mac tasted store bought and was covered with bacon bits. It was just okay. My husband’s sandwich was pretty decent.
Needless to say, we were late to the concert. The bartenders and beer selection were good, but the way the place is ran is a joke. After waiting an hour for a table we didn’t have a manager talk to us or even apologize. Poor customer service.

My previous brunch review was reported because of my discussion of the inappropriate attire of a waitress during our brunch visit. Here is the condensed version and a new star rating.
Food: 5 (Delish!)
Service: 2 (Our waitress was dressed well, other Waitress inappropriate attire and the bad bus boy brought it down from a 4.5)
Ambiance: 2 (loud music, weird smell, and the heat)
Booze: 4

I’ve been here several times with different types of groups. I really want to love this place, but something seems a tiny bit off. I’m confused by the demographic they’re trying to cater to. Is it the ASU crowd? Professional crowd? Laid back? Fun? Family vibe?
Positives:
GREAT beer selection
Really good food
Bartenders are really nice
Cool layout, except for the area where they allow dogs (outside)
Awesome patio/​deck area
Service is pretty good
Negatives:
Mixed drinks are a bit expensive for what you get (very small portions). Of course it’s a brewery, so maybe that’s why
Deck/​patio is awesome but they allow cigar smoking, so it’s not fun trying to eat your delicious meal with smelly cigar wafting in your face
The outside game area where dogs are allowed smells like dog piss
Also, the last time I went, my husband and I stopped in for a quick meal with our toddler. We ordered a bunch of food and our bill was pretty high. I noticed when we were leaving that the manager ran over to our table and checked to make sure we paid (he grabbed the leather check holder) and didn’t walk out on our check. That was a bit annoying and insulting.
Overall:
It’s a good place to eat/​drink, but I’d recommend waiting for cooler weather and enjoying their amazing front patio — back patio is smoking. Plan on ordering beer (great selection) unless you want to overpay for cocktails that are small and a bit watered down. Try the mac n cheese for a nice spin on an old recipe.

I have only been to their brunch hour on Sunday’s. My mother actually loves driving from the West Valley to this place.
They have a $ 10 bottomless mimosa deal, and $ 5 Bloody Mary’s. If you’re hungover the next day and believe only halfly in the «hair of the dog» mentality, you can buy an individual mimosa for $ 5. There is never anyone there, so the wait staff is always super friendly, attentive, and makes sure we are full of mimosa!
Their brunch is pretty stinking good. Their chicken and waffles plate isn’t Lolo’s style, but it’s still pretty tasty. Their eggs Benedict always hits the spot, and their $ 5 (maybe $ 6) biscuit and gravy «side» is actually a monstrous plate of 4 biscuits, and their biscuits are not bad at all.
This place really is a gem on Mill. I don’t know what would make it 5-​stars, something to separate it from other brunches? Maybe a mimosa or Bloody Mary bar? When it’s nice enough I look forward to playing bags on the outside patio.

Inconsistent, though friendly service/​execution/​setup/​flair pulls 3 stars, but delicious solutions made of beer chicken gets four.
Play-​by-​play:
I delicately ask if there are any medieval turkey legs atop a waffle available, without getting my hopes up.
I am informed that yes, I can acquire said dish!
I order two immediately. Hopes way up now.
I am re-​informed that the kitchen is actually out of turkey legs.
Before I can cry audibly, they counter with the IPA chicken atop a waffle.
I order two immediately.
Solid four stars for a fantastic meal coupled with an emotional roller coaster of broken promises.

Good Day Unilocalers!
Stay away from this mediocre service from managers and bartenders.
This one is for you Rob MacKenzie (manager)
I arrived at Blasted Barley at 11 AM on a Saturday. I was more than excited to enjoy the bottomless mimosas, and I was extremely satisfied with the chicken and waffles. If I ever found my way back to Tempe, I’d consider ordering from this place to-​go.
By 3PM my friends I ordered in excess of $ 200.00 to congratulate my recent graduate of a friend and his girlfriend, with a bill of food plus excessive alcohol. The bartenders dream right?
Now I’m more than happy to tip any bartender, any waitress, I’ve dated several and I understand where they make their money.
But this review is targeted at their manager
Rob MacKenzie.
When it came time to pay my tab I found I was paying $ 12/​shot of grey goose (5 total) and $ 2/​red bull. I asked the bartender why am I paying for 5 red bulls I did not consume individually?
The manager Rob MacKenzie came over and said that’s how it is, you pay for the red bull with each red bull vodka.
I replied I understand that logic, however why am I paying for the majority of a red bull and I don’t get the left over red bull? I continued by saying in the future, based off of my experience with the Capitol of Nightlife (Los Angeles) being my hometown, you should consider changing it to be more reasonable because that’s silly.
He flat out insulted me in front of three employees and two of my friends and said «Yeah there’s no way that’s going to happen»
I decided, the only way to send a message to management, was to punish their daily voice of opinion. And 0 their tip on the bartender. Now mind you, this bar tender barely started her shift. She didn’t deserve the $ 40.00 tip I intended on giving her. Rob MacKenzie ruined that for her.
Rob MacKenzie needs to learn customer service, he knows nothing of that skill. Nor does the bartender girl (the new one) who thought it would be acceptable to shout at me as I walked out the bar.

Get the popcorn. Then send me a thank you note! It is freaking amazing! I don’t know how I will deal with other popcorn now. Blasted has ruined regular popcorn for me.
This stuff is like heroin! Fresh popped and THEN… a substantial load of hot, crispy bacon AND cubes of fried pork belly, plus parmesan cheese are dumped on along with a little of the drippings. Just typing this, I’m starting to feel faint and am hearingp porn music. I seriously considered finding a way to lock my boyfriend in the john so I could hog more of it for myself!
Really nice beer selection. Great happy hour with live music on the Friday afternoon we were there.

Blasted Barley took the place of the Old Tavern and I’m so glad they did! The place has a great patio and they did some redesign so there is more seating both outside and in the front portion of the inside.
The menu feeds into my new obsession with chopped salads — they have 3 different kinds:
Smoked Cobb Chop — house smoked turkey, roasted corn, chopped red pepper, bacon, avocado and blue-​brie cheese on romaine with ranch and a fried egg
The Not-​So-​Original Chop — arugula, cous cous, marinated roma tomatoes, crunchy corn, currants and papitas. comes with choice of house smoked turkey or chopped avocado with creamy basil dressing.
Quinoa Chop — arugula, quinoa, grilled asparagus, tomatoes, papitas, currants, and parmesan cheese tossed with truffle oil dressing
I went with the Not-​So-​Original and was impressed with the portion to price ratio. The dressing was really good, I need to recreate that recipe at home. I sat outside on the patio and sipped the wonderful iced tea and enjoyed our gorgeous February weather. I can’t wait to go back and try the rest of the Chops.

A nice revision of the previous Tavern and I think, good use of one of those classic brick buildings that make up much of the historical development on Mill Avenue. The owners of Blasted Barley wisely made a decision to implement the windows that open up the bar to the outside when the weather is good — something popularized in the creation of HandleBar grill by the Fork and Dagger consortium, which runs so many good eating places on Mill. I also like the outside seating layout and of course, the prominent view of the brewing equipment, which should go into production any day now.
As for eating experience, I will say that the mix of light type on the menus and low lighting can make for a challenging reading experience. Though the faded type is cool, it isn’t all that functional so please, back to dark, solid font on the menu and the happy hour menu — I had to get the bartender to help me find a nice Belgian from the menu and even she had some trouble reading down the list — so maybe some larger type as well.
As for the food and drink, not necessarily in that order, they do adjust the glass for the beer one is drinking, which is a nice nod to proper craft beer treatment. I also had the traditional wings off the happy hour list and quite good — seasoned but not overly saucy and served in a nice stainless steel bowl that was rather functional an unique. I hope to come back and try the curried cauliflower sliders.
Finally, I found the culture of the establishment to be a bit of a cultural mishmash with both craft brew on tap, but also beer from traditional large beverage providers, but that may just be an economic necessity due to the location. If those beers don’t sell I hope Blasted Barley considers pulling them from a menu as they don’t align with the craft beer and distillery brand that I think Blasted Barley is using to differentiate itself. If nothing else, carry those in the bottle but not on tap.
Finally, tried the barrel aged cocktail on tap — hmmm, a bit heavy on the orange peel flavor — I recommend calling it a barrel aged variation of the old fashioned versus a name referring to something provocative as I’m assuming another part of the brand mission is popularizing classic cocktails — I’d like to see that aspect of what this establishment can bring to Mill emphasized and I think there is the population to support that sort of quality cocktail emphasis.
Suffice to say, I like Blasted Barley but I think it is working through a bit of an identity crisis — traditional college bar or cater to that strain of gentrification wafting through the halls of historical development on Mill Avenue? Suffice to say, I’ll be stopping by and watching the possible changes but Blasted Barley is a step in the right direction.