Who doesn't love the Bitter Monk? My gosh, it's a gem in the heart of McMinnville! Tucked away at the intersection of 3rd and Cowls, it is centrally located in downtown McMinnville. We discovered the Bitter Monk through a friend who lives locally. At his recommendation, we visited for the first time about a year ago. This weekend was the third time we've returned. This weekend they were hosting the Wonderland Brew Fest. Live music, at least 30 different brews to chose from, wonderful local pretzel vendor, and a food truck! Absolute heaven! McMinnville is a little piece of heaven just south of Portland... The Bitter Monk makes it just a little more perfect! If you're ever nearby, stop in and enjoy a lovely brew. Becky and her team are absolutely the best! We look forward to returning again soon! read more

Fantastic Beer selection, cool and diverse crowd. Great for football games on Sundays. Great place to enjoy a great beer, if it weren't for the beertender. She is unfriendly, condescending, and completely aloof. Too bad. Been here a bunch of times trying to deal with it when I'm in town. Giving up and I and won't come back. read more

Best for great beer selection, friendly knowledgeable service, and outdoor seating, or watch the game inside.

Nice little taproom with a good variety of local beers on tap and some cans and bottles to supplement. Bartender gave us a few samples and we settled on our beer. Would have loved to give the place 5 stars, but it was so hot and humid in there we had to leave after just one beer. The temperature outside was quite chilly, so not sure what was going on. read more

The Bitter Monk - a glass of beer on a coaster - Bars Near Me - McMinnville, Oregon

Great spot to hole up and sample some local beers and ciders. Small but sufficient selection on tap (probably about 10 beers and a few ciders?), plus more bottles in the fridge adjacent to the bar, and a couple canned wine options as well. Very quiet midday Saturday on a long weekend. Actually, the whole strip seemed sort of ghostly for the weekend. Seats at the bar or outside on their patio. No food, but you can BYO. Our bartender was excellent company. Would hole up here again. read more

Good stop. It's a tap house type place, lots of different beers from around the area on tap. It's a good stop to try a variety of local beers. Lots of locals hang out here. Overall, not a bad stop, would recommend it if you're in the area. read more

The Bitter Monk - Cranberry sour - Bars Near Me - McMinnville, Oregon

No frills tap room with a great selection of beers on tap and by the can. Bartender/owner was extremely knowledgeable of the beer and of McMinnville in general. It made for a great conversation and we came out with some awesome recommendations! As the bartender said, "it takes a lot of great beer to make good wine!" read more

There's always something interesting on tap here. We've been fans since the Bitter Monk first opened. There's plenty of variety for craft beer fans and cider lovers, especially since there are two large coolers with cans as well as the taps. One can bring in food, as well. And the bartenders are great! read more

mmmm, good popcorn, can't miss that smell. better than some theaters, and FREE. So they have an electronic menu with the amounts left in the keg. Pretty cool, some folks were talking next to us about how the flavor changes in the keg... not sure if it was true, but he was impressing his date... it is not a big place, but great location near downtown. read more

14 Different beers on tap, 2 ciders on tap. Lots of different beers, ciders and wines in the coolers. They have a great choice of gluten free beers. A very comfortable, friendly place. You can sit inside or out. Definitely a great place to sit and relax. read more

This place is great! It's right in the heart of McMinnville's downtown scene. Surprisingly underrated. The space is small but the atmosphere is great! The owner really cares about beer and provides the best hospitality I've seen in the area. If you have one day to spend in McMinnville- Hell, if you one day left to spend living, you should stop by The Bitter Monk and enjoy a pint or three like you never have before. -a happy customer read more

The Bitter Monk - This is a picture of David working the taps. He doesn't know I'm capturing this moment in Yelp history. - Bars Near Me - McMinnville, Oregon

The only thing bitter about The Bitter Monk is the beer (well at least the beer I like). The place is on the small side, but the beer selection is huge! There were about 16 beers on tap shown clearly on an electronic menu that tells you more about the beers than pretty much any other bar including how much is left in the keg! Never before have I been able to prioritize my beer based on how much is left :). There are beers to suite any tastes and is easy to see which ones are which by glancing at the menu. The menu automatically updated and was even tied in to social media displaying a sampling of what people were saying about the place on Facebook, Twitter, etc. I even saw my picture on the menu after checking in with my beer on Untapped. How cool is that?! The staff was also very friendly. We planned to stop in for just one and stayed for a few hours talking to the locals and enjoying some fine beer. I highly recommend this place to beer lovers everywhere especially if you need a break from the wine tastings in the area! read more

The Bitter Monk - Looking at the menu board. Lots of choices and you can even see how much is left in the keg! - Bars Near Me - McMinnville, Oregon

The Bitter Monk is the best place in the valley for craft beer. Period. The beer list is carefully crafted by the owner who strives to bring in interesting and approachable craft beers and has enough variety to please every beer drinker, even those who don't think they like beer. In addition to the 14 beers on tap there are over 100 bottles to choose from that you can either enjoy there or take home. And for those who are sure they don't like beer there are always two ciders on tap and red and white wine from local wineries. Don't be intimidated by all the choices though, the super helpful and friendly staff is well versed and educated in craft beer and always offer to help find just the right beer for you. The atmosphere is just the right balance of cozy and boisterous neighbor pub and you can tell a lot of thought and effort has gone into the design. In the summer the outdoor picnic tables are a great place to bring your dog and sit out and enjoy a drink while soaking in 3rd street. The Bitter Monk is so dog friendly that they put out water bowls for you pup and even have treats behind the bar that you can take out to fido, but because they serve food furry friends have to stay outside. The Bitter Monk is a true gem and a great place to catch up with friends or even sit alone and enjoy a book. When you're surrounded by this much outstanding beer, great people and beautiful setting, it is pretty hard to have a terrible time. read more

The Bitter Monk - Enjoying a beer out on the picnic table - Bars Near Me - McMinnville, Oregon

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A great beer bar in historic downtown McMinnville with great selections. I had a Pipe Wrench by Gigantic, a terrific IPA aged in gin barrels. Nice vibe, friendly barkeep. Would have stayed beyond one beer if they had more to snack on than popcorn. Instead, went next door to La Rambla and had a great dinner! read more

Based on the opinions of some locals we spoke with, and our own experience, this is a good place in town to get your craft beer game on. They've got a nice bar inside, but also outdoor seating on the street. read more

A great little place with a modest selection of local beers. They tend to have a few handles you won't find elsewhere and the bartenders are very accommodating and knowledgeable. Its pretty small and easy to miss. Bring your own meal to enjoy there. read more

Fantastic, all around! I love this place! Wayne G, from Las Vegas, who gave the Monk 1 star in his review below did so on the grounds that it was neither kid nor pet-friendly. Rather than review the Monk here, which is top notch in every possible way, I'm going to review Wayne, so as to negate his ridiculous assessment of this casual, convivial and irreplaceable fixture of the local community. The Bitter Monk is a tap room, licensed by OLCC to sell alcohol to people who can legally drink it. By definition, then, it cannot be kid-friendly without losing its license to operate as . . . you know, a TAP ROOM. Perhaps a few toddlers perched atop the bar stools and drinking IPA out of sippy cups would be more to Wayne's liking? To be fair, Wayne does hail from Las Vegas, where you can pretty much drink a 64-ounce tequila slushie any damn place you please, including while you're walking down the Strip with your kids or even IN A CAR with them, as long as you aren't the one who's driving, all of which makes Vegas, technically, the most "kid-friendly" place to drink in all of America. I'm not sure how the two full bowls of water for dogs outside the Monk's door escaped Wayne's notice. And how did he miss the many patrons who routinely come to sit at the outdoor tables with their dogs pretty much every day? Aha! Looking over his review again, I see that he posted it in February, so the tables weren't likely out and any water in the Monk's dog bowls would have surely been frozen over. Does Wayne encounter a lot of dog-friendly outdoor seating in February? In Oregon? I'm trying to picture, as a dog owner myself, what pet-friendly would look like in February in Oregon. Should the Monk maintain a heated outdoor tent full of dog beds from November until April? Seems like a lot to ask. Wayne's nearly three hundred reviews make for some good reading. Dude gets around. And he is not above reviewing (and harshly) places like a Newberg, Oregon Pizza Hut ("Owner should have franchise revoked!") or, at the other end of the spectrum, his scathing comments about Lamborghini of Las Vegas that, I think, resonate with nearly every typical Yelp reader trying to determine which Lamborghini dealer to choose ("Also the Ferrari is far superior compared to the Lambo with better dual clutch transmission, far nicer interior, vastly superior technology in the GPS, monitoring LCDS and far superior sound system plus a hard top conv for about the same price as my prior Lambo.") I wish he had included in his Bitter Monk review whether or not the Monk was "Lambo-friendly." That's the kind of stuff I need to know before I get a pint somewhere. A Seattle Petco fared no better under Wayne's scrutiny, as he berated their service and got in some faulty analogies/political digs while he was at: "I rate them a F minus the same as our current Congress and President in USA!" (sic). When you see an outlier review on Yelp, I encourage you to tug the thread a little, see where it leads. In Wayne's case, you'll find some amusing reviews, some kooky ramblings, some jet-set whining, some low-brow surprises, and the most scathing review of a Sherwood, Oregon KFC you're likely to find anywhere on the internet. One thing's sure: if A1 Limo in Chicago is getting one star from Wayne (and it is), the odds are good that Chicago teens who want to impress their prom dates could do a lot worse than hiring a limo from A1. read more

Great selections of beer and really awesome service! Free fresh popped popcorn is a big plus! Such a great little spot downtown McMinnville. I love that there is an alternative to McMennimens. read more

Great place to relax with the pup outside on a nice day! Delicious craft beer selection with helpful staff to select the right brew for your taste. Gorgeous woodwork interior. Nice little bar! read more

The Bitter Monk - a group of people drinking beer - Bars Near Me - McMinnville, Oregon

Great environment! Exelent beer! The owner is the server with makes the place even more inviting! read more

Great beer and cider selection! The free popcorn is awesome!!! The bartenders are super knowledgeable and friendly! They're great conversationalist if you're sitting at the bar and make you feel right at home! I have been here many times and will continue to come back for the great selection, friendly staff and the free popcorn! read more

Came in to watch the game and check out the beer selection. We are out of towners. Great lil' place. Cozy and comfy. read more

The Bitter Monk - Bars Near Me - McMinnville, Oregon

Tourettes discriminating female bartender ...HIPPA LAW imm come in soon I was told they could not serving me because I was acting like I was "on something" when my tourettes syndrome was going off all day I would find a less judgmental bartende read more

The vibe is chill, like the bar in Cheers, where everybody knows your name. But with a modern interior, and MUCH better music. And gee golly are those Bitter Monk bartenders beer wizards! So knowledgable, and just really flippin' sweet. The #4 and #9 are usually winners. And also, try the ciders if you want to experience joy in liquid form. Cheers to a sweet experience at The Bitter Monk- McMinnville's finest bar! :-) read more

Great selection, great atmosphere, reasonable prices. It was busy while I was there so I didn't interact much with the staff but, they seemed very friendly. read more

We popped in after dinner and to see the BB game...i had the best cider ever....blackberry? or was it marrion berry? Love the 'live' board so you can see how new the keg is and how much is left...plenty of choices for everyone...and the price? are you kidding me? Such a deal! Too bad their hours are limited...last call 9 pm :( read more

The beer is phenomenal and the staff is knowledgeable. They have an informative sign that details the type of beer and the current level. I love this place. read more

The Bitter Monk - Algonquin Thelonius-Monkey prefers cider. - Bars Near Me - McMinnville, Oregon

Best beer in town, best bartenders--and now happy hour is all afternoon! Best place for a pint on McMinnville, bar none.

Glad to support Bitter Monk. I appreciate the outdoor tables and good service. They were very conscientious on sterilizing tables and ensuring clean tables. read more

The true heartbeat of the new McMinnville. At The Bitter Monk, you not only have a constantly rotating selection of premium regional beers, but also get a taste of the local life. From the weekly pub run group to the local book club to people watching tourists, this is place to watch McMinnville life unfold. So take a seat inside, feel like and local, and people watch with handful of freshly made popcorn. And please, if you see the owner's dog Rye hanging around, give him a big kiss for me. read more

This is a great place to go for a cold beer. They have a decent selection on tap and a good amount in the bottle you can open and drink there. The people are very friendly and will pour tasters of things you can try. Fun spot. read more

The Bitter Monk - Bars Near Me - McMinnville, Oregon

Great location right on 3d street downtown, Well thought out taplist. I suggest you go across the street and order a sandwich at Harvest Fresh. Then take your sandwich to Bitter Monk. Sit outside, drink your beer, eat your sandwich (and chips and pickle), and watch the people walking by. read more

A year of great beer! Thanks to the great staff @ The Bitter Monk for taking us around the west coast for the best pours on Earth! My favorite was The 12 brews of Christmas, a tradition has begun! Happy first year! read more

Great location. Excellent staff that was friendly and attentive. Not into the Beer selection, but also from Portland beret IPAs are king. I would maybe go again. read more

AMazing! My husband could have spent the whole weekend here. Great addition to downtown 3rd Street. Coming from the SF Bay Area we were surprised to see the store carry Firestrone Walker beer (one of our favorites)! Being big beer drinkers, we were happy with what the Bitter Monk had to offer. If you are staying at the 3rd Street Flats, this place is right around the corner and the Farmers Market takes place outside their front door. Keep up the great work and we will be back! read more

My wife and I are big fans of the Monk. Great spot to grab a beer and chill. Almost as good as Netflix and chill.

Excellent selection of sour beers, and obscure brewery offerings. Chill atmosphere, good music.

Terrible service and complete jerk employees! Not dog or kid friendly, way overpriced beers, awful band, I will never return!

We met friends on 3rd street for a bridal shower and the lady working comes out at 5 pm and tells us our 10 year old son can't sit outside - that he can sit a few feet down but not I front of their building. Excuse me? Why can he sit 5 feet from me if we order food but not ok here? We ended up a block away at mcmennamins while our friends were a block away. Why? Not ok. And the waitress was SO rude. A ten year old at 5 at night is such a threat to the public? Wow. You don't own the sidewalk bittermonk. I'll be reaching out to my civic friends. read more

Well, better late than never for me to write this review. Have gotten lazy with yelp, but I digress.... The H and I stayed upstairs from The Bitter Monk during our stay in Oregon in June. We picked up the key to our flat from the owner and H was intrigued by the great selection of local craft beers. After unpacking, we gave it a try. A great decision. Just like the reviewer Matthew stated, the owner's knowledge is quite extensive. The H enjoyed being able to taste before choosing one, and settled on a couple that he really liked. He also enjoyed the flight option for sampling several. I don't drink beer at all. Not even at frat parties when I was in college. So I thought I would be sitting there with water the whole time, but au contraire mon frere. They always have 2 ciders available on tap. I really enjoyed a seasonal one from 2 Towns that incorporated Marion berries. Nice and tart. Bummed that I can't get it in Texas. We are already planning our trip for next year. Will definitely include this as a stop. read more