I have a complicated relationship with the DT. But let's start with what I love about it: - They have an interesting draft list, with some hard to find beers. - It's a great, versatile set up for gathering, whether you have a small group or a larger function. - In warm weather they open their front windows and it's a really cool vibe. - It's definitely not a college bar - you'll find hipstery, artsy types here. - Their food is actually really good! And- little known fact- they have a great brunch menu with little to no wait time. Hidden brunch gem! Now I'll tell you where it gets complicated with me and the DT: I came in one time and ordered a Reissdorf kolsch and the server came back a few minutes later to tell me that the keg had just kicked. Alright, it happens. I ordered a different beer and forgot about it. The next time I came in, I was still craving that Reissdorf kolsch, so I ordered it again. This is where it starts to get weird: the server again came back a couple minutes later and told me that the keg had JUST kicked. This went on for the next couple months. Every time I would go to the DT (once a week or more) I would order a Reissdorf kolsch, and without fail every time the server or bartender would tell me that it had just kicked. I'm not one to make wild accusations, but I do wonder what is up. Throughout this time, they never took the kolsch off the chalkboard menu. Do they leave things on the menu, even when they're out? Do they train their staff to always say that their keg has just kicked? Was this all just an insane coincidence? Or was it a conspiracy to prevent me from drinking that sweet sweet kolsch? WHY OH WHY, DIRTY TRUTH? Next time I'm in town, I'm sure I'll go back to the DT. But, fellow Valley beer drinkers, I will never stop seeking the dirty truth about the Dirty Truth. read more

OK, so yea 2 stars it is. First things first, the rating is for the staff NOT the beer. This place makes me wish I had four hands, so I could hold 4 expensive ass yet delicious beers, AND so I could give the staff 4 thumbs down and a 4 handed beating. Why so hostile you ask? Well, every time i walk in the door i get harassed for 5826374263 forms of ID. Not to mention I have been kicked out (or whatever you want to call it) on 3 separate occasions, 3!!!. Seriously one of them I didn't even say a word to the d-bag behind the bar and hes shoeing me out the door. Mind you, most would agree, I am not a heavy a-hole type drinker either. SO, all in all IF and this is a big IF, you can deal with the biggest douche bag staff ever and inflated prices, than you would probably enjoy what the place has to offer. In my opinion your better off a few doors down at toasted owl of tunnel bar. Much more chill- PS- i am not really this misreable I just really hate the staff attitude read more

Yeah whats up with no Northampton Yelpers? Excellent beer list, i got my buddy shattered on Arrogant Bastard and Stone IPA. the service was suck ass, teh bartenders were rude, i felt right at home - kind of like being in a jockier version of Bukowski's. read more

Some of these reviews are really amusing, but I'm glad I didn't read them before stopping in because it would have been a hell to the no. However, I experienced no pretension or douchiness (although a copy of a Black Keys vinyl LP behind the bar was a sure mark of hipster pride). In the interest of full disclosure, I just stopped in for a beer and no food during the afternoon hours, so I present this review with not much information. But the impression I came away with was A-ok. I was quickly put off by the bartender's request for a backup picture ID because I come from the faraway land of CT. I told her that I was flattered, but could assure her that I am a 35 year old woman. I don't fault the bartender- she was cool and I know she was just doing her job by enforcing the annoying policy that management put in place. Back in the day, if there was a suspicious looking ID passed by a youngster, bartenders would bust out that book of IDs and check it out. Nowadays, I guess it's just more convenient to treat everyone like a sneaky underage college kid. Did I mention I'm 35? I look 28 at best. Give me a break, Dirty Truth. But anyway, I came in search of an amazing selection of craft brews on tap I had recently read about in an article, and boy did they deliver. The list was expansive and diverse, offering beers that were completely new to me as well as some tasty tried and trues. The bartender was glad to let me sample before choosing, too. Even though I did not eat, I liked that in addition to pricey dinner options, there were some cheaper snacky items. Had I had not just eaten, I would have been all over that pretzel and mustard app. I dug the dim ambience and the current art exhibit. I'm pretty sure this was the first time I inquired about the artist at a bar so I could purchase a print. Will I go back? Sure! read more

We had a nice time here on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. They have a laid back atmosphere with good seating options. It's great to find a place where you can hang out comfortably with a few friends without having to shout over loud music or other patrons. They have a nice drink selection and really good food. We loved their fries - super crispy and tasty. Beware: the large order of fries is *really* large. My partner also really loved the sandwich special. Overall a great experience. We'll definitely be back. read more

Where good times go to die. Great bar to lose your buzz...make this your first stop of the night, not your last. read more

It's hard to say - it's a cool place because Noho area needed a little pick up a few years ago and to get on the "trendy train" - but not so cool because TDT took it a bit far and tried to bring big city pretentiousness to small town folk.... lose the attitude, keep the dark and cozy atmosphere and the good beer selection, add a few more wines, bring down the price of food.... read more

The bartender pretends or tries to be cool and ends up being arrogant. Yes, I'm talking about the tall dude with long hair. My friend and I came in from CT and they did not accept the CT state driver's license as an ID. Instead of asking for another ID, this guy walks away and never comes back. We were left sitting there for 15 minutes. Beers are expensive, i'm sure I can find a fancier place for less in downtown Manhattan. NEVER GO THERE!!! read more

I knocked my review down a star for a good reason. When we went there (3 PM on Sunday afternoon) and sat down at the bar, they asked to see my ID. Fine, no problem. But then, since I was from out of state, i also had to product 2 credit cards to prove that I was who I said that I was. It was a little ridiculous - especially since I've been to a lot of bars and that's never happened before. So if you go here and you're not from MA, better bring your entire life with you just so you can prove you are who you say you are. After that though...the bartender was friendly, the beer was good and the food was excellent. We order the fries (handcut, natch) and they were so good. Pretzel was steaming hot when it came out. the mustard offered a wonderful kick. Overall, I would go back as long as I had my passport, a DNA sample and my blood donor card with me, just so that I could prove my identity. I think it's easier to board a plane than to get into this place from out of state. read more

The Dirty Truth is dismal compared to what it once was. The wine prices are often more than I'd pay for a bottle, and the pours are small. I've been coming the the Dirty Truth religiously since they opened. I used to love going so much-friendly staff, and you just felt like they really cared about what they were doing and about their customers. Now, I just feel like they're trying to get every penny out of people. The menu is bleak, prices have gone way up, and they are often weird about any substitutions. I wouldn't even mind paying higher prices if the experience there were enjoyable. I've been offered free drinks or generous samples at other places in town. I never expect this, but it does feel good to be seen. This just doesn't seem to happen here even for folks who've been going for years. It makes me sad because it's a place I used to really love. I wish they'd return to their old ways. So many friends won't go there anymore as they feel the same. read more

By far my favorite spot for huffing jenkem in Northampton - now that's the dirty truth. Is this mic on? read more

Beer - great! Nachos with bbq duck - yummy!!! And those beer donuts with ginger cream? Pinch me, I'm dreaming - they were heaven! Delightful, chill atmosphere and the bartenders were great. read more

The Dirty Truth - Beer donuts with ginger cream! Yummmmm - New American Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

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Dirty Truth is one of my Northampton mainstays. I love sour beers, and they always have robust selection. When I'm not in the mood for beer they've always got decent wine and Ginger Libation. I'm a big fan of their burger and pretzel with cheese dip. Their specials are usually spot on--this weekend they were serving homemade onion dip with sun choke fries yummmm. Service is usually speedy and friendly. read more

You really can't get food here. It's ten minutes past 11, no fries. Sorry you ordered before 11.. But yeah read more

The Dirty Truth - WILL WAGNER, NACHOOO FOODS - New American Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

Hands-down one of the best bars in Northampton. Awesome beer selection, and staff is great with recos so don't hesitate to ask for one if you're stumped -- I discovered one of my favorite pints thanks to a johnny-on-the-spot DT server. The vibe is a comfy form of urban/hip/chill and all of the food is fantastic! It's not cheap, but it's delicious, thoughtfully sourced, properly prepared, and priced accordingly. PERFECT place to meet up with friends after work or on a weekend afternoon...weekend eves are nuts and best left to the tourists (or the young) ;-) When the weather's nice, the front wall of windows disappears for fresh air and people watching from a large communal table. My only bad experience here was several years ago when a woman in our party caught way too much attitude from the server...she admitted that she's not much of a beer drinker, described her taste as "bud light," and asked for help picking a beer. He brought her a snifter of sludge. Real funny, dude. So when other reviewers complain about snobbery from the staff, I remember that night and think "yeah, it's possible"...but for the most part I think they try to be helpful servers and responsible pourers. read more

Beer Bar. I am not a big fan of beer. But it was a weird mix of crowd there. I didn't really care for it. I thought the crowd and the background music was a weird mix. A beer bar that was playing jazz music in the background? Hum.... read more

I figured I would give a good amount of time between reviews of here. The short and concise version is Beer menu remains top notch.. Many microbrews, nothing real local, but quality and many high gravity beers. Besides Moan & Dove or Sierra Grill there isn't really anywhere with a good high end beer list in this area. Food: compared to the beer quality: blows. Standing alone it's mediocre but without value. How can mussels and fries be 17 bucks?? Service: knowledgable staff when it comes to the beer... There is certainly sole pretentiousness that is easily put to rest once you let them know you aren't a domestic beer guzzling American, but I personally would expect a more welcoming and willing to educate staff to those who ate first timers to beer that doesn't come in a can. They actually carry a wine list with some decent by-the-glass if your date isn't in to beer. Get a good burger across the street and then come here for the beer! Or at least lower your food expectations relative to the beer you're drinking.... read more

This place put the final nail in the coffin for my group of friends. Over the past decade, they have gone from one of the most creative bars in town to the most predictable and hostile environments in the Valley. The place oozes with pretentiousness, from the 'bouncers' at the front door that can't be bothered to look up from their book to check your ID to the waitstaff that seemingly can't admit to making mistakes and persist that customers pony up for more expensive dishes or beers when it was their mistake. This weekend a friend ordered a side salad for $3 in addition to her meal, was apparently given a dinner size salad and charged double. When she approached the waitress, she said there was nothing she could do because my friend ate the entire thing. They also insisted that bread could not be removed from a sandwich because the kitchen staff didn't want to differentiate from calling it a sandwich (this is for real). Even after we informed them it would go to complete waste, she said it didn't matter and brought it out anyway. Their food menu has been reduced from an interesting rotating weekly assortment to a one-page grouping of overpriced uninventive dishes. There are a lot of places in Northampton to get overpriced food and craft beer - why not do it someplace that actually makes it seem like they'd like your business. It's a shame - it was a great place to go about 8 years ago but should be avoided now. read more

Came here from out of town on a friend's recommendation and felt immediately at home. High end pub fare, excellent beer selection, attentive and conversational staff. Exactly my type of vibe. Plus, holy fuck, those giant pretzels with IPA mustard. Life changing. Highly recommended if you're looking for a cozy hip spot. read more

This place kind of wow'ed me a bit. I spent the weekend in NoHo and went to Dirty Truth for a beer on a Saturday night. Being a huge beer advocate, i was pleasantly surprised to see a damn solid selection of good beers both on tap and bottles(including Cask Conditioned!). This is definitely not the type of place to go if you want a cold Bud. Then again if you're using Yelp to find a place to get a cold Bud, you might want to fill the tub with water and jump in with a hair drier. That said, I went back for breakfast the next morning and found that these guys have an AMAZING brunch. I can't explain the connection between Beers and Brunch besides the letter "B" but these crazy mofo's have that entire letter covered. One drawback is that the Beer selection is a wee bit pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for. read more

I like this place. They have a great beer selection, and the food is pretty darn good. Not sure about the negative reviews for customer service; I've always had great conversations with the bartenders and they seem pretty attentive. Then again, I don't usually hang out here on a Saturday night when it's wicked crowded so who knows... If you want to have a chilled out few hours on a rainy Sunday when there isn't much else to do, this is a nice place for brunch and a few beers earlier in the day than you were told it's acceptable to drink them. They seem to have a rather scientific method of bringing the beer from the keg to the tap. You never seem to get a bad pour here, even if nobody's had a glass of the beer you're having for a few hours. Some places in town, that can be an issue but not here. read more

There are bars with more beers in Northampton, but none exceed the curatorial ability of the staff of the Dirty Truth. With 40 beers on tap, there is always something fresh from both near and afar, and from hoppy to sour. The staff knows beer too, so recommendations are always on offer too. This is not a place to ask for a Bud, but if you do, you are likely to get a large German or Czech lager in its stead. One of my favorites!! read more

So many times I wished while sitting in the Moan and Dove that they would use the brilliance they brought to beer bars and combine it with a restaurant. You can have the choice of the best beers in the world but there's only so much take out and peanuts you can enjoy with it. The Dirty Truth is that wish made reality. The Moan and Dove with food. The interior is spacious, but comfortable and lighting is reminiscent of the ol' Dove but I could do without the music. The beer list is expansive as you might expect, with about 30 beers on tap and even more lurking in bottles waiting to be discovered. The food includes pub favorites done over with a gourmet twist. The wait staff did seem a bit less knowledgeable of the different beers than they do at the Dove. But were nonetheless able to give recommendations based on food selection. Don't come looking here for swill; like the Dove this place is for people who really love beer. read more

Was in Northampton for a couple of days so I tried this place out. I went on a tuesday evening, there were no bouncers on duty, so I can't speak about the rude treatment other people on here said that they dealt with from bouncers. The place has good ambiance - I like the big garage door that opens in the front. The server was friendly. So that's where the stars end, because the food just wasn't all that good. I ordered the falafel platter and my girlfriend ordered the duck nachos. The hummus and pita on the falafel platter were awesome but the falafel had no flavor and a very smooth consistency - I go for middle eastern food all the time and I think falafel should have some chunkiness to it. Seriously though I made falafel from a mix once and it was better than this. The duck nachos are a novel idea, but you really can't tell there's duck on them - they couldve told me it was just refried beans and I wouldnt have known the difference, plus there was a really sweet flavor on them that isnt expected from nachos and overpowered the dish. It's probably more like two and a half stars but I rounded up because they source from local farms, so their chalkboard says, and I liked what I had from their selection of local beers. read more

They might have changed the policy, because I read some reviews about the bouncers being unreasonable with ID's. I'm a foreign national as well and both times I've been here I wasn't asked for another form of ID. But besides that issue, I like this place. Great mellow atmosphere, wide variety of beers, knowledgeable and friendly staff, good food (the fries were yummy). read more

Dear Yelpers, It's been a while. I'm so sorry I've been neglectful. What can I say? I grew used to my local scene and stopped reviewing. Slap on the wrist. But why have I come out of retirement? The Dirty Truth. We had reservations at a different restaurant, and stopped in for a drink. We cancelled our reservation after we tried the duck nachos. The beer selection is great. The bartenders seem to know slightly more than the servers about the selection, but either way, they'll let you try anything you want, so no need to be intimidated by a selection you've never heard of. They'll help you find something you like even when they're up to their eyeballs in hungry hipsters. The place is certainly full of hipsters, but if that makes you uncomfortable, perhaps you would prefer somewhere with Keystone Light or a MacDonald's? I would like to respectfully disagree with Alex H. on (more than one) point: I was worried that I wouldn't be able to hear the wit and repartee of my compatriots, but the volume level in the place never got that high. Final thing we ate: the mussels, at $17 they are expensive, but those and some $14 nachos fed 3 of us. $31 is a damn good deal for the best meal I've had in Northampton. I'm going back to try brunch. And dinner again. And again. And then some more. I'm in love. read more

Good craft beer selection. Nice staff. The chalkboard with the available beers is hard to read. Came here on Tuesday night. The crowd was kinda ehhhh... A lot of people talking about the art on the walls... loudly.... I don't really have much to compare it to... So four stars... It's a cute place with good beers, and the lady working was nice. read more

Sat in for dinner tonight. Limited menu which I prefer. Do a few things really well and you're all set. We ordered baba ganoush which is served with house pita chips. Lacked seasoning (s+p), too smoky, and had a weird BBQ seasoning. We liked that it was served with pickled red onions. For dinner we had the flatbread. This was roasted tomato, red wine marinated chicken, basil, and lemon marinated sardines. We ordered it with fries. The fries were amazing. The garlic aioli they were served with was delicious. The flatbread was very fishy. The sardine flavor dominated the dish and was hard to bare. Overall, pleasant service. Come for the fries and drinks , maybe get your entrée elsewhere... read more

I love this place! Being that it's a few hours away, I only get here every few months, but I've made the trip just to eat a meal and drink some beers here. The food is great, and attention has been paid to make sure that even vegetarian clients will be pleased. The beer list is amazing. You'll find some delicious high quality beer here that is actually well maintained and cared for. I hate when you pay a lot for an imported bottle of beer and it's skunky or just didn't travel well. I can't speak for how it gets at night, as my visits have always been on weekend afternoons, but I've always had good service and attentive waitstaff. Maybe it's different on a crowded Friday night. read more

Quality place, quality food, one of the best I've been to in my [very] honest opinion. Went Friday night for a burger and beer-- the place was packed from the bar to the tables. Luckily, only had to wait a couple of minutes for a couple to leave. This MAY not be the case on most Friday and Saturday nights as it appeared there were quite a few lounge lizards taking up table space. The ultra-trendy music in the background must have lulled them into a coma... I just tuned it out. My date and I split a hamburger with smoked blue cheese, as the prices were a little steep (~$8 for burger and fries). The portion was easily sharable, but BE WARNED... it was seriously delicious and I wish I hadn't have shared ;) according to their menu, everything from the bun to the ketchup is made in-house using local ingredients when available. I'd like to know whether this is really true or just feeding off of locavore frenzy. Paired my half of the burger with an Anderson Valley Paleeko Pale Ale, one of ~35 draft beers they have available. The serivce was fantastic, I would even go so far as to say he's the best server I've ever had wait on me. Apparently, from the other reviews, not ALL of their servers can be considered the same. All in all, I would say this restaurant places top 3 in my book. I really wanted to try the brunch, but didn't get back there in time. I can promise you this, if I'm in the area, I'm going to Dirty Truth for a burger and beer. read more

Ok so I went there yesterday afternoon not busy at all ! Stop in to have a beer and a pretzel with cheese .we get our beer delicious so we are waiting and waiting for the pretzels when they finally come they have the mustard only it was good but it made my eyes water so we Flag the bartender down and ask hey where is the cheese we ordered ??so she goes to the kitchen again we are waiting and waiting no one in the restaurant so now the bartender comes to us to ask how is everything we asked about our cheese sauce her response is oh that we have to make it per order OK .... but when we got it , it was cold as ice WTF plus you charged us 6 bucks no thank you I won't be back !! Now I know the Dirty Truth read more

This place was recommended to us by a friend so we decided to check it out on St. Patrick's Day weekend. Since it was one of three restaurants in northampton that was recommended, I had high hopes for a bar. First of all, this is not a real bar. They only serve beer, wine, and a few ciders. I was hoping to order a real drink but had to settle for their overpriced cider. The menu is also overpriced and mediocre. $13 for Mac and cheese that I didn't even want to finish. The ambiance was interesting. Not bad decor wise, but they place strange music that was better fitting for a high school Halloween party. Don't waste your time here. For a beer or glass of wine I'd go elsewhere. Also- They ask for double ID if you're from out of state. Relax. Nobody would ever want to sneak in this pathetic place with a fake. read more

As far as Northampton Bars go this place really stands out amongst the other cheese palaces in town. 1. OK - So I love beer so I'm already a little biased towards the truth, No place else in town can even come close to the constantly changing selection at the truth. 5 bucks a beer is standard anywhere and some of the stronger stuff is a bit pricier, but at 8% a glass you only need a few to be shitcocked. 2. The menu is limited and often has some weird stuff on it, last time I went it seems like everything on it was some version of duck. After a couple beers though you too will be like "yea I'll have the bone marrow sliders". The food is delicious, every time! Reasonable prices, good portions but just delicious. 3. Ambiance is cool, there is some artwork on the walls and ample seating around the large front window facing the street that lets in the fresh air and makes for some great people watching opportunities. The bathrooms are downstairs and clean, for those of you who care about bathrooms. 4. The bartenders are attentive yet not always is the best of moods. Having worked in bars for a long time I can sympathize. However, the tall dude with dreads (sucks I don't know his name) is the nicest Bartender in town (only behind Matty from Tully O'Reilly's) and is definitely part of the reason this place gets the 5 stars. 5. The mix of people here is nice to see... old, young, gay, straight, attractive but always friendly and having a blast. Maybe it has something to do with the Rogue Double Dead Guys people are drinking. In Northampton this place sidesteps the bland and succeeds despite its shortcomings. Best in Town. I'll be back soon!! read more

Great beer selection. The food is meh. I had a house salad with dressing that had WAY too much garlic in it that it tasted spicy. My friend got the Reuben and was unable to finish it because he hated it so much. The place does tend to get crowded so if you want a seat, come early. read more

Awesome beer bar in the valley. The beer selection was great, and a nice change from the usual list of things available in Boston. The staff, on the other hand, needs a bit of work. There were two people working the bar, and instead of splitting it in half, they both worked the whole thing. So we basically had two waiters/bartenders. Confusing? The guy knew his stuff and was nice enough. The girl was a little flighty and honestly didn't know enough about the beers they had. I also didn't like being reminded that what I was ordering was in a bottle- oh you mean that's what the bottle menu means? The food was really really good. I loved my burger and the special appetizer we had of roasted fennel with Parmesan and olives was one of the most inventive - and amazingly tasty!- things I've had in a long while. The Dirty Truth would definitely be on the Beer-Lunch rounds if it were in Boston! read more

I came here a few months ago and I still dream about going back. However, this is about a 30 minute drive from my parents house, so there's no easy way to get there without driving. And there's no point in going there unless I can try at least a few beers. And considering last time I got a double IPA without realizing it, this may not be a good idea. Anyway, amazing beer selection (beats most I've seen in Boston), sleek interior and interesting clientele. The prices are typical of a Boston bar, so they may be a bit overpriced for Northampton. I don't really know. I cannot wait to go again, hopefully soon. read more

Came in here for the first time and really enjoyed the vibe. The bartender was friendly and after asking a few questions about the stellar IPA selection (they had 6 on tap! 3 Stone!), he gave us a few tasters for free. I enjoyed some white wine and the hubs had the 18th anniversary Stone IPA- which was a brown IPA, the first ever- as well as a wormtown be hoppy, which is locally made in Worcester. We didn't try any of the food, we just had a quick drink at the bar, but I noticed a few items (gluten free and vegeterian) of my liking that would draw me back. read more

Ok so once you get through showing multiple forms of IDs and wresting with the drinking age dilemma, this place is awesome (for any of you from states that don't touch Massachusetts). The relatively small menu contains lots of amazing food. Duck nachos are to die for. Also the burgers exceed burger expectations. Good service (tonight at least) and phenomenal, however a bit pricey, beers on tap. But you know, it's Northampton! This place is great. read more

I absolutely love this place!! When I am in town my family and I always be sure to stop by. It is a great place to go to with a group. We love the large pretzels, fresh cut fries, veggie burger, and brunch items. The beer selection is great. I do not understand the low reviews. I read through them & saw that most had to do with their ID double-carding for out of state licenses. It seems too bad for a restaurant to be given low stars for that. My friends and I really love the place. read more

Once, I ordered a smoked bavarian-style beer shortly after having finished a porter, and the waiter warned me they might clash. You know what, though? I didn't mind. I told him I'd take my chances. No fuss. Was he smirking? I don't know. I don't care. Did he think he knew better than me? Of course, and he should. It's his job. The only real downside is that the space can be loud and there can be trouble getting a table on a busy night. In any case, the food is regularly good (they had some sort of pork shoulder gumbo once that was unreal) and the beer selection is well curated and always changing-- that does a lot more for me than a friendly twit with a tray of light beers. read more