what Ales you is exactly what it should be. If you're a regular during busy times you're getting great service, I'm you have never been your experience might get frustrating. Typical collage bar, love it or hate it, it is what it is. the owner is great guy and nice to talk to, a seasoned vet of the Burlington bar scene. If you show up at 11:00 on a Saturday when UVM is in session, have patience.Cheap beer and a great space. Syd is the man. read more

ZERO STARS over serve people when they know they have given them too much and then track them down and cus them out for just sitting in your car. Think their Fucking high and might and they broke a glass in the ice well and never cleaned it. So definitely do not recommend. Also an underage bar so unless you wanna be surrounded by 18/19 year olds I would not go. read more

Great atmosphere!! Music was good, bartenders were a little curt I won't lie. Not much seating, but plenty of dancing to be done on the dance floor. Drinks were good but not great, bathrooms were slightly crazy! Pretty fun place though. Probably wouldn't recommend to anyone over the age of 25 though, definitely a hot spot for local college students read more

Ales is a very classic bar for young kids to go to and spill drink all over people. If you're looking for somewhere to go with friends, it probably isn't here. It's really dark and unwelcoming. Don't let the line fool you- it's probably just underage kids trying to get cheap beer. read more

Loud. Divey. Cheap. You'll find beers for $1 here... YEAH... $1... FOR DRAFT.... ...BUT, it quickly becomes a shit-show frat party after dinner time. Go here to pre-game and head out at the first signs of UVM. read more

Where to start? Überdouchey clientele, although this goes with the territory for every other Main Street bar Tacky sports bar feel. This is downtown Burlington for Christ's sake. If watching football replays at 1130 on a Friday night is your idea of fun then I guess you might enjoy this. Loud and horrible music coming over the speakers. And this wasn't a live band. This was pre-recorded music. I literally had to SHOUT in order to talk to the person across the table. It's not like this is a nightclub, either. The music playing was like AC/DC or Nickleback or something. I wish I was joking. 20 dollar minimum on credit cards The only redeeming thing about this place was the cheap drafts: one dollar for PBR and two dollars for Switchback. Not really enough to make up for how shitty it is though. read more

Every time I go to this dive, there is a crowd of older gents who are in town for a St. Mikes reunion or a frat brother's wedding and they always comment that it looks exactly the same as the day it opened so many decades ago. My dad says the same thing. It's nothing special, but I have fond memories of free wings and good beer specials on week nights. Kind of a college meat market on the weekends. read more

Worst experience ever. Rude bartenders, overcharged me on my orders, once I found out and wanted to cancel the bill, instead of apologizing for what happened, they gave me another wrong bill and even wrote tip down for me by themselves ? How insane and how ridiculous? Hope they will improve their service and train their staffs. read more

Even dive bars can be the pitts..and I don't mean olive. This has hit true bottom...as far down you can go as a dive. Dirty, gross, disgusting and thats only the bartender..the food drinks and whole place should be closed down. read more

The bartender was very rude. Asked to see a drink menu and he scoffed at me. My friend asked a question about one of the beers and he scoffed at him too. Dirty and dark. Steer clear of this dump. read more

Why do people always go here? It's a favorite of St Mike's, UVM and Champlain students... but I have no idea why. It's dark, its overcrowded, its too loud, and it's pretty creepy. read more

I used to love going to this place in college. Looks like college kids still do. The draft beers have changed and it still smells like a basement. Dark and dingy. Oh, and no women. Another place that has lost its luster to me over time. read more

Came here for Happy Hour, on Fridays 5-7pm, because they advertised unlimited wings. But what a rip off. It's four wings to one drink and the minimum card charge is $20. In addition, there's no drink menu, so you literally just have to pick from the wall. As a first timer at this bar, I don't think I will be coming back. read more

I, along with a bunch of other gents, stopped by last night. It hasn't changed since 2009. And don't ever change. It's perfect just the way it is. Doctor Shots are still the best cure for the common ailment. read more

It's your classic college bar. Dimly lit with boozed-up co-ed's. I try to avoid "dollar drafts" night because they serve flat beer that could be colder. But if you are a college student in Burlington, you must have an "I always go to What's Ale's" phase. read more

Great atmosphere, classy decorations. The staff + owner. Would highly recommend to anyone with even the slightest sense of humor and/or desire for cheap, high quality drinks and bartending. read more

I only comment on Yelp if I have something great to say or because of really bad. It's unfortunate to write this review on an otherwise fun hangout. I'm from out of town, I've been going this place practically every couple days a week for the past 3 weeks. I've gotten nothing but great service from the bar staff, it's a fun environment to hang out with friends but tonight I was on my way in and an employee with a goatee and long hair was watching the entrance, having a smoke, whom I'm certain seen me most nights there but doesn't know my name. Before I get to show my ID and he said "no you can't come in". I asked (and really thought) he was kidding but he said he wasn't. I asked why and if he's mistaken me for someone else but his reply was "this is a private establishment...I don't need to give you a reason". I'm truly shocked and, frankly, hurt! I've never caused trouble, never tossed out....nothing bad. I would even tip $5 for every two beers (which the other bartenders know I drink only Switchback). Other than this review I'm completely speechless. I never would have imagined this place would turn on such a frequent customer as myself. So I hope this review reaches the management for either an explanation why I was called out so quick at the door and what incident happened for this to occur (which there isn't any incident I was ever involved), fire that specific guy or if either of the two don't happen, that this review deters anyone else from going to What Ales You. I'll update this review when appropriate. read more

So, unfortunately I was a patron of this horrible bar and I bought a fiddlehead which is what I go to when I go to a bar in Burlington that doesn't have many offerings. My friend ordered a pbr and like I said earlier I ordered a fiddlehead. I got poured up either a pbr or some sort of light Pilsner. I tried both my beer and the beer my friend ordered and it was either a pbr or some light Pilsner/lager like bud light. I took one sip and I don't like to be pompous about certain things, but my palate in reference to beer and quality foods is on point. The fact they wouldn't even replace the beer was very off putting and it also didn't reflect any positive aspects of their attitudes or customer service towards their patrons. I only took one sip of the 15. Whatever oz left in my pint. So if you want a shitty time, with shitty alcohol,that revolves around a bunch of dudes (cock fest) then this is the place to be at. If your a normal person that values what you spend your money on go half a block up to the pizza place that sounds like it may be from New York. The place up the there will have you satisfied in the terms of beer, food, and social setting. Dodge this place as much as you can. this is a hole In the wall bar that is nothing more than a hole in the wall with shitty products and service. There are no good mixed drinks beer , food , and the social setting you get put in makes you feel like your In a maximum security male prison. read more

I have been going to Ale's every weekend since I started high school. Ale's is incredibly lenient on fake ID's, making it a classic blackout spot for my friends and I. The ambiance is nothing special, but there are many great places to do drugs. Fresh tracks can be found almost every night. This place is also a mecca for easy women. It's like playing darts on board that is entirely a bulls eye. You have to be absolutely dummied to strike out at this place. Ale's is one of the few slices of paradise that can be found in Burlington. I encourage everyone to go and test the waters; just don't drink it. read more

Cheap beers and fun times. They treat people with respect and I feel very welcomed. Thanks ales for making my college years such a memorable time. Absolutely recommend this place! P.S. Must be able to take a joke. read more

I would give zero stars but it won't let me. Worst bar experience I have ever had. The bartender (who we found out later was "in charge"), was the absolute rudest person I have ever encountered. I had come up to visit my younger brother and we decided to stop here on our way home. I could tell it was a younger more intoxicated crowd than I usually surround myself with, but Burlington is college town and figured it could still be fun. I ordered a cocktail that required a lot of limes and requested some more on the side. The bartender who did not initially assist me came over and scolded me for "sicking my dirty f***ing hands in the lime jar.", and now he had to throw all the limes away. Then he continued, "I'd expect this behavior from someone 21 but not your age". I am 27... And I did not respond to this gentleman's absurdly rude comments or take the time to explain the situation. I asked another bartender to speak to someone in charge and she informed me he was. I cannot believe I was treated so poorly and am extremely offended. I will never return there and neither will my brother or any of his friends. read more

Overall, it is a good place to grab a relatively cheap drinks, especially when they have specials. You could go there almost any night of the week for quick service, decent alcohol prices, and local sporting games are on. If you were to venture there on a Thursday or Friday night, you will encounter all undergraduate students. read more