Cartesian Brewing

Just a short walk from Pat’s, Geno’s, and Dough Head, Cartesian Brewing is the kind of down-and-dirty neighborhood spot we absolutely love. The vibe is unpolished in the best way—mismatched furniture, tables made from old doors, and a no-frills charm that feels lived-in and local. The beertender and regulars were incredibly welcoming, and it’s the kind of place we’d be at weekly if we lived nearby. The Audacity Fruit Punch stood out big time—it’s what we’d call a “juicy juice beer”. True to its name, it’s bright, fruity, and tart, bursting with cherry, pineapple, and tangerine like the adult version of a childhood juice box. PIZZA LOVERS! They have a pizza oven, but it’s not always fired up, so check their Instagram before banking on a pie. If its not open, highly recommend Dough Head. Either way, Cartesian is a Philly gem we’d happily revisit.

I wasn’t a fan of the beer I got, but it’s beer, and no one likes every beer they drink, so it’s no reason to count off in a review. The brewery was neat with a good number of seats. Mostly locals at the time we went since the Eagles were playing an away game and it was being shown. The bar tender we had was very nice and the pizza, which we didn’t have, looked very tempting.

Outstandingly crafted beer, good prices, laid back atmosphere that's great for visiting solo or for couples, families, or big groups. Staff are friendly and helpful. They have free WiFi and board games too! We especially loved the Polish-style beer (unique and delicious!), the Belgian Double, and their Hazy IPA. Yum, can't wait to return to try more from the draft beer list plus their draft cocktails and mead (honey wine).

A garage brewery with a nice laid back vibe and really good beer. Tried a few different types and all of them were tasty. Bartender was friendly. Worth a visit.

Fantastic beer, cozy atmosphere, and friendly staff. This is the type of business Philly needs to support. Small, gritty, and true. The beer is really delicious. They also make cocktails and have wine! And the pizza they sell there some days is awesome too.

Small, new local brewery right next to pat’s and geno’s. Don’t forget that insomnia cookie lab is right there and the brewery is BYO food! Win win. Good beer, mostly ipas, saisions, Belgian. The one stout was OK but dark beer is clearly not there thing. Kids and dogs welcome.

Stopped in yesterday with the family and had an amazing experience. Small space, but plenty of tables and bar seating. Bathrooms were clean and easy to find. Family friendly. Beer was fantastic and the bartenders were super friendly and knowledgeable. We will definitely be back! — I will say parking can be a bit rough however you can park across the block at Acme for 1.5hrs if needed.

A neighborhood gem with great beers and wonderful service. The perfect place to catch a birds or phils game, and enjoy great company.

You'll come for the beer. You'll leave talking about the pizza. The beer is delicious. I had 2 different IPAs and they were both excellent. The Pizza takes about 45 minutes but it's worth the wait. Incredible bar pie. And The CJs folks are so nice. Everyone there is. First time going there but I need to add it to the rotation. Only 1 downside. It is hella noisy. My watch alerted me to loud environment 3 times. But I'll sacrifice some hearing for great beer and pizza.

The inside is a pretty chill brewery. We didn't LOVE the beer options but knew they were limited in what we typically would order ahead of time. The IPA was not our favorite. Their fall fest I felt was pretty tasty, though. Prices for the pint were pretty good. But beyond these two options there wasn't really anything we were interested in trying-although that's probably our own bias as there were a lot of interesting available options. What was most troublesome was that we specifically came for the CJ & D pizza. There was no indication outside or on their website that these wouldn't be available the day we went. Wish there were more communication/transparency specifically about this. Luckily plenty of places in the area to walk to get food after the pint.

(Visited on 11/11/24.) Urban, industrial, open-air atmosphere. Good , classic beer styles. Separate pizza ordering was available from a different vendor, which was decent. Nice place to visit on a Friday in the city (about a block from Geno's and Pat's).

Fellow Yelper Bill M and I had some time to kill before the Insomnia cookie event. Since he used to live in the area he knew just where to go. The atmosphere is very "garage funk chic" with lots of art against an industrial base. Despite it being mid week and raining, the lace was hopping with people at tables and the bar. Behind the bar, in addition to the bartenders, two chefs were whipping up some mighty fine looking pizza pies. I wished I hadn't had dinner already. We sat at the bar. Bartender was friendly and responsive. I had an "Existing to Remain" Vienna lager. It was lovely, if you can describe a beer that way. I'd definitely go back when I'm in the area.

This is technically a review for CJ&D's Pizza, which is available at Cartesian three days a week. Tried the regular cheese (Trenton tomato pie) and the white pizza. Really great! I wanna try the vodka pie on Sunday. Only con is that the ovens take forever.

We love the casual, environment, cool chalkboard menu and even cooler tables that are largely repurposed doors! Very unique, especially with the mismatched chairs. I want to love their beer, but I'm not quite there yet. The Rest of Upper is very tasty, and the Amateur Cartography is also something I find myself ordering again. Audacity (a fruited sour) is my go to. Though, it did have a weird aftertaste once. They rotate stuff all the time, which is great and will absolutely keep me coming back to try their flights (which you can get any beer in). They have one small TV you can watch games on. It would be cool if they got another so it could compete with other game day bars. Counter service makes it easy and low key. They have a pizza oven now that is active only certain days so keep that in mind before you BYOF!

If Cartesian existed when I lived across the street I would be bankrupt by now! Fortunately for my bank account, it didn't, but in the present time its the perfect reason for me to revisit my old East Passyunk Cheesesteak Vegas stomping ground and savor some damn good beers! Located inside an old bike shop, Cartesian makes perfect use of space by keeping the garage door open for walk-ins on warm weather days, and filling the interior with all kinds of eclectic artwork and seating arrangements. While they don't have their own food outside of snacks, they do allow you to bring your own and they do occasionally host food trucks and vendors. The main event is the beer, and I've enjoyed many a good flight here. While they do have some good ones to offer the One God Further hazy, I do love Cartesian's commitment to offering more than just IPAs and having some harder-to-find beers on rotation like altbiers and barleywines. Favorites of mine include the Calais brown saison ale, the Pelusium which is a barleywine on the lighter side, and the smooth Sons Grown Tall British amber. But with new beers rotating on the regular, I'll be back for more!

We've been wanting to try this place out for months. Draft cocktails for the non beer crowd and pizza for all. Or so we thought Finally had the chance to check it out and they are out of four beers, have no draft cocktails and only have garlic knots. Staff was nice and place looked clean enough. Meh, SKIP it and just head right to triangle tavern where all are wanted and welcome.

Cartesian just might be my new favorite brewery. At Cartesian, you get those casual, South Philly, garage-hang vibes. You can choose from bar stools or a smorgasbord of interest chairs of different heights at tables made from old doors. In the corner, you'd find some hastily stacked board games, including Mr. Bacon's Big Adventure. They don't offer food, but you can BYO from one of the many neighboring spots. And the beer? Well, the beer is fantastic. Cartesian has a pretty non-descript facade, but this brewery isn't about the frills. You can pop in for a football game, bring your strollers and your dogs, and have a variety of beers in a variety of pour sizes. On the recent visit, I tasted the British IPA (Mast Dewey), Strawberry Wheat (It's Giving), Pub Ale (Tadge), and Pelusium (Barleywine). I enjoyed them all. The Strawberry was tart, fresh, and tasted like real strawberries - not artificial flavoring. The Pub Ale was my favorite. I could drink it all day. I'm not a fan of Barleywine, but I liked Cartesian's. It didn't taste of hard booze like so many of the others I have tried. Located in a great, fun, and popular neighborhood, the only parking is street parking. There are free spots on the surrounding blocks, but beware of PPA and all parking signs to avoid tickets.

Love the addition of Cartesian to the local microbrewery scene! The beers I tried were solid, and alas the pizza sold out before I could order any but looked like a fantastic thin crust. FYI - outdoor seating closes earlier than (about 9pm when I was there) the rest of the space because of neighborhood noise ordinances.

Cartesian is a fun place to hang out with friends or in small groups. On summer days they have their garage door open! But even on cold days the place is welcoming. There are about 10-13 beers on tap and 4 types available in cans. Also seltzer, kombucha, and non alcoholic drinks available. Food is available to order from nearby places and on certain dates they have food trucks come by. Service is quick and there are board games available to use while here. Wi-Fi is also available. The beers are good and they have specials on certain days (such as pints for $6 on Sundays). Also ask for a beer flight to try different options.

Visited Cartesian with a few friends who were in the city after reading about them as one of the best new breweries. It was a balmy summer day, so enjoying a few beers was right up our alley (although unfortunately, the brewery is in a garage without solid AC). We made our way to the brewery, a bit surprised at the industrial nature of the spot - it's basically in a garage without frills or really much decor, but of course with a prominently placed bar. It was a Saturday afternoon, and given the heat, there were a few other groups there, but not too many, so we easily snagged a table. We saw the BYOF nature of the brewery, so we grabbed some food from Mighty Bread Co on our way over, which was nice to be able to enjoy alongside our beers. The draft menu is extensive for being a smaller brewery, but not overwhelmingly so, and we loved that we could do smaller pours / flights to optimize our tastings. My varieties focused on the fruited sours and more fruit-forward beers, which were all really nice. My husband gravitated towards more IPAs, and he spoke highly of the hazy IPAs. They definitely hit the spot on this summer day! Cartesian is definitely very casual vibe with garage bar vibes - I can see us making our way there for Philly sports games and with visiting groups of friends who want a more low-key spot. I would appreciate more cohesion with decor and definitely AC in the summer, but overall, we enjoyed our beers and experience at Cartesian, and we'll very likely be back!

Trying out all the breweries in Philadelphia and Cartesian didn't disappoint. We got Pilsners, IPAs, DIPAs, and there was also a popup pasta joint from Sauceboy Philadelphia. We tried the Sausage Rigatoni, and it was superb. Will be back!

The ambiance of the place is very hipster. The place looks like a remodeled garage, with the original flooring in tact and a sprawl of small tables and chairs setup along with some benches as well. The place is very clean (as a newly opened business should) and the vibe of the place reminds me of a pop-up beer garden, but from the comfort of being indoors. They open the garage doors to let in a lot of light, and makes you feel more connected to the Passyunk neighborhood. I'll update this review later once I get to try some of the food.

Beer flights and board games. Large indoor space for big groups. Come check it out if you're in the neighborhood!

Can't believe I didn't try this place sooner! I came here with a few friends on a Thursday evening not realizing they were in the middle of trivia night, but we were able to snag a table out back so we weren't in the middle of all the action. I had a sour (The Audacity) and a rye IPA (In the Back of Beyond) - both were delicious. Can't wait to come back soon and try some more beers, and maybe actually get to participate in trivia next time!

Great local brewery to bring your own food from Pat's, Geno's, Insomnia Cookies or wherever. (my favorite is Triangle.) They have clean tables, friendly service, and interesting beers. Cartesian is a great brewery for those that want a variety, and not just hoppy IPAs or heavy porters. My favorite is the "Pride of Passyunk" beer that they did with Separatist Beer Project down the street. I always have a fun time at Cartesian. This brewery will leave everyone happy, and provides a good atmosphere for the family depending on the time of day.

Echoing the past reviewer, extremely hipster though still quite lovely! The feel of the place is really excellent, super chill with folks clearly hanging out for a while and playing bar provided games at the long tables and a rotational crew at the bar. I had their hazy IPA and it was exactly as promised, a hazy IPA. If you're looking for a fishtown brewery vibe without trekking out to fishtown or a place to pop by after a Pat's/Geno's taste test, this place well fits the bill.

My husband and I sat at the bar and the bartender was extremely rude. He didn't even greet us, no smile, didn't even acknowledge us as we were putting in our order. No verification or repeat back, so we just trusted he heard us. My husband then asked if flights were available, as it was not on the menu. He responded as he was faced and walking away, so we were unable to hear him. He became progressively worse and degrading, asking "have you been to a brewery before?" Yes...many times and they usually had it on the menu or a worker would kindly let us know how many selections we can make for the flight, not giving us an attitude and talking with their head turned away. We couldn't believe the rudeness we were met with so we left immediately. You gotta do better, you don't deserve our business. Leaving this review so others are aware.

Only 5 reviews? Where are you City of Brotherly Love? If you're not drinking beers here, you're simply doing it wrong

Cute, garage style community brewery. Really nice staff, community values, and events. Hope they can grow their location and tap list!

A great microbrewery. They have many types of beer on tap, all fresh, and all able to be ordered in three different size glasses, allowing you to taste a number of beers or sit with just a few. The beer is tasty, subtle in flavor, something I prefer over many other brewers who pack their beers with too many crazy flavors. They also have cocktails, which I did not try but others in my group said were quite delicious. The prices for both beers and cocktails were all very reasonable. The 10 oz glass for the beers is a good deal, nearly a whole beer for $4 to $5. The service was good. We had a long chat with the bartender, who seemed like a nice guy. The crowd was mostly 20-somethings and 30-somethings in the area. There was a shelf of board games with some classics if you were looking to just hang around on a Sunday and idle the afternoon away. The decor is that kind of industrial brewery warehouse look, with lots of metal, but the seats were comfortable and the whole place was clean. Only other point to make is that they do not serve food but they do allow in outside food, and there are a lot of options for to-go food in the area. In conclusion this is a relaxed place to hang out to get some quality beer at a good price. Definitely worth visiting.