The Brakeman
Beer hall · Downtown ·
Craft beer, foosball, TVs, and fried chicken next door
Craft beer, foosball, TVs, and fried chicken next door
"A Sunday happy hour? Why the heck not? This downtown bar is ideally situated right in the heart of many of the city’s hotels, off Parker’s Alley and just around the corner from the Metropolitan Building and Shinola and the Siren hotels. It’s also a block or so from Comerica Park, the Opera House, and Woodward Avenue shopping, so a good weather day calls for some brunchy vibes at the Brakeman. From noon to 3 p.m. on Sundays, drink tokens only cost $6 rather than the usual $8. One token gets one beer and two can nab a cocktail. Oh, and for those suffering the weekday blues, the happy hour is also offered during the week. Hours: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Friday; noon to 3 p.m. Sundays" - Mickey Lyons
"A beer hall offering a casual, social atmosphere with a variety of beers on tap — positioned as a larger gathering spot within the alley’s food and drink scene." - Serena Maria Daniels
"Part of the Shinola Hotel, this American beer hall serves two frozen libations: the pineapple daiquiri and the frosé, served with rosé, vodka, and americano rosa, perfect complements to the fried chicken served by its adjoining neighbor, Penny Red’s." - Monica Williams
"Positioned as a casual beer hall inside the Shinola Hotel, the Brakeman—named after a style of Shinola watch—will feature a rotation of Midwest‑centric craft beers on draft and an alleyway open year‑round with games like ping‑pong, foosball, and shuffleboard; it occupies roughly 5,500 square feet and is presented as one of the more casual components of NoHo’s hotel lineup." - Eater Staff
"This American beer hall in downtown Detroit doesn’t have an especially extensive selection of beer, but it makes up for it in character. Imbibers purchase beer tokens at a counter and exchange them for pints at the bar, which is filled with games and TVs. Groups can also pool their resources to rent a tap table with pour-your-own beers. While there’s no food on the menu, the Brakeman is attached to a carryout chicken restaurant called Penny Red’s where customers can purchase fried chicken buckets and sandwiches." - Eater Staff