Backdoor Tavern

If you are 30 or over, I want you to take a moment and think about your younger/college years. Think about the selection you had and prices you paid for beer and liquor. Think about the drink specials and happy hours that presented themselves. Personally, I was in Happy Valley from 2002 to 2006. During that time, I enjoyed drink specials such as nickel well drinks, dollar Long Island Iced Teas, five-dollar Captain Morgan and Coke Pitchers, and so much more. I am sure we could go on and on, however, try to find that nowadays, it is almost non-existent. Today’s trend is a Craft Beer list that is pushing $10 a beer. Before this was popular, the Backdoor Tavern in Fallston, Pennsylvania was the mecca for specialty and craft beers. Let us look inside one of Beaver County’s most unique establishments.

The beer – Since its inception in 1993, the Backdoor Tavern is known for their bottle list that features over 150 unique and different bottles of Craft Beer. For most, anytime you see this type of selection it can be intimidating. Because of this, the staff is truly knowledgeable about the different options of beer. They will gather information about your specific taste, present options, and make sure they select a delicious beer that will please your palate. This leads me to another staple of this unique establishment, the Beer List. The locals can help me out on this, you can create your own Beer List consisting of 85 to 88 beers. If you drink all of them, you get your name on the Wall of Fame, thus becoming a member of a rich, Beaver County tradition. This is truly a beer drinkers haven.

The food – It is here that you are going to get solid bar food and mammoth portions. The Pittsburgh Style Sandwiches which feature coleslaw and fries are enormous. A lot of people make the good mistake of ordering a whole sandwich. To put it in perspective, what you see pictured is half of a sandwich. The Backdoor Tavern is also known for their fish and wings. The fish they use is Cod, which is one of the cleanest cuts of fish. The Fish Salad that you see featured also features a monster portion. Monday’s is their Wing Night, and their wing flavors are unique. Some flavors you would not find on a normal wing flavor list are Rufus, Smokey Blue, and Papa Woods Dry Barbecue. The cheeseburgers are also above average in size, featuring 10-ounce patties. Most restaurants serve in the vicinity of 6 to 8-ounce burger patties. If you are just looking for a snack, their Finger Food selection features an extensive list of appetizers to share. All in all, you will not leave hungry, and you will not burn a huge hole in your wallet.

The ambience – Beaver County has a rich High School Sports tradition. The bar top showcases various sports memorabilia that immediately catches your attention upon being seated. The walls are covered in beer and golf memorabilia. If you are looking to catch your favorite sporting event, they have numerous TVs positioned all around the bar. The bar is elevated from the restaurant side and is a beer drinkers bar. This means it is large enough to handle a crowd but intimate enough so that you feel part of the gang and can engage in multiple conversations. They have a large restaurant area consisting of booths and tables if you are looking for more of a meal-type setting.