Restaurant
Unclaimed profileThe Brass Tap
Modesto, CA · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The Brass Tap is a beer-first operation with 150+ selections, a draught menu spanning beers, ciders, meads, and hard seltzers, a bottle list that includes non-alcoholic options, and a filterable beer finder sorted by style, origin, color, and ABV. Wine gets real attention too, with by-the-glass and bottle options across red, white, sparkling, and sangria. Cocktails are limited to a few happy-hour specials, and spirits are represented by two named pours.
- What should I order?
- Start with a draught pour from the rotating list, such as Ballast Point Sculpin IPA or Almanac Rocktoberfest. If you want wine, the Prosecco or Grandial sparkling are available by the glass or split. For a non-alcoholic option, Guinness 0.0 is on the bottle menu.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Beer drinkers who want a wide draught and bottle selection with style and ABV filters will find plenty to work through. Wine drinkers who want a straightforward by-the-glass list will also be covered. The limited cocktail and spirits lists make this less of a destination for those categories.
- When should I go?
- Happy hour is the value window: select pints, all wine by the glass, and several named cocktails are on special. Trivia, music, games, beer tastings, and tap takeovers are part of the regular event schedule.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Wine by the glass runs $11 to $15, with bottles at $39, $47, and $55. Madria Sangria is $8. Happy hour pricing applies to select pints, all wine by the glass, and named cocktails, so that window is the most economical time to drink.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The beer program is unusually deep for a restaurant, with 150+ selections, a filterable finder covering style, origin, color, and ABV, and an education page on glassware, styles, and glossary terms. The draught list extends beyond beer to ciders, meads, and hard seltzers, and the bottle menu includes non-alcoholic options.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
The cocktail list is built around happy hour specials: Blood Orange Tequila Sour, Tap Out Rita, and The Weekender. A reviewer enjoyed a margarita, noting it had tequila and was really good. The program is specialty cocktails in name, but the named options are limited to the happy hour list.
Menu strengths
- — Specialty cocktails are part of the offering.; Happy hour includes multiple named cocktails: Blood Orange Tequila Sour, Tap Out Rita, and The Weekender.
Standout selections
- — Blood Orange Tequila Sour is listed among happy hour drink specials.
- — Tap Out Rita is listed among happy hour drink specials.
- — The Weekender is listed among happy hour drink specials.
Pricing: Happy hour drink specials include Blood Orange Tequila Sour, Tap Out Rita, and The Weekender.
Wine
The wine menu covers Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Prosecco, sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Madria Sangria, with by-the-glass and bottle options across red, white, sparkling, and sangria. By-the-glass prices run $11 to $15, bottles include $39, $47, and $55, and Madria Sangria is $8. Happy hour includes all wine by the glass.
Menu strengths
- — By-the-glass and bottle options span red, white, sparkling, and sangria.
- — Happy hour drink specials include all wine by the glass.
- — Prosecco and sparkling wine are available by the glass or split.
Standout selections
- — Chardonnay, Kendall Jackson is a California Chardonnay at $11 by the glass.
- — Chardonnay, La Crema is a California Chardonnay at $15 by the glass.
- — Sauvignon Blanc, La Crema is a California Sauvignon Blanc at $13 by the glass.
- — Prosecco, La Marca is Italian Prosecco priced at $11 by the glass or split.
Pricing: By-the-glass prices range from $11 to $15; bottles include $39, $47, and $55; Madria Sangria is $8. Happy hour includes all wine by the glass.
Beer
150+ selections with extensive draught and bottle menus covering a wide range of beer styles.
Menu strengths
- — 150+ selections with extensive draught and bottle menus covering a wide range of beer styles.
- — Beer finder filters by style, origin, color, and ABV.
- — Beer education content covers glassware, styles, and glossary terms.
Standout selections
- — Guinness Draught is listed on the draught menu.
- — Ballast Point Sculpin IPA is an American IPA at 7% ABV, on the draught menu and featured on the location page.
- — Almanac Rocktoberfest is a Marzen at 5.00% ABV, featured on the location page and listed on the draught menu.
- — Humble Sea Double Socks & Sandals Foggy DIPA is a hazy IPA at 8% ABV, featured on the location page and listed on the draught menu.
Pricing: Happy hour drink specials include select pints.
Nonalcoholic
The bottle menu lists Guinness 0.0, Heineken 0.0, and Michelob Ultra among non-alcoholic options. The beer finder includes N/A, Soda, Kombucha, and Hard Soda style filters, so non-alcoholic choices are searchable alongside the rest of the beer list.
Menu strengths
- — Non-alcoholic beer options are listed on the bottle menu.
- — Beer finder includes N/A, Soda, Kombucha, and Hard Soda style filters.
Standout selections
- — Guinness 0.0 is a non-alcoholic stout listed on the bottle menu.
- — Heineken 0.0 is a non-alcoholic beer listed on the bottle menu.
- — Michelob Ultra is listed on the bottle menu; the ABV filter includes 0.0.
Spirits
Spirits are represented by a Liquor & Wine Offerings style filter in the beer finder and by two named items on the happy hour drink specials list: Fireball and Four Roses Straight. The spirits selection is narrow compared with the beer and wine programs.
Menu strengths
- — Beer finder includes a Liquor & Wine Offerings style filter.
- — Happy hour drink specials list includes Fireball.; Happy hour drink specials list includes Four Roses Straight.
Standout selections
- — Fireball is listed among happy hour drink specials.
- — Four Roses Straight is listed among happy hour drink specials.
Pricing: Fireball and Four Roses Straight are listed among happy hour drink specials.
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