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Mon-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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The atmosphere is nice if you can actually get a table. The food is good and so is the beer. They make this drink called the cyclist (lemonade mixed with beer) it is fabulous!! It can get pretty loud at times and the wait can be long.
It's a good place to go for a relaxed dinner with friends!
I wasn't as much a fan until I moved away after graduation. I think because it can be too expensive as a student. Now, we always try to eat here when we go back for visits and football games.
There can be waits on the weekends, but they have a lot of seating so we always end up not waiting as long as they say. I love to try their specials, they are always good, but my favs are the black bean quesadillas, sunflower chicken stir fry, and the butternut ravioli (seasonal). I had a black bean vege burger on my last visit and it was pretty good too. We also always get the hummus and my fav beer is the wheat state golden.
Mmmm, I'm getting hungry just thinking about this place!!
Overhyped. We went to Free State Brewing on a recommendation. We wish we listened to the other person's recommendation not to go here. Sure the beers are cheap. Real cheap. But they're only ok at best. I tried a sampler of the lemongrass beer, which was pretty good and one of the ales, which wasn't all that great. Best beer in the region (someone else pointed that out)? If that's so, I don't think I'll be trying any other regional beer.
As for food, it wasn't awful but it wasn't great either. I ordered the black bean quesadilla and the cheese ale soup. The cheese ale soup really rocked my boat. Cheese and beer - how could you go wrong? Unfortunately, the quesadilla didn't even close to match up in taste. It's one of their most popular dish, which leads me to believe people in Kansas have bland, dull taste buds. The boy ordered the smoked turkey sandwich. The turkey was really great but when I ate a piece of the turkey in sandwich form (on the bread), it just seemed like the bread was ill suited for the meat it was coupled with. It's a shame because it could have been so much better.
Definitely an extra star for the cool historical element behind this place. Did you know it's the oldest bar in Kansas? Other than that, I just can't see ourselves going back when we find ourselves in Lawrence again.
Everything that is cool about Lawrence is embodied by this restaurant.
The service is excellent, the food is awesome and creative without being pretentious, and the prices are very reasonable. Also the beer is awesome :)
If you are visiting Lawrence and can only go to one restaurant, this should be it.
It's just about that time. The perfect weather for cheddar ale soup (not that warm weather has ever stopped me from ordering it).
There's often a wait but if you're just coming for some Ad Astra or John Brown Ale, you can take a classy jug home with you.
I always like their veg-burger!
The sause is special.
I have always had a love/hate relationship with Freestate, ONLY because I grew up in Lawrence- then moved to Colorado *I go everytime I am home visiting. So I can proudly say I have eaten at this establishment for the last 15years, I have sat through many menu changes, beers, hangovers, birthdays, and of course Monday nights on the porch.
I think it's worth it, but you have to be prepared- there is always a wait but they are fast, the porch ROCKS on a nice summer night- but it will also be packed because it's that cool and the bar is really just for locals!
Wheat State Golden is something I crave in my sleep EVEN now that I live in microbrewery heaven. The Chedder Ale Soup is a MUST, the specials are always awesome and it's a great place to kick off your night on Mass Street. Cheap Beers, Good People and the one place that always makes me feel at home.
Oh man, just some pathetic, PATHETIC beer. The only thinkg keeping it from 1 star is the respectful staff and the overall design of the joint.
And Onion rings so huge and disgusting, it feels like eating durian fruit marinated in octopus poop.
I was in town for a conference and Free State was recommended by several people attending.
We had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated (on a Tuesday evening), but tried some of the beer (the Thunderhead Pale) while we waited. Good beer. The bar was very crowded, so we had to create our own seats out of bar stools and chairs in a corner.
I had the Turkey Bacon Facaccia - yum. I especially liked the fries (I have quite the potato addiction) - they were very tasty and had a great texture. I also ordered a Copperhead Pale Ale, which I didn't like as much as the Thunderhead (it was "hoppier"). Ah well...
We ended up also going there two days later, on our last evening in town. We had the artichoke dip/spread as an appetizer - it was AMAZING! The dip/spread was very creamy and was served with wedges of bread, which was unlike any artichoke appetizer I've had in the past. The dip was addicting, and several of us spooned it out to use on fries or with rice when the bread was gone.
I had the Portobello sandwich, which I decided to get after reading several reviews on here raving about it. Unfortunately I DIDN'T much like it; the portobello itself was breaded and had some red sauce on it (a tomato-based sauce I think). The mushroom was large and thick, but the way it was prepared by frying with the breadcrumbs didn't really lend itself to complimenting the mushroom's flavor - it didn't taste very meaty or juicy. I didn't find it to be very flavorful, either, and ended up constantly dipping into the mustard (which itself was good - a spicy brown mustard). I'd give the portobello sandwich a 2 itself. A peer of mine got the burger, which she said really seemed like it was a frozen patty. I was told (by my peers) that the enchillada plate and the seasonal pasta was tasty. So, the second time around a third of us were disappointed by our entrees.
Overall, the food seemed to be good, and the service was typically attentive. I'll come back if I ever end up in Lawrence. :)
I was shocked to see that you could get a 10 oz. beer of your choosing for only $2.25! With prices like that it was easy to work my way down the beer menu tasting any and every selection. If your more of a lightweight they even offer a 3 oz. pour, and I think the 14 oz. was like $3.75.
Come here for the beer and don't expect the food to be fantastic, but just traditional pub style grub. There is one menu item that nobody is mentioning here- Cheddar Ale Soup. This soup accompanied by their fresh baked bread is a meal in itself and so good that we've been asked to bring some back to a friend and former KU student.
Great place to eat and they have freshly made beer.
This place was part of American history, and was a free state when the civil war was fought.
They have music here on the weekends. You usually have to wait to get a table on weekends.
You see lots of University of Kansas students so the Jay Hawks are big here. Enjoy this place you are in the Wizard of Oz and check out the historical town.
Freestate can be awesome or totally annoying.
A lot of people like to go on Monday evenings because beer is $1.75 a pint. Great deal...but no room to move. It's so packed! But don't get me wrong, it can be a lot of fun if you can handle it. I wish their front porch were bigger.
Freestate has some of the best staff in town. Fast, aware, and super friendly. They know their shit and should be tipped accordingly.
The food at Freestate can be great, but bland at times. This is the main reason I give it three stars. I realize they are trying to please all walks of life, but come on! There could be a little spice!
The beer at Freestate is the best i've ever had. You can get growlers and kegs to go...though you need to reserve your kegs about a week in advance.
Often regarded as a must see, free state is the place to be to enjoy great local beer and enjoy great food. The use of local food makes this place even better. I have gone too many times and like an popular place, you can depend on having a good time. My favorite is great beer and a basket of fries to share for around $5! The only complaint I have is that they don't keep their reservations very well, it look a group of 8 over an hour and a half to seat. Look, I understand they can get really busy, but they still need to try harder. Even when its busy, still good food and service. I highly recommend. Plus next to good coffee and Libery Hall.
Obviously, one of the highest rated restaurants in Lawrence doesn't need any additional boosting from little old me, right? But because I love this place, I'll add my $0.02 and you can do with it what you may. And if you read this review fifty times, you'll have a $1...then everybody wins!
Free State is definitely a Lawrence staple (not your average Olive Garden...what? I don't hate), and although I didn't go as often as I would have liked, I always had a good time when I did. This, coming from a non-beer drinker. I know! Bringing out of town guests here is always a sure winner, and I love waiting outside on the patio if it's not too crowded, trying to figure out if the bird on top of the building across the street is real. It isn't. Ah, but I digress
There's usually a wait, but it's never too long, and the food and ambiance are worth waiting a little while. My personal faves: The queso dip, the garden burger (which has been different for the past year or so, so it's not one of my favorites anymore), the gumbo(!) and the hummus. The fruit and cheese plate is always a good, light meal too.
The atmosphere is noisy, and they often have live music, which can make hearing others at the table difficult, but not impossible. The wait staff is great (several of the male servers are fairly attractive..hehe) and the food is inexpensive.
Overall, a great Lawrence hot spot that reeks of tradition and drips of college town goodness. (Reeking and dripping are good things on occasion. Like right now.)
-Great mix of finely crafted microbrews.
-Food is surprisingly good...basically high end bar fare, but reasonably priced.
-Typically noisy, crowded, but the service is typically good to outstanding.
-You can sit and stand on a small front porch, have a beer while you wait for your table. Bring sunglasses for the afternoon sun.
-Small bar area (7-8 bar stools and place to stand).
-Summertime drink for non-beer drinkers, the overly fit, etc:
Cyclist: half wheat beer, half lemonade.
Free State is totally the favorite place of people that have lived in Colorado or plan to live there after their "stint" in Lawrence. The place feels totally lifted from Fort Collins or Boulder-- more a sense of yuppiedom which isn't really what Lawrence or KS is about whatsoever. I guess we can just pretend...
Food is definition of hit or miss. Usually unremarkable bar food with a pseudo-gourmet twist. Again-- hit or miss. No idea where people get the affinity for this place other than a desire to create some sort of postured, authentic Lawrence spot.
Beer is good. Unfortunately, there isn't even a bar in this complex more than a couple stools. It's worth going to just because the locals think it's better than it is and there aren't many decent restaurants (bar food or not) within many miles of Lawrence.
This is my favorite place to eat/drink in Lawrence!
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, my parents and I were walking around town and I suggested we go and get a beer. We sat on the front porch in 60+ degree weather and drank several beers.
I focused on the Ad Astra, it is and has always been my favorite Free State brew. My Mum drank the Wheat State Golden, and my Dad the Copperhead - we were all happy.
This is a restaurant/bar for everyone. The crowd on the deck alone was a good cross section of the Lawrence population. This time we didn't eat but I will be sure to come back next time so I can add to the review.
For any out-of-town people that may not know - Monday night = 1/2 price beer! Also, you can always buy jugs or kegs to take home with you.
I probably can't add much to what's already been said, except maybe that Free State is a great place to take someone from out of town. It's an honest-to-goodness local brewery that's also in a very cool location and happens to have great seasonal beers. Even someone from the big city can appreciate finding all that in little Lawrence!
Free State's food stays consistently good too. That's if you can wait long enough to eat. More often than not, I wait at the bar for awhile before being seated. The ambiance is great; just don't go when you're already close to gnawing your arm off. After all, you don't want to fill up on that before your real meal!
I know a lot of people are going to be grumpy at me for giving Freestate only 3 stars. But I just didn't enjoy the food as much as I had thought I would. Of course, I don't like beer (I know!) and maybe their slogan is right: Because without beer, things don't seem to go as well...
I used to live in Lawrence and somehow never made it to Freestate. It's not the norm, I know. But when you're young and avoiding someone, you will refuse to go to certain places you're sure to see that someone.
I finally went with my brother and his bambino. We went mid-afternoon so there was no wait for seating. We sat upstairs, right by the railing so we could look out the window at all the characters on Mass.
I ordered the Hot Artichoke Dip ($6.75-A hot creamy blend of artichoke hearts and seasonings, served with toasted Parmesan beer bread.), a cup of the Cheddar Ale Soup ($2.75-A flavorful blend of Alma white Cheddar cheese, Ad Astra Ale, fresh cream and seasonings.) and the Black Bean Quesadilla ($7.75-We stuff two flour tortillas with black beans, Alma Cheddar, pepper Jack and Feta cheese, and then top it all off with sour cream. Spanish rice and salsa finish it out.). A strange combination, I know. But what sounds good, sounds good, right?
Unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy the food. On the good side, the portions were very large and the soup was good and very rich.. The food didn't taste bad, but after hearing all the hype from my friends all these years, I was disappointed. The dip was bland and the quesadillas tasted dry somehow.
The menu was creative and it was really difficult deciding what I wanted to order. I'd definitely like to go back to try something else. Maybe I just went on an off day . . .
My wife and I went out here for a lunch trip. It was well worth the drive. We both had the Wheat Beer they feature and loved it. We ordered the Hot Artichoke dip and that was a tasty way to start our meal. For our lunch I ordered the Portabella Sandwich and my wife ordered the Roasted Pepper Basil sandwich both served on equally awesome rolls and the flavors just explode in your mouth. The fries were also special crinkle cut, lightly seasoned fries. YUM.
We will definetly be back.
The food is either really good or not - very hit or miss. Often not worth the wait.
This place is everything a brewery should be. Vital, great food, very good quality beer.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Lawrence. At the end of Mass St, it combines great atmosphere, great beer and great food.
I always order the black bean quesadillas. It is the perfect vegetarian meal with a side of rice that is delicious. THe fish and chips is greasy but good.
Free State is always packed and a lot of times you will wait 5-10 minutes, but never too long. The house brewed beers are the best. I love the raspberry wheat. They also have yummy seasonal selections. On a sunny day, you will find an assortment of people on the patio out front, conversing, sipping beer etc. It culminates the downtown charm of Lawrence and is a historic dining, drinking locale.
The service is always impeccable. In a city chalk full of college students, serving at Free State is a pretty good gig. Professionalism is always employed and despite the fact that they are always incredibly swamped, service in the 50 times I have dined here, has never been sub-par!
The best spinach artichoke dip I have ever had in my life. I stand by that statement and am willing to argue my point! This place has phenomenal food and is always a good time.
Clearly, their beers are noteworthy as well and because Lawrence is so eco-friendly, a lot of the beers are brewed at New Belgium in not too far away Ft. Collins, Co...
This place has something for everyone- lunch or dinner. Hung over or not.
Do not keep walking past this place! It's amazing!
What fun!!!
I went here with a huge group of people and even though we didn't have a reservation, we got seated within a half hour. I learned [after the fact] that they do call-ahead seating - very helpful!!!
The beer is great, but service was shaky (which may have been because of the super large group). The food was satisfying, but a little on the bland side. Live music in the back room helped the experience as well.
I'd definitely go back here again!
Good beer selection. Fresh and tasty. I only came here to imbibe so I can't comment on the food. I am subtracting a star due to there being no real bar area and the noise level is out of control due to the layout of the building. It is definitely still a place to check out if you appreciate craft beers.
Um, yeah. I have not lived in Lawrence for 3 years and still crave the cheddar ale soup. I even tried to recreate it at home one time. Not a success. So, basically if you live anywhere near Lawrence just go and get a bowl of cheddar ale. For those of us that can't...
Because without beer, things don't seem to go as well... DAMN STRAIGHT!
Freestate has it all right, the beer, the food, the presentation, the locale, the service, they've got the whole package. Well... except that they are in Kansas and I'm in Florida.. but for 4.5 glorious years I could stop in whenever and get whatever.
Best beer? John Brown Ale. Best App? Spinach and artichoke dip. Yeah yeah yeah, you've had it before, but not as good as this.
Best dinner? Whatever you order!
Whenever I go back to Lawrence, this is one of those places that I have to eat at. The atmospere is good and the beer is awesome.
Yes some of the food is hit or miss, but when you find a hit - you are going to be an addict for life. The Black Bean Quesadilla is my personal favorite. Another popular dish is the Chicken Pesto Pasta.
This places gets realy crowded on the weekends, so I would recommend doing a call ahead.
This was always a fun place and I remember the beer cheese soup was amazing.
I miss going to get those jugs of beer from there to drink at home. Wonder if they still do that?
The Wheat State Golden is my favorite beer of all time. The portobella sandwich is my favorite sandwich of all time. The avocado chimichurri is my favorite wrap (?) of all time. The onion rings (A BASKET AS BIG AS YOUR DAD'S HEAD) are my favorite appetizer of all time.
It's no surprise to everyone I know that I dearly miss college and living in Lawrence, and REALLY miss Free State. Incredible (albeit fuzzy) memories of Monday night beer specials out on the patio. I also have a schoolgirl crush on one of the servers so hey--what's not to like?
If you are new to Lawrence or just visiting you should definitely experience Free State Monday. For $1.75 Free State offers the best beer in the region and pretty decent food to boot. Even at its busiest the staff are good about getting around to you and making sure you are always drinking.
Ahhh Free State. I worked here for a while and it was so much fun.
Love the beers, the food and the vibe. Yes it's noisy, busy and will be a wait if you come at meal times but things move fast and it's worth the wait.
I love the black bean quesadillas with avocado added as well as the butternut squash ravioli in the winter time. The hot artichoke dip is amazing.
Monday nights are cheap beer nights and are very crowded. I will probably always hit this place up when I come back to visit.
Freestate is one of my favorite places to grab a bit to eat. As a vegetarian, I was leery of heading to a brewery when I first moved to Lawrence. I figured I would be hard pressed to find anything more than a salad and maybe a soup or two that I could eat. Turns out, Freestate has one of the best vegetarian menus in town. Their portabella parmesan sandwich is excellent. Their bean burger is really good, but I preferred the old vege-burger that they had last fall. Throw into the mix some good salads, an unbelievable cheddar ale soup, some great appetizers, and mix it all up with some tasty brew and you've got a great mix.
One note, with the exception of their standard beer, you may not always be able to find what you're after. The Ad Astra and Wheat are almost always on tap, but the John Brown and Bowersock are my two favorites but appear to only be part of the winter/early-spring selection.
Great beer! The food is hit or miss. Sometimes really good, sometimes a little less than mediocre. Weekends and Monday nights are busy, especially during the school year. Growlers are cheap and they always have good seasonal brew.
UPDATE: The food has been consistently better. HIT THIS PLACE UP.
Free State Brewery and my Belly are like Simon & Garfunkel.... They're both fine when they're by themselves, but when they're together it's magic. Free State to me is a brewery that happens to have a restaurant attached to it... The beer should always come first... and it does.
All of the food is reasonably priced and goes well with beer. My favourite dishes are the Fish & Chips and the Artichoke Tortellini. My favorite beers are the John Brown Ale, Copperhead, and the Ad Astra Ale... In that order.
Once inside you will know why everyone loves Free State, why the partner in crime and myself end up there at least 2 times per week, and why the crowd consists heavily of Lawrence natives... when in Rome...
I got a slogan for Free State: "Don't be a dumbo; get the gumbo!" Seriously. 7 of us went here for dinner and 5 of us got the gumbo. It was so good. I'd go back to Lawrence just for another one! The beers are pretty good. I liked the nut brown better than the stout, but that's personal choice. The flourless cocoa peanut butter cake is probably a better choice than the pawpaw cheesecake. We went for the pawpaw since we'd never been to KS before, but ended up being disappointed that the cheesecake just tasted like butterscotch. This place also has a number of gluten-free selections, which is a good thing to keep in mind.
Free State is a great Lawrence tradition. They offer an excellent variety of microbrews. Ad Astra is my favorite. Buy yourself a jug of beer to go. The food is good and quite cheap. The service is nearly always fast and friendly.
Well, considering I went to school in Lawrence and was at Free State about 4 times/week -- it was always and still remains my FAVORITE place there!!
Their beer is sooooooooooooooooooooooo tasty and especially on Monday's when you can get really drunk for $5.00. The food is very tasty too. Try the home made veggie burger with home made ranch dressing - it's killerrrrrrr goooood! I ate that at least once a week, and if it wasn't that I'd order the black bean quesadilla which is really great too.
They have seasonal beers which offers a good change/selection but you won't be bored with any of the brew-it's all delicious!
I have so many fun memories of this place, but every time my friends and I reminisce, Free State comes up first. always.
They have cool t-shirts for sale too. I think everyone I know has one.
GO HERE NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Planning to do something illegal? This is the place to plan it. It's so loud the NSA, CIA, FBI, and KGB's powers combined couldn't hear what you have to say. If you want someone to wear a Puffy shirt on the Today show (as in Seinfeld--The Puffy Shirt) ...ask them at this place because your dining part will keep nodding their head in agreement ot anything you say . Break up with your girlfriend/ boyfriend / parents/ cocker spaniel. No worries about causing a scene because it's too loud. I'm not sure I made myself clear here, but to leave no doubt in your mind. The place is LOUD.
That aside, the food is really outstanding. I like the way Chuck has tried to source more of his ingredients local. This is more bistro style food than your typical bar and grill stuff. The place is reasonably vegetarian friendly, but not vegan friendly. Last time it was the salad and about it!
Top items to get: Onion Rings in beer batter, cheese soup, and the black bean quesadilla. Specials are usually top notch, but order early as they run out often .
Service is that of a college town, intermittent and sporadic. Some days awesome, some days I feel Harry Potter's invisibility cloak because nobody could be that could at ignoring me.
Beer there is obviously awesome. Incredible. Stupendous. As their shirts say "because without beer, things did not seem to go as well". Best beer there IMHO: lemongrass rye. Drink mass quantities (but don't drive of course!)
To take liberty with a Homer Simpson Quote: "No TV and No beer Make Homer go something something". Free state--don't mind if I do!
Place can get very busy at time and on weekends expect a 45 minute to an hour wait. Ironic, since the owner thought the smoking ban would kill business. Hmm...looks darn crowded to me!
Pros: Great beer, excellent food, much of it local
Cons: LOUD. Sporadic service
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