- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Triumph Brewing Co
Categories: Food Breweries Restaurants American (New) Breweries, American (New) [Edit]
138 Nassau StPrinceton, NJ 08542
(609) 924-7855
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
179 reviews for Triumph Brewing Co
Review Highlights
"I like their honey blonde and winter wonderland."
(in 8 reviews)
"The Amber Ale on tap is probably my favorite beer here."
(in 9 reviews)
"the coffee and cream stout went down very well."
(in 3 reviews)
Loading...
179 reviews in English
-
Review from Anthony N.
Bordentown, NJ
2/7/2012 1 photo
This is one of my favorite places to eat at in Princeton. The place is hip and trendy and the crowd here are mainly people in their 20s and 30s. This place has a loud atmosphere and definitely a place to go if you want drinks. The ambience and decor is great but the service is ok.
The food is pricy but it's good. The item I strongly recommend is the "epic burger". Its a delicious burger with everything good on it (eggs, pork belly, and etc.). The fries and bread for the burger were good too.
Overall, great atmosphere and food and okay service if you are in the mood for a loud fun time! -
Review from Elina N.
Kingston, NJ
1/25/2012
I have stopped coming to Triumph on the weekends, despite the fact that it has good, specialty beer and a nice atmosphere! The food is also decent, especially the s'mores. I have almost no complaints about the actual food/venue/beer portion. For this - I would give 4 stars. If you'd like to check this place out, I'd recommend a weeknight.
The low rating is ONLY due to the terrible service and the pretentiousness of the staff. The experience is for the most part unwelcoming and negative (with some exceptions). Let me share a few examples
-This is the ONLY place in town which charges a cover on the weekends, supposedly for "live music." I would much rather pay twice that cover NOT to have to listen to the awful bands which sound like garage band mixed with karaoke. In my opinion, they ruin the atmosphere and make it hard to talk.
-Staff is deliberately and frequently rude, ignoring customers, having an air of pretention, being the only place in town to have ridiculous rules and to charge for things others do not charge for. The impression I get is "we are better than everyone because we are Triumph and we're going to treat our customers like cr*ap because we can afford to". I have been denied table service once when I assured them I was, in fact, having dinner but my friend was not, and they didn't believe me! I am the owner of a small non-profit. We have had events which regularly bring in 100 members to bars and restaurants around town, which these businesses love to have (100 people paying for drinks?) but Triumph is the only place which has mandated a fee just for having a group of people come in (not even to rent out the room). for this reason we have refused to have an event there
-One time it was freezing cold in the winter. I came to Triumph and was asked for a $5 cover, but did not have any cash on me. I asked if I could go inside in plain sight of the bouncers and get cash to give to the bouncer but was denied. I was directed to an ATM inside their building which was broken. When I alerted them of this, they turned me away and told me to go 3 blocks down the street in the freezing cold to another ATM to get $5 so I could go into their restaurant. I just went to Winberies and never came back. Another time, I told them I was going to see if my friends were inside and not staying and they confiscated my ID as "collateral." I think this is a bit unnecessary.
-Thus it is pretty hit or miss. It wouldn't be fair to say that none of my experineces have been positive and sometimes I still go to Triumph and enjoy myself (if I'm lucky and get a good waiter). However, they should really cut out the ridiculous rules & pretention and train their staff better on customer service.
To sum, I give it a 4 star rating for everything except service which gets a 1 -
Review from rupa d.
West Long Branch, NJ
1/19/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I find myself here quite frequently when I'm in Princeton and I've had a perfectly nice experience each time. I wouldn't say their beers are the best that I've had but their sampler is a great deal and I've found at least one or two that I really enjoyed each time I've ordered it. As some other people mentioned, their Winter Wonder is a particularly lovely seasonal brew with the perfect amount of spice.
As for food - I usually just stick to appetizers, but all of the ones I've tried were quite good, especially the flatbread, white bean dip, and lamb croquettes.
It's also just an incredibly unique and beautiful space. The bright, glassed off brewhouse with its huge stainless steel containers is a striking contrast to all the warm wood of the bar & seating. I feel at least 15% sexier whenever I'm there. -
Review from Emily P.
Los Angeles, CA
1/17/2012 Seated via OpenTable 2 Check-ins Here
I'd love to say that Triumph is one of my favorite spots in Princeton, because I'm such a huge fan of micro breweries. And - they get three BIG stars for their beer! Especially the lovely beer sampler, of course.
I keep hoping that the food will match the quality of the beer, but EVERY time I go, I am quite disappointed. Once, they even served bad burrata (and by bad I mean sour/rotten) to my party. Disgusting. The service is lacking, and the ambiance is just...alright. Oh well. Perhaps I'll just come back for the beer from now on! -
Review from Radhika B.
Dayton, NJ
Updated - 1/5/2012
So maybe we weren't ordering the right food? I'm not really sure but I had a really good experience here on New Years Eve! I'm told (and see from reviews) that the one in New Hope is better (guess I gotta try it). So my boyfriend and I went here around 9:30pm and expected hordes of people. We found the last two seats and the bar downstairs.
The Drinks:
- Started off with their Winter Wonder and Bohemian Pilsner ales (personally I liked the Winter Wonder better...it had some great spices. Review for the Bohemian Pilsner is in my previous review)
The Food:
- Tuna Tacos - really really good! Oh my god! I am NOT a nacho/taco fan but this was great! The tuna was in this creamy queso sauce with fresh pico de gallo.
- Grass Fed Beef Triumph Burger - very tasty and cooked JUST the way I like it! I was in heaven. The meat was perfectly medium rare and the fries were great too
- Pulled pork burger - I didn't try this myself but my boyfriend said it was very good
They also did this midnight champagne toast which was cute. All in all, the service was fantastic given the incredibly busy night they had and they were very friendly.
Bottomline: I guess you just have to go through the menu till you find something you really like!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/21/2011
So, I actually liked this place better the first time I went here and with every subsequent visit,… Read more »
-
-
Review from Sammy G.
12/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I have been to the one in New Hope and really enjoyed the setting. It is very nicely decorated and a fun feel to it. I went here this past Saturday for a holiday party in a private room and yesterday just for dinner. I had a much better time at the party because they have a tortellini pasta that is to die for! but they only service it at the parties and not on the real menu.. boo. Service was great, the girls that catered the party were really nice.
Yesterday, I ordered the goat cheese raviolis, pretty good, not nearly as good as the other stuff I had but I enjoyed it. I like kale, not so much the huge chunks of tomato on it but I ate most of them! Very good. The Tuscan pizza appetizer is delicious, minus olives (most people like them). Cookie pie dessert is delightful! I hear the beer is great too and it is a lot of fun if you're there with a ton of friends.
Beware when trying to find it from the road, it's only a door because you walk down a hallway to get to the actual restaurant. It is next to a Panera bread. Street parking or find a small parking lot on a side street! Sometimes they take reservations, I don't think they do around the holidays. The bathrooms are terrible though, always messy and tissue everywhere, that is my one dislike about this place. -
Review from Tara L.
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I hate giving reviews when I haven't actually eaten there so let me preface this by saying the one star is for SERVICE ONLY.
Didn't even stay after the 4 hostesses gossiping at the hostess stand completely ignored us for over 5 minutes even though we stood right in front of them. Several people had recommended it to us but the thought of good beer was not enough to overcome the crap service right when we walked in. -
Review from Andrew C.
Trenton, NJ
12/26/2011
Triumph is a great place for a brew and has filled its own niche in the Princeton area as a microbrew. They usually have 6 or 7 beers available at a time, with a few staples in the menu. The Honey Blonde is flavored water, while the amber ale is a solid choice, but will not wow you. My go-to is the Bengal Gold IPA. Good hoppy flavor. Currently they have the Winter Wonder in a snifter. It's a great seasonal brew, rich and warm. The stouts and porters are usually delicious choice to finish off the night. In the spring they have a maibock that's tasty.
Beyond the beer, the service is spotty. I like how they have two bars, one on 'ground level' and a longer one downstairs. The food comes in small portions with big prices, landing on your tongue with mediocrity. One last gripe is that sometimes on Saturdays they have a craptastic cover band (reinforcing that feeling Princeton is the whitest place on earth, other than maybe Iceland) and charge a $5 cover, which you can avoid by showing up a little earlier. All that said, going for a few beers makes it all worthwhile. -
Review from Jaime H.
Bethesda, MD
1/22/2012
Not sure why this is listed as not being good for kids. We took our three little ones for lunch and were surprised/ delighted to find high chairs and a suitable kids menu. The grown-up grilled cheese (with Brie, figs, and tomato) was delicious!! We were in from out of town but would definitely go back some day.
-
Review from Allyson D.
Essex, NJ
12/1/2011
I came here with four other people and really enjoyed myself. They had a great vibe going on - you totally don't expect a huge place at the end of that long hallway. The atmosphere is really cool, especially if you sit upstairs. They have a way-back room with better lighting and heating lamps and I was glad we sat there!
Anyway we had the white bean dip and grilled brie - everyone loved these. They didn't give us enough pieces of bread so we asked for more and the server was nice enough to do so. We all also got drinks (IPA, Pilsner, and Honey) - I agree they felt watery but some were stronger than others. Either way, I don't agree that the price was a lot so it didn't hurt to try. I did think some of their other drinks choices - mixed or wine, were pricey so I didn't even touch that.
Anyway, mixed comment time: I was overjoyed that they had a good vegetarian option, a "Seitan Chicken Club" - I was pretty interested to try this. My friend also got it because he wanted to try seitan. Well, the damn thing didn't even have seitan on it. It was like a cold fake-soy-chicken salad with tempeh as bacon, and avocado on the bottom. It was good, especially on the bun, but there was no seitan to be found! So, they lose a point for having no idea what the hell they are advertising.
Anyway my friends got burgers, thought they were ok. They have this ballin' mayo/aoili dipping sauce and fries. I liked those the best. Just try it out with some friends and have fun doing so! -
Review from Jennifer H.
Princeton, NJ
1/20/2012
The food at Princeton Triumph is so up and down that I am reluctant to write a review. One month the food is inedible and the next they've changed the menu and are putting their heart and soul and prime ingredients into their dishes. Last I went, I enjoyed the calamari and the flatbreads. The entrees aren't too great. The place, indeed, smells like a brewery -- not in a good way, like it could use some fresh air to get rid of the rotting, yeasty funk that hits you like a wall when you walk in. And the beer = a solid three out of five stars. No more, no less.
-
Review from Maggie C.
Princeton, NJ
1/19/2012
Okay, I have come multiple times and each time i have received different levels of service and different levels of quality. The first time I came I was blown away! Everything was delicious, the beer was amazing and the service was great. The next time I came the service sucked, the food was not good and the waitress did not even have drink ideas for us. Now the space is beautiful and depending on the day it is worth the trip. I wish the food and service would match the atmosphere, that would be nice but I suppose it is too much to ask for.
-
Review from Bill L.
North Brunswick Township, NJ
11/30/2011
I've only ever had appetizers here, so I can't speak to their entrees being "so-so" or "just OK". The food I have had, however, has always been really well done. Fried pickles? Yes, please. We also recently had our 10-year reunion here and among the appetizers enjoyed Tuscan pizza (bland, nothing to write home about), India Pale Ale short ribs (everyone raved about them, and for good reason), and pork belly crostini (so, so good).
Some of their beers are better than others, but if you know what you like, you'll probably find something that you enjoy. I recently had their gose, a German-style wheat beer, which was delicious and interesting. This certainly isn't the place if you're looking to get shit-faced while only spending $20, but if you want to have a beer or two and share some appetizers (which is what we usually do), Triumph is a good choice. -
Review from Anja M.
10/19/2011
Their beer is OK and overpriced. Their drinks are disgusting and overpriced. Their food is decent...and you guessed it...overpriced. We spent a ridiculous amount of money and we don't even know what it went to...none of us were even tipsy.
Some highlights-
I actually enjoy their calamari, although the quality and portion size has greatly deteriorated.
Tuscan pizza is yummy.
Their soups are good.
Chicken lollipops...interesting and tasty.
Some of their beer, like the pumpkin ale, is actually good.
I really like the ambiance.
If you go here, get the beer sampler and an appetizer of choice then call it a night. There's not much else I would recommend, unless you're loaded and don't mind spending money on nothing special...because that's what most of their food/drinks are.
Oh and beware of the live music. It will usually give you a raging headache. (Every now and then it's actually bearable). Also, it gets pretty cramped and loud in there, especially when a game is on but I don't know why people get so worked up about the noise...it's a friggin bar. I once saw a middle-aged couple complaining about the laughter at a nearby table...so they were moved...five minutes later blaring music starts playing 2 inches away from where they're sitting. Hilarious. Once again...it's not a restaurant. If you want calm and quiet what would make you think of coming to a bar? People are so weird...
The last two experiences here were 2 star, before that I would give this place 3 or 4, and even recommend it. What is going on? -
Review from Anne K.
10/2/2011
Came here for a late dinner on a Thursday night and it was pretty packed. Definitely seems like a hot spot for Thirsty Thursdays.
I'm sure the drinks are great, but the food was so-so. We had the tuna ceviche, calamari, and fish and chips. The tuna ceviche wasn't marinated very well - I could barely taste any citrus! Certainly not enough for it to be considered a ceviche. The calamari was decent, but a little salty. The "chips" in the fish and chips were good - but it's sad when fries are the best part of your meal.
Will consider returning for the live music and drinks.Listed in: Princeton
-
Review from Brett M.
Princeton, NJ
10/6/2011
You know, I really want to like this place. I really, really do... however, if you are going to put 'brewing' in your company name, you best have good beer. Triumph beer selection is best described as hit or miss, and honestly, I've missed more than hit. I find a lot of their brews to have a watery homebrew quality which really disappoints. There are some good ones and the brew miester does a good job of keeping a fresh rotation. And I love the fact they always have a decent cast-conditioned ale. I just wish I didn't feel like I was spinning the roulette wheel with every order!
The food has always been really good here. Fresh and innovative. -
Review from Gigi A.
New Brunswick, NJ
11/26/2011
If u happen to be in Princeton and don't know where to go for home brewed beers and decent food---Triumph can't fail you. The beers are good, the food is everything from modern to classic American and the service is good. The atmosphere is the best, with tiered seating and new art on display.
-
Review from Ray C.
Princeton, NJ
9/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'll give this place props for having pretty good food. I got the epic burger ($13.95?ish) which was very decent for a burger. It had a fried egg in it which I was wary about at first, but after tasting it, I wonder why other restaurants don't offer this with their other gourmet burgers! Four stars for food
The service bumps their rating down a star. It was very difficult to try to flag down the waiter, which isn't convenient when you're on a tight schedule.
Environment is nice, food is good, service sucks. Three stars for mediocre -
Review from Michael W.
Stanford, CA
1/22/2012
Good brews, good steak
-
Review from Jessabelle L.
Lakewood, NJ
12/20/2011
My friends beer tasted pretty good but my 12 dollar martinis tasted like sour mix and had chunks of ice in them both. If you are going to charge 12 dollars for a martini, don't leave chunks in it thanks.
-
Review from Ron M.
Princeton, NJ
1/15/2012
3 to 4 stars for the beer, depending on what they're brewing, 2 to 3 stars for the food, 0 stars for the service. If you don't mind the terrible table service, it's a pretty good spot.
-
Review from Stephen C.
Redondo Beach, CA
7/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not the best brew pub. The food was OK -- fish and chips were greasy. My experience here wasn't the best, mostly because we were seated in a small room next to a large group of 20. These people seemed to be reliving their Greek days at Rutgers, loudly laughing and swearing as if they were the only people in the place.
Don't get me wrong though, my beef with Triumph isn't because of the big group; it's with the restaurant management. They shouldn't have seated us there (or ther two families with little kids). I get that they're trying to fill the house, but they should be conscientious enough to figure out who wouldn't wanted to be seated there. -
Review from Danielle H.
Milford, NJ
7/6/2011
My husband and I have been to the New hope location [which we like a bit better].
The menu was great here.. I had the flat bread in the appz and the calamari.. highly recommend both of them!
My husband got the lamb sandwich and some soup of the day, which he said was okay.. small portions on the lamb, mostly bread. But he loved my food!! ha
Our waitress stunk. She was incredibly slow and unknowledgeable about the menu.
The atmosphere is always great, beers are freaking awesome.
price is right for what you get! give it a try and make sure to get the flat bread!! -
Review from Annette M.
New York, NY
10/27/2011
I used to work in Princeton and I quickly became acquainted with Triumph. The atmosphere is cool, the beers are solid, and the food is standard, but very tasty, pub food. Definitely worth a try.
-
Review from Zachary G.
Princeton, NJ
9/10/2011
Are you going here for food or beer? This is a crucial question.
It's a good place for good beer, although not cheap. Taste the beers first, since not all of it is great, although much of it is very good. I've found the Dortmunder to be particularly worthwhile.
The food is a little dicier. The calamari is standard, by which I mean not great, and the mac and cheese is ok but mostly just excessively rich.
Nonetheless, if you actually live in Princeton, it elbows in on Teresa's territory as a place that is a) in downtown and b) has a broad menu with c) reasonable quality food and d) prices that are not through the roof. So it's an ok place for families and birthdays and so on. But at the same time, there's no real reason to go here just for the food. There are worse places in Princeton, though. -
Review from Niyant S.
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've eaten here a few times now, both for lunch and dinner. Most recently, my family and I came here for lunch for Father's Day, and the experience was as enjoyable as usual.
I had the lamb sausage sandwich, which was very well spiced and had some feta cheese, lettuce, and a really good sauce in it. Along with the sandwich came a heap of fries and I had the Honey Blonde (one their several great microbrews) to go along with it. While the service was a bit slow, the meal was great, not just mine but everyone's.
While there are two Triumph's, one in Princeton and one in Philadelphia, I prefer the one in Princeton much more. I definitely recommend coming here for some great beer and great food, you won't regret it! -
Review from Adriana R.
New Brunswick, NJ
7/21/2011
More like a 3.5 star! Pretty good! I've been here for drinks before and have always enjoyed what I got, last night I went for food for the first time and enjoyed it as well.
Appetizer: Fried Pickles.... my first time, and I LOVED them.
Entree: Crab salad, it was tasty and fresh and light. I enjoyed it.
My bf got the Triumph Burger and really liked it, I had a couple bites and thought it was good, and we both especially liked that when you asked for it medium-rare it was actually made that way and not overcooked.
Service was good, friendly and quick. My only complaint for the night would be that it was a little loud for a date, but it was a great atmosphere to go with a group of friends. -
Review from Jeff D.
10/2/2011
Finally got a chance to come here and had a fun night! The place was packed when we first got here but, we grabbed a couple beers at the bar and then swooped in on a table before anyone else could get to it. Between the four of us, I tried just about every beer they had on their board. The ones that really stood out for me were the Chocolate Stoudt (mmmm), Pumpkin Ale, and the IPA (can't remember what it was called but it was the only IPA on the board. Also I'm not a big IPA guy, but this was good). By the time we were done, my palate was satisfied and I was feeling goooood. Mission accomplished.
-
Review from Jessica S.
Princeton, NJ
5/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is where I wish that you could give a variety of ratings for service, food, etc.
In general I think that the beer (obviously) and the food are quite good here, and are decent for the price (esp the sandwiches/burgers). We always get the calamari, which we think is the best in town.
However, the service is curt bordering on snobby, especially the host/hostess at the front of the restaurant. It always feels like, "we're too important to help you right now, you figure out your own situation, because obviously we have better things to do, like standing here and discouraging potential guests." Unless you have a reservation here or come in the lunch/afternoon time, it's over-crowded and exceptionally noisy. Bars are supposed to be chill and relaxing, but I always feel harried and stressed out. I hate having to raise my voice to be heard across the table.
I also don't like the cover charge that is mandatory when they have a band. Usually the band is mediocre, and good god, who needs even MORE noise in this place??
I've been to the Triumph in New Hope which was much, much nicer. -
Review from Greg W.
4/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a very good microbrewery that also has solid food.
But make no mistake, beer first, food second here.
When I lived in the area I would frequent Triumph. Some of the season beers are among the best I've ever had (coffee & cream stout = heaven in beer form) And yes, some of the other beers fall flat or may not be in a style that you like - but chances are you're going to find a beer that you really enjoy.
Now for the food - it is above average for microbrewery/bar food. Had the mussels this last week, which were actually very good. That said, I wouldn't be ordering the steak and expect Sparks.
Give it a try if you're a beer fan or have a beer fan in the group (they have a full bar for non-beer drinkers) -
Review from Katelyn H.
Princeton, NJ
3/10/2011
For Princeton and the price range, Triumph is one of the best local offerings. Do I sound like I'm hedging? I am. In another place, with their prices, I doubt they'd last. Why? They over-commit and under-perform with their semi-fancy menu, they're sloppy with delivery, and their service is usually average to poor. However, I go here kind of a lot because (as I said), for the town and the price, it's one of the best options. Read on for my guide to getting the most out of your Triumph experience.
Drinks: order water or beer. If the beer's not good, at least it's priced reasonably: usually $5 against a $7.50 house wine. My friends have tried and liked many of the beers.
Snacks: Fried pickles. French fries. (They're good at frying stuff.) Note-- our most recent order of fried pickles also came with a few stow-away fried sea creatures (shrimp bits, maybe?). Vegetarians, watch your back for their sloppiness.
Meals: Root Vegetable Bisque from the winter menu was amazing. It gives me confidence that other soups would also be good. The burger needs cheese or it's too dry, but it's less expensive than A&B and comes with fries. Fall Harvest salad is nice, fresh, and balanced. Pork Belly Sandwich got negative reviews from my honey.
Service: Come early, be patient, and don't expect much. With expectations set low, they might actually have a chance at impressing you.
Atmosphere: nice, modern, LOUD; sometimes the restaurant is overtaken by events requiring a cover, or events that are closed to the public. Just don't be surprised.
Best of luck on your Triumph journey! -
Review from Eva H.
2/21/2011
Abysmal has a first name, it's T-R-I-U-M-P-H! In Princeton, no less. (Note: I was taken here to meet friends--this was not by choice.)
From the moment we entered, I knew it was going to be a rough ride. Plasticy, broken menus that screamed "we're trying to be pretentious by having a prime rib cheesesteak and goji berries on a sandwich."
Then, we wait. For like 10 minutes. Because our server--whose klonopin dose must have been recently raised--just enjoyed standing and staring. Into space sometimes, sometimes at customers. Finally, we order some beers. Best part of the meal.
Fried pickles come out. Giant globs of stuck together pickles (weird), an okay sauce, but nothing great.
But then came the entrees. Congratulations Nodding Head, you are no longer the worst.meal.ever! Come, accept your turd trophy for second place, because Triump gets the toilet award for awfulness!
It didn't help that the server stared at our food for 10 minutes (timed) while it sat out and got cold. But nothing was going to rescue the processed, pre-frozen, dog waste that was called "burger." Fries could have been decent, had they not been overcooked and left to get mushy and cold.
And, of course, the klonopin server never checked in to see how we were, instead just randomly coming and grabbing half empty plates.
I won't even get into the nastiness that was the bathroom, or the fact that every soccer mom and her screaming brood was there.
I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 since Princeton is a culinary wasteland but seriously, I wouldn't send my worst enemy here unless they really, really just wanted to have a beer.Listed in: Meh and Worse Philly Style
-
Review from Kayla M.
Jersey City, NJ
11/2/2011
had a group dinner there last night- 40+ hungry/thirsty people.
appetizers were a huge hit, especially the calamari which we couldn't get enough of!
the beers were amazing, the irish stout was really popular with our crowd. great service, great restaurant. thanks Triumph! -
Review from Betty W.
Berkeley, CA
3/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here for Princeton grad school visit and they had a buffet set up for us. So I have no clue what was ordered, but the BEEF is GOOOOD, soft and tenderrrrr.
The banana foster is AMAZING. Their ice cream has this very rich texture. Where can I find it again? -
Review from The S.
Atlanta, GA
(Skip down to the SUMMARY if you do not want the verbose narrative below.)
Upon first impression, you might wonder where Triumph is as you slide down the 100-foot long umbilical passageway that eventually delivers you to the brewpub. Even though Triumph is not on the street where the entrance is, this canal gives birth to images of prohibited speakeasies as you steal down this (somewhat hidden corridor) into fantasy, as it allows you to soak in the slightly fetid smell that is characteristic of fermentation: the aromatic offering of yeast gobbling sugars and pissing alcohol.
At the end, once through the austere and overly practical double doors, you crown into a semi-magnificent three story view featuring heavy wood accents and ancient brick work, married by rough-edged cowen-crafted mortar, remodeled over the ages as old doorways were bricked up and new ones were cut-in. The resulting architecture settles somewhere between an old customs house and an English hunt club, sans the stuffed heads of dubiously valorous kills.
Storied past aside (which includes an unconfirmed account of this formerly serving as both a morgue and a brothel, although presumably not at the same time), this is now a truly impressive bar, and my anticipation of glorious craft beers heightens!
As I scan the room, I see many happy couples, coworkers, and friends imbibing, laughing and talking. Upon the wall is a chalkboard informing patrons of upcoming offerings, detailing style, gravity, and expected birth-date. In the back, I observe the mash tuns, fermenters, chillers, serving tanks, and other plumbing and equipment necessary to brew, store and serve here in-house. High-tops, booths, tables, and bar seats all await your choice and pleasure.
As I meander downstairs, I situate myself at the warm, comfortable bar and see another chalkboard calligraphed with tonight's offerings: Honey Blonde, Amber Ale, German Pilsner, Imperial Stout, Bengal Gold IPA, Winter Wonder, and a hand-pulled Nutt's Brown Ale, all available to-go in growlers ($17, or $13 for a refill). On the shelves behind the bar I am further comforted to observe a really nice selection of scotch and whiskey. Another board offers various bottled brewer's reserve offerings to take home: Imperial Stout, Barrel-aged Imperial Stout, Grand Cru, IPX (anniversary double IPA), Barrel-Aged IPX, and a rare thing: Honeymoon Braggot. As a brewer, I could not pass on the braggot (a mead made with grain).
The friendly (and, as I am soon to discover, informative) bartender is quick to welcome me and ask me what I would like. I tell him, "everything", and am greeted with a large flight.
Meanwhile, I scan the varied menu for dinner. I see a good selection of pub food, plus seafood, salads, and meats. The lamb shank special offers me slight temptation, but my anticipation for the wonderful selection of craft beers leads me to choose the delicious smokehouse Panini. A terrific choice that ended up paring well with almost every beer, as well as delectable in its own right.
Sounds perfect so far, right? Well, it was before I tasted the beer. Each and every beer I tasted was a miss. This is unheard of!
In most, the culprit was simply a noted lack of flavor. There was no there, there! The Honey Blonde was flat, the IPAs lacking in character and the expected hallmark hoppiness, the Stout's too far from standard and just plain bland. The hand-drawn Nutt's Brown Ale was a poor choice for that delivery method as its high CO2 content left me far too burpy. The Winter Wonder, with its slight spice, including clove, ginger, cinnamon, and orange zest notes, was good, but not noteworthy. The Amber Ale, perhaps my favorite in an undistinguished crowd, was smooth and drinkable, with a nice malt-hop balance.
Overall, however, the lineup was bland. Bland, bland, bland, bland, bland!
(Note: upon a separate occasion, I did try the Rauchbier, and it was not bland at all! On the contrary, it was full of so many off-notes that it was absolutely horrid, and perhaps the single worst beer I have tasted in my life, including skunked Grolsch!)
SUMMARY
As a note, despite its generally characterless beers, I have kept coming back to Triumph in the hope the I find something, anything, of value in their beers. Especially since it is the only brewpub around the Princeton area. I feel like Charlie Brown, who kept trying to kick the football, but Lucy kept pulling it away. Alas, I fear that Triumph shall never have good beers until they get another brewer, and I have never even thought that about a brewpub before.
Beer: Blech!
Bar: Go for the Scotches or Whiskeys!
Ambiance: Outstanding!
Food: Limited exposure, but in multiple visits I have never been disappointed in the delicious food.
Service: Always top-notch!
three stars, despite the failings of it lead product.
TASTING NOTES
(Coming soon) -
Review from Keith B.
Monmouth Junction, NJ
3/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'm a fan of Triumph. It's a Princeton staple. Some people love it to death, while others hate it. The place is always full, if not, completely crowded.. which is good, but at the same time it's downfall... I think Triumph rests easy and doesn't try to be the BEST it can be, because of the easy crowd they draw. I've had some really good nites at Triumph, and some that were crappy. Sometimes service is an issue here, they pack out, and I think the staff gets spent.
Anyways, First Wednesday is always great.. -
Review from Brennan M.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 3/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been to this place several times now, and every time has been worse than the last. Tonight marks the end. I will never return to Triumph.
We ordered a Scallop Po' Boy and the "Epic" Burger. The po' boy was disgusting. Was that a roasted tomato or pepper? I think I deserve to know. It's rude to serve something unidentifiable for more than $10. And now the fiance is reminding that the scallops of this "Scallop Po' Boy" were nowhere to be seen. There was something fried in there... but a scallop? I don't know!
As for this "Epic" burger... Yuck. It looked like many items I've seen on http://thisiswhyyouref.... It was just a mess of monochrome meat and onions. Totally unappetizing to look at, totally disgusting to eat. I am getting indigestion just thinking about it.
Also, Triumph smells like pea soup and cleaning fluid. I lose my appetite when I walk in the door.
I kind of wish I could give it zero stars, but I think they deserve one star for featuring Elina Lorenz's art. Good job, Triumph. ...but you still need to learn how to cook.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/9/2010
Sad little Princeton isn't exactly a culinary haven. It's a strange fact of the place since a lot… Read more »
-
-
Review from Steve B.
2/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
I just don't get it - marginal food and not so great beers. I've been there twice and had a tasting of all of the beers, and not once did I even consider getting a growler (or even a pint) of any of the brews on draft. It is a beautiful place in the middle of town, but just not worth it.
For lunch, I had the deep fried pickles (a solid meh), and a roast beef sandwich - okay, but again not great. No idea what's actually good on the menu, because I couldn't find a winner.
Best random - in the men's restroom, the vent ducts allow you to hear clearly what's going on in the seating area directly over head. -
Review from Holly C.
1/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I like that this place is a microbrewery, but I wish they had a bigger selection. They usually have 8 beers; 5-6 of them are their main drinks that are there all year round. I like their honey blonde and winter wonderland (?) drafts a lot. Prices are okay ~$5.50 a draft. If you're up for it, they offer a sampling platter for beer (you get a small sample of all the beers for $10 or $12).
I haven't eaten too many of their foods although they do look good. I've had their hummus platter (just because I'm obsessed with hummus) and it's okkk considering it's a not a real Mediterranean place.
I've never really had a problem with their staff. Once in a while I would encounter a waiter/waitress that we would have to flag down to get something.
I think Harvest Moon in New Brunswick is a better microbrewery though. Sorry Triumph.Listed in: Restaurants (NJ)
-
Review from Christa M.
Chesterfield, NJ
10/4/2011
I've been to Triumph numerous times, and I love it, but I am writing this review of the Pumpkin Ale alone. It is some of the most delicious seasonal beer I've ever had. Go there and get a pitcher of it. You won't be sorry.
