Tap at Humboldt Beer Depot — Restaurant in Hazle Township

UPDATE: Humboldt Tap was once one of my favorite places in NEPA, but now I only visit a few times per year.

I absolutely loved the intimacy of the old location. I realize it makes more business sense to move somewhere that can seat more people, but the new location has none of the former's charm or comfort. And having all of those additional customers means huge wait times for food during prime time.

Acoustics are not great. I swear, when it's a band I came to see, I can't hear anything above the crowd noises (especially any acoustic instruments), but when I'm meeting friends from out of town, talking is impossible because the live music drowns out everything else. It's much better in the little game room, but there's not much seating there and everyone's usually tied to a table in the main room waiting forever for their food.

Roughly 90% of the available seating is uncomfortable metal stools. Most tables can only fit four to six people. There's some cool looking board games, but I can't imagine where you're supposed to play anything.

I still like Tap, but now I only visit by myself and when it's guaranteed to be dead. Even then, the bar staff do not seem to be in control of the music selection anymore, so the only stuff that plays is variations of classic rock from what I believe is a YouTube playlist. The projector set up is neat, but 1. you can't really see it from most seats and 2. I preferred hearing the music the individual bartenders would put on.

Most of the food is still great and the selection of beers is probably tied with Vesuvio's in Drums for the best in the Hazleton area. The prices on the craft beer remain the same but wing prices are still inflated, despite other places in the area lowering their prices in recent months. The pizza still seems bad, last I checked, but I could be wrong.

There's also wine, spirits, and mass market beers on the menu (like Coors and Yuengling) if that's a concern for anyone unfamiliar with craft beer. I'm not sure if there are bottles and cans anymore and I also don't know what the situation is with the Belgian taps.

There's usually cover charges on nights with live music, usually starting around seven, I think.

All the servers I've interacted with have been just as friendly and professional as before. It just sucks that they have to deal with an exponentially larger amount of customers, now. I feel bad for them when it gets busy—I imagine there's a lot of jerks taking out their frustrations on them.

It would be neat if the owners reopened the old location as a hobby some day, but I doubt it. Maybe model it on those little European cafés that serve beer and coffee? Serve cold cuts and chips like back in the day and give it some pretentious name in French or Italian to keep out people looking to get hammered.

OLD REVIEW: Humboldt Tap just might be my favorite bar, restaurant, or just business in general in the Hazleton area.

There's no Coors or Bud or Guinness on the menu, but after learning a little bit about what to expect from different beer styles, you will not miss them. I don't know terribly much about craft beer, but from what I do know, the draft menu is well curated and ranges from classic Belgians to products from local brewing companies. I haven't even touched the bottle and can menu yet.

The food I've tried has been quite good so far. Another reviewer mentioned the house burger, and I would definitely recommend that as my favorite. The only item I probably wouldn't order again for a while would be the pizza. I just don't like bar style pizza; I prefer the chewiness of traditional New York style pizza.

A relatively small venue that I would favorably describe as intimate. Clean bathrooms. Friendly and helpful staff. Tasteful music selection and live performances every weekend with no covers.

If my diet and budget would allow it, I would probably spend...

My beloved wife and I went to The Tap At Humboldt on Friday night 8/2.. The band Magic Stew was playing live music.. They were inside, as the forecast was for rain at any given time.. But the speakers on the patio outside were channeling the music out to the patio!!! Quick history here – I was born in Hazleton and grew up in the town of Humboldt.. And though I live in the Lehigh Valley now, I still come in every 2-3 weeks to see my Mother, who still lives in that little town called Humboldt! Some observation from over the past few years – The Tap At Humboldt has grown!!! The ‘inside’ has really expanded – lots of room for patrons and a very nice stage for performances!!! The bar has a HUGE selection of beers for every taste! Though I’m happy they serve Miller Lite on tap – and a big cold cup is only $4!!! The inside also has billiards tables and ‘PA Skill Games’ if anyone wants to play some pool or gamble a little!! Also, the menu has grown, and the food is always very good and reasonably priced!

And the ‘outside’ is simply beautiful!!! An open bar under a pavilion, picnic tables and café tables on a well finished surface of well laid pavers!!! And the string lights outside add a beautiful atmosphere!!!! And the tables inside and outside are spaced out well!!! You don’t feel cramped or like a sardine in a can!!! LOL.. I like the interior a lot, but as a smoker I like the outside bar a lot too!! I cannot believe that such a fine place exists – literally a quarter mile from where I grew up!! LOL.. By the way, the entire place is immaculately clean- inside and out!!! Even the rest rooms! I love the ‘creativity’ the owners used in the men’s room for the sink and urinals!!! A very nice touch to a place that calls itself ‘The Tap’!!! LOL…

By the way – EVERYONE at the TAP was SUPER friendly!!! But I want to single out the bartender outside, Christine (Not sure if she spells it with a C or a K), but SHE was AMAZING, PROFESSIONAL, FRIENDLY, and NEVER LET MY BEER RUN DRY!!! LOL..

The Tap At Humboldt is an incredible place!!! Looking forward to me and my wife’s next visit on 8/23 to see “Nicks In Time”!!!!.. I very HIGHLY RECOMMEND this fine establishment!!! The staff makes every patron feel like a valued customer, and it is super cool place to hang out!

I’ll end with this… I am 57 years old… I gave up bar hopping over 3 decades ago.. But I will say this – whenever I am in my hometown, I will stop in at The Tap At Humboldt to give them my business and support the local economy.. These folks are simply amazing!!! If you have never been there, check them out!!! You will NOT be disappointed!!! I wish I could give this place 10...

The servers are usually slow to notice you and/or serve you but the food is good and the atmosphere is awesome! I wouldn’t recommend a bowl of chili but I would recommend other things I’ve tried. I like that they usually have something going on, like bands, art expos, etc. If you like beer, this place is a must try since they have quite the draft selection (about 50 on tap)! In the summer when the weather is nice, they host outdoor entertainment as well. More attentive servers would easily give the Tap a 5 star rating. Great place overall!

UPDATE: Unfortunately, the food is AWFUL now. Got a “caprese salad and a side of chicken” today…the cost for lunch (from which I was late to return because of the wait), a whopping $17.00!!! The chicken was diced up in a little soufflé cup, very dry and hard like it had been sitting out all day or longer, not edible at all, not to mention it wasn’t even warm or full and it had a bad taste to it, like, I pray I don’t get sick kind of bad. The portions became tiny. The tomatoes pictured are thin slices cut in 1/2 made to look like full pieces the way they were layered with very little balsamic drizzle on top. The balsamic was funky too. As a cook or a server, I would have had better conscience than to serve this! As a customer, I regret paying for it and accepting such an awful meal, from which I hope not to get sick. I am so very disappointed in my visit today. I completely wasted hard earned $ (between gas and what I was charged) and they very likely lost a food customer for life.

Beer selection is still good. Atmosphere is still great! I changed this review from 4 stars to 2 because both the food and service need very much improvement, but I really can’t say I’d be at all eager to try their new menu...