Scooter's Bar Journal » Lincoln

Boiler Brewing Company – South

scooterj — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 17:13:00 +0000

(Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1485th bar, first visited in 2021.

Boiler Brewing’s second location, in the same shopping center as the two previous brewery tap rooms. I had the King Size Chick-O-Stick (imperial pastry stout) — which it turned out was a brand new release and I was the very first customer to order a glass, and the For the Love of Mexican Chocolate (imperial pastry stout).

5800 Hidcote Dr
Lincoln, NE 68516
United States
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+15315005250
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Zipline Beer Hall

scooterj — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 17:12:00 +0000

(Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1484th bar, first visited in 2021.

Zipline’s second location in Lincoln, sandwiched between two other brewery tap rooms in the same shopping center.

I had the Things We Don’t Say (American IPA) and the Chocolate Orange Double Stout.

5740 Hidcote Dr
Lincoln, NE 68516
United States
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+14024132948
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Catalyst – Kitchen, Taproom, Patio, & Brewing Co.

scooterj — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 17:10:00 +0000

(Lincoln, NE)
Formerly Local Kitchen + Patio

Scooter’s 1483rd bar, first visited in 2021.

This big restaurant/brewery with a big patio is located in a relatively new shop[ping center in a suburban-like section of Lincoln. There are actually three brewery taprooms in this shopping center, so I visited all three before leaving town.

They have quite a few of their own brews, plus an extensive guest tap list. I stuck with their own beer, having the New Beginnings (American IPA), Sticky Knife Peanut Butter Porter, and Old Fashioned Barleywine.

5730 Hidcote Dr
Lincoln, NE 68516
United States
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+14022617588
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V’s Arcade Bar

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:25:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1482nd bar, first visited in 2021.

I tried to come here twice earlier on this trip. Both times the door was locked even though I was well within posted business hours. Come to find out I was using the north door that my GPS led me to. Apparently they don’t use that entrance even though it’s well-signed and well-lit. But after a few hours of recovery at my hotel room, I was ready for one more spot while I waited for a pizza I’d ordered to be ready. Eventually I stumbled across the unlocked eastern entrance to this basement arcade bar.

I didn’t really have any time for games, just a quick drink. I at the Flat Roofin’(porter) from White Elm Brewing.

247 N 8th St
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States
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+15315005599
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D.B. Cooper’s Hijackers Lounge

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:24:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1481st bar, first visited in 2021.

I know I’ve been saying for the past few bars that I was done and needed to go back to the hotel, but this was right next to Beacon Lounge and I couldn’t not go to a dive bar with such a good name.

317 S 11th St
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States
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+14022613915
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The Beacon Lounge

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:23:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1480th bar, first visited in 2021.

Back on July 15, 2009, my friend Brandon and I were on the first day of a 5-day bar crawl. We were walking around Lincoln late at night, having been to 24 bars that day, with Bison Witches being the place we had just left.

We had a map we had made and we still had about 30 minutes before places would start doing last call, but each place we wandered to seemed not quite divey enough. We finally set our sites on Beacon Lounge and began walking towards it.

About a block before we got there, we were crossing a large empty parking lot (and apartment building is located there now) and directly in our path was an empty, idling cab. We took that as our sign from the beer gods that we were meant to go safely back to our hotel now rather than go to a 25th bar and then have to try to get a cab at the same time as everyone else.

So once again, nearly 12 years later, I found myself out of stamina at the end of a long day of wandering around Lincoln. I was once again a block away. But this time, I forced myself to go in order to fulfill the void left by missing it 12 years earlier.

I had a Guinness again here, which with my dwindling stomach capacity took quite a while to finish.

There’s a patio in the front, a pool table in the back, and also buy the front is a raised platform with gaming machines and a “no cellphones” rule up there for reasons I’m unclear on.

I sent my wife (who is a bartender) this photo while I was sitting at the bar and she responded “Oh HELL no. I would QUIT.”

311 S 11th St
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States
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+14024387211
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The Hot Mess

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:21:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1478th bar, first visited in 2021.

This quirky dive has a large square bar, lots of empty glass bottles of what I believe to be Buddha Beer, and some particularly large potted plants. But to me the main standout was the payphone on the wall. One that, while I didn’t test to confirm, appears it could still be working.

408 S 11th St
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States
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+14027700292
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The Old Pub

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:21:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1479th bar, first visited in 2021.

This place finished me. I was done. Pretty much out of stomach volume and mostly out of liver capacity as well. I struggled to finish a Guinness. Honestly I should have gone straight back to the hotel from here. But I had to go around the blocks to fix something from 15 years ago, so pressed on to one more bar after here…

408 S 11th St
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States
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+14024775671
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Barrymore’s

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:20:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1477th bar, first visited in 2021.

I almost cut this one off my list because the second half of my planned day was a focus on dive bars, but this just looked too interesting to pass up. Barrymore’s is a bar backstage of the Rocococo Theatre, accessed via a nondescript back door in an alley. The bar is down a level, while the restrooms are up a level and as I understand were converted form old dressing rooms.

On arrival I blew right on past a guy who was hanging out in the alley and got a bit nervous when I noticed he had started following me. Turned out he was the bartender.

I almost got a cocktail here, but ended up with a Dead Man’s Run (lager) by Cosmic Eye Brewing.

Surely they wouldn’t allow drunk people such easy, unsupervised access to controls that could screw things up on stage. Nonetheless, I opted to not touch.

124 N 13th St
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States
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+14024766494
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Zoo Bar

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:19:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1476th bar, first visited in 2021.

As a long-time denizen of Zoo Bar in Kansas City, I’ve been long trying to visit the famous blues venue of the same name in Lincoln. The KC bar often gets requests for bookings from confused bands/artists thinking they are talking to Lincoln. Unfortunately every time I have been in Lincoln it has either been closed “for remodeling” or closed because I was there too early in the day. This time I planned the entire day around their schedule.

This place is a true dive, and reminded me a lot of my own Zoo Bar in KC apart from the stage at the far end and the piano in the middle.

I had Guinness.

136 N 14th St
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States
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+14024358754
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SARO Cider

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:18:00 +0000

(Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1475th bar, first visited in 2021.

Diagonally opposite Code Beer across a tricky intersection (both for myself as a pedestrian and, earlier, for my Uber driver).

A group seated to my right had a young child with them, and she seemed to be more knowledgeable about ciders than the adults she was with. You go, girl!

I had the Pearsecco and the Riva Raspberry.

1746 N St
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States
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+15315003966
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Code Beer Company

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:17:00 +0000

(Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1474th bar, first visited in 2021.

Located right at the extreme eastern edge of what could be considered downtown Lincoln. I was really starting to slow down by this point in the day, so I only had a partial flight. I had the Red Ale, BB Brown Ale, and Wood Wee (Scotch ale).

200 S Antelope Valley Pkwy
Lincoln, NE 68510
United States
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+14023185888
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White Elm Brewing Company

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:16:00 +0000

(Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1473rd bar, first visited in 2021.

Deja Vu from this morning? Nope, this is location is the main White Elm brewery.

The tasting room is a long narrow space with a lengthy bar counter at one end and tables at the other end.

There was grill set up out front and the brewery was trying desperately to give away free bratwurst with purchase of a full pour, but as it was about 2:30 in the afternoon no one coming in was hungry.

I had the Salted Caramel (imperial milk stout), White Chocolate Torte Wheatwine, and Cerberus (Belgian Strong Golden Ale).

720 Van Dorn St
Lincoln, NE 68502
United States
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+14022616078
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Backswing Brewing Company

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:15:00 +0000

(Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1472nd bar, first visited in 2021.

I found the tap room here, which is essentially a hybrid of indoor-outdoor space, the most enjoyable among those I visited in Lincoln on this day. It will also be forever etched in my memory as the brewery where I fixed a broken toilet.

I had their Oatmeal Stout, Gingerbread Stout, Rye IPA, and Backswing Scottish Ale.

500 W South St
Lincoln, NE 68522
United States
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+14024135576
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Zipline Brewing Company

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:14:00 +0000

(Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1471st bar, first visited in 2021.

Sl;ightly hard to find, the main Zip Line Brewery is located in an industrial area a couple miles west of downtown Lincoln.

There is a small man bar area, plus a separate party room and a patio.

I had their Easy Lifting IPA, Oatmeal Porter, Chocolate Orange Cream Stout, and Latte Imperial Stout.

2100 Magnum Circle
Lincoln, NE 68522
United States
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+14024751001
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Kinkaider Tap Room

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:12:00 +0000

(Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1469th bar, first visited in 2021.

This brewery taproom didn’t have anything in my wheelhouse so I had to be brave and branch out to try other things. I had the Prison Mike Strawberry Rhubarb Sour, Devil’s Gap Jalapeño Ale, and Star Snake Dank IPA.

There was a farmer’s market going on outside and it was very busy. There was only the bartender working and she was slammed, so I was amazed I was able to get served as quickly as I did.

201 N 7th St
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States
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+14024806488
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Lazlo’s Brewery & Grill

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:12:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1470th bar, first visited in 2021.

Lazlo’s is the front-end tasting room for the adjacent Empyrean Brewing. I had a snack here and unfortunately they don’t do flights and were out of the beer I wanted to try most, so I just had a 10oz pour of the Collapsar Oatmeal Stout.

210 N 7th St
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States
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+14024345636
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White Elm Brewing – Haymarket

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1468th bar, first visited in 2021.

The downtown location of White Elm brewing comes with an indoor/outdoor bar, a patio looking down on the street, and at least one lounge room that can be converted into private space with a garage door.

As it was breakfast time, I had oatmeal, milk, and coffee in the form of their Casual Friday (imperial stout), Chocolate Hazelnut Oatmeal Stout, and Vanilla Whole Latte (milk stout).

801 R St
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States
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+15315003411
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Tavern on the Square

scooterj — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 17:14:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1467th bar, first visited in 2021.

I would like to have spent more time here because it seems like a pretty cool place, but it was extremely crowdedand noisy so I just quickly drank a Guinness before heading back to my hotel.

816 P St
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States
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+14022614608
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The Happy Raven

scooterj — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 17:13:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1466th bar, first visited in 2021.

Away from the more crowded sections of downtown Lincoln, this place is well known for its great selection of craft beer.

I had Massive (Cognac Barrel Aged) (2019) by Gigantic Brewing Company, Massive (Rye Barrel Aged) (2019) by Gigantic Brewing Company, Big Luscious by Founders Brewing Co., and Rye On Rye (2021) by Boulevard Brewing Co.

122 N 11th St
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States
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+14027420004
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Cosmic Eye Brewing

scooterj — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 17:12:00 +0000

(East Park Plaza, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1465th bar, first visited in 2021.

Massive horror-themed brewery taproom in a former laser tag space. The cavernous main taproom is filled with picnic table style seating, while a smaller room to the side offers more relaxed seating.

I had their Arrow of Time (Black IPA), Gaze of the Basilisk (Schwarzbier), and Your Friend, Death (Imperial oatmeal stout)

6800 P St
Lincoln, NE 68505
United States
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+15315002739
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Boiler Brewing Company

scooterj — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 18:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 1301st bar, first visited in 2018.

Spectacular brewery in the basement of the Grand Manse building, a former courthouse. Accessed from a stairwell in an alley. I had to make a very short visit, we were on our way to Wyoming and my wife and dogs were idling in a no-parking zone.

I had a flight of all the stouts they had on at that time: Double Cinnamon Toast Sâ€™mores, No Way! Double 4-Way! Sweet Minou Chocolate Stout!, Double Café Mocha, Alarm Clock Coffee Stout, and Koo Koo For Coconut.

129 N 10th St, Ste 8
Lincoln, NE 68508
US
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402-261-8775
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The Garage Sports Bar/Grill

scooterj — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:11:00 +0000

(Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 980th bar, first visited in 2013.

Spacious sports bar were we stopped in for some lunch. The menu has a good variety of traditional bar food options, and we were both happy with our meals and appetizers.

The bar itself is an island in the center of the building, and a pool table and foosball table are tucked away behind it. In the bar back a separate room has a dart board and a large projection screen. Along the west side of the building is partially-covered outdoor seating.

Apart from good food and lots of TVs, they host live music regularly.

5551 S. 48th St.
Lincoln, NE 68516
US
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(402) 423-2996
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WC’s South Lounge

scooterj — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:10:00 +0000

(Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 979th bar, first visited in 2013.

I picked this place out because of a Google review griping that this bar doesn’t cater to customers in their early 20s. Which means this is the kind of bar I love.

This does seem to be a bar more for grown-ups, but it looks like a fun bar nonetheless. There’s 3 pool tables, lots of TVs, and a good sound system. The convoluted bar, covered in vintage regional newspapers, resembles a crooked fish hook.

They do not serve food, at least not regularly, though there was a BBQ grill out front and their Facebook page has mentioned food in the past.

The bartender was really nice and the locals seem friendly. By the way this place has Guinness on tap, kind of unusual for a non-Irish-themed dive bar.

2109 Hwy 2
Lincoln, NE 68502
US
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(402) 421-2186
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Buzzard Billy’s

scooterj — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 965th bar, first visited in 2012.

Lincoln location of a small midwest cajun restaurant/bar chain. I thought the catfish was a little too “natural” tasting for my tastes, but the Armadillo Egg appetizers are outstanding. After dinner I sat at the bar and enjoyed some Maker’s Mark.

247 N. 8th St. Ste 101
Lincoln, NE 68508
US
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(402) 475-8822
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Merle’s Food & Drink

scooterj — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:10:00 +0000

(Emerald, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 581st bar, first visited in 2009.

I think we were the day’s first customers, though more began trickling in. There was no shortage of service, we had at least 3 people taking care of us. I got myself a nice big steak, while B ordered one of the day’s specials, sirloin hash. The latter was so good that I have since learned the recipe and made it a few times.

8250 W O St
Lincoln, NE 68528
US
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(402) 474-6435
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Bison Witches Bar & Deli

scooterj — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:33:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 580th bar, first visited in 2009.

It was microbrew/import night, all microbrews and imports were $2.50. While B perused the cooler I I went to use the restroom. “”Just get me whatever,”" I told him, “”I trust your judgement.”"

I returned to find a choice between Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Mike’s Hard Lemonade. I chose the Sierra Nevada. I chose poorly. I forgot I really don’t like the Sierra Nevada ale. We ended up trading bottles halfway through.

1320 P St # 100
Lincoln, NE 68508
US
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(402) 474-3366
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Brass Rail

scooterj — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:32:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 579th bar, first visited in 2009.

Upon entering we noticed that this was definitely a fratboy hangout.

1436 O St
Lincoln, NE 68508
US
[launch map]
(402) 474-5741

Harry’s Wonder Bar

scooterj — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:31:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 578th bar, first visited in 2009.

On the advice of our friends at The Spigot we crossed the street and found ourselves in a nice little dive, the kind of place we really like.

We ordered beer, but evidently mixed drinks are supposed to be the way to enjoy this place. While other bars are stingey, this place serves up a basic mixed drink in a beer mug, at least in the demonstration we were given.

1621 O St
Lincoln, NE 68508
US
[launch map]
(402) 474-7309

The Spigot

scooterj — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:30:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 577th bar, first visited in 2009.

There were a couple of college kids loitering outside. “”I don’t want any trouble!”" B informed them as we stepped inside.

As is the case with most bars in college towns, beer gets served in oversized glasses that make it hard to drink it all before it’s warm and flat. (At least, unless you are one of those 22-year-old fratboy types who still thinks drinking beer is about chugging as much as you can, as fast as you can.) So, to get around that problem, we requested cans. Much to our chagrin, we were given 16oz cans.

As we worked our way through the volume (keep in mind, this was beer #21 for each of us and our stomachs can only stretch so far) we told the girls sitting next to us about the trip we were taking. They were in utter disbelief that we had walked here from 27th Street, making me wonder if maybe Lincoln is less safe than I assumed?

1624 O St
Lincoln, NE 68508
US
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(402) 435-4582
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Sidewinders

scooterj — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:29:00 +0000

(Downtown, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 576th bar, first visited in 2009.

Whenever you have a bar that’s set up primarily to be a music venue, very often you wind up with a bar that doesn’t seem to have any character or personality if there isn’t a band playing. That seemed to be kind of the problem here. B though this place blew and wanted to hurry and leave, but I thought that any bar that had Family Guy playing on the big screen can’t be all that bad.

1644 O St
Lincoln, NE 68508
US
[launch map]
(402) 261-5826

The Keg

scooterj — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:28:00 +0000

(Woods Park, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 575th bar, first visited in 2009.

There were quite a few motorcycles in the parking lot. We stepped inside and the first thing we noticed was that the floor under the bar was covered in piles of used lottery tickets. “”I dropped a winner in here the other night, I’m here to reclaim it!”" B announced to the bartender.

Saddles hung from the ceiling, and beer was served in jars. I was bothered by a strange smell that I thought was similar to baby diarrhea, but B thought I was crazy so maybe it was just my imagination. We reminisced about our trip to Salina back in 2007 and discussed plans for a domain name inspired by that trip.

104 N 20th St
Lincoln, NE 68503
US
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(402) 474-9395
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Tam O’Shanter Lounge

scooterj — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:27:00 +0000

(Woods Park, Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 574th bar, first visited in 2009.

It was ‘Crappy Beer Night’ on our visit, so we got $2 Miller High Lifes.

105 S 25th St
Lincoln, NE 68510
US
[launch map]
(402) 474-2394

The Cellar

scooterj — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:26:00 +0000

(Lincoln, NE)

Scooter’s 573rd bar, first visited in 2009.

A retro lounge (in decor, not theme) with a regular, laid-back vibe. The bartender was really into what we were doing and, after getting a feel for the kinds of bars we like, wrote down a good list of places we should check out. (Unfortunately, as it would turn out, the only bar on his list we would make it far enough today to see was closed.)

(For the curious, he recommended: Zen, Marz, Zoo Bar, Buffy’s, Watering Hole, and Cliff’s. Zoo Bar was the only of these we reached before the end of the night and it was closed for some inexplicable reason.)

6913 O St
Lincoln, NE 68510
US
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(402) 488-2002