Liquor Lyle's Epic Happy Hour

I'm not going to lie: There's nothing fancy about Liquor Lyle's. If you plan on getting all spiffed up to sip a $10 cocktail, than you might want to head over to one of those posh bars in downtown Minneapolis with the amazing skyline views. However, if you feel like wearing your lucky T-shirt from college and a pair of beat-up sneakers, you've found the right place. The ambience is a mix; big, flat-panel television screens placed about the bar and restaurant usually have four or five different sports games on, so choose your booth and loyalties wisely if you've come to watch the game. That said, this is only a sports bar if you want it to be. Mostly, Liquor Lyle's is about cramming into a dive bar that has no shame about its neighborhood feel. There may be hipsters inside, but there's nothing intentionally hip or retro about the red plastic booths, the wood panel tables, or the no-nonsense drink specials during happy hour. And what a happy hour it is. This two-for-one happy hour is so epic, it's actually easier to say when it's not going on: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and from 11 p.m. to close. What does two-for-one entail? Any drink you can order, including beer and cocktails (pay $.50 extra if you want top-shelf). Lyle's is also known for its breakfast, so if you're more of an eggs and Bloody Mary person, get to bed early (or stay up all night). Here's the official rundown on specials: two-for-one drinks and $1-$2.50 appetizers 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily; $1.25 taps and $1-$2.50 appetizers 11 p.m. to close Sunday through Wednesday; $3.50 taps of Imperial 11 p.m. to close on Thursday; $3.99 blue plate special daily.
Mon., Aug. 11, 2008