It is closed down, though someone above reported it has a new owner.

Craft paper up on the windows currently....is this place closed down?

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very correct sir.....also the shape and temp. of the glass

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there are several variables that can cause varying degrees of quality when it comes to guiness:

- keg temp (should not be too cold)
- pour method (single pour will not come out as nice as the traditional triple or double)
- freshness (the newer the keg the better)
- tap line (old dirty lines can effect taste)

would not surprise me if the keg was past it's prime, that place seemed to turn mostly low quality beers (bud/coors/etc).

It could not have been a Guinness, since there is no such thing as a bad Guinness.

I had some really bad guinness last weekend at HPAH. I'm not sure it was even guinness. And the music was pretty bad too.

I like sitting outside there but the beer makes me question a return.

Ha ha!
I was that friend, and I just told the exact same story less than an hour ago when discussing the Ale House's closure in Skinners.

The last time I went there was about 2 years ago, about 11:30 on a Sunday night. Sat outside with a friend, ordered two pints. Drank them. Fabio asked if we'd like another round. Now 11:50. Said sure. Two sips in, he said "we're closing, you'll have to finish up." Rudely.

Good riddance.

It would be nice if they were familiar with the phrase "happy hour". That goes for Skinner's as well.

When did ownership of the Ale House change? I first went there when i moved to Jersey City like 2-1/2 years. I had a Caeser Salad and it was horrid. I went again on a night they had penne ala vodka and that was good.. i tried it one more time and it was bad and by then i discovered simple fell in love with there chicken sandwich and their chicken with mashed potatoes... then they completely changed everything.

I really really like Skinner's Loft.

I am just curious who's food was my problem in the beginning. It would be great if they had a reasonable priced bar with good atmosphere and the option to pay a little more or get a burger and fries for 6 or 7 bucks.

Jimmy ran the place into the ground. The problem was he didn't know if he wanted a bar or a restaurant. The food had started going downhill before Maggie sold the place and it only got worse. His attempt to shake up the menu lasted about a week. The place had also started getting dirty before and after Maggie sold it. I actually had a dead fly in my take-out salad once when Maggie was still the owner. The fly probably came from the take-out container lid but still it was gross.
How about a nice simple (no pun intended) menu of burgers, wings, salads, etc. done with some attention to quality. Good bar food would be nice. I had heard the place was sold to a bar owner from Hoboken. We shall see.

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But the food was good under Maggie, then Jim bought it and decided to destroy the quality of the food. It is pushing for a better standard in Jersey City to go to places with good food, rather than one with food so bad the owner obviously doesn't care.

Was it better to go to Go and buy expired condiments, or was it better to go to C-Town, get higher quality at a lower price, and wait for Go to go out of business? Now we have La Rustique in the neighborhood, instead of a condiment store. I think that's a win for the neighborhood.

I don't think anyone should be encouraged to support a local restaurant with food so bad that it can't be eaten. And it's not like they weren't given plenty of chances. It's not like Jim could have been unaware that the food was disgusting. He just didn't care. He kept the food good for a year (or at least through the first summer) after buying it, so it's not like this was some impossible feat.

The horrible atmosphere with the excessive number of TVs is at least debatable. But the neighborhood wanted a neighborhood bar. We didn't want a sports bar. Everyone has good TVs at home. And the layout of the place did not make it too pleasant to watch a game anyway.

And you're going to get a lot more business if you attract everyone in the neighborhood to come with excellent specials that change daily (and are written clearly on a blackboard outside). More people will go to a familiar excellent local eatery on a regular basis than will go to a sports bar with inedible food.

It's obviously a case of extreme arrogance. Thinking he can force people to eat whatever garbage he serves. The way the Harvest Cart was chased away supports this. If you can't compete on the quality of your food, chase away what competition you can.

I meant gave up on the business, not on life, or JC, or even on being a restaurateur. Not a moral judgment--just a statement of fact. I'm sure she had her reasons just as the new owner had his for thinking he could make it work when she could not

P.S. I'd love to proved wrong about her not coming back. I imagine the landlord is willing to negotiate on rent now.

And the previous owner, Maggie, who now owns Skinner's Loft, left the Ale House not because she "gave up", but because the owner of the building jacked up her rent an insane amount (during the "boom" time).

But hey, why let facts get in the way of a good story.

The previous owner now runs Skinner's Loft. So that's not the case.

I'm not celebrating the Ale House closing. It would just be nice to have someplace in HP that actually take some pride in itself besides the White Star and the Embankment.

I moved into HP after the change in ownership so I can't really comment on the noted decline from the previous owner, but I thought the Ale House was fine as a neighborhood bar and I mourn it's passing and the loss of jobs.

I'd rather have an OK if not fabulous place open for business than an empty storefront housing memories of better days.

Those who are celebrating the failure seem to think this someone vindicates the previous owner who sold, but it seems to me he gave up and is not coming back.

They are selling the lamp post? noooo I really like their chicken blt and their burgers. their fries are sooo good and they are only a block and a half away.

the Ale House is horrible... Simple was good but then they changed the menu and started sucking. when i lived by Hamilton park i used to go to simple all the time then they changed and it got expensive and gross.

yeah, I agree about the HP area. But I will continue to support local restaurants in hopes that with our support, more business will equal more money which will equal better staff which will eqaul better service which will set a better standard in Jersey City, and all things will improve.

I enjoy most restaurants in JC, however it's usually the service that most disappoints me. I guess the good servers find jobs in the big city.

It's too bad that there is not even one really good restaurant in the HP area. The Embankment is just okay, in my opinion. But I don't think JC in general is good restaurant town, probably because NYC is just over the river. I guess I just want a few really good options with creative menus. Instead we have so many that are mediocre.

Yeah the food wasn't great, but there is no better place to go watch a game. I hope whatever comes next will keep the TVs.

If you want a quiet dinner, go to Simple (which could have even worse food) or The Embankment (which I really like).

He really did run it into the ground. I feel sorry for anybody who actually ate the food there in the last year.

So, another place on the block. Good time to buy a bar. Currently on the market:

Lamppost
Sheila's
Ox
Albert's/Rascal's?
Pop Merrigan's?
and presumably the Ale House.

And who knows how Simple stays in business.

Great to hear. And I don't care how much money he makes off the sale as long as he doesn't open anything else around here, and takes those obnoxiouos t.vs with him;

I hope somebody opens it and makes it nice again. it's such a great location and a nice space.

Good news! The Ale House hasn't been open in days.

Hopefully destroying the food quality (and atmosphere) has resulted in an important lesson in failure. Let's just pray that this guy doesn't get enough money in the sale to go on to ruin any other local businesses.

I think I missed something on this thread because I don't see any posts from "shill". From what I understand there is a new owner?
I have not been there for about a year and a half, but I always used to rave about their sweet potatoe fries. Do they still have them? I was thinking of going back sometime soon but if they don't have those fries and if they don't taste exactly the same and/or better, I will be very upset.

We couldn't get an outside seat at Simple - guess no one really reads these threads -- anyway even the nice day and the nice outside table couldn't excuse the "off" tasting bottled beer or the "flat" tap at the Hamilton Park Ale House.

Kind of pricey too!

Best to avoid this place and its BIG A$$ TV's

I called DeRuggiero and they said you get the 5year lease + an option for another 5years for the 695k.

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Yeah it really sucks going to a bar with a bunch of big HDTV's...lol...

Those huge TVs they put in the Ale House are awful. Really distracting. It;s just a sports bar now, not really a neighborhood place.

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It would be worth it if they included the building.

So what does one get for the $695,000 asking price? The lease for x number of years and the liquor license? I had no idea that there are 60 seats outside... Can one get bank financing to buy something like this?

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Excerpt of their craigslist ad:

"Great lease terms with time on your side. Excellent capacity with expansion in the Spring and Summer with outdoor seating. Capacity of about 70 indoors and additional 60 outdoors."

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/off/678935783.html