One session at Congregation Ale House, and you’ll be a changed man. Whether it’s for the better or worse, is up to you, but with all the “liquid courage” in attendance, it’s hard not to be possessed by some ‘spirit’ of the glass.

When you walk in Congregation Ale House, the first thing you’ll notice are the stained glass windows and the overall “church vibe.” Though there’s no priest, sermons are delivered by whoever is inundated the most. Choir? You won’t find any so you’ll have to make one up on the fly together with your companions, to sing glorious drinking songs.

The Ale House has a very large selection of draft beers with a chalkboard where the name, type, alcohol content, and beer descriptions are written on. Good luck trying out all the beers though, it would take months of attending Mass at the Congregation to try each and every one, which makes it more fun really.

Pay as you order, at the counter through a bar server, works well in this place. The good thing about this is that when you are ready to leave, you can just stand up and go without having to wait for the check to arrive. Think of it as paying tithes, though the ‘spiritual’ gains are much more immediately apparent.

Expect a plethora of beers here, most especially the craft beers.

“We always had great Belgian beers or local craft handles,” says Travis Ensling, owner of Congregation Ale House.

Aside from the above, there are also several craft beers that Congregation produces on their own. These include Congregation Dunkelweiss, Congregation Saison, Congregation Summer Pale, and Congregation Dark of the Covenant.

What about food? Aside from the brews, Congregation Ale House also serves great food, in case you need to fill your tummy to absorb more alcohol, you won’t be disappointed. A

And of course, since every congregation needs a Mass schedule to follow, Congregation Ale House obliges with aplomb. Happy Hours are set every Monday, all day; Midnight from Sunday to Thursday; and 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm from Monday to Friday.

Congregation Ale House is located at 300 S. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena. Their Azusa location can be found on 619 N. Azusa Ave., while their Long Beach location is on 201 E Broadway Ave.

For more information about Congregation Ale House, visit http://www.congregationalehouse.com or call (626) 578-0166.