I ventured down to 36th Ave a few weeks ago to try out the Mad Donkey, a nifty little spot that opened this summer. The exterior reminds me of many a quaint Irish pub, looked like a cozy place to grab a pint with some friends. Upon walking inside, however, this Wench made the realization that it was MONDAY. I’ve spent more time as of late in bars with great drinks and music and a pleasant lack of television sets, it didn’t even dawn on me that football season was upon us until I walked smack dab into eight whole TVs of it, and the Mad Donkey does it right. You into football? Grab some buddies and head on over, just go on the early side to make sure you can get a seat.
Angie and I snagged the last two seats at the bar and ordered up some Sixpoint Sehr Crisp, a lovely golden pilsner that went nicely with the complimentary candy corn and peanuts. On either side of us football fans were situated with piles of wings, rolls of paper towels, and pints of—could it be?—Ommegang Hennepin. Curiouser and curiouser, they were all downing awesome craft beer and cheering for their teams. Inspired, I made my way down the list to the Brooklyn Pumpkin, which came with a brown sugar and cinnamon rim. The sugar was a bit too sweet for me, but a nice touch.
My boyfriend arrived and was all too happy with the Monday Night $10 wings and pint deal. According to Joe, their wings are the best he’s had in Astoria and they come in a variety of heats and flavors. There are plenty of pints to choose from my dears: Captain Laurence Pale, Stella, Genesses Cream, Bluepoint Toasted, Dogfish Head 90, Troegs Wheat, Brooklyn, Sixpoint, Guinness, Kolsch, Palm, Ommegang, and Duvel Green. Not sure which one you want? The bartenders are happy to give you adorable mini Hoegaarden glasses full of a sample beer.
They also have some tasty bottles: Delirium Tremens, Speakeasy Prohibition Porter, Brooklyn Local 1&2, and Brooklyn Ace—a saison that the bartender had never sold before. The Mad Donkey is also home to a special beverage known as the “donkey punch” or “donkey bowl”, a giant punch bowl full of booze and juice. Drink two “donkey punches” and you will get your picture on the ceiling of the bar, Mad Donkey’s wall of fame.
The entire time I was sitting at the bar enjoying my beer, I couldn’t shake the feeling of familiarity. Something about the sharp witted signs and décor, the peanut shells on the floor, maybe the sign over the bar stating that “unattended children will be sold as slaves” or the selection of tunes in the juke box, something was screaming de ja vu. Then it hit me—the Mad Donkey could be the hybrid northern cousin of the Oyster Pub and Lighthouse Landing, two bars my parents used to take us to as kids. Twisted? Maybe, but the Oyster Pub had a claw machine so one can argue it was kid friendly and no one ever kicked us out for getting too sugar high on Shirley Temples. I’m in no way saying bring your kids to the Mad Donkey, but for this Wench it has a comfortable hominess.
Izzy the bartender prepared some “domino bomb shots” for the thirsty fans at the bar and filled our pints, the Kolsch they have on tap is nice and crisp. Kolsch beer is interesting, in that it is warm fermented like an ale and then it is laagered (remember what that term means? That’s right “to store or rest” and it’s done in cold temperatures). This particular genre of beer comes from Cologne, Germany and is pale gold with a crisp bite. The three of us got to have a few pints with the bar’s owner, Tommy D. He informed us that the “Mad Donkey” was actually named after his mother and his family’s nickname for her.
Football not your thing? Mad Donkey has other specials every night of the week! I’m excited for Taco Night Thursdays. Want your mug shot on the ceiling but not down for some “donkey punch”? You can also drink all fourteen pints or eat a whole “mess”—a giant bowl of burger, mashed potatoes, chicken fingers, fries, and covered with cheese. Sorry to disappoint but I didn’t down all fourteen beers when I was there, some people have to work in the morning you know.
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