In my years of drinking in Hoboken, I’ve only stopped by The Farside (or, maybe simply Farside) once, which is weird, because it’s got a great location on Washington Avenue between 5th and 6th streets. I think I have always been put off by the font on their sign, so take that as pretentiously as you will.

Anyway, I was roaming the streets with two friends (one of whom was in Hoboken for the first time – yes, we had to go to Carlo’s Bakery), and it was freezing, but we had just stuffed ourselves with falafel from Mamoun’s. It was prime Happy Hour time, but a few of the bars we peered into looked empty. Farside had a good six or seven people at the bar, mostly an older crowd, but we decided to give it a shot. Plus, they were showing a Nets game.

Farside has all of the elements of your standard dive (I mean that lovingly, dive bars are the best): dark wood bar, exposed brick, jukebox, photo hunt game and dartboard. The walls are decorated with antique mirrors and old beer taps, and behind the bar, Christmas lights were still strung up.

The bartender was friendly and affable, and asked us how we were doing when we sat down. After a weekend of beer, I was looking forward to a whiskey-ginger. One friend got a mixed drinks also, while the other got a Sam Adams. They came out to $6 each, not bad for liquor, but a bit pricey for beer. I will commend the bartender for his heavy hand – I could taste that whiskey.

Other beers on tap were Blue Moon, Coors, Budweiser, you know, standard stuff. Nothing too exciting. This isn’t the sort of bar for a beer snob, but at least we have plenty of other places around for that.

All the while, I noticed that hair metal was playing – Poison and Kiss could be discerned. This rules, I thought to myself. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a Hoboken bar that unabashedly played crap like that. Usually I can muddle through some bland alternative rock, or a nonstop playlist of Katy Perry and Usher, but it’s always nice to hear something different.

Getting up to go to the bathroom (only one ladies room, but it was clean!), I noticed what looked like a pretty big backyard. But it was dark, and super freezing, so I didn’t venture for a better peek.

In the end, the lack of a Happy Hour special (well, maybe there was, but if it’s $1 off of Coors, I could honestly care less), was made up for by the cheap and strong mixed drinks, as well as the 80s hair metal and the promise of a backyard in the spring. I literally love all of those things, so I will rescind every time I thought that Farside was a super lame place, and instead I will be planning my next trip back. Eight out of ten frosty mugs!