No one is quite sure why happy hour, the early evening period of 2-4 hours in which drinks are severely discounted at most bars, was given the name that it was. Wikipedia claims, in an article lacking in citations, but not charm, that “happy hour” is a current marketing term that originated in the 1920s aboard the ships of the U.S. Navy. Ok, ok, this is faux naiveté; everyone knows that happy hour is happy hour because it arrives conveniently at the time when daily obligations (work, school, Gilmore Girls) end and provides an excuse for several human beings to inexpensively congregate under the inhibition-loosener that is booze. Happy hour can be the place where best-friendships (or even bromances) are forged.

So, METRO has gathered some of the best happy hours in the city to set you on your way to exploring the felicitous phenomenon.

BEER

Herkimer Pub & Brewery
2922 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.
Daily 3 – 6 p.m. Two for one beer and well drinks
Sun. – Thu.  10 p.m. 3 p.m. $3 beer and well drinks

Yup, you saw it hanging out there in the title – the word “brewery.” What more could induce at least a scratch-off win worth of excitement in a true beer lover? The Herkimer specializes in lagers, from the Dortmunder (the lightest) to the High Point Dunkel (so dark it’s like espresso). There’s also a happy hour menu of appetizers for $3.95 that include a Frito Pie, a savory personal fondue of cheeses over tomato soup and sweet potato fries (try ’em, you won’t regret it).

Town Hall Brewery
1430 Washington Ave. S., Mpls.
Mon. – Fri. 3 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. House pints $3.75, Cask pints $4.00, Rails $3.25 ($3.75 with juice)

There it is again: brewery, and Town Hall is one of the best. Located in the Seven Corners area near the U of M, Town Hall hooks in fans during their drunken college years and keeps them coming back until far into their mid-life crises – it’s that kind of place. With a patio and hearty food options (plenty of fried food and buffalo sauce), it’s accommodating to even big families. Try the Black H20 Oatmeal Stout or the ultra-popular Masala Mama India Pale Ale. Avoid the jalapeno infused Hefeweizen.

WINE   

Zeno Café
Corner of Hennepin and Lagoon, Mpls.
Daily 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Bottomless wine tasting $10 house/$20 premium

Zeno Café is a classy Uptown locale with sophisticated flatbread pizzas, rich coffee cakes and a specialty in beverages. Throw down a $20 bill and enjoy sips of premium wines off their list, which includes the Bella Sera Pinot Grigio (honeysuckle, pineapple, apricot) and the Rosemount Shiraz (spicy licorice and berry fruit).

Barbette
1600 Lake St. W., Mpls
Mon. – Fri. 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Sun. – Thu. 10 p.m. – close
$4 house wine/bubbly, $4 domestic taps, $3 PBR, $5 select appetizers

Barbette serves up French cuisine amidst its atmospheric setting of glass lamp fixtures and café-style tables. Most of the wines are selected from families who’ve made wine-making their craft and the selections have an emphasis on natural processing. Plus, there’s cheap PBR for your non-grape-loving pals.


SPIRITS

Psycho Suzie’s Motor Lounge
2519 Marshall St. N.E., Mpls.
Daily 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Half-off tap beer, $2 wells

Yeah, it’s a motor-lounge, so don’t expect to find perfumes in the bathroom and servers without at least three piercings. There’s no fire, but instead a TV with a fire on it. Feeling cozy? The sarcasm-drenched menu has some of the best cocktails in the cities. For a few bucks you can even take home one of their tacky mugs. They’re also famous for their pizza, so why not wash down the rum and coke with the award-winning BBQ deep dish?

Town Talk Diner
2707 ½ Lake St. E., Mpls.
Tue. – Thu. 4 p.m. – 6p.m., 10 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Fri. and Sat. 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., 10 p.m. – 12 p.m.
$2 off cocktails, $2 domestic beers, $1 off wine, $3-$4 small plates

When it comes to cocktails, Town Talk Diner is best described with a “it’s the  ___’s ___ ,” phrase, as in “cat’s meow,” or “bee’s knees.” With frequent guest diners and cocktails whose innovation is famed citywide, it’s worth it to drop in when the price is knocked down a couple bucks. Try The Green Fairy (Bombay Sapphire, Zen Green Tea Liqueur, St. George’s Absinthe, lemon, sugar, egg white) or the possibly-named-after-John-Stamos cocktail the Stamos Fizz (house-made limoncello, St. Germain, cream, egg white, seltzer).


BONUS: SAKE

MOTO-I
2940 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.
Every day 2:20 – 6 p.m., 11 p.m. – 2 a.m. Sun. – Thu.
$5 sake, $3 wine, $3 beer

Moto-I is the first sake-brewing restaurant outside of Japan, and for some strange reason they decided to open up shop right in our own urban Siberia, Minneapolis [editor’s note: they’re owned by Herkimer]. With several types of gourmet, house-made sake and a staff put through intense sake-appreciation training, you’re sure to end up with a beverage that’ll make you enjoy getting sloppy. Plus, the snacks are cheap and interesting, like Honey Sambal Lotus Chips and Taro Shoestrings with spicy chili mango.