First drinks: Were ordered at the bar, from a pretty lacklustre bartender. We went with a couple of cold beers chosen from the full Mac's range available on tap at the Union Post. We also tried one of the sweet, recently returned Isaac's cocktail creations called Peach Party (apple ciderwith a shot of peach ice tea and a squeeze of lemon over ice). We'd stick to beers.
The vibe is: friendly, cosy and relaxed - much like other brew bars in the Mac's family that we've visited. It feels and looks familiar - with quirky pendant lights, exposed brick, tall wooden stools and brown leather arm chairs.
It smells of: Nothing but the cool, crisp autumn breeze blowing in the front windows.
On the stereo: Is a mix of casual, inoffensive pop rock with something to please everyone. My companion described it as "sympathetic to the patrons".
Room for improvement: The food menu is massive and the mixed plate failed to impress. We also had mixed vibes from members of staff. One woman stood out as being a great host, while her sidekicks didn't show much enthusiasm.
The perfect spot for: Settling into the lovely outdoor bench seats and sampling your favourites from the Mac's range of beers.
Most redeeming feature: The turfed and covered outdoor area with overhanging fairy lights is a cool spot for a couple of afternoon beers out in Ellerslie.
