The Big Friendly in Oklahoma City: A 40-Tap Beer Bar Built on Local Rosters and Flight Deals

The Big Friendly is a 40-tap beer bar in Midtown Oklahoma City that stocks a rotating mix of Oklahoma craft beers, regional US breweries, and select imports, with a standing emphasis on domestic options over European lineups.

What The Big Friendly actually is

Located on NW 23rd Street in the Midtown corridor, The Big Friendly operates as a dedicated beer bar rather than a full-service restaurant or nightclub hybrid. The tap list is managed to feature Oklahoma producers prominently—including regular pours from breweries like Stonecloud, Meadowlark, and Craft Kettle—alongside rotating selections from regional makers in Texas, Colorado, and Kansas. The space holds roughly 60 seats across a single large room with communal high-top tables, a 20-foot bar counter, and a patio that opens onto the sidewalk. This is the kind of bar where the bartender names the beer, not the customer's familiarity with global styles.

Beer selection and pricing

Flight boards dominate the menu. A five-beer flight (5-ounce pours) runs $12, and a four-beer flight costs $9. Individual pours range from $5 for lighter ales and lagers to $8 for imperial stouts and sours. Pint pricing sits between $7 and $11 depending on style and origin. Happy hour, Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., knocks $1 off flight prices and $0.50 off individual pours. The tap list updates roughly every two weeks; the venue posts current selections on social media, and staff can explain what's new on any given visit. Food is limited to snacks—nuts, pretzels, and packaged items—so customers routinely order delivery from neighboring restaurants or bring their own.

How The Big Friendly compares to other Oklahoma City beer bars

Bricktown Brewery, also on NW 23rd, operates as a brewpub with 20 in-house taps, heavier food programming (burgers, sandwiches, entrees in the $12–$18 range), and a larger dining room. Choose Bricktown if you want a meal with your beer. The Big Friendly suits visitors and locals who want to sample across breweries without committing to a full pint of each, and whose priority is breadth over food. Craft beer bars like The Loaded Bowl (Bricktown location, south of downtown) emphasize curated global selections and cocktails alongside beer, with food menus and higher drink prices ($10–$14 pints). The Big Friendly's strategy is simpler: beer, affordable pours, and Oklahoma focus.

Who it suits and who it does not

The Big Friendly works well for beer enthusiasts who want to taste multiple styles in one session without overdoing volume. The flight model also appeals to groups where members have different preferences; each person can order a flight and try what others are drinking. The no-food policy means solo drinkers or couples can linger comfortably, but families with children looking for full-service dining should look elsewhere. Visitors unfamiliar with craft beer styles will find knowledgeable staff who explain what's on tap and can suggest entry points into IPAs, sours, or stouts based on taste.

What a first visit involves

Walk in, let your eyes adjust to the dimly lit bar, and approach the counter or find a spot at the communal tables. Order a flight to start; staff will ask about style preferences and suggest combinations if you're unsure. Flights arrive on a wooden board with five glasses at different pour sizes and tasting notes printed on a small placard. A first visit typically lasts 45 minutes to over an hour if you're sampling thoughtfully. If you like what you try, ask the bartender to name the brewery and style so you can remember it for future reference or purchase elsewhere.

Hours, parking, and logistics

The Big Friendly is open Monday through Thursday 4 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday 2 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Parking is free on the street or in nearby Midtown lots; NW 23rd Street has decent availability except during peak evening hours on weekends. The bar does not take reservations. It sits one block south of the Midtown food-and-retail cluster, making it easy to combine with a dinner elsewhere and then move here for the evening.

The Big Friendly fills a specific niche in Oklahoma City's beer landscape by making flights affordable and Oklahoma breweries the default choice, which distinguishes it from larger regional craft bars while keeping prices accessible for casual exploration.