McGillin’s Olde Ale House has been a fixture in Philadelphia for a long time — since 1880, to be exact. Family-run, the no-frills bar is welcoming of all kinds and very generous with its drinks. With happy hour specials that change daily, often featuring pours of beer for just $1 or $2, it’s easy to see why you voted them winners of the Best Happy Hour in our 2012 Drinker’s Choice Awards.

We chatted with proprietor Chris Mullins, descendant (by marriage) of the bar’s original founder, to get his response on winning the trophy this year.

– Tell us what makes McGillin’s special and deserving of the happy hour win.

McGillin's is a unique bar located in the most convenient part of Center City!  As Philadelphia's oldest bar, we have a lot of history — our walls are lined with mementos from our great city's past. We also have a very diverse crowd. We like to say that at our bar, at any given time, you could run into a federal judge , a local plumber and a doctor — this makes for exciting conversations!  We also sport the best selection of local and domestic beers, highest quality bar food and by far the best prices, your dollar goes far here.

– What inspired you to open McGillin’s? Or actually, perhaps the bar has been around too long to answer that one.

I would say at 152, we are long past answering this!  We are here because this is our heritage, we are family owned, family managed and quite proud of this.

– If you had to pick a different establishment to win Best Happy Hour, which one would it be?

Pub & Kitchen.