I have been to The Broken Spoke now three times and have always had a great time. The most recent visit was on NYE with my wife and two other friends. We were admittedly a little nervous about the potential for crowds, but we arrived early enough and were able to secure a table upstairs.
The atmosphere is always cozy with either house music or some live jazz or folk going on downstairs. The bartenders are friendly and always patient with questions and requests. The drinks themselves are delicious - can't beat a solid Old Fashioned - and their craft beer offerings are wide-ranging.
Definitely a good alternative if you're hoping to avoid a normal sports bar, club, or the brewery scene, and looking for a solid adult bev.