Meeting people at bars in general is a meme. Loud music and drunk people who won't remember your name in the morning, why would you think this is a good place to make actual connections?
The real place (if you want to keep the alcohol theme) is a brewery in the afternoon/evening. Much more laid back atmosphere, and you already have an opener for meeting people, "been here before?" "What do you think of the Sweatibals IPA?," etc. Not to mention the fact that the crowd at a brewery versus a bar is completely different and usually more welcoming to random, real conservation in my experience.