| The
Quest for the Holy Grain - Best Beer Bars |
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For Bars in the City of Philadelphia, please see our Philadelphia page.
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The Liberty Taproom The Liberty Taproom is a spacious beer bar and restaurant located on the outskirts of Reading. The stone building and wooden beams in the ceiling create a cozy atmosphere that invites you in from the cold. Opening in July of 2011, the Liberty Tap room sports 32 taps, has a sizeable bar seating 30-plus, and a patio for those who wish to eat outdoors. There is plenty of parking and enough tables to limit the wait time for a seat. If a great beer bar wasn't enough, they also have a bottle shop that sells hundreds of single bottles and bombers. This place, which is owned by the proprietors of the Tavern on Liberty, should be around for a while. |
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Barley's & Hop's Barley's and Hop's beer cafe is located in a strip mall in the Bethal Park suburb of Pittsburgh. A small storefront, it has one wall lined with coolers; the other has beers on shelves. One can get a cold beer from the cooler, and drink it there, or a warm beer from the shelves to go. In the back is a bar area with 13 beers on tap. Bring a growler. The few small tables seat perhaps 20, with about 8 at the bar and several small tables outside. They have a very limited menu of basic pub grub. At a Friday Happy Hour, one server was drawing beer, busing tables, taking orders, and delivering food, all quite efficiently, with enough time to give out beer advice and ring up six-packs. This is truly a Questor's type of place !! |
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The Tavern on Liberty This great corner bar, which alternately seems to be called the Liberty Street Tavern, does not appear to be much from the outside, but one step inside the doors will change your opinion immediately. With 17 taps and over 400 bottles (large and small) you are sure to find something you'll enjoy. With a very knowledgeable owner and bartenders even the beer novice will find a brew for them. They offer a mug club for locals and mix and match 6 packs to go. A definite must when in the Allentown area. |
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Northeast Tap Room Tucked away in a slightly seedy part of Reading, this is truly a diamond in the rough. 12 rotating taps and plenty of additional bottles to choose from make this a place that any beer lover should visit. Any out-of-towners should be aware that this is definitely a Phillies bar and houses much Phillies paraphernalia throughout. |
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Ron's Original Bar & Grille Ron's is located just south of the Turnpike in that beer-friendly region west of Philadelphia. The bar seats about 20, with several tables, and was bustling on an afternoon in mid-winter. The 5 draft towers featured 20 well-chosen taps and maybe 150 bottles. Flights could be ordered. Our bartender was helpful, albeit very busy, and gladly provided samples. Ron's, which used to be called Ron's Schoolhouse Grille, also included several dining rooms separate from the bar. A trip to this beery area is a must for any Questor within range, and a visit to Ron's will be rewarded. |
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Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny Nestled in a quaint Pennsylvania valley a little ways east of Reading,, this hidden treasure boasts about 15 rotating beers on tap and at least 200 bottles to choose from. Enjoy a summer evening on the 3-level patio or a night in the English- style bar. During summer months at Union Jack's, an additional patio bar is open that offers 6 beers on tap that are different from the inside bar. Great beer selection and atmosphere. Only downside is they do not accept credit cards.
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Ugly Oyster In the heart of downtown Reading , Ugly Oyster is a true English Pub. Constructed in England, it was dismantled, transported to Reading and then reassembled. The bar has a Celtic atmosphere and knowledgeable bartenders to help you make your beer selection. With about 10 beers on tap and 100+ bottles the Ugly Oyster is a great place to visit.
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Capone's Located in an extremely beer-friendly region, Capone's is a beer Mecca by any standard. The tavern's long bar offers 16 taps comprised of local microbrews and imports. Clients who are unsure may order a sampler, and if you are enamored of one particular brew, you can fill your growler. The restaurant scores five stars, but that's not the best part for a Questor...adjoining the restaurant is a small beer store stocking over 650 hard-to-find brews; you can carry them out or order them from the bar. Proprietor Matt Capone was accomodating and glad to offer samples from the taps for those unsure of what to order. Any trip to the West Philly suburbs should include a stop at Capone's. |
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The Flying Pig Saloon The Flying Pig lies in quaint little Malvern, a few minutes south of Lancaster Pike. It has small town atmosphere with a big beer selection. 23 taps are offered, along with about 250 bottles. This array is augmented with about 15 different bottle-conditioned brews. The bar is horseshoe-shaped and copper-topped and contains about 15 stools. The place also provides about 15-20 tables. Staff were amiable, helpful, and generous, and the place was hopping on a Saturday night. The Flying Pig is a can't-miss attraction in this beer-friendly region.
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T. J.'s Restaurant & Drinkery ...or T. J.'s Everyday as it seems to be affectionately called is a friendly, neighborhood beer bar in a region that knows how to frequent such establishments. Located in a strip center just off of Lancaster Avenue, T. J.'s offers 25 taps of well-selected rotating beers and about 200 bottles. The drafts are clearly presented on a chalk board along with the prices. The staff was friendly and knew their products, and were quick to provide samples. The bar patrons were welcoming to strangers, and were eager to tell of other beer bars in the region. There were many bottles, large and small, that were offered for sale to go. T. J.'s seems to always have something going on, as a trip to their website will illustrate. |
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The Drafting Room The Drafting Room is a beer bar in a run-down srtip mall near Exton, PA, that specializes in local beers. They have about 15 taps of beers from local brewpubs as well as over 100 different bottles on the menu, sorted by style. Everything served is available to go. The pub grub on the menu seemed reasonably priced. The bar itself is quite small and the bar area only has about six tables, but there are several other dining areas. |
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The Canal Street Pub is situated in an old factory, and combines an unusual atmosphere with great food and beer. The 12-14 taps are well-chosen and well-cared for, combining craft brews, locals, and imports. The styles cover the spectrum. 50-60 bottles are also offered. Our bartender and waitress were friendly and knew their craft. Canal Street hosts brewfests and live music, and is located on top of Reading's Legacy Brewing Company.
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Cobblestone's Cobblestone's is the only beer bar in York...and it's a great place to visit. It's a huge venue in an old Knights of Columbus hall, so there is plenty of space for electronic games, TV's, poker games, a huge bar, and about 63 different draft beers. Needless to say, the selection is diverse, and food and beverage manager Lucas told us that the taps are well-cared for, and that about half of the taps rotate. They have a compact little beer book telling what's on tap, and what beers are coming up . They also fill growlers. |
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McGrath's Pub Located near Restaurant Row, McGrath's is much more than an Irish Bar...it is no doubt Harrisburg's best beer bar and a must stop for any Questor in the Keystone State's Capital City. It boasts 20 carefully selected, well-chosen taps. Many rotate, and included hard-to-find Stone IPA and an ale from Middle Ages. They also offer a selection of 80 bottles to a friendly, eclectic crowd. Beer Manager Adam was happy to talk about the trade, and cheerfully proffered samples. |
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Brewhouse Grille If you set out to find this place, be prepared to stop for directions...especially if you use MapQuest. It helps if you know it used to be called "The Iron Kettle." |
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Zeno's Pub 100 W. College Avenue 814-237-4350 Zeno's bills themselves as "State College's Best Pub" and this is no idle boast. With 29 taps, and nigh on to 200 bottles, Zeno's offers a beer selection that is well-planned and well-managed. Drafts include Germans, Belgians, Canadians, micros, and 1 hand engine. The bartender knew his beer. In a college town it must be a temptation to pump out the Miller Lites and Silver Bullets, but Zeno's crowd knows where to go for good beer and a comfortable atmosphere. Regulars can gain fame in the Beer Club, and if you don't feel like sitting, there's darts and pool. Yes, I'm thinking of going back to college. There's so much to learn. |
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Cooper's Seafood House (570) 346-6883 Cooper's is an upscale seafood restaurant in Scranton with excellent taste in beer. Cooper's offers 36 taps and maybe 175 bottles...our sources say even more. Any of the bottles shown above can be consumed on or off premises. They offer a Passport beer Club, tastings, and other special events. Their website also features a very useful beer guide. So if you're ever in Scranton, or on your way to Syracuse... |
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304 Poplar Street
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