| The
Quest for the Holy Grain |  |
| Best
Beer Bars |
| Baltimore | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Washington, DC | Rocky Mountain Region | Alaska | Austria |Slovak Republic | New Orleans | North Carolina | Georgia | Northern Ireland | New Jersey
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| South Carolina |Northern
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What
makes a great beer bar? It is not necessarily the number of taps, although
it's
enjoyable to walk into an establishment and see a long array of these
long-necked sentinels patiently waiting to serve you. It's more that beer must
be a priority. The taps should be well cared for, and the beer should
always be fresh. The proprietor should have a definite philosophy
that the beer is important, and a plan about what drafts are being offered. It's
nice to always see several local breweries represented. Some of the draft
beers should change on a rotating basis. A good bottle selection is also
a plus...one that takes the beer drinker along different paths; not simply a rehashing
of the draft selections. Ask questions of the bartender...is he or she knowledgeable?
See what other customers are drinking. Their choices and attitudes will
often reveal what type of place you're in. To summarize, consider:
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| We are aware that there are more great beer bars than those listed here. It is the Questors' policy to visit each one before posting it on the site. If you know of others, please email at walter@beerquest1k.com Download this Notesheet for evaluating a Beer Bar, Brew Pub or Retailer. |
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Uncle Mike's Highway Pub Uncle Mike's is a beer bar facing the interstate in Kenosha. The road is being repaired, closed except for "Local traffic to Uncle Mike's". The irregularly shaped bar takes up most of the space, with 8 or 10 tables scattered about and patio seating. The food is pub grub, inexpensive and good. They specialize in Wisconsin beers. Of the 50 taps, perhaps 10 are the expected macros; the rest from the local area. They also carry about 250 bottles of beer, also mostly from Wisconsin. The bottles are available to drink there or to go, same price. |
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| Bar Oberza Bar Oberza comes recomended in another forum, a college guide to beer in Slubice. One can see why this would be a kids place as it is adjacent to the university. It's almost like a typical old fashioned neighborhood bar. A sign over the door, up several steps to the living room sized restaurant that has perhaps six tables. The bar blocks the way to the kitchen where grandma is visible making the sandwiches. One beer on tap as well as six local bottles and Guinness. The exchange rate is favorable; a half litre of beer for E1.40. |
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Old Chicago Old Chicago is a chain. But it was Omaha and I was afraid I would find no good beer, so I went.
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Yard House Las Vegas Yard House is a beer bar in an upscale shopping mall at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. Very large, there are about 50 booths around the perimeter and about 50 more tables surrounding the massive bar. There is also an outdoor area. The centerpieces of the bar are the two beer tap towers, each with 80 taps. Lots of beer !! But actually nothing special or unique. Make a list of the most popular beers in the world; imports, macros, and micros. This list is what they serve. A caveat: The tapped kegs are in a small, glassed-in room (shown at right) up front on the way to the rest rooms. Some of the lines from the kegs to the taps are probably over 100 feet long. |
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Raglan Road Raglan Road is a cross between a dark, mellow Irish pub and a large, boisterous German beer hall. Located in the Disney World mall - also known as "Downtown Disney "- it serves Irish-like food and a small but tasteful set of beers. We had the scallop forest appetizer because it was an odd looking foodie gimmick - still, very good eats. On tap at the two bars were Irish standards (Guinness, Smithwick's, Harp and Murphy's), hometown beers from the Orlando Brewing Company (blonde, pale ale, brown ale), and an assortment of the usual beer suspects. In the spirit of drinking locally we tried the brewing company's offerings; all were pretty much brewed to style. During our visit a small band performed Irish music and a Irish dancer performed atop a small table in the middle of the cavernous main dining area. If you're looking for a comfortable place with decent beer and food, and you don't mind waiting for a seat, then this is your place in Disney World.
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The Ice House Pub The Ice House Pub is the nearest thing to a beer bar in the Punta Gorda, FL, area. In an historic building, an Icehouse, the bar has a British pub theme. There is a large bar area and an equally large game area. They have 24 beers of the world on tap and a bottled selection of about 160. The limited pub grub menu was moderately priced. |
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Kona Brewing Company
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Cheeseburger Island Style Okay, now you know their raison d' etre. Cheeseburger on Alo Moana is a bar, not a great one, maybe not even a good one, but it is a bar and it does have three Kona drafts, a Widmer Hefe, and a passel of the usual suspects. There is a limited variety of bottles that pick up the Heinekens and such like, so the beer list is unspectacular but it is many times more extensive than the Mai Tai and the food is better than the Irish Rose (where you can choose between the Cheeto and Dorito platters) and the Hideway where you can end up eating your teeth if you are not prudent. It is open and airy and the outdoor tables on a Waikiki night are quite pleasant. The wait staff works in grass skirts. Before you get excited, guys, wait there too because everyone is wearing shorts under them so the effect is more cheesy than effective. I kept pointing to the sign (left) and asking to be seated in this woman's section. She apparently was not working any of the nights I went there.
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Mai Tar Bar Sometimes the Quest serves you best by pointing away from some place. That is the service rendered here and now. We wanted to meet with some old friends, but they would not come to the places we liked—the Rose and the Hideaway. They chose The Mai Tai Bar. It is a lanai (patio) bar. It may indeed be the best Pau Hana spot in Honolulu, I do not even know what that means. This is a warning to all Questors - - forgo the Mai Tai. Generally we provide recommendations, this time we want to protect you from yourself.
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Yard House The Yard House is an upscale chain beer bar restaurant that made me feel ashamed to attend, except for the 103 taps, each of which was in fine working order. This is beermecca in Hono. An open front bar with a pristine clean glassed corridor where each keg and its hosing is on display greets the Questor. There are vibrating “wait for a table” indicators for those who arrive after six. There are seats at the bar until 6:45. There is a nice oblong bar ringed by taps in the center and maybe 30 seats in circumference. Most seats are in booths and tables, none are open and many wait at the bar. There are twenty bottles available as well. The beers are listed by style and the choices are good. I began with Franziskaner Dunkel Heffe strolled through a Rogues Gallery and Deschutte's a Hawaiian or two then back to Germany and, well, you get the idea --nice beers. The food is very good for a beer joint. As we sit at the bar there is a constant rotation of people next to us. Mostly Japanese. It causes one to wonder. Is there a woman in that country who weighs over 125 pounds? Is there a Japanese word for cleavage? If the over under on how many women's jeans would it take to make one pair to fit me is four the bet would be too close to call. It is heady stuff. I have waited for the woman in Hono who would make my knees buckle, she has not appeared. But at the Yard House I was body slammed by cleavage twice. Good beers, cleavage and perfect weather (no one has to shovel sunshine) are a powerful hat trick. A nice place to drink, I will not go back. The music is for 50+ boomers. It is great. In three places I have heard the best music I have heard in years. Traffic, CSN, Stones, you name it, so fine! They sell beer by the half yard here, but nothing over 6% ABV. A good place for good beers totally devoid of any danger at all. An athletic bar tender who tries way too hard to be my new best friend. It takes a while to unhinge here. A Questor can score new beers here but he can't get no…no, no, no.
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Hideaway We all want to know who are the doctors the doctors go to. Hideaway is the bar off duty bartenders and hookers go to. Every tourist town has at least one of these places. It is a dive bar for the professionals that is tolerant of a touron with money to spend. “Sunday morning, go see the Reverend”, I was told. “When?” I asked, “around midnight?” That is Sunday morning, right? Wrong. Seven AM or so the Reverend comes on duty. And so I did. It was 730 AM as I turned the corner into a dingy alley (just around the corner from the Irish Rose Saloon). The small parking lot was full, the juke box was blaring and bodies moved behind the windows. In I walked to a full-blown everybody's already drunk party. Working girls with their taxi flag dark playing darts. Working guys seat-belted to their bar stools. The odd biker over there. Bottles held vertical, the better to drain you with my dear. It is grungy with tacky red lights ringing the back of a bar most frat houses would be ashamed of. I saw no taps but that is because I could not really see the bar, there may have been one, but I guarantee you've had it before. PBR's rule here. This a bar. It ain't about beer. It is all about the lifestyle. Drunk at 7:30 Sunday morning and the Reverend is tending to your spiritual needs if it comes in 12 ounces or a shot glass. That is the lifestyle. This is the only bar I have ever reviewed where I didn't have several beers. I confess, I didn't have any. I could not merge into the lane with these folks doing 70 with no safety margin. I walked around, took in the show, climbed past the stack of cardboard boxes propping the door open and left. A green bottle would be a way exotic beer here. So I went back one night. It is a bar that is on the low edge of my kind of place. Women and guts with elaborately tattooed sleeves, lacey tops, and desperate lives. This is not where you go for beer; in an act of grand defiance I had a Heineken. It is where you go because the next stop is the graveyard. Or your hotel room. It is decadent, it is dirty, it is for hard core drinkers. Questors need to check their principles at the door. A Heinie was $3.50 in Waikiki...that absolves a multitude of sins. Can I hear an amen?
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Irish Rose Saloon You walk up some hard steps divided by a hand rail into two lanes each big enough for one person. Midway is a landing, built in the days when architects knew no one should fall all the way down these stairs. The last time I entered a walk-up bar it was in an 8-letter city beginning with H on an island in the Pacific. It was not a pleasant experience. I was deja vu nervous. Not to worry, the Irish Rose Saloon has restored the karmac balance to the Pacific Isle 8-letter H cities universe. |
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Imagine - Lock Road - Kowloon, Hong Kong If you're in Hong Kong you are not there for the beer. In many establishments your menu choices are bottle beer or draft beer, no brands mentioned. So when the sign outside Imagine in Kowloon said Erdinger, we had to look. Imagine is a second floor walk-up bar. A young woman singing earnestly in a TV video broadcast through a set of speakers greets you halfway up the stair. Something inside of you says, "Turn back now," but Erdinger awaits. Imagine is a tacky once bright red bar, conveniently located about equidistant from Very Good Seafood Restaurant and Pretty Beauty on Lock Road. Good luck finding it. It has bar seating, booths, vinyl couches, high tables with high chairs and Erdinger. Literally, before sitting all the way down, a way too young and way too cute Chinese girl in vinyl 60's go-go boots, short red and white skirt and a Budweiser top is literally on top of you. I cannot tell if she wants me to buy her a Budweiser for the pleasure of her company or if she just wants me to buy Budweiser; either way I am not interested and finally have to say so rather menancingly to get her to go away. No one speaks English so you pantomime “beer card”, get one, and see they have a dozen bottles... this includes the Asian trinity of Blue Girl, San Miguel, and TsingTao. Boddington, Guinness, Erdinger Champ, Heineken and Budweiser are also there. Three drafts await you: Hoegaarden and Stella Artois were the only two available. A bottle beer will cost you about $5 and large draft will set you back $7. With all its limitations Imagine is, I imagine, one fo the better beer bars in Kowloon. |
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Henry's 12th Street Tavern Henry's. "Don't go there." we were told. It is upscale. It is a meet market. Against local advice, following the Beer Traveler, we went and were glad we did. It is a bit chi-chi. But it has two large dining room areas, and a dark and somewhat depressing bar area with a few big screens hanging languidly. No one is here for sports. What saved it for us was the courtyard seating adjacent to the building in what once was part of an old manufacturing plant of some sort. The young wait staff had neither idea nor interest in the history of the building. Let's cut to the chase. There were two reasons we were glad to have hit this place. First, their beer list has 99 taps listed. Very heavy on the Pacific Northwest and with offerings from many of the better know local brewpubs. So it is a good place to sample Deschutes, Rogue, Bridgeport and others on tap in one place. It also added a Dogfish Head or other Eastern beer for the homesick. Some Belgians and Germans rounded out a nice list. However, they had just run out of my first choice often enough to make me wonder if the beer list had gotten a little outdated on them. The second reason to go to Henry's was the food. It was excellent. Interesting choices and bar stand-bys at reasonable prices. My chili scallops and prawns with fried rice and Henry's off the charts excellent slaw was superb. The orange and honey Oregon beer I ordered to accompany it had just run out though, so I did it with Paulaner Hefe, my go-to summer beer. The bonus for Henry's outdoor seating is the place is a meet market. Young women enter through the bright airy courtyard instead of the dark glass front door. They come in pairs, triples and quads. And it is Portland and everyone is fit and outdoorsy. Sit facing the steps. You're welcome.
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Green Dragon Bistro & Brewpub Green Dragon, owned by Rogue, does not make its own beer despite the name, but it is one of the three points of the Beermuda Triangle on Portland's eastside (along with the Lucky Lab and Roots). The Dragon makes creative and fun use of the old warehouse layout that typifies the Beermuda Triangle. Big open space means shuffleboard and picnic tables and old coldbox doors done up in slate boards and faux hippies and maybe a couple or three retired real ones. They stock 25-30 bottles but are out of the one you really want. There are about 20 taps and a greater variety in brand names than in styles. This venue had more of a neighbrhood feel to it than any of the other places we visited, oddly it was in less of a neighborhood than the other stops. A home for the homeless and a beer for the beerless. An Old Rasputin nitro was the perfect way to bid farewell to the undisputed Beervana. |
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The Tap Room & Grill Joe Sixpack referred to The Tap Room & Grill as "an oasis in the midst of the craft beer wasteland known as South Jersey." He was right on the mark. The main bar area is large, housing two bars, about 20 tables, booths, and seating for about 30 at the bars. There are about 25 different drafts all told, with a separate bar for craft beers. If that ain't enough, about 30 bottled selections are offered. There was a mature, eclectic crowd present on a Thursday afternoon, and the staff was very helpful in proferring information. The main room opened onto a deck, which was filling up, as Spring was in the air. This outside area contained two more bars, with once-a-month firkins in the plans. For any Questor in South Jersey, a trip to this friendly |
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Highlights from "An American's Thoughts on Beer in Spain" 1) You're not in Spain to drink beer. |
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Café Iruna If you're in Pamplona and not too busy running with or from the bulls, drop in to Café Iruna, Hemingway's local watering hole and one of his inspirations for The Sun Also Rises . The main bar and restaurant are said to look exactly as they did in Papa's day, but the real attraction is the smaller bar where he held court. Today a Hemingway statue at the entry to the bar marks his spot for tourists (from outside enter through the far right door). On our visit we had a San Miguel (only beer available) and got free pinchos (think egg salad on a small slice of bread) for about three euros. A real bargain. OK, so its not even a good beer place, but it is a great place to have a beer.
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The Bridge House The Bridge House is a beer bar just off the busy tourist area of Belfast. The seating area is very large, and there are other rooms and an upstairs as well. They have about 35 taps, but most of them are duplicates as well as a few wine pours. They also have four guest draughts of casks of english ale on rotation. Their claim to fame is their cheap prices, particularly on food. One stands in line, orders a drink and food telling the bartender the number on your table, and someone brings the food out soon (the drink comes from the bartender). |
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Ireland is a land of drinkers, but not of beerbars. All of the pubs serve Guinness, Smithwicks, Heineken, Carlsburg, and Budweiser. A bigger bar will have more towers repeating these same beers. Really big bars may also have a single tap of Kilkenny, or Beamish, or Coors. The liquor stores in Ireland are similar to those in Maryland, in that they sell wine, liquor, and beer. A typical beer cooler will have multipacks of the various sizes of bottles and cans of Guinness, Smithwicks, Heineken, Carlsburg, Budweiser, Coors, Miller Lite, and Corona, along with a selection of canned lagers from Eastern Europe. |
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The Distillery “…and you can't be a real city unless you have a brewery and a beer bar. It helps if you have some kind of a hockey team, or a recycling program, but at the very least you need a beer bar.” While Frank never had a chance to finish his thought, at last Savannah has its beer bar. The renovated Distillery opened in November 2008, offering twenty-one taps of American craft beers and a token Belgian (beer, that is). Another forty or so beers are available in bottles. Outstanding picks on a recent visit included drafts of Avery's Kaiser (imperial Oktoberfest) and Stone's Oaked Arrogant Bastard (welcome to Georgia, Stone!). If you can't decide then check out the beer flights (sweet, hoppy, “sunset”) and even the beer blends. There's bar food and screenings of silent films; owner Michael Volen promises a variety of entertainment in the near future. The Distillery – another reason to be in Savannah .
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Taco Mac Taco Mac is a cross between a decent beer bar and a McDonalds. Founded by two guys from Buffalo who know something about chicken wings, it's a family-friendly place with a big enough beer selection to keep at least the casual drinker happy. There's a bunch of Taco Macs - 26 in the metro Atlanta area and one in Chattanooga (sadly, there are none in Savannah ). I've dined and drank in several, including most recently the Woodstock Taco Mac in the northern Atlanta suburbs. Here you'll find plenty of trucker dads, soccer moms, and nine-year olds. The food is typical chain family stuff, and, yes, the wings are tasty. Beers change frequently; Woodstock Mac had 50 on tap and 437 in the bottle when I was there. That's about what you'd find in a decent beer store, but don't go there looking for, say, Lagunitas' latest Zappa release. Even so, with several hundred beers at each location (and a slightly different list at each) you'll enjoy filling your Passport Club card while the family downs affordable burgers and fries. And wings of course.
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T-Bonz Grille & Pub T-Bonz Grille & Pub is described as a "neighborhood hideaway" and that serves as an apt description. Tucked behind a strip center in a nouveau rural part of Ellicott City, T-Bonz proved a dark, cool respite on a 100-degree day. T-Bonz has 13 taps, 10 of which rotate, and these 10 had a stellar selection of microbrews. T-Bonz also offered about a dozen macro bottles. The L-shaped bar seats about 15, and there were a large number of booths and tables. Ambitious beer drinkers can order a 122-ounce beer tube for $22. The patron next to us explained how he had recently consumed one by himself in less than two minutes. Ouch. |
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Lure's Bar & Grille Located on the way to Annapolis in Crownsville, the Gateway to Southern Maryland, is hidden Lures...a gem of a beer bar. |
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Royal Mile Pub Just off the main drag of Georgia Avenue in Wheaton, MD, lies the Royal Mile Pub. Friendly and unpretentious, Royal Mile offers 10 taps and about 60 bottles of beer. Although they offer delicious and interesting Scottish food and other pub fare, they are very serious about the beer here. The selection is well-chosen to reflect the best in German, British, and Scottish beers, and American microbrews as well. The staff was friendly and helpful, and, very importantly, the beers were served in their correct glasses. Royal Mile is also a haven for lovers of single malt scotch, but that would be a topic for another website. |
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Flying Saucer Draft Emporium If you're going to be anywhere near Raleigh, NC, say Savannah or Baltimore, you have got to stop at the Flying Saucer. With beer, brats, and beer goddesses it scores the beer bar hat trick.
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Route 66 Microbrewery The Route 66 Microbrewery is, despite its name, a beer bar at the Albuquerque Airport. One must go through security to drink there, but it is a good place for beer geeks to fill in their beer lists as the bar serves ten local craft brews as well as ten of the other usual suspects. Selections from the Tractor Brewing Company seemed popular. |
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| BRASSERIE PUB AU BUREAU 21 PLACE ST LOUIS, Advertised as a pizza place, The Bureau is actually a rather nice place to drink just off the busy shopping district in Metz, France. The bar area is dark and richly appointed, with about 15 seats at the bar and other seats for about 20 more. The dining area seats about 40 with benches, booths, and alcoves, and there is more upstairs. But we are here for the beer. They have 13 Belgian and French beers on tap, as well as bout 50 more bottles, sorted by style on the menu. The prices are resaonable for this area.
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O'Carolan's Harp O'Carolan's Harp is an Irish bar in Metz, France. It is the first bar one comes to enroute to the busy shopping district a block away. The bar is darkly paneled and has small lights, with about 10 tables and a large bar that seats about 20. A larger dining area is in the back. They have nine beers on tap including Guinness and Kilkenny as well as several Belgians and about 30 bottled beers. Beware: The tax is 20%, thus a E3.00 beer costs E3.60. |
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Deja Vu Restaurant & Pub The Déjà Vu , a block off of Bourbon Street at Dauphine and Conti is not a place a Questor will score a beer, unless you are lacking NOLA Blonde (do not make the trip for that reason!). It is, however, an interesting place to intersect local habitués and to drink a cold beer or two before heading out on an adventure or heading home after one. Guinness, NOLA Blonde. PBR, and Abita Amber graced the four taps. The bottle selection included some Abitas but Heineken was basically the elite of the bottle selection. Don't let that stop you. Happy hour from 4-6 each day gets you a cool heinie for $1.75 in the French Quarter. You can't walk by a panhandler for less than that in this town! The wait staff is efficient and just the right level of friendly, the air is on high and they have the best digital jukebox in the town. Local bartenders stop there coming and going to work and some working girls may stop by too, but they will not be working here. This is where natives can trade “touron” (rhymes with moron) horror stories and relax a little. It is not a dinner stop in this town but the food is good and you can get a (I ain't saying it's good or not) steak for $6 on TuTh. And the place is haunted to boot. Located in the former red light district, this place can be your home bar for your stay in NOLA, if you're happy with the taps or running your hands over the gentle curve of a cool heinie.
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Erin Rose Bar Erin Rose. Dive bar. Small, dingy and dark. Barmaid Molly has attitude that makes a couple beers worthwhile, but you have to give her an opportunity to show it. Ask her to design a tattoo for you. Forget the beer, you're here 'cause you are drunk. Go home, get some sleep. You know you'll be back here tomorrow too. |
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Cooter Brown's Tavern New Orleans is an alcohol-besotted town with very few good beer places. One of them, however, is Cooter Brown's . The dingy tavern is adorned with caricatures of 1950's to 70's-vintage celebrities. Each caricature is 60% head and holds a beverage in a tiny hand. Tables for 2 are end-to-end across a sizeable beer hall area. The few booths are mirrored, the ceiling is tongue and groove and you'll find a juke box, an ATM, and a pool table. But there are two reasons to come to Cooter's... beer and oysters.There are over 40 drafts and hundreds of beers from almost three dozen countries. A pitcher of Coors light will run you $9 and Lindeman's Framboise Lambic will set you back $32. A dozen oysters will cost you $8.The tavern sets 200 yards from the Mississippi levee and if the levee breaks here NOLA will suffer its biggest beer setback to date.
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Brasserie FEDERAL Switzerland is unique among the German speaking countries in that the people are not particularly into beer. There is a dominant brewery in each of the geographic regions. Each brewery bottles their beer. Each bar and restaurant in that region has that one brand of beer, and usually only one tap at a time. The restaurant beer list will also have that brand in bottles, usually dunkel or weisse, and maybe a guest beer such as Heineken. The grocery usually has only the local beer. In areas that are near the regional boundaries, some of the bars will have the beer from the other region. |
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Plzenský dvor Plzensky Dvor is a beer bar on a side street near the busy shopping area. It is a long, narrow beer hall in the German tradition. The only English words they know are "Pilsner Urquell." Wait a minute! Is that English? Nevertheless, there are several other draft beers on their menu.
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Tschugamuga
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Plutzer Brau
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Bierakedemie Bierakademie is a bar just off the main shopping street in downtown Karlsruhe. It reminds one of a college happy hour bar in that the large U- shaped bar has only a few stools but probably stands about 40. An alcove to the side seats perhaps 20 more. The few decorations are beer or soccer posters. No TV, no food...just beer. Just kidding...they have a good selection of shooters, and if you insist, a red wine and a white one. But there selection of 10 local draft beers and six bottles is impressive by local standards. |
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Bolay's Bierstube Bolay's is one of the 20 bars in the busy tourist area of Saarbrucken, Germany. Though referred to as a sports bar, it is a small and cozy place to drink. The bar seats about seven and there are about ten tables. They have four different taps, featuring draft beers from the Bruck brewery, as well as bottled Belgians. The proprietors went out of their way to make this Questor comfortable. |
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Solberfass'je Haxenhaus A small cafe in an area of small cafes, Solberfass'je is unique in that it has six taps, all of different styles and from different brewers as well as a selection of bottled beer. The ground floor seats about 25, although there is an upstairs as well as an outside area. The food looked good, but was kind of pricey. |
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Mommseneck
Am Potsdamer Platz Mommseneck
is located in the center of a bustling tourist district. They have abundant seating
outside in both the front and the rear, lots of seating in the barroom, a large
bar, and an upstairs, too. They have 12 local beers on tap and a beer list with
100 bottles. About 50 of these are German beers, about 25 are European beers,
and the rest from elsewhere. The service is what you would expect in a large popular
bar, and the prices reflect how far the beer has traveled to get there. It's a
nice place to enjoy beer with other tourists.
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Bavarian Beerhouse The
Bavarian Beerhouse
is a copy of a German style drinking establishment with about 30 picnic tables
set up for eating and drinking. The seven draft beers are all from Munich. When
I pointed this out to the waitress, she said every one that worked there was from
Munich. |
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The Dove The Dove has the smallest bar in Britain, maybe 4 feet across, with a service bar only slightly bigger, and two small rooms inside. Walk outside to the one-and-a-half patios, and enjoy a wonderful view of the Thames. They have six European beers and 4 Fuller's handpulls.
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From Foamee's Guide to Oxford: Gloucester
Arms Pub- The Goose is only a block from the tourist trail, but contains locals watching the telly and smoking. With 35 taps it seems like a real beer bar, until one realizes that they have the 6 European beers repeated a total of 5 times, plus 5 local handpulls. The guide book says
the Kings
Arms
is a good place to meet "professors and gays", so tourists abound. They
have 6 European beers and 5 handpulls in a comfortable setting. |
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Turf Tavern The
Turf has been in it's present location since the 1700's, with a "liquids
concern" on the site since the 1300's. It lies just outside the walls of
Oxford. Down a maze of alleyways, it's worth the trip. (See website)The
main bar room is rather small, but they have three levels of sitting rooms as
well as three separate patios that are heated when need be. They have 11 different
hand pulls on an agressive rotation. |  |
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Porterhouse Pub Porterhouse
is one of a chain of Irish pubs. This location, in a busy tourist area, is rather
new, and large for an Irish pub, but has lots of small rooms and cozy nooks. They
have ten of their own beers, all made in Dublin, at the Porterhouse Brewery. They
also feature about five guest hand pulls, and an enormous selection of bottled
beers. |
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Churchill Arms The Churchill Arms, a bar in
the Notting Hill area of London, is a classic bar very popular with the locals.
The many frosted windows let it be both light and dark inside due to the dark
paneling and many Churchill memorabelia. The full line of Fullers, with duplicates,
highlights the 19 taps. There is also a portrait gallery of American presidents,
and a butterfly collection. Children welcome in restaurant only. |
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| Sun
in Splendour Sun
in Splendour is a bar deep in the tourist area of Notting Hill. With throngs of
tourists, and probably some locals, the bar is crowded. With many windows, it's
brightly lit, and sofas, upholstered stools, and other comfy seats crowd the place.
The bar is standing room only. The prices on the food menu were quite reasonable,
but they don't serve food during what would be happy hour. They offer 13 taps
of European beer. |
| Portobello
Gold Portobello
Gold is an old and dark place in the high tourist area of Notting Hill. Several
couples were on the patio, but the inside was empty, although the classic interior
and 60's music were enticing.The bar has two halves, one with sofas and booths,
and the other with a harder edge...about 10 stools around the bar and permanent
stools situated around the peremiter. They have 9 European beers on tap plus two
hand pumps. The food menu prices are very high end. |  |
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Rams Head Tavern Rams Head Tavern used to be one of Maryland's most well-established brew pubs, however, now all their beer is brewed in Delaware. Their fare is pretty standard...lager, ale, stout, light, and a seasonal. In addition to their house beers, their guest taps bring the draft total above 20, and they stock about 120 bottles. Things can get pretty hectic in the bar when busy, and the bartenders, though seeming to move at warp speed, may take a while to serve you. If this happens, try the Down Bar in the basement; it's friendlier, and you may want to soak up the lore of old Annapolis, or join the World Beer Club. Adjoining the tavern is Rams Head On Stage, a national entertainment venue and one of the best places to see live music in the region. A very nice beer bar if no longer a brew pub, Rams Head also has a location in Savage Mill.
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| Heroes
Pub A beer bar in a firefighters-themed sports bar...can't wait to see this, says I. What a surprise! 48 taps, neighborhood atmosphere, and a friendly staff all made the visit a pleasure. The taps presented indeed a colorful array, and featured many regional micros along with 14 or so imports. Heroes
is a lively place. The interior is spacious, and includes a very long bar and
dartboards. Carie, our barmaid, was knowledgeable about the beers, and could not
have been more helpful. We consumed 4 drafts, all of which were fresh and well-cared
for. Include Heroes in Annapolis on your list of great beer bars with one of the
largest draft selections in the state.
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Old Stein Inn 410-798-6807 How far do you have to go to find a cozy little German bar and restaurant, featuring 10 taps with imported German drafts and authentic German cuisine? That all depends on how far you live from Edgewater, MD. Located roadhouse-style right on Central Avenue in this small
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| maritime suburb, Old Stein Inn is about 15 minutes south of Annapolis. The drafts come in either .3 or .5 liters, and if one of these doesn't suit you, they have about 25 German bottles.The bartenders, in this case, Dathan and Lee, went out of their way to be friendly and informative, as did Mike, the owner. The clientele knows their beer...that's why they come here. There is also a Biergarten for warmer weather. |  |
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Galway Bay 63
Maryland Avenue Galway
Bay is a great little pub adjoing a fine Irish restaurant. Slightly off the
main tourist path, Galway Bay offers about 12 well-cared for taps and as many
bottles. The bartenders are friendly and know their craft, especially Hoss and
Dave. The crowd seems mostly a mix of professionals,both tourists and locals.
They sometimes have acoustic music, but no raw oysters. If you're in Annapolis
ask for directions...it's a short and very nice walk from the Main Street corridor,
and you get to see the Governor's Mansion and the State House. |
Baltimore Area
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Alonso's Alonso's has been a fixture in Baltimore since 1931, but has recently put together an impressive beer portfolio. They offer 12 taps, 9 of which rotate, and also stock over 200 bottles. On our visit, the drafts included several locals, and Belgian styles seemed to be prevalent. The bartenders were plentiful and helpful. The crowd was a varied neighborhood Baltimore mix and the decor included Orioles, Colts, and Ravens jerseys ranging from Berry to McCrary. TV's were visible, but not overwhelming...this is not a sports bar, but there will be sports on television. Adjoining Alonso's is Loco Hombre, a Mexican restaurant. The bar serves both places. |
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Jack's Bistro You may remember this venue as Buddy's, but the beer selection and food quality have sure taken a step up since then. Jack's features 8 taps and about 65 bottles, a well-chosen assortment of Belgians, other imports, and microbrews. The staff members were knowledgeable and helpful in making selections. The bar seats a dozen; there are three booths and numerous tables for dining. The place was packed and hopping on a Saturday night. The food is gourmet quality, and prices were high for both food and beer...having stated this, what we ate and drank were worth the cost. Jack's offers a beer dinner for $20 every Thursday.
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Hudson Street Stackhouse Located in Canton just about a block and a half from beer-destination Mahaffey's, is the Hudson Street Stackhouse. Recently renovated, this neighborhood bar features lots of artifacts from its previous tavern incarnations. The large 3-sided bar seats about 25, with about a dozen tables. There are 12 taps...3 of which rotate. The more than 40 bottles cover all the styles and include some imaginative choices. Our barmaid was friendly and informative. Any of the aforementioned features is reason enough to amble a few blocks west of the Square and have a few at the Stackhouse. |
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Hamilton Tavern With the exception of Racer's, the Harford Rd. corridor used to be a beer wasteland. This is no longer the case with the re-opening of the Hamilton Tavern. One of the owners, Tom Creegan, is also a part owner of Brewer's Art, so it is not surprising that the fine beer is of primary concern. Specializing in American microbrews, Hamilton Tavern offers four taps and a stellar selection of about 20 bottles. The interior is unpretentious with an intriguing agrarian motif. The place was packed on a Saturday evening, indicating that the beer-appreciating populace of the region was waiting for a place like this. Cruise the corridor and check it out. |
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Elliott's Pour House Utilizing a 20-tap tower salvaged from the late Crabby Dick's of Fells Point, owner Jeff Mason has begun elevating Elliott's Pour House, located east of Canton in Brewers Hill, into a craft beer destination. Jeff now has 12 craft beers on tap, and plans to have 20 in the near future. Concentrating on American microbrews, EPH has the likes of Troegs, Smuttynose, & North Coast represented. There are also about 20 bottles. EPH has a neighborhood feel, with a pool table and other activities. Local beer enthusiasts owe it to themselves to throw back a few at Elliott's Pour House. |
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| Victoria Gastro Pub
8201 Snowden River Parkway A gastropub is a public house serving food that is a step above your average pub fare. This would be true of Victoria. Of course, we were there for the beer. Victoria offers 24 taps, which seem to be carefully selected and cared for. Additionally, they have about 100 bottled beers. The staff was helpful with suggestions and explanations. The drafts were expensive, but big, and the food that we ordered was very tasty. So if you've never visited a gastro pub, Victoria would be a great one with which to start. |
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Muggsy's Mug House For those of us still mourning the closing of Sean Bolan's, Muggsy's Mug House has arrived on the beer scene. Occupying the same location in Federal Hill as did Bolan's, Muggsy's offers 18 taps and about 40 bottles for your enjoyment. Danny, the proprietor, promises the arrival of Belgians, firkins, and other sudsy selections, that will attract appreciators of great beer. A large chalkboard lists the beers along with ABV and price. Muggsy's features a Mugg Club, the parameters of which you can peruse on their website. This bar is fast becoming a neighborhood hot spot. A stop at Muggsy's is imperative on your next visit to Federal Hill. |
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Judge's Bench If you haven't checked out the Judge's Bench in Old Ellicott City lately, it's time to do so. Mike, the new owner, has a vision of making this a "local pub version of beer drinkers' Nirvina." He is well on his way. The 17 taps are carefully chosen and the beer seems very well cared for. The chef creates some great dishes, and there is live music every night. Judge's Bench is one more reason to visit Ellicott City. |
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Metropolitan Coffeehouse & Wine Bar Located in Federal Hill, the Metro is a wine bar that takes beer very seriously. With 6 taps downstairs and six taps upstairs (when open), the Metro offers an excellent selection of microbrews, Belgians, and other imports. The taps are well-chosen and seem to be well cared for, and the menu also offers about 50 bottles. |
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Bertha's Bertha's
is a great bar, pure Baltimore, and classic Fells Point. They have a tap selection
of about 10 good ones, and several bottles. They don't bother trying to be a great
beer bar as such, but there are always a few good locals and the well-rounded
selection is always fresh. Bertha's is world-famous for mussels, and you'll see
their bumper stickers all over the country. Great bar food, and an adjoining restaurant
that is famous for it's fine food round out the Bertha's experience...oh yes...they
have the most awesome urinal in the city. |  |
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Frisco Grille & Cantina
The
Frisco Grille
& Cantina (nee Frisco Burrito) is
Columbia's pre-eminent beer bar. Proprietor Adam Carton added a state-of-the-art
20-tap system, and is the process of welcoming many of the area's beer afficinados,
who have been wandering aimlessly since the closing of The Last Chance Saloon
years ago. Almost all of the 20 taps rotate, featuring imports and
micros with emphasis on locals. If what you thirst for is not on tap, check out
the array of 65 available bottles. The food is great, and the staff very friendly
and helpful. |
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Grand Cru Grand
Cru is not a beer bar; it's a wine bar that's a great beer venue, and
therefore merits inclusion here. Just look at their 6 taps, and you will see that
they have been thoughtfully chosen. Just sample one, such as a Bitburger Pils
or a Belgian, and you will agree that they are meticulously cared for. In the
cooler, the Questor will find about a dozen 750-ml bottles of hard-to-find brews,
and maybe six 12-oz. bottles of the same. The selection leans toward Belgians. |  |
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| Ale Mary's 1939
Fleet Street Opened
in March, 2005, Ale Mary's
was a beer bar from its inception. Bill and Tom Rivers(right)and wife Mary, offer
Guinness and five well-selected micros on tap, augmented with a generous list
of about 35 bottles. The food is excellent. Located on the cusp of Canton and
the fringe of Fells Point, a stop at Ale Mary's is a mandate on your next brew-hunting
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No Idea Tavern No Idea is a friendly neighborhood watering hole with 4 taps and about 20 or so bottles. There is pool, shuffleboard, and other games, as well as lots of unbelievable beer specials. Regular drafts come in big 20 oz. glasses. It's fun and you'll want to return. |  |  |
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Phoenix
Emporium
For a nice selection of bottled beers with a modest rotation rate consider the
Phoenix Emporium in Historic Ellicott City. The proprietors have also started
a "100 Beer Club" whereby a client can earn recognition and prizes by
consuming 100 different bottled beers. No time limit. |
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Max's on Broadway Max's (MOB) is a steady fixture in Historic Fells Point on the corner of Broadway and Lancaster Street. With about 68 different drafts, and hundreds of bottles, Max's claims the largest draft beer selection in Maryland. The taps are generally well-cared for too. The crowd? Young. Want to escape? Walk upstairs to the Mobtown Lounge. A laid-back more relaxed atmosphere with numerous taps and bottles. And since the statewide smoking ban, Max's has opened a cigar shop next door. |
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Mahaffey's was voted Baltimore's Best Local Pub in Jan. '05 |
2706 Dillon St Wayne Mahaffey set out to run the best beer bar in Canton, and most patrons would agree that he has succeeded. With around 15 taps, a hand engine, and maybe 50 different bottles, Wayne not only provides variety, but different and ever-changing variety. He moves unusual kegs through the establishment with astonishing rapidity and regularity. Most of the taps rotate. There is a 100-Beer Club, Bomber Night, and a staff that is friendly and knowledgeable about the beer. Food specials draw large crowds on many evenings. |
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The Wharf Rat at Fells Point 801 S. Ann Street The Wharf Rat
is a bar with true character, embodied in its nautical memorabilia of Old Baltimore.
Serves about a dozen of its excellent Oliver's Beers and has about 6 guest taps.
If that's not enough, they can come up with about 30 different bottled beers.
Two hand engines. The beer is superior. Good jukebox, decent food, and a men's
room you won't forget. Raw oysters the size of Big Macs. The Oliver's beers are brewed at the Wharf
Rat's Harborplace Brewpub which ain't a bad place to visit either. |
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Many Americans are in need of counseling as to how the leek should be worn on St. David's Day. | The Wharf Rat is a superb bar with excellent ales, but, as the staff told us, "We're a bar...not a restaurant." On a busy night you may want to inquire before you order a snack as to how long the wait might be. This could prevent exasperation on both sides of the bar. |
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South Charles Street
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Ropewalk Tavern 1209
S. Charles St.
Ropewalk Tavern has come a long way from the days when it was a one-room saloon. It now boasts numerous rooms, multi-levels, and more bars than I can sit at. Ropewalk offers a chance for customers to earn their Masters of Beer Appreciation, and brass plaques on the wall list those who have taken advantage. If you leave your cigars at home, you can buy some there. With 17 taps and 155 bottles, Ropewalk is a great beer bar as well as one of Federal Hill's liveliest night spots. The eclectic decor sports pool tables, murals, and statues of sailors, Indians, and republicans. The food is good, and the owners and staff will make you feel at home. |
Manager Linda laughs it up with a regular |
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An eclectic decor |
Many of the artifacts are of historic Baltimore significance |
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John Steven, Ltd. 1800
Thames St. John Steven Ltd. is so renowned for being a fine bar & restaurant, it may get overlooked for being a great beer bar. Don't make this error! With about 14 taps leaning toward local products, and maybe 25 bottles, John Steven is definitely a great place to go for a beer. And the food is great, too.
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Growler's Pub Fleet
St.& Potomac 410-276-7553 When John Bates left Racers to open his own bar, he brought with him the desire to provide a diverse and delicious variety of beers. He has done so. With 10 well-cared for taps and about 30 bottles, Growler's is a friendly neighborhood pub, that makes it well-worth venturing a few blocks North of Canton's square.
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Marty behind the bar at Growler's |
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John the Proprietor |
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Look for the understated storefront...its easy to miss but well worth finding. |
Racers Cafe Racers may have been Baltimore's first true beer bar. About 15 years ago they made the decision to eliminate all pedestrian bottles and serve good beer at reasonable prices. Taps rotate quickly, selection is diverse, and they have a 3-for-$5 special all the time. Beers are ordered by number. (see chalkboard below) Draft beers are micros and imports and they now have a selection of Belgian ales in bottles. Racers is unpretentious and substantial, like the neighborhood it resides in. The people are friendly. There are barrels of free peanuts and pretzels, and from time to time, Racers hosts a beer tasting or brewfest.
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Duda's
is reported to be the oldest bar in Fells Point. |
Duda's Tavern 1600
Thames St. Fells Point A true neighborhood establishment, Duda's is nothing if it's not unpretentious. It's a super beer bar without even trying to be. Duda's has 16 taps featuring several locals, and about 70 bottles, including a number of specialty beers. The emphasis seems to be on their fine food, especially the hamburgers and seafood, but the staff is wise to the beer, too. Free pretzels with mustard...I also like the chalkboard listing draft beers with ABV's. |
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The Owl Bar One
East Chase Street |
The Owl Bar What do William Howard Taft, Chaing Kai-Shek, Cab Calloway, and Henry Fonda have in common? They've all been to the Owl Bar. You won't see it advertised...you have to know it's in the back of the lobby of the historic Belvedere Hotel. As a speakeasy during prohibition, the two owls over the bar served to warn patrons when it was safe to drink. The Owl Bar has about 18 taps, leaning toward regional brews, and another 12 or so bottles. It may not be your quintessential beer bar...possibly they would need a few more bottles, and a staff that's really into the beer, but its a darn good bar with plenty of interesting choices. While leaving, ride up to the 13th floor just to get a gargoyle's-eye view of Baltimore. Still thirsty? The Brewer's Art is just across Charles St. |
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The Dog Bar 410-727-6077 If you are looking for one of the most fun and friendly beer bars in Baltimore, look no farther than Thirsty Dog. Thirsty Dog has about 12 beers on tap, plus one seasonal. Fresh beer has always been a hallmark of Thirsty Dog, as founded by Steve Osmond, and now they make their own beer in Westminster. There should be a draft here to satisfy the taste of any beer drinker. If not, several bottles are available. The staff is always knowledgeable, helpful, and gregarious; and often very busy. The bar is dog-friendly, the pizza is excellent and diverse, and then there is the Dog Deal...all the drafts are 2-for-$3...all the time. |  |
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Henlopen City Oyster House Centrally located in downtown Rehoboth Beach is the Henlopen City Oyster House, a one-stop destination for this Questor's two favorite items...raw oysters and great beer. The Oyster House offers 8 well-chosen taps, which ranged on our visit from Allagash Curieux to PBR. If one of these doesn't please you, at least 30 bottles are available. There is also one cask ale. The staff... bartenders, waitresses, and shuckers were friendly and helpful. The mollusk- lover can choose from six different varieties of oyster. It was a mature crowd that filled the bar during our two visits. The bar seats about 10, with room for about 15 more at wall tables. Get there early, as the bar was filled on a Monday and a Tuesday evening. Whether you make this your one stop for the night, or amble on to any of the other beer and oyster venues in town, Henlopen City Oyster House should definitely be on your must-visit list. |
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Pickled Pig Pub The Pickled Pig Pub is located in a strip center on the Route 1 highway, a couple of miles north of downtown Rehoboth Beach. It is one of the establishments that makes Rehoboth the Beer Destination of the Eastern Shore. Pickled Pig offers 14 taps, the majority of which rotate, and about 50 bottles. There is also a hand engine with one beer in cask. Patrons sit at a large U-shaped bar or at tables, and most seem to be here for the beer. Our barkeep was knowledgeable and helpful. Beers were also served in the appropriate glasses. Joining the Pub Club will get you 20-ounce pours for the price of a pint. Pickled Pig also hosts beer dinners during the off-season. |
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Timothy's Tap House & Raw Bar Timothy's, which is located on Rehoboth's main highway, probably has the largest draft selection at the beach. Although many of the taps were the usual macros, craft breweries like Stone, Dogfish Head, Evolution, 16-Mile, Rogue, and Troeg's were also featured,with about 40 bottled beers as well. The place is one big room, with a U-shaped bar that seats about 25. There were many booths and tables, and the place had a spacious feel to it. A raw bar with 6 types of oysters was all the menu I needed to see. |
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| Fins
Fish House & Raw Bar Fins is an outstanding seafood place that happens to have a great beer selection...something that is hard to find on the Eastern Shore. If raw oysters are your thing, Fins has 6 varieties...yes, you can get a sampler. Our bartender Jamie was eager to explain all about Fins' philosophy, as well as about the seafood and the beer. They have 8 drafts, 3 of which rotate, and upon our visit that included Paulaner Hefeweizen and Unibrou Ephemere. They also had about 25 bottles. If you, like us, have long considered the Eastern Shore a beer wasteland, visit the town of Rehobeth. |  |
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Kraftwork Kraftwork has an ambitious list of 25 taps with some very unusual hard-to-find beers. The 25 on-deck beers were also listed. The interior space is a visual celebration of art, industry, and the elements of design. Huge augurs, wrenches, and blades pay homage to the combination of style and function. The walls are exposed brick, and the several TV's and background jazz were non-invasive. The U-shaped bar seats at least 20 persons; picnic style as well as 2-person tables must accomodate about 40 more. We were very pleased with our food and beer choices. Add Kraftwork to your Fishtown pub list. |
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Prohibition Tap Room Prohibition Tap Room is a little gem of a bar in Philly's Callowhill area. The interior is comfortably dark, and the interesting penninsular bar seats many in a small area, with tables filling the remaining space. The overall atmosphere was laid-back, friendly and unassuming. |
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Resurrection Ale House The Resurrection Ale House in Philly's Grays Ferry region is a cozy, attractively appointed neighborhood bar and restaurant. The bi-level bar features 12 taps plus a hand engine. Forty-some bottles are also offered. Draft selections are listed on a chalkboard above the upper bar. There is seating for maybe 15-20 at the bar, with a number of chairs and tables. There is lots of wood and glass, making the place feel larger than it is. Sean, our bartender, was very helpful and eager to supply information about the beer or bar in general. This is a place to visit more than once. |
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Hawthorne's Hawthorne's is located in the Bella Vista section of Philadelphia, about a half-block from Bella Vista Distributor. Rather than a bar or a restaurant, it appears to have a split personality: part beer store and part elegant lunch room. With refigerator cases lining the walls, and a modern, eclectic menu, Hawthorne's suceeds in fulfilling both the gourmand and the beer connoisseur. Our food was delicious, but their website can tell you more about their menu than I ever could. Let's get to the beer. Patrons help themselves to any of the hundreds of beers in the coolers, and all the styles are generously represented. They have 15 drafts, but so far can only fill growlers. The growler-filling system is state of the art, and I heard there is a 9-month guarantee on the freshness of the beers therein. Hawthorne's is fun and different, the beer is great, and the trip worth while. |
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Brauhaus Schmitz We've got enough Irish Bars, English Pubs, and Belgian Cafes...every beerdrinking town needs a German bier hall. Brauhaus Schmitz is traditional-modern and has all the German bases covered. There are 20 taps and most rotate...all are Germanic in style. The bar seats maybe 15, with about 10 tables downstairs and more on the second level. The Reinheitsgebot hangs illuminated on the wall. If you like German bier better, and wurst best, Brauhaus Schmitz is definitely a place to visit. If it is not a slice of Bavaria in the land of cheesesteaks, then it was close enough to fool me. |
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Pub On Passyunk East As can be seen from the exterior visage, POPE is an unpretentious, neighborhood, corner bar in South Philly. Inside, it is dark, comfortable, and friendly. The bar seats about 20, and there are tables in the ultra-private back reaches of the establishment. There is also some outdoor seating. Beer is what they are about here, with 14 taps and about 100 bottles. The draft list included Bell's, Stone, and the elusive Pliny the Elder from Russian River. Our barman was friendly and informative. |
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Swift Half Pub Swift Half is located in the new 80,000 sq. ft. courtyard known as the Piazza in Northern Liberties. During our visit, the Piazza was packed with screaming kids, dancers, vendors, and loud, mind-numbing club music. Since the doors to the bar were thrown wide open, this ambiance insinuated itself into the restaurant. The bar seats about 20, with booths and tables. There were 10 taps, and about 20 bottles. The beer selection was well-chosen and well-delivered. Our visit would have been a lot more pleasant without the courtyard chaos, but we understand this only occurs on Sundays in the summer. Lucky us. |
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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. |
Jose Pistola's Well, we finally got to Jose Pistola's and all the great things we had heard about it were true. An extremely relaxed atmosphere, great Mexican food, and an outstanding beer selection made it an intensely enjoyable visit. Our bartender Casey was a valuable asset in answering any questions we had about beer, food, or anything else. The crowd was mostly young, mellow, and friendly. The 12 drafts were well-selected and cared for, and about 70 bottles were available. Beers from the Sixpoint Brewery had just reached Philly, and my Otis Stout was delicious. There are several other great bars within walking distance makes Pistola's a Questor haven.
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The Institute You probably wouldn't stumble across The Institute, but it's a beer venue worth finding. Situated a little east of the longer-established Green St. watering holes, The Institute offers 14 well-chosen drafts. The whole place was re-habbed by owners Charlie and Heather Collazo, and features a corner bar and tables downstairs, and booths, each containing a flat screen TV, on the upper level. There is also another bar, and DJ stand upstairs. And Charlie isn't finished. At the time of our visit, he was working on a 24-tap draft system to go in a new bar. The draft lines will run through 24 identical tap handles of galvanized pipe, of Charlie's own design. The Institute is a friendly tavern that seems poised to serve a neighborhood on the upswing for years to come. |
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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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Beneluxx Tasting Room Beneluxx Tasting Room is an extension of Eulogy Belgian Tavern, which lies only about two blocks east. Beneluxx boasts the most Trappist ales on tap anywhere in the world. Their total taps number about 35, with about 50 brands in bottles. The innovative twist is that the drafts can be purchased by the glass, or by a sample of several ounces, arriving either in a small snifter or Ehrlenmeyer flask. Beneluxx also excels in pairing cheeses and beers. Never has a Two-Hearted IPA tasted so good as it did with a farmhouse cheddar. The staff was more than attentive, and glad to make suggestions or offer explanations. In a town full of Belgians, this has to be one of the best venues in which to taste them. |
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Irish Pole The name did not appear anywhere on the outside. It used to be known as Yeager's and St. Jack's. But it was the sign for 40 taps that drew us in, and Irish Pole was as good as advertised. The 40 drafts ranged from Pabst Blue Ribbon to Blanche de Bruxelles, and Jason, the barkeep, was helpful with the choices. The place seemed authentic and local, from the ancient wood floors to the copper-top bar. Irish Pole features a happy hour 7 days a week, with all drafts $2.00 at the appropriate times. If you're in this neighborhood which is great for bar-hopping, Irish Pole is a necessary stop. |
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Memphis Taproom Located at the corner of Memphis and Cumberland Streets in a neighborhood referred to as Fishington, the Memphis Taproom is a stellar destination for great beer and fine food. Good word spreads fast. Several hours before our visit, the Chesapeake Chapter of the Society for the Preservation of Beers in the Wood (SPBW) stopped by on their bus tour in search of fine cask ales. They were not disappointed. Memphis offers 11 taps and about 45 bottles, and the choices are diligently thought out. They cover all the bases, including the best of the various brewing styles. Brendan the proprietor and his staff were helpful in explaining beer choices and general philosophy. I shall return. |
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Johnny Brenda's It doesn't look like much from the outside, but Johnny Brenda's has real neighborhood character. From the linoleum floor up to the tin ceiling, Brenda's appears to be a local hangout and popular music venue. And being a partner of Standard Tap in nearby Northern Liberties, it is a great tavern for beer. Brenda's offers 14 taps...all regionals...no bottles. It was a quiet and friendly hangout on a Saturday afternoon, but we were warned that it would be mobbed later. Johnny Brenda's is certainly worth a stop on the Questor's itinerary. |
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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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Devil's Den Devil's Den sits on 11th street, just below Washington Avenue in South Philly, another cog in the burgeoning beer scene in this area. Everything in the Den looks new and clean, yet the place has a genuine neighborhood aura. The long mahogany bar seats about 20, and there are several dining areas with numerous tables. The 16 taps are brimming with diversity, offering Belgians, Germans, and micros. A thirsty Questor can also choose from about 130 bottles. Erin, the proprietor, explained how she had just tapped her first firkin and was considering making this a regular activity. Although our visit was on a Saturday morning, Devil's Den would be a great place to hang out any evening, and on a return trip we will do just that.
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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 Belgian Cafe The Belgian Cafe in the Fairmount neighborhood is an offshoot of Monk's, which means there is going to be lots of good beer, slanted heavily to Belgian. Hence the name. Belgian Cafe offers 12 taps and about 250 bottles of micros and imports. Naturally, the selection is diverse, and the barkeep was extremely helpful in aiding with our selections. The bar is dark, and the dining area brighter, being festooned with nudes. Food was good and prices were reasonable. |
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Race Street Cafe On the north edge of Old City, in the shadow of the Ben Franklin bridge, can be found Race St. Cafe. It's small, with exposed brick and wood beams, and an L-shaped bar offering 12 well-chosen taps. |
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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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The Abbaye |
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Grace Tavern South of Center City and not far from the Schuylkill River , Grace Tavern is a neighborhood establishment that offers good beer. There were 10 taps, and maybe another 30 in the “Bevador.” Leo, our bartender, server, and host was humorous, professional, and able to perform many jobs on a Saturday night with nary a misstep. |
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South Philadelphia Taproom Located in a residential neighborhood in South Philly, SPTR was a pleasant surprise. They have 10 taps, most of which rotate and about 80 different bottles. The taps are locally flavored. Patrons like Pedro were friendly and anxious to help with the Quest. Tom & English Dave, our bartenders, were friendly, knowledgeable, and generous with the samples. SPTR is off the tourist track yet not that hard to find. Do so.
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McGillin's
Old Ale House Large, bustling, and friendly, McGillin's is Philly's oldest bar, having been in operation since 1860. Luminaries, from Tennessee Williams to Robin Williams, have passed through their portals, and for the same reason...to quench their thirst. And this is quite easy to do at McGillin's. They feature 23 taps with many local beers and ales, kept fresh in a state-of-the-art tap system. The place was jumping on a Wednesday night, but Chuck and Kate took the time to explain to this Questor the story of McGillin's. Their hospitality suggests a return trip, and more time spent at McGillin's Old Ale House. |
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| The
Grey Lodge Pub "We are not the typical Northeast Philly bar, but then again we aren't the typical anything." This
according to Scoats, (far right) the genius behind The Grey Lodge Pub. Grey Lodge
is an unassuming neighborhood establishment that has been declared one of the
top 50 beer bars in the U.S. They have 10 taps with a local flavor, which constantly
rotate. About 40 different bottles for those who aren't in the mood for a draft.
We found the crowd extremely friendly and Scoats and his staff very helpful. When
you go, make sure to check out the bathrooms...both of them! The hand-crafted
mosaic tilework, illuminating many famous beer quotes, is alone worth the drive
to Northeast Philly.
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| Dawson
Street Pub Dawson Street Pub is up the hill and across the tracks from Manayunk's artsy Main Street. They offer 10 draft beers, three of which are pumped through hand engines. There is also an extensive, well-chosen selection of about 85 bottles to choose from. It is a very unpretentious neighborhood bar that nevertheless draws beer lovers both local and from afar. Dawson Street features a lounge, patio, pool table, and live music. The next time you are in Manayunk, depart the hubub of Main Street and ask for good directions to the Dawson Street Pub. |
| 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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| In Philadelphia, indeed, on the East Coast, when beer drinkers are talking of Belgian beers, the name Monk's will always surface. Monk's offers an incredible selection of beers from the world's breweries, with emphasis on the Belgians. |
16th
& Spruce Streets Philadelphia, PA |
 | The front bar offers 6 taps, and the back bar another 17 or so. Most are strong, flavorful, and distinct; nothing is run-of-the-mill. The staff are resourceful in aiding the guest in choosing the brew that he or she should enjoy. Try it if you are in town. |
| Standard
Tap Standard Tap, located in the Northern Liberties neighborhood, has done what I wish more bars had the fortitude to do...serve all local drafts all the time. No imports, no macros, no bottles. It works. ST has about 12 taps which may include products from such regional brewers as Yards, Victory, Flying Fish, Dogfish Head, Stoudt's, Troeg's, and others. The beer is fresh and the staff knows what they are about. The locale is out of the tourist mainstream, but the neighborhood has other neat bars close by. Don't miss it. |
Standard Tap in Northern Liberties |
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The Khyber 56 S. Second St, Philadelphia Probably better known for their live music than their beers, the Khyber nevertheless offers a selection of 12 local microbrews and presents about 30 or so bottles. These selections seem well-thought out, and the drafts well-cared for, making this rock venue a legitimate Beer Bar. Crowd is eclectic, funk-grunge, and seem to know their music as well as their brews. |
| Eulogy Belgian Tavern 136
Chestnut Street Philadelphia has a few great Belgian pubs, and this is certainly one of them. Located three blocks from the Liberty Bell, and near the waterfront, Eulogy is a beer-lovers mecca, featuring about 18 taps, mostly Belgian. Augmenting this auspicious array are over 200 bottles from all over the world. Chris, our server, was extremely helpful. Upstairs features another more intimate bar and dining area. Ask to see the beer menu...you'll never get through it all.
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304
Poplar Street
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| You probably won't just happen to be in Hanover, PA. You have to go out of your way to get there. The best reason to do this would be to visit KClinger's Tavern. With 39 taps and over 600 bottles, KClinger's is one of the premier beer bars in the East. They serve well-cared for micros and imports, with nary a macro or light. The atmosphere is warm and the crowd is friendly...and they know their beer. That's why they are there.
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Washington, D.C. Area
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Iron Horse Taproom The Iron Horse Taproom stands in the beer-friendly Chinatown neighborhood, just south of the Verizon Center. It resembles a college bar in an upscale part of town, and it was crowded with young professionals. The motorcycle theme seems a little incongruous, but who are we to judge? If you're here for the beer, and what Questor isn't, Iron Horse has 20 drafts, with only a few macros. Delerium, Ommegang, Allegash, & Starr Hill were among those craft beers represented. If it suits you here...stay. If not, District Chop House brew pub is next door, and Gordon Biersch and RFD are a few blocks away.
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Olney Ale House 2000 Olney-Sandy
Spring Rd., Olney, MD 20832 About 45 minutes from Baltimore, the Olney Ale House used to be a rural roadhouse. Although the suburbs have infringed upon the pastoral setting, a more knowledgeable and affluent spirits crowd may have allowed the Ale House to become Montgomery County's best beer bar. They feature 21 taps, several of which rotate, and maybe 100 different bottles. The selection was diverse with micros, macros, Belgians, & other imports readily being dispensed. Warsteiner is a favorite here. The bartender was affable and knew his trade, and willing to provide samples. It's still a beautiful drive through the country to get there, and the beer makes it all the more worthwhile. |  |
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D.A.'s Regional Food and Drink Hundreds
of beers (mostly bottles) from scores of countries, right across the street from
the Metro, in MCI country. With Washington's largest tap selection, RFD boasts
30 taps up front and 10 more in the back. Plus about 300 different bottles. Go
'round the world without leaving your seat. Selections include lagers, ales, hefeweizens,
Belgians, and various other imports and micros. If you're a dedicated beer enthusiast,
you may want to ask proprietor Dave Alexander if he has anything special planned,
such as tastings or slams. RFD is a super beer bar in an exciting beer neighborhood. |
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Quarry House
Tavern 8401
Georgia Avenue Quarry
House, established just after the repeal of Prohibition, has been called "a
German beer garden in a basement." One of the few beer bars in a wide area,
QH offers a well-chosen 9 taps and maybe 100 bottles. Look carefully, its hard
to find, under an Asian restaurant. |  |
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Cafe Berlin 322 Massachusetts
Avenue, NE For good German drafts served in the proper glass, try Cafe Berlin on Capitol Hill. The setting is European, the staff is authentically German, and although the owners think of the establishement as |
a restaurant, this is DC's best sidewalk Biergarten. You can sit facing the tanning salon next door and maybe get lucky. They will always have several German imports on tap, such as Bitburger, Kostritzer, and a hefeweizen. The food is excellent and also German. The clientele is upscale, eclectic, and predominantly alternative. Don't miss the asparagus festival in the spring. |
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Fire Works Pizza You wouldn't know it from the moniker, but Fire Works Pizza has one great selection of beers. There is table seating inside or out for families, and ample room at the bar for beer drinking. There are 8 taps, including Belgians, Californians, and other craft brews...no macros. There are also about 50 bottles, making for a well-rounded selection. The bartender was very helpful and samples were cheerfully proffered. Come for the pizza and stay for the beer. |
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Rustico Rustico is a restaurant in a new red brick section of Alexandria with plenty of parking. Although it is darkly paneled, the decor is modern and comfortable. The food is yuppy bar food, not cheap, but large portions. The 30 taps are quite esoteric, with nearly every style represented. Only a few beers were local. There are also about 280 bottled beers, which can be sold to go. Our bartender was passionate about the beer and quite knowledgeable. |
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Tuscarora Mill Tuskie's is a spacious bar that resides in a restored grain mill along with an upscale restaurant in historic Leesburg, VA. Being famous for its beer, Tuskie's draws in a crowd both from Leesburg and neighboring towns. And beer it is all about! Along with the 21 drafts can be found about 40 bottles, and the vast majority of both rotate. The drafts are carefully selected and cared for, and the selection is constantly changing. Dave, the barman, was more than willing to provide samples and answer questions about the beer and events, such as the beer dinners that occur monthly. |  |
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| McClafferty's
Irish Pub A pretty
nice beer bar just across the street from West Va. Brewing Company, McClafferty's
boasts 15 taps, which is pretty darn good for West Virginia. Barkeep and customers
were friendly. Locals spoke highly of it. |
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Black Bear 132
Pleasant St. 304-296-8696 A very good beer selection for West Virginia; six drafts and a wide variety of bottles. It's a fun place and a friendly place, and if you like burritos, you can't miss it. If you don't, then go for the beer. |  |
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123
Pleasant St. As you can see from the chalkboard, 123 qualifies as a beer bar on attitude alone. The crowd is young, clad mostly in black, and although Carling Black Label seems to be the drink of choice, 123 offers a Rogue Dead Guy tap and a selection of 30 good bottles. You won't find much better in WV. 6.0% seems to be the state limit on ABV. It's a rock venue with lots of energy and a lively place to drink good beers. |
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| The Purple Fiddle 21 East Ave. Davis,WV
Located in an historic building, The Purple Fiddle is a country-funk amalgamation of restaurant, mountain market, and blue grass emporium...and yes, it just happens to be a great stop for good beers. Two of the Fiddle's three taps are local, and it's 50 or so bottles allow it to claim the largest beer selection in West Virginia
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Cooperstown, NY Supposing a Questor finds himself in America's Baseball Capital and is in search of a good tavern? A perusal of the internet yields nothing in the way of beer bars, but a little old fashioned footwork can turn up a few gems. We should mention the bar below the Tunnicliff Inn, located on Pioneer St. just north of Main. It was the bartender at Tunnicliff who helped us locate Cooley's and Sherman's. They had an Ommegang and a pale ale from nearby Cooperstown Brewing Company. |
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Korova Even though the sign now simply reads "BAR" patrons still know this watering hole as Korova. Located on downtown Ithaca's Commons, Korova features 17 well-selected taps, and the 40 or so bottles round out an excellent beer selection. Our barmaid was eager to talk beer with us, and the crowd seemed to know their brews. Original art decorated the walls, and we were informed that the displays change. |
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Pixel Lounge Look in the alley behind the Subway in Collegetown, and you'll find Pixel...all 24 taps and about 18 bottles. The place consists of one big room with a small 10-seat bar, chairs, tables, and sofas. The tap selections cover all tastes, and 21 of them rotate. Owner Jim Frenette was more than willing to talk beer and business, and informed us that the atmosphere is pretty relaxed until 11 PM or so, and then blossoms into a vibrant night scene with dancing on the weekends. |
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The Ithaca Ale House The Ithaca Ale House is located in bustling Restaurant Row of downtown Ithaca. They offer 20 drafts, carefully composed of local and American micros, and imports. There are also about 30 or so bottles, making sure all bases are covered. They offer flights for those who want to sample as many of their drafts as possible. The long angular bar seats about 20, with booths and tables, too. Although the place was jumping on a Monday night in the summer, our barmaid Emma was friendly and helpful in answering questions about the beers and our visit to Ithaca in general. Questors will want to put Ithaca on their list of beer towns in the Finger Lakes area, and underscore the Ale House as a definite stop while in town.
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The Chapter House The Chapter House has the feel of a frat house...in a good way. They have 48 well-selected taps leaning heavily towards New York beers, with some other U.S. micros and imports. Corey, our bartender, was knowledgeable and very helpful in filling us in on the local beer scene. The rooms had a comfortable and well-worn feel to them. The time between this beer and your next beer could be filled playing pool or other games. The Chapter House is just one of the great bars in Ithaca, a landmark college town and beer Mecca that should not be missed by any Questor in the Finger Lakes area.
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Ulrich's Tavern Ulrich's Tavern bills itself as "the German restaurant with an Irish pub", and "Buffalo's oldest documented continuously operating tavern restaurant having been established in the fall of 1868". I can verify the first claim, and trust them on the second given that the place probably still looks pretty close to its original self. The bar has a small but impressive set of taps that included Spaten Mai Bock, Yuengling Bock, and local favorite Flying Bison Spring Bock on two recent visits (bock fetish, here). You won't have trouble finding something worth drinking, albeit more German than Irish (the Guinness tap notwithstanding). The restaurant serves lunch on Monday - Friday and dinner on Thursday - Saturday, and its truly a reason to visit Ulrich's. My over-sized potato pancake came wrapped around a fresh sausage with red cabbage, spatzel and applesauce. Wash that down with a Spaten and your talkin' about a quality old country experience. Ulrich's is a very local place so don't order anything like a spritzer and you'll be OK. Comfort food, great beer, and occasional live music; drink and eat here when in Buffalo.
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Frank & Teressa's Anchor Bar You're here for the wings. Sure, the pizza is great too, but you can get great pizza anywhere in Buffalo . Back to the wings. Anchor Bar's secret is butter; I can say no more. Order 'em hot and crispy. And drink locally. That would mean Genesee Cream Ale, Labatts Blue, or McSorley's Irish Pale Ale...all on tap and local in the spiritual sense. There are a few other taps and maybe twenty or so other beers in the bottle, but try a pitcher of McSorley's with a couple of large orders of wings - a longtime family favorite. Be prepared for a wait mingling with tourists and locals, but it's worth it. And don't miss the gift shop where you can pick up an Anchor Bar souvenir pint glass or a genuine chicken wing hat for that someone special. Or not.
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Scharf's Schiller Park Restaurant I'm in Buffalo . It's almost Easter. And its 38 freakin degrees. But inside Scharf's Schiller Park Restaurant it's as warm as grandma's fresh babka from the oven.
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Pizza Plant The Pizza Plant is nestled in a small plaza in the suburbs north of Buffalo; parking is a breeze. Inside you'll find a bar frequented by beer geeks, a boothed dining area for families, and weather permitting (meaning summer), outside tables with a delightful highway view. There are 13 rotating taps including one for cask conditioned ale, and a similar number of bottles. Beers are largely American craft brews with a few Belgians. Local beers and regional beers on tap during our visit included Aviator Red from Buffalo's own Flying Bison Brewery and Nosferatu from Cleveland 's Great Lakes Brewing Company. Pizzas and pods (a cross between a calzone and a sub sandwich) dominate the menu – where else can you find those little hand cut pepperonis, much less raisins, walnuts, tofu and sunflower seeds, among the toppings. Hey, I thought this was Buffalo for crissake. The restaurant offers periodic beer tastings, beer parties, music on the weekends, and kids eat free on Mondays. Overall, if you can tolerate less than helpful wait staff (observation based on numerous visits…) this is a good place to catch a Sabers game and drink better- than-average beer.
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| Ale
House 'The Beer Joint of Your Dreams' The Ale
House is a small bar in a small strip mall amongst auto dealerships near the
University at Binghamton. There are 12 stools at the bar and 10 small tables.
A fiery grill is next to the liquor display. They have 36 taps, and no macros.
But they have near-macros such as Blue Moon, Guinness, Harp, and LaBatt's. Almost
all the rest are regionals. They have several Blue Point, as well as several Cooperstown,
Ottercreek and Brooklyn. The ladies tending the bar were pretty friendly, somehow
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The Raven Pub The
Raven offers 24 drafts and depending on the season, about 70 bottles. One customer
described the bar as, " a friendly University crowd with a big beer selection
and rock n roll jukebox." Chris, the proprietor, takes suggestions from his
beer-loving clientele. "When people request something, I try to pick it up."
Or, as one customer put it, "The dude abides."
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| Clark's
Ale House Clark's
has about 21 beers on a nice rotation; when a keg is done, something different
replaces it. Middle Ages pours through a hand engine. Clark's is popular also
for their half-gallon milk containers that they fill with beer to go...popular
for parades and other outdoor events. They have no TV, jukebox, or electronic
games, there is nothing to do except drink beer with your friends. A cask or two
will be on tap, and there's always that roast beef sandwich. Clark's has been
called a "beer bar set in a lunch counter." It has also been declared
that bars like Clark's make Syracuse a great, if underrated, beer town. |
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165
Walton St. One
of the area's biggest beer selections, Blue Tusk offers about 65 drafts, most
of which are served in 20-oz. imperial pints...23-oz. on Monday and Tuesday! For
a complete run-down of the brews, visit the website. This lively
establishment can get crowded, especially in the winter, so get there early.
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Street Pub & Grille This bar, in the small town of Clemson, is a beer drinker's paradise. Brightly lit and fairly large, it's a pleasant place to drink. An eclectic variety of world-wide beers is offered on their twelve taps. Drinking all of those and their 90 different bottles gets your name engraved on their Beer Club. The manager and bar staff are knowledgeable and care about their beers.
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Fiddler's Elbow 1061
E 2100 S Sugarhouse Fiddler's Elbow may be hard to find, but go for it. In an alley, sided with corrugated metal, Fiddler's is much more impressive inside than out. Well, maybe because the beer is inside. This is the best beer bar in Salt Lake. 32 beers on tap, and a bartender who was friendly and glad to answer our questions about beer and Utah. I had a Bohemian Czech Pils, but better was the Moab Scorpion Pale Ale. I wish I could go back today.
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Walter finally locates Fiddler's Elbow.
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Tornado Pub You are in the Haight and you are in the 21 st century... until you cross the threshold of the Tornado Pub . Inside it wants to be the 60s. If I lived in San Francisco this would be my home bar. There is no food, no macros. There is only good beer and lots of it. Sandwiched between a carry out pizza hovel and a great sausage sandwich hole-in-the-wall, you don't have to go far for sustenance in case you want to spend some time here. And many people do. This is not your happy hour-on-the-way-somewhere-else crowd. The Tornado feels more like part of your life's destination. It is an alcoholic portal-of-entry to the 60s. The crowd feels laid back, very unlike the intense San Francisco that cares way too much for its liberal causes, man. I mean...this place is cool. The choice of beers...it has to be 40 or more taps...is out of sight, man, and some of the offerings are primo, especially the Russian River beers, we can't get back east. It's the kind of place you might drop in to find out what condition your condition is in. The décor is simple. Dark and beer. Beer taps adorn the walls and intrude on the ceiling. A scattered deer trophy keeps an eye on the denizen drinkers. Did that deer just wink at me, man? Far out. The bar runs from the door to the walk-in refrigerator. Opposite the bar is a line of tables against the wall that sit four people each on raised stools. It is a worn and comfortable place. The patrons were all born in the wrong decade; they are flower children at heart. The clothes are contemporary slovenly. No one was dressed to impress here, no one was returning from a high pressure anything. There were no fashionably dressed men or women sitting anywhere with their legs crossed. The Tornado is the release valve. And great beers are the release. I wish I'd taken better notes, dear reader, but it was an eastern Questor's nirvana of hard to get West Coast beers. There were four Russian Rivers on tap and with a selection of Moonlights, Lagunitas, and lesser known “I wish they all could be California beers” beers. Some Deschutes and a nice array of German wheats and beers of most styles, although stouts and porters were under represented for the most part. I enjoyed the RRs and fell prey to some repeats I had only had in bottles, like Aventinus, hardly a West Coast beer. All the beers were served by a friendly and knowledgeable but minimally so beertender, who could have been extolling the virutes of Columbian or hydroponic weed. I think he just returned from a love-in; just the right level of personable. A list of beers is available at http://www.toronado.com/draft.htm but consider it representative rather than up-to-date. This place is groovy and it just may be San Fran's best beer bar.
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Goat Hill Tavern One word: dive.
Bros bar for locals. We were here in the early afternoon on a Monday - nobody around except Monty working the bar. All was quiet. No food this early, but we grabbed a burrito from BC Broiler up the block and brought it back to enjoy with some new beers - Goat Hill's own pale ale (passable) and a high gravity malt-bomb ale from Oceanside Brewing Company (passable +). The bar's 141 taps include several multiple taps of the usual fizzy yellow beers, so maybe your choices are really down to about 100. Nice collection of old tap handles screwed into the rafters.
We visited Goat Hill in the early evening several years ago - the place was packed and loud but still enjoyable, in a packed and loud sort of way. These days: not so much, at least as far as the enjoyability part goes mature Questor-wise speaking. If you're looking for a beer experience but can't afford to make bail, show up during early-bird special hours and the leave the dark times to the bros.
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Yard House Another beer bar chain with 25 locations in nine states, about half of which are in Southern California. We ate and drank at the Irvine restaurant in the Spectrum Center. The food was typical American chain restaurant stuff. With about 170 beers on tap there was something for everyone but nothing unusual worth seeking out. The kegs and beer lines were visible through a long wall of windows - an impressive sight and nice backdrop (if you're a beer geek). The beer list included several beer blends, and there was a decent wine and liquor selection as well. This is a good place to take the family, meet friends, or for an office lunch.
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Musso and Frank Grill If you're going to Hollywood looking for movie stars, start here, at the bar. Musso and Frank's is classic mid-20th century adult: dark wood, faded wallpaper, grilled liver, shrimp cocktails, and the like; waiters and bartenders are attentive and discreet and include three guys named Manny. The beer? Let's just say you can probably get any beer they sell at a well-stocked convenience store, but you're not here to be a beer snob. So settle into the Mickey Rooney booth, order a Newcastle with the corned beef hash platter, and enjoy the show. Another great place to have a beer, and you're gonna like it regardless of the label.
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| Gold
Dust Lounge 247 Powell St San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 397-1695
I steered some friends to the Gold Dust and said. “let’s go in here.” A semi-respectable native woman of some vintage turned without prompting and said, “We call it the toilet.” It has the best beer selection in the Union Square area. Ten great European taps and a good selection of bottles make this a must stop for a Questor in gaytown.
It was decorated by a whore with no taste at all...red velvet furniture, couches, and booths; nude paintings, cherubs on the ceiling and a clientele that is ready to go. Entertaining bartenders who ignite lemon rinds and fling bottle caps 90 mph make this a must stop. Everybody needs to use the toilet sooner or later.
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| Lefty O'Doul's
San Francisco sports photos and a dinner buffet overshadow the beer and miserable décor of this establishment. Dark and dingy with a piano surrounded by stools you can find Big Daddy, Fat Tire, Bitburger, Guinness and many other tasty beers struggling to outsell the Bud trio.
The barmaids are foreign - the bartenders could be gay, but who is definitely not in San Francisco? You might find a beer you’ve never seen here; we’re told the taps rotate somewhat. Come on in an argue Lefty vs. Barry. No contest.
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| Czech please! The best selection of Czech beers in all of Davis is found in this Slavic treasure on G street. Good drafts in third, half and full liters for sale with a selection of some harder- to-come-by bottled beers from the Czech Republic. Good soups and desserts made by a goddess, for Questors with plummeting blood sugar, and decent food round out the menu An
unusual happy hour featuring any size and brand of beer for $3 provides some nice
opportunities for the cost- conscious Questor. Czech is spoken here and the clientele
and waitstaff make you think you could be in Prague. The only thing missing is
those Slavic gams with the to-die-for calves sculpted by climbing those stony
winding streets, and punishing hills, of the real Prague.
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Dawson's If you're a Questor and you find yourself in Dixon, look for Dawson's where Heather sets them up and local folk knock them down. Three beers on tap, Bud, Bud Light and Sierra Nevada assure you'll score few new beers here and the seven bottled beers reenforce the point with Heineken being the exotic one. But Dixon is not big and this is one of the few places where you get to urinate in a trough with constantly running water. They say 80% of California's water goes to irrigation; if Dawson's is any clue, the other 20% goes to flushing. But in Dixon, it's gotta be Dawson's. Tell Heather the cute one says hi.
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Froggy's
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Alaska is big...big
wilderness, big mountains, big beers. From beer bars, to brew pubs, to hotel bars,
visitors are likely to be greeted by an impressive file of taphandles, patiently
waiting to dispense a diverse variety of local brews. |  |
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| The Red Onion Saloon, Skagway, was a bar and brothel during the Gold Rush in 1898. It's still a bar and, although touristy, offers a selection of fine hand-crafted beers from Haines Brewing Company, North America's smallest micro-brewer. |  |
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Humpy's
Great Alaskan Alehouse 276-2337 What are you looking for when you taste a craft-brewed beer? Appreciating beer, oddly enough, can involve more than just your sense of taste. You’ll find that all five of the senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch—will help you evaluate and enjoy beer. At Humpy's you'll need all five senses to enjoy your beer. You'll need a few nights as well. For one of the best selections of Alaskan and Pacific Northwest beers check Humpy's taps. |
Texas
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Ginger Man Dallas is a big city. No doubt it has great unique beer places. But thank goodness for the Ginger Man downtown. It was a welcome oasis from the free Bud, Bud Light and Miller Lite at the lovely old Magnolia Hotel. Grab a cab and $12 later you're at the Ginger Man, a house-like structure that holds a small but cozy and comfortable bar. The few inside tables were all occupied when we arrived so we sat at a friendly bar with a nice view of the 70 or so taps that included more Belgians than anything, more imports than domestics and overall far more winners that losers. More than a few people sat outside, front and back, in the dead 50s of Dallas winter in January. An upstairs provided additional seating and another bar. The domestics covered the breadth of the CONUS with Dogfish Head, Left Hand Brewing, The Great Divide and several California beers including some nice Stones. The styles ran to the dark side of the beer kingdom and they had five new draught entries that would please any Questor from the East, at least. The list of bottles was impressive at well over 100 fine additions to the draught list. On a Wednesday night the crowd swelled on the way to whatever was on for the evening then the swelling subsided, leaving plenty of room to spread out. The food list was less extensive than the beer list, a beer companion with baguette, grapes, cheese, sausage and olives will hold you until dinner will urge you on as it did us. The copper backed bar, through which protrude the lovely taps, each with an authentic handle, gave the place a cozy beery feel. Many beers will be familiar but how often do you get to drink your way through the Spatens ? The staff was helpful if not overly friendly. Ginger Man is owned by the same person as The Old Monk; try the Ginger Man...it's brighter, livlier, and has a broader range of choices. Ginger Man is a Texas-based beer chain. |
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The Old Monk Dallas. What does it bring to mind? Cowboys. JR. Parkland Hospital. Texas Schoolbook Depository. Sixth floor? If you have been to The Old Monk you'll think of lithe barmaids, darkness and Belgian beers. All in all, not a bad hat trick.
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O'Malley's Stage Door Pub 2022
Post Office Street Open 11 am to 2 am Daily Galveston is the end of the continent. People running from their lives have two choices, the Gulf or O'Malley's. Fortunately, many choose O'Malley's where Mitzi, and Jim The Axe Murderer hold down the bar in fine style. Mitzi's there in late afternoon (don't mention tattoos) when regulars begin to show up and Jim into the night (don't ask him to take off his hat). A modest sized selection of good bottled beers awaits the itinerant Questor and even if it doesn't, there is usually fun to be had and not infrequently an adventure. Talk to the locals. Be nice to Jeff. |
 | And if you get hungry, have a Frito Pie--an American classic with chili & Fritos, topped with onions, cheese & jalapenos. Cooked in the bag, the way a Frito Pie is supposed to be cooked. |  |
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The best draft selection at this end of the continent is at Molly's Irish Pub, 2013 Post Office Galveston, Texas 409-763-4466 where you'll find about 60 drafts from around the world. Avoid hurricane season. |
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"Give
me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world." ....Kaiser Wilhelm
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