| The
Quest for the Holy Grain |  |
| Best
Brew Pubs |
Annapolis
| Baltimore | Rocky Mountain
Region | Alaska | Pennsylvania
|Delaware | Canada | California
| Washington DC Area | Western
Maryland | New York | West
Virginia | Florida | North
Carolina |
South Carolina | Northern
Virginia | Asia | London/U.K. |
Deutschland | New Jersey | Austria | Slovak Republic | Palestine | New Mexico | Colorado | Georgia | Massachusetts | Vermont | New Hampshire
Just
about all brew pubs are good...worth going into and trying the beers. Oh, I've
been in one or two where all the beers tasted the same, and that was none too
good, but for the most part, they are either better or best. There's something
about drinking a beer right where it was brewed that...just....well, look at the
guy in the photo.
How do you know when you're in one that's not so good? Well,
if you look down the bar and more people are drinking Miller Lite than the home
brew, that would not be a good sign.
| Of course we know of more good brewpubs. Your Questmasters, however, need to re-visit each one before posting them on the site. This list will grow! Download this Notesheet for evaluating a Beer Bar, Brew Pub or Retailer. |
 |
| Seven Barrel Brewery The Seven Barrel Brewpub is across the street and visible from the southbound exit of I-89 in West Lebanon, NH. It's kinda dingy on the outside and rustic on the inside. It's not very large, with a very small bar. They have eight of their own beers, and a cask, but nothing else. The beers seem true to style, but a little thin. Service was good, food was cheap. |
 |
 |
 |
Three Needs Taproom & Brewery
|
 |
 |
 |
American Flatbread/Zero Gravity Brewpub There is no indication from the outside that the American Flatbread is a brewpub. But at the bar, all of the signs point to the fact that they make their own beer. The brewing operation is not visible but is accessible from the bar. The bar serves nine of their own and nine guest beers. The beers are true to style and tasty. The only food they serve is thin crust pizza. It is very good, but very pricey.
|
 |
The Vermont Pub and Brewery The Vermont Pub and Brewery is just across from the town square in an imposing brick building. They have an outside patio and a two-segment bar, part of which is in an enclosed porch. The interior is not that spacious, but has an English pub decor with dark woods and cozy booths. They have eight beers on tap plus two casks. The beers were true to style...good, but not wonderful. The service and food were both good, and all prices were quite reasonable. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Boston Beer Company/Sam Adams Tasting Room The Sam Adams Brewery in Boston is a brewery, not a brewpub. It has an address that should be easy to find. Except that the streets are all one way away from the facility. Once found, the brewery has a handout for exiting the neighborhood. The Brewery tour starts every hour. The first speaking stop is just inside the door...in a classroom setting where they discuss beer ingredients, with samples of barley and hops. A few steps away is the brewing operation. They have two or three kettles, and a half dozen fermenters. They appear to be 71/2 barrels systems. They explain the smallness as these are the research and development facilities. They are constantly changing their reciepies, especially the seasonal beers. The next stop on the tour is the bar. They serve 7 oz. servings of three of their beers, give a spiel, and answer questions. |
 |
|
 |
Cambridge Brewing Company The Cambridge Brewing Company is near the MIT campus and thus very crowded with young people. It is very modern, almost fern bar-ish with light colored paneling and lots of windows. Cambridge had at least 10 of their beers on tap including a cask. The beers are true to style and very well made. The food was good, though a little pricey. The service was particularly good. |
 |
  |
 |
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery - Boston Part of a chain, the Rock Bottom brewpub in Boston is in the Theater district. The bar and dining area are very large and spacious. The brewing operation is not evident. The six beers on tap, probably standard in each outlet, were good but not great. The food was pricey but adequate. |
 |
Watch City Brewing Company The Watch City brewpub is just off the beaten path in Waltham, MA. The brewing operation is in a glass walled room in the front window. The bar is large and spacious with only room dividers separating the dining area. Four full time beers are on tap as well as three seasonals and a cask. The beer is good, but the food on the menu seemed pricey. |
 |
 |
 |
Boston Beer Works Boston Beer Works is part of a chain of Brewpubs. This one is located near the Boston Garden, in the Sports bar area. It is very large with mostly restaurant space. They serve 16 of their own brews, all of which seem true to style. The food was well prepared with large portions. It seemed pricey, but it was the big city. The brewing operation is adjacent to the bar and the various tanks are visible on the upper level. The website has very little to add to this description. |
 |
 |
Moon River Brewing Company Moon River is unequivocally the best brewpub in Savannah , Georgia . OK, it's also the only brewpub in Savannah . But even if it weren't it would be hard to beat. On a visit today you can sample nine Moon River beers for $9.50. Notable year-round selections include the Swamp Fox IPA that holds its own against Dogfish and the Californians, a darned decent Claire de Lune Kolsch originally on tap before the hop crisis made it fashionable, and a chewy Captain's Porter. Almost every Thursday there's a creative small batch brew that has included the award-winning Little Chocolate Doughnuts Porter “ actually ‘dry-doughnut-ed' in the firkin for a little touch of ‘HOT NOW' goodness!” If this were not enough Moon River stocks guest taps that recently poured Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen Weisse and Kasteel Rouge from Moon River is in the Savannah Historic District so it has a large tourist trade. But it keeps local roots with a Quality Assurance Club ($3.50 house draft beers all day, and more), by hosting the Savannah Brewers' League (homebrew club) the first Wednesday of every month, and in sporting local art for sale on the walls. And there's no need to slam down that last beer – you can take a to-go cup and walk around the Historic District. And so it goes at Moon River Brewing Company, Savannah , Georgia , USA . Bless its heart. |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
Steamworks Brewing Company Steamworks Brewing, just off Main St. in Durango, is unusual in that the glassed-in brewing operation is in the center of the facility just past the foyer. The kitchen and dining area share the left side, and the entire right side is bar area; with the large bar seating about 40 itself, and about 25 tables and booths. They serve eight of their own beers and eight guest brews. They specialize in Pizza and cajun-style food, but the items on the menu seem pricey.
|
 |
Carver Brewing Co.
|
 |
 |
 |
Ska Brewing Company
|
 |
 |
| Three Rivers Eatery and Brewhouse The Three Rivers Brewery is located in an historic building in downtown Farmington. The bar area is adequately sized with the bar itself seating about 10. The adjoining dining area, game room, and beer museum are each in separate store fronts. Beers include a golden honey ale, a stout, an IPA, and a cider among others. Two casks are also offered. The pub grub is good and not expensive. One must step between various brewing tanks to reach the rest rooms. |
 |
 |
 |
Santa Fe Brewing Company
The Santa Fe Brewery, New Mexico's oldest microbrewery, is in the desert just outside Santa Fe. The brewpub is located across the parking lot from the brewery. The pub is very large, but most of the space goes to the eatery, game rooms, and dance hall. What appears to be brewing equipment in the foyer is actually holding tanks for the bar, with the beer being pumped underground from the brewery. The pub serves all 10 of the Santa Fe beers. |
 |
| Second Street Brewery The Second Street Brewery is in an older industrial neighborhood with very limited parking. Very eclectic; the dining area, kitchen, and bar share the same space. They serve nine of their own beers. The proprietors envision Second Street as a |
 |
 |
 |
Blue Corn Cafe and Brewery The Blue Corn Cafe and Brewery is a large stand-alone restaurant across from the Mall in Santa Fe. There is also a downtown location.The bar seats about 30 itself and has about 15 tables and booths. The brewing operation is visible beyond the large dining area. |
 |
| Chama River Brewing Co Located in the restaurant strip near the mall, |
 |
 |
 |
Il Vicino Il Vicino is a small brewery with a small "tasting room". With four seats at the bar and four other seats, ten people make this a crowded place, although there is seating outside. They have their 8 beers on tap and all sizes of kegs and growlers are available. |
Kelly's Brewpub Kelly's Brewpub is in a building that used to be an auto dealership. The one time showroom is now the main dining area. This large area seats well over 100 in German beerhall style. The patio seats nearly as many. The bar, too, is large and spacious. Kelly's has about 20 of their own beers on tap as well as about 15 guest beers. Access to the brewing operation is adjacent to the men's room, but the brewery is not really visible. The menu has typical Bar B Que pub grub, and seems high priced. |
 |
 |
 |
Taybeh Brewing Co. Ok, so Taybeh is not really a brewpub, but it's the Middle East's only microbrewery, and that's pretty special. |
 |
In May of 2006 I had the opportunity of visiting the charming little Palestinian village of Taybeh , the Taybeh Brewery, and the Khoury family who have made this enterprise their lifetime commitment. One does not ordinarily associate brewing beer with the Arabic-speaking residents of the West Bank , because of the natural assumption that they must all be Muslims, who abstain from alcohol. However, there still remains a sizeable number of Palestinian Christians throughout the Holy Land . |
 |
 |
Only 20 minutes from Jerusalem , Taybeh is located in the gently rolling Judean hills, and is covered by olive trees. The Khoury family has lived in Taybeh for at least 600 years. Taybeh currently produces two varieties of beer, Taybeh Gold, and Taybeh Dark. Both are produced with strict attention to German purity laws, allowing them to export and sell Taybeh in Germany . |
 |
 |
The Khoury family are absolutely determined to make a difference, one beer at a time, no matter what the odds. I have consumed thousands of beers for the pure pleasure of it, but it was not until I visited Taybeh that I understood that drinking a beer could be so virtuous, and provide such benefits for others. |
 |
 |
 |
The Slovak Pub The Slovak Pub is on the second floor in a busy shopping district. It has seven rooms and is advertised as a college bar. At lunch it was very crowded. Brewing equipment is not evident. Happy hour is before 6:00; the house beer is very inexpensive. They also have several other draft beers. They claim to be the only bar in the world where a student gets free soup for getting an A on an exam. |
 |
 |
 |
Foamee Geht Nach Österreich. In den folgenden Fotos folgen wir Foamee auf seiner „Skireise“ zu Österreich und zur Slowakischen Republik. |
| Parken war frei ungültig, aber. Folgende Aufträge der Leute nicht werden gesprengt. |
 |
 |
Foamee bildete viele Reisen zum „Lebensmittelgeschäftspeicher.“ |
 |
Jeder ist gehender Skiing. Aber wo ist Foamee? |
Jaaaaaaaa..... |
 |
 |
Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln The world famous Augustiner Brewery is in Downtown Salzburg close to the tourist district. It's pub is unique. After walking down a myriad of halls, there is a cash register. Pay for the beer you want, grab a mug from the wall and take it to the guy that fills it.(see photo) When changing taps, he drives the tap into the wooden keg with a mallet. Take the beer into one of three large rooms that each seat about 200. Back in the hall are various food concessions selling meals or snacks to take to your table. The brewery and equipment are not accessable from the pub. |
 |
|
 |
| Schwalben-Bräu This brewery is in a small restaurant. There is no bar. The one-barrel system shares the dining room with 12 tables. The three year-round beers and one seasonal are good, but not wonderful. It is located near the busy tourist area. |
 |
 |
Schloss Brau
|
 |
Weissbierbrauerei Bernd Tobsch This brew pub in Salzburg is much larger than it seems. The modest front enterance leads to room after room, each in the traditional beer hall motif, as well as a large beer garden. The older style seven-barrel brewing system is hidden in a back room. Many young people frequent the place, most speaking English !! The two beers on tap are a weiss and a particularly good marzen. |
 |
 |
Brigitta-Brau Brigitta-Brau is a neighborhood brewpub in a neighborhood that has seen better days. The place is bright, with three sides all glass and has brew pub decor. The three barrel system is in a room adjacent to the bar. They have one beer year round and five seasonals, noted by their appropriate months, on the menu. They tend to ignore the bar patrons as they serve those dining. |
 |
Wieden-Brau
|
 |
 |
1516 Krugerstrasse 18 / Schwarzenbergstrasse 2, 1010 Wien. Tel.: 01 - 9611516 The 1516 bar is located near the high end shopping district in Vienna. Modern fixtures with old dark woods and plenty of windows make this an interesting place to drink. What appears to be a seven-barrel system is behind one side of the bar. They have six of their own beers on tap as well as a Victory Hop Devil which is guest brewed on the premises. It is uniquely their own as they could not get American hops for it. |
 |
|
 |
7 Stern In a neighborhood with many other bars, the 7 Stern stands out. It is large with many rooms, a glass-domed ceiling, and brewing memorabilia on each wall. The bar is built around a computerized copper 10- barrel system. They have at least six of their own beers on tap. However, the staff seemed too busy doing other things to pay much attention to the customers. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Brew Wharf Yard
The Brew Wharf is a brew pub away from London's tourist area but close to the London Bridge railroad station. It is large and spacious. The main dining room is blocked off during lunch as there is penty of space in the bar and the outside patio. The brewing system is behind glass off of the main dining area. They make four of their own brews and have several guest taps and handpulls. The foods on the menu were quite pricey. |
 |
|
 |
Simple Simon's Simple Simon's brewpub in Canterbury is just off the tourist path. Although they have recently started making their own brew, they have been selling beer for 600 years. Some of the original patrons were still lingering at the bar, but seemed a bit slow in responding to my questions. Besides their own beers, they have 21 guest taps, including 9 different handpulls. The bar area is small and cozy, but there is an upstairs dining area as well as a large courtyard.
|
 |
 |
Mash Mash
is a very unique brewpub located in one of London's busier shopping districts.
The decor is ultra-modern, and the three-barrel, automated brewing system is on
display behind the DJ booth, until happy hour when a curtain is pulled across.
The crowd is very young and techno music blares from the speakers. The beer caters
to this young crowd in that they serve a wheat , a wit , and a summer blonde,
along with their vienna lager. The beer seemed true to style. |
 |
 |
| Bunker
Bier Hall Bunker Bier is a brewpub in a trendy London shopping district. Located in the basement of a store block, the facility is quite large. The stand up bar is about 40 feet long. The dining area and kitchen probably extend another 50 feet. The beer-making equipment, a copper ten barrel system with four fermenters, is at the other end. The center of the bar area has a half dozen sofas and some leaning rails. There are very large booths throughout, and several of the tables in the dining area will seat 12. The beer is brewed in the German tradition and seemed true to style. There are also bottled beers. The Japanese bar girl wouldn't discuss beer as she is a non-drinker. The brewer was on vacation, and the manager was busy.
|
 |
| Castlebay Irish Pub 193-A Main Street Castlebay has got to be Maryland's smallest brewpub. Yet making only one beer, they sure do it right! The house brew is Three Nuns, an Irish-style ale that is creamy, balanced, and flavorful. If you check Walter's Data, you will find that Three Nuns ranks in the top 5 out of 1100 beers rated. Castlebay has about 14 taps and maybe 12 bottles. They have good food, but personally, I have never needed more that Three Nuns and raw oysters. The
staff is friendly and professional,there is music and darts, and if you're lucky,
you can speak with owner Vincent Quinlan himself. |  |
 |
 |
Rams Head Tavern Rams Head Tavern & Fordham Brewing Co. 33
West Street |
| Tavern Email: annapolis@ramsheadtavern.com On Stage Email: booking@ramsheadtavern.com Rams Head Tavern is one of Maryland's most well-established brew pubs. 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. Rams Head is nothing if not successful, and also has locations in Crownsville, Savage, Baltimore, and Rehobeth Beach, Deleware. |
Above-World Beer Club; Below-Down Bar |
 |
Baltimore Area
 |
|
Red Brick Station 8149 HoneyGo Blvd • White Marsh, MD 21236 • 410.931.PUBS Red Brick Station houses the White Marsh Brewing Co., a local brewer of fine beers. There are around 7 on tap, one hand engine, and one guest beer. The regulars range from Honeygo Lite at 3.6% to the Daily Crisis IPA weighing in at 6.1%. RBS offers a casual atmosphere with good food and "Baltimore's Best Happy Hour." Mug clubbers drink more for less. |  |
 |
Ellicott Mills Brewing Company 8308
Main Street One of the best types of brew pubs for a Questor is one that makes good beers and lots of them. Ellicott Mills Brewing Company is one of the best in the Baltimore area. They are prolific in the styles of beer they make, but their specialty beers are their bocks. Walk down to the Batskeller where bartender Tim Kendzierski runs one of the best bars in the region. The food is great, too. |
The stone edifice that is the Ellicott Mills Brewing Company used to be a hardware store. Don't take these beers for granite. |
|
Pictured top: Timmy K. Below:
Brewer Darryl &
|
Timmy exhibits his own method of sanitizing the beer glasses.
|
 |
DuClaw Brewing Company DuClaw
began as a brew pub in Bel Air, MD and now has spread to Fells Point, Bowie, and
Arundel Mills. DuClaw's secret is brewing beers that people love to drink, and
providing a fun setting in which to do it. DuClaw unveils a new seasonal beer
each month, and these give-away nights are extremely popular. You can get on their
email list and print coupons for these free products. |
| The Brewer's Art 1106 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Tel: 410-547-6925 The Brewer's Art is one of the rare jewels in the crown of Baltimore's craft brewing industry. I don't know how far you'd have to journey to find another Belgian brewpub...if you find out, let us know. The basement bar is dark and secluded, offering private corners, attracting mainly locals and the occasional brood of interlopers. The home brews are Belgian. There are usually 5 on tap, with Ozzy and Resurrection being staples of Baltimore's beer-drinking populace. Each beer is served in a specific glass. The overhead chalkboards list at least 100 bottles of guest beers from all over the world. Everything seems to be carefully chosen to satisfy the pickiest beer drinker. Upstairs is upscale, with another bar overlooking Baltimore's historic Mt. Vernon neighborhood. |  |
 | |
 |
 |
 |
4
W. Main Street Located
in quaint downtown Westminster, Johansson's in noted for fine dining and beer.
Although their brewing operation was on hiatus for a while, they are brewing once
again; although on our visit, they only had two varieties...an amber and an altbier.
They have brewed maybe 10 different beers in the past, and are probably best known
for their Hoodlehead IPA. They provide 11 guest taps and about 20 bottles, mostly
commonplace. The bar is long, dark, and comfortable, and darts are offered for
those so inclined. |
 |
| 125
North Market St. Brewer's Alley is located in an historic building, and was Frederick's first brewpub. They have 7 brews on tap, and rotate about 10 seasonals in with their 5 regulars. They also offer three bottled beers. On this Saturday night, the bar was jumping, and the fact that many patrons were consuming Miller Lites is testament to the fact that this must be a swinging night spot as well as a source of excellent craft-brewed beers. The Pils was hearty, yet delicate, and well-hopped. The hefeweizen was excellent, so much so, that when I set mine down, it disappeared. On the right you can see a "giraffe", a device that dispenses 2.5 liters of beer right at your table. It's guaranteed to infuse your group with instant Gemutlichkeit. |  |
 | |
 |
 |
Barley
and Hops Located in a shopping center, just South of old downtown Frederick, Barley and Hops is a friendly place to eat and drink. They offer about 7 taps...one is a hand engine. They also offer several bottled beers. Their brewings range from the summery hefeweizen and kolsch to a hoppier, stronger pale ale and red ale. My favorite was the pils, which was an excellent example of the style. The staff was particularly helpful in providing material for this site.
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
McKenzie Brew House McKenzie Brew House features 5 regulars on tap as well as 2 or 3 seasonals. They sell no other beer. They offer a varied selection of boilerplate regulars...lager, ale, and stout. I had two seasonals; one hit and one miss. Two bottle-conditioned beers are also featured. The bar is large and rectangular and there is lots of open space. The feel is modern, clean, and hi-tech. Wood bar and floors warm up an otherwise minimalist feel. The brew works are visible. Bartenders were young and pleasant when questioned. The crowd was young, upscale, and lively.
|
 |
 |
 |
General Lafayette Inn and Brewery The General Lafayette Inn is housed in a building whose construction was begun in 1732. The restaurant and brewpub itself is a warren of cozy, comfortable rooms that make even a first-time patron feel at home. At any given time they will offer 8-12 taps of their own beers, and two casks. They included a nice assortment of styles with several Belgians and a raspberry mead ale. |
 |
Victory Brewing Company Victory has a pub ajacent to their brewery in Downingtown, PA. Tours are available, but the brewing operation is not evident from the pub. The bar area is very long and narrow starting at the entrance door. The dining area is a large area beyond, with the tables crowded together in a noisy and casual manner. They have about 12 of their own beers on tap, and they are quite reasonably priced. A store with their bottled products and paraphenalia is at the far end of the building. |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
130 E. Bridge Street The Iron Hill Brewpub in Phoenixville, PA, is one of seven in this chain, and is in a newly renovated building in the downtown area. It has large windows and light colored paneling, accented with stainless steel and copper ornamentation, making the place feel very bright yet somewhat sterile. They have six of their own beers on tap. The beers are true to style but expensive... as were the menu items.
|
 |
Sly Fox Brewery The Sly Fox Tavern is a brewpub in an older strip mall in Phoenixville, PA. The bar is long and zig-zags around kettles and some fermentation tanks. There are also about 8 tables. The dining area is in a separate room and seems rather small but cozy. There is more dining area upstairs. The pub grub was good and reasonably priced. They had about 10 of their own beers on tap as well as bombers of two of their specialty beers.
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Dock Street Brewery Located in West Philly, on the edge of University City, can be found Dock Street Brewery. The decor was industrial, yet cozy, and the crowd was a mixed lot. Dock Street offered 6 taps of their own beer, and two more in bottles. The styles included an excellent IPA and Golden Ale, as well as Kolsch, barley wine, and others. The bartenders were friendly and helpful, and...this is a big plus...each style was served in the appropriate glass. It may be a little out of the way, but put Dock Street on your list. |
 |
Union Barrel Works You wouldn't expect to find a great brew pub in this sleepy little Pennsylvania town about a mile off the main antique drag. But you'd be wrong. A long bar has ample room for a crowd of beer drinkers, and there are a number of tables for dining. The beers were tasty and true-to-style. Tin ceilings and hardwood floors add to the feeling of a mature neighborhood watering hole. You have to look for the Union Barrel Works, and that you should do. |
 |
 |
 |
Lancaster Brewing Company The Lancaster Brewing Co. sits in the idyllic small town of Lancaster , PA, which carries its 200+ years with great dignity. The building is perfect for a brewpub; a former tobacco warehouse. It's a massive, timber-framed structure, with all of the hand-worked joinery left exposed. There are ample nooks and crannies to create an adventuresome, varied floorplan. The high ceilings, exposed timber framing, varied textures of wood and steel in the structure and brewing vessels, and overall spaciousness combine to create the perfect setting for enjoying beer, food, and the company of other bon vivants. The knowledgeable and friendly wait staff might be stretched a bit thin at the busiest times, but are still good-natured and helpful. Being a brewpub, it really is all about the beer, and Lancaster really delivers. Its Milk Stout, Hop Hog IPA and Hefeweizen all stand out as superb examples of vastly different brews. I would return in a heartbeat. |
 |
|
 |
The Brewerie at Union Station The Brewerie at Union Station is in a refurbished railroad station. They have lots of room in a spacious setting with railraod decor. There is a 3.5-barrel lauter and kettle on display in one hallway, and seven barrel fermenters in another. The food is very cheap and the service good.They have seven of their own beers on tap as well as two guest taps. Their bottled beers are all from other local breweries. The men's room is spacious with no waiting. |
 |
 |
|
 |
Triumph Brewing Company The Triumph Brewing Company is an upscale restaurant that serves nouveau cuisine; small portions of unique dishes at high prices. Go there for the beer. |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Kutztown Tavern The Kutztown Tavern is an inviting place to drink. There are several over-stuffed couches sharing the entryway space with what appears to be the 5-barrel brewing system of the Golden Avalanche Brewing Company. The very long bar area shares space with six 16-barrel tanks. A large dining area is beyond. They have eight beers and a seasonal on tap. The food is good, the prices are low, the service is quick, and the servers attentive. |
 |
 |
Marzoni's Brick Oven &
Brewing Company Marzoni's
is a stand-alone building in a shopping center near Altoona, Pa. A new building,
it has lots of windows and blond paneling making it light and spacious. The bar
side takes up at least half the space. There are about 25 booths and tables and
the large bar sits about 35 . The food is good and not expensive. The 10-barrel
system is visible adjacent to the bar. They have six year-round beers and two
more seasonals in a good rotation. The beer is tasty and true to style, and quite
reasonably priced at $2.75 for 20 ounces, even cheaper at Happy Hour. |
 |
| Manayunk
Brewing Company Located
on the banks of the scenic Schuylkill River in the quaint town of Manayunk, the
Manayunk Brewing Company provides locals and visitors with an array of hand-crafted
beers, and much more. At the time of our visit, they offered 8 taps...4 regulars
and 4 seasonals. Their brews seemed diverse in style, and, as brewer Chris Firey
explained, are "brewed to satisfy a variety of thirsts." A trip to Philly
should include a stop in Manayunk; walk the streets and check out the several
good beer establishments...and then grab a seat on the deck at the Manayunk Brewing
Company and sip a cool one while watching the river flow. |  |
 | |
 |
 |
Bullfrog Brewery The
Bullfrog Brewery is
in the shopping district of downtown Williamsport. It has a long bar and one row
of tables that extends into an alcove in the back, making it seem larger than
it is. It's bright inside, with light colors...blonde woods, copper tanks, and
copper- colored ceiling. Large windows, with ferns and other hanging plants give
it a '90's feel. The copper cooker and lauter tanks are right in the main seating
area, the ten 310-gallon beer holding tanks are in a row behind the bar. They
had 9 beers on tap and an ESB on hand engine. Since the brewing equipment is in
the restaurant, the brewer comes to work in the middle of the night, and is gone
by the time the place opens. |
 | |
 |
|
Appalachian Brewing Company 50 N. Cameron St. Harrisburg, PA ABC seems to have found a real niche in Harrisburg. They have a spacious bar and restaurant and brew a wide variety of beers that people just plain like to drink. For a sample of the events and activities, visit their website and get on their mailing list. Specials, beerfests, live music, contests...ABC has them. Did I mention the beers? They brew a wide variety of ales and lagers, and had 11 on tap during our visit. Brewmaster Artie Tafoya was glad to take some time to talk about the brewery. Upstairs is the Abbey Bar...more intimate with a selection of over 50 Belgian drafts and bottles for those so inclined. ABC
also has a brewpub in Gettysburg. Questors are encouraged to check out one or
both of these worthy establishments. |  |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
Bube's is certainly one of your most unique brewpubs. Housed in an old brewery dating from 1859, Bube's features lots of dark wood, stone and copper. Bube's usually will have about 5 of their own brews on tap. The alt bier was a session beer that went down easy. They provide 18 taps altogether and about 40 bottles. As you descend the steep stone steps into the catacombs(left) you could be easily going back in time. Bube's has a mug club, special Feasts, mystery dinners and theme parties. Mount Joy isn't far from Lancaster or Harrisburg, and going a little off of your route will be well rewarded. |
 |
|
 |
| Route 272 Adamstown, PA 19501 (717)-484-4386
|  |
 | For a great German Oktoberfest, Stoudt's can't be beaten. Whether for a beer fest or a visit anytime, your hosts Carol and Ed Stoudt provide the best in German beer and cuisine. |
| Stoudt's has about 9 taps of their hand-crafted beers. Though they specialize in German lagers, the styles are diverse with the likes of a stout and a double IPA. There is really too much happening at Stoudt's to cover in this space...just visit their website. |  |
 |  |
 |
717-258-1234 Well,
this is another brew pub in a college
town that makes me want to re-enroll. Market Cross has 13 guest taps and 3 of
it's own brews. This a small brewing operation, but the beer is big on quality.
Their Olde Yeller is an IPA pumped from a hand engine that will probably make
my top 10. What's more...they offer maybe 200 bottles from their cooler. Frequent
visitors should sign up for their Passport Program to earn free stuff. Market
Cross certainly deserves the numerous awards they have won. |
 |
|
 |
| 2105
N. Atherton St. 814-867-OTTO (6886) |  |
 | It was a mild surprise to cruise into Otto's at 12:30 on a Sunday afternoon and find the bar full. I guess Otto's is a popular place. The only brewpub in State College provides about 8 taps, one of which is a hand pump. The beer is brewed right here, and they offer no guest taps or bottles. The barmaid was helpful and knowledgeable, expertly filling me a growler of Pils. There are specials nightly, with Friday being firkin night. They have a Pub Club featuring many bargains. Otto's is a necessary visit for any Questor in the region, and it's worth traveling to get to. |
 |
Nodding Head Brewery and Restaurant 1516
Sansom St. The Nodding Head motto is "Taking over the world seven barrels at a time" and they sure seem to be living up to it. It will be well worth the climb up the steps to locate this gem of a brewpub. They are confident in the quality and appeal of their own brews, offering no bottles. Their confidence is not misplaced. The Grog, a medal-winning brown ale, was excellent, and so was the Monkey Knife Fight, an aromatic summer brew. Brendan, our barkeep, was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. The crowd was lively and the mood of the establishment was infectious. We will return as soon as possible. |
|
Brendan mans the taps |
 |
| West Virginia Brewing Company 1291
University Ave. College
towns will often have some fine beer establishments, and Morgantown is no exception.
WVBC will usually have 4-6 of their own award-winning beers, and about 30 bottles.
Of course, beer in WV cannot be over 6.0%
ABV, but this does not prevent WVBC from brewing up some delicious offerings.
Ned's Pale Ale seems to be one of the favorites, and I found out why. The staff
was extremely friendly and helpful. Diversions include darts, pool and trivia.
The sandwich was the biggest I have ever had. |  |
 |
 |
Thomas, W.Va. 304-463-4500 Brewer Brian Arnett, who used to brew for Ryleigh's in Baltimore before they ceased their brewing operation in 2005, has succeeded in bringing his craft brewing skills back to his home state. Along with his partner, Willie Lehmann, they have set up shop in beautiful and rustic Thomas, in West Virginia's scenic Canaan Valley. The Brewery is not hard to locate...right on Rt. 32 in Thomas. These lads turn out some great brews. The small onsite outlet is a snug little pub, with lots of stone and timber. They featured three beers at the time of our visit; Almost Heaven Amber Ale, Seneca Indian Pale Ale, and Cold Trail Ale. The crowd was lively, and all the beers were different and delicious. Whether you are in the Valley for skiing, hunting, or hiking, you'll want to make sure Mountain State is at the end of your trail.
|
 |
|
 |
| Nestled in the mountains, not far from Blackater Falls, is the Blackwater Brewing Company. They feature 5 or 6 styles, and all are clean, crisp, and well-made. There are several macro bottles for those who want...well, I don't know what they want. Blackwater is a great place to eat and drink in a beautiful area, and a must to visit in the Canaan Valley. |  |
 |
 |
Iron Hill Brewery Iron Hill in Newark is among the seven (for now) locations in Delaware and Pennsylvania. The square bar seats at least 20, with lots of tables and outdoor seating. They feature 10 of their own beers on tap, and 1 cask. The staff was friendy and glad to help and make suggestions. Iron Hill was a pleasant respite on a hot day in this buatling college town. |
 |
 |
 |
Stewart's Brewing Company Bear, DE
is about 10 minutes off I-95 and a nice stop on the way to Philly. Stewart's
Brewing Co. offers 9 draft selections of their own beer, 3 of which are seasonals.
The brew works are visible and the aroma was stimulating. Brewer Ric Hoffman explained
that while Stewart's always strives to satisfy the general beer-drinking populace,
they have been diversifying of late, brewing more higher octane beverages, such
as Belgians and barley wines. They brew about 30 beers per year. The staff was
very helpful, both with beer info and directions. |
 | |
 |
| Dogfish
Head Brewings & Eats Dogfish
Head Craft Brewery |  |
 |
 |
Iron Hill Brewery 710
South Madison Street The Iron Hill Brewery is situated on Wilmington's scenic Christina River in the midst of many interesting attractions. Of course, the prime attraction here is the beer. Iron Hill was carefully conceived and constructed to be both modern and comfortable. The beer menu features 6 regulars and two seasonals. Those we tried were fresh, clean-tasting, and delicious. The friendly staff went out of their way to be helpful, knew a great deal about their beers, and showed great pride in their workplace. Check out their website to view Iron Hill's impressive list of awards. If you can't make it to Wilmington, don't despair; Iron Hill has brew pubs in Newark, West Chester, Media, and North Wales. |
|
On duty...Zack and Ben |
 |
 |
Vintage 50
|
 |
 |
Sweetwater Tavern There was nothing not to like about our visit to Sweetwater Tavern in Sterling, VA. The outside bar afforded a beautiful view of the lake and was a cool place to sip a hand-crafted beer on a very hot day. Brewmaster Nick Funnell has a repertoire of about 35 beers, of which 5 were on tap. The Wild West Fest was possibly the best beer I've had this summer. Inside, the spacious bar area has seating for about 60 Questors, and is surrounded by a large dining area. Their beer is fresh and popular; manager Chris informed us that they fill about 250 growlers per week. Much, but not all, of the talk around the bar was beer-related. Our bartender, Sandi, was a gem...attentive, professional, and personable. Sweetwater has two other locations in Northern Virginia but I see no reason not to return to this one. |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Piccadilly's Brew Pub &
Restaurant Piccadilly'sis located in scenic, historic Winchester in a beautifully restored warehouse.The
beers are extract-brewed in six gleaming tanks that are on display. Four regulars
brews are produced, and they feature several that are blends of the other four.
They also offer a large selection of bottled beers, mostly of the macro variety.
The staff was extremely friendly and helpful, and proprietor Gary Rutherford was
eager to explain the brewing process and show us around the premises. On site
are two spacious dining rooms and an area for banquets and live music. |  |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
Hops Grill and Brewery Located in a suburban shopping center, HOPS offers four standard brews and two seasonals. A few macro bottles are available. The Bold Gold was good and clean as a whistle. At lunchtime, the bar was mostly manned by businessmen eating and drinking their lunch. The bar is rectangular and spacious, and the bar staff helpful. Kristi, the brewster, showed me the seven-barrel system and explained that she is required to brew the four standards, but has more choice in brewing the seasonals. The Fun Zen Bock was tasty with body. HOPS also has a location in Richmond, but I would not hesitate to return to this one. |
 |
Dogfish Head Alehouse Dogfish Head is finally dispensing their fantastic, far-out beers in dear old Maryland at their Alehouse in Gaithersburg. On tap are 6 regular and 6 seasonal or limited brews. If this does not appeal to you, they have several bottles of mundane macros. The place was jumping at the post-lunch hour, yet the bar staff was attentive and helpful. As always, the ales were outstanding. |
 |
 |
Growlers 227 East Diamond Ave Gaithersburg, MD 20877 (301) 519-9400 |
Growlers is a brewpub located in the quaint section of Gaithersburg that is still reminiscent of a sleepy, small town. It occupies the same site as the old Summit Station Brewpub. They offer 8 taps, six of which are their house beers...the other two are guest taps. They also carry about 15 bottles. The lunch hour presented an eclectic crowd of diners and beer drinkers. The bar is comfortable, and the beer was very fresh. As the name would indicate, growlers can be filled. |
 |
|
 |
|
Gordon Biersch Gordon
Biersch is a successful chain of brewpubs across the U.S.
We visited the McLean, VA location and found their lagers to be crisp, tasty,
and true to style. There were 8 beers on tap, and the selection was comprehensive,
including marzen, hefeweizen, and Czech lager. The place had a corporate feel
to it, and was populated by an upscale crowd. Nevertheless, Matt, the bartender,
made us feel at home and was willing and eager to answer a vast range of questions.
There is also a location in nearby Washington, DC. |  |
 |
 |
Rock Bottom Brewery The Rock Bottom Brewery is a successful chain, with the Bethesda location being the only one in Maryland. Brewmaster Geoff Lively knows his craft and his clientele. The former is evidenced by the impressive array of awards and medals he has garnered, and the latter by the sampler of six very smooth and drinkable beers that he graciously proffered. "We try to have something for everyone." is Geoff's philosophy, and this is no idle boast. Their five regulars are brewed to satisfy the normal spectrum of beer drinkers. In addition, Geoff offers one or two seasonals, and one or two cask-conditioned ales dispensed through a hand engine, for his more beer-cultured or curious customers. Ask your bartender, and other special brews are liable to be available in 1-liter bottles. Rock Bottom offers fine foods and special events as well, and should be a definite stop for residents, tourists, and those citizens in search of good beer. |
 | |
 | |
 |
| District
Chophouse January 26th, 6:22 PM...it was cold in the District. We were in town for the Lupulin Hoppy Beer Slam at RFD. But being on the Quest, and so close to a brewpub, I threw on my coat and ran a coupla blocks down 7th Street to the District Chophouse. It was a good move. Brewmaster Barrett Lauer crafts about 8 regulars and a seasonal. The Bourbon Stout had been recommended to me, but in its absence, I had a Weizenbock, which was remarkably good. At a great beer place, always sit at the bar...that's where you'll learn about the local beer scene. The bartender was exceptionally helpful in spite of being very busy. The Chophouse seems to be a great place to meet and chat with friends while consuming great beer. My all-too-brief visit was over, but I'll be back. |  |
 |
| Franklin's Restaurant, Brewery, & General Store 5123
Baltimore Ave. Franklin's is one of Maryland's best kept brewing secrets. Located right on Rt. 1 between DC and College Park, Franklin's has a restaurant downstairs and spacious bar up the steps. They offer 8-10 taps of their own brews, and several macro bottles for the unenlightened. Head brewer Charles Noll crafts a kolsch, hefe-weizen, pale ale, red ale, IPA, and Belgian triple to name a few. The lunchtime crowd was quite diverse, the General Store fun to browse in, and most importantly...the beer was excellent. |  |
 |
 |
652
S. Pickett Street Shenandoah is the area's first and only brewery, brewpub, and brew-on-premise facility rolled into one. The bar is small, and serves fresh on draft about 8 of Shenandoah's award-winning beers. What is not on draft is likely in a bottle. It's a minimalist menu, providing mainly chile and chips, because most patrons don't come here to eat...they come to drink beer, brew beer, and discuss the same. Drinking a beer at SB is like drinking milk on a dairy farm, or eating potato chips in Hanover...this is where it’s made, this is where they do it for real, and that adds an air of electricity to the place. There is something passionately satisfying about sipping one of SB’s many fresh selections as you wait for your wort to boil. Novices need not worry; brewmaster and proprietor Anning Smith will guide you through the process of making the style you select. The conversation is seriously about beer as well, and the bar serves as a malting pot for locals interested in drinking and brewing. It’s a hoppening place.
|
 | |
 |
 |
|
Southend Brewery Southend
Brewery in Charlotte, seems to be quite successful. Located in a converted
warehouse, there is lots of room, but most of it is dedicated to the restaurant.
The brewing operation is visible in the back but not emphasized. They have six
regular brews and one rotating seasonal. The beers are true to style, but seem
more commercial than passionate. It is one of a chain with other locations in
Raleigh and Charleston. |
 |
|
THIS IS A MICROBREWERY...NOT A BREWPUB - BUT THEY DO A THRIVING GROWLER BUSINESS, AND WILL BE GLAD TO HAVE YOU SAMPLE THEIR BEERS! The Heinzelmannchen Brewery, Sylva NC, is a one-man operation. He has a cooker, and one 10 barrel fermenter. He uses lager recipes, but an ale yeast to make his five brews. After a three day ferment, he kegs the beer for further conditioning. He has several commercial accounts and does a good growler business.
|  |
 |
|
 |
 |
| Thomas
Creek Brewery Wait a minute now...Thomas Creek ain't a brewpub...it's a microbrewery. You can't get food, but call ahead for a brewery tour and delicious samples. Thomas
Creek Brewery in Greenville, SC does no retail sales. They have a cooker,
and six 50- barrel fermenters. They also have three half-barrel fermenters for
special restaurant contracts. Taps on the wall allow tasting of four different
beers. They have a small bottling line, and they insert bottles into cases by
hand. Their variously named products are sold through SC and also Georgia. If
expansion is called for, they have space thru one wall to double their operation. |  |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
Blue Ridge Brewing Company Located
in the boutique shopping district of Greenville, SC, Blue
Ridge seems like a typical yuppie brew pub. They seat about 100 and have a
cozy patio in front. Their copper cooker and lauter are displayed in front with
a row of 5 stainless 10 barrel fermenters down the side. There are four regular
beers and a seasonal; stout, blond, ESB, pale ale, and dunkle weissen. The beers
seem true to style. |
 |
 |
 |
Southern Tier Brewing Company The Southern Tier Brewery is located in a sparsely built industrial area outside of Jamestown, NY. It's tasting room is open Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. In The Empty Pint, as the tasting room is called, they have their seven regular beers and a root beer on tap. The bar stands about 8 and there are three picnic tables in the room as well as a bootled beer display and souvenirs. There is an outdoor seating area as well. On a plesent Saturday afternoon, there were about 20 customers. |
 |
|
 |
Flying Bison Brewing Company You gotta really want to visit Flying Bison. The sign on Ontario Street says the brewery is at the back of the building, and so it is in many ways. Still, once safely inside you're treated to the innards of a working brewery. Owner and head brewer Tim Herzog is proud of his facilities and his beers. He built the place around the wish-lists of other brewers and so it has such things as its own lab and a one-barrel system for test brewing. There's no restaurant but there is a small bar with Flying Bison beers on tap for samples. On our visit seven taps were pouring – the Blizzard Bock and Barnstormer Pale Ale were favorites. Pint glasses, ball caps and similar beer paraphernalia are also available for purchase. Tim and his crew give tours on Saturday but they were happy to indulge us on a dreary Monday morning. If you fear the back of buildings in industrial areas, you can also find Flying Bison in restaurants, bars and grocery stores throughout Western New York.
|
 |
 |
|
 |