Best beer bars in America

Not sure if you intended it, but you linked (no pun intended) the Illinois top vote getter. The link to the main article, which includes all the states, is within your link, but it might be helpful to post it in your OP so people outside of IL can more easily see which bar in their state received the most votes.

 

I have never been to the place listed as the best in Colorado, but I can say that it is hard to believe it compares to Choice City Deli in Fort Collins.

 

I've been to the Colorado bar. It is far from the best in Colorado. I can think of 15 that are easily better.

 

Or Tap n Handle or Falling Rock or Backcountry Pizza.

 

That's open crowdsourced internet voting for you!

 

May be a little biased but I think Brick Store Pub in Decatur, wins for Georgia. To me they get a more balanced tap rotation and it's always rotating. Certain beers don't last 24 hours, which is a positive yet a negative. I love The Porter and Little Five, but it's not for everyone down there. They do have a nice whiskey and scotch list however.

 

I've been to Samples in Longmont, CO. Its got great atmosphere, great food and great beer. I'd definitely rate it as one of the better places I've been in the country but I'm not sure I'd say its the best beer bar. Its taplist was great but then again most bars in CO have great taplists and many better than Samples.

Armsby Abbey in MA is definitely one of the best bars in the country. I can't say its the best in MA for sure but it is incredible and I've never heard anyone disagree. Their tap list might be one of the best I've ever seen.

I haven't been to the Happy Raven in Nebraska but I am a bit shocked that they picked a place in Lincoln rather than Omaha. Omaha has some great bars and actually has a population on more than just football days . The Crescent Moon in Omaha has been on many best of lists previously and always has an incredible tap list. Omaha has a bunch of great bars so until I go to Lincoln I'll be a bit skeptical.

I don't think I've been to any of the other bars and don't have any strong feelings about the other states to really comment. Busy Bee in North Carolina is another winner that could be on the list.

 

I'd have to go with a local favorite, the Mayor of Old Town, for Colorado.

 

I've been to El Bait Shop in Des Moines which is the winner for # of taps from this listing. Nice place !

 

This list seems to be focused too much on quantity of taps and food. I wouldn't put Hopcat in the top 20 bars in WI.

 

This is the link to the list.

https://www.craftbeer.com/breweries/great-american-beer-bars-2017

This is the methodology...

Methodology: CraftBeer.com readers were asked to nominate their favorite craft beer bar in their state and fill out a short survey about what makes it so great including atmosphere, staff, beer selection and special events. Craft beer fans cast over 7,000 votes between November and December 2016.

So it is basically a fan poll that means very little.

 

That was the one place I couldn't fit into my last Colorado trip. I'm making another trip out that way and plan on spending at least one night there. I hear great things.

 

But... but... so many places taught having even more taps then the previous bar!

Kansas City just got a Hopcat. I really do want to check it out. They had several years of Abyss, some Firestone Walker Reserve beers, and something like KBS on tap for their grand opening. I'll be interested to see how the tap list holds up over time. With that sort of opening, I'm expecting quite a lot.

By the way, love the avatar. I celebrate Halloween and weekends dressed as Rod Kimble far too often.

 

Links in Chicago is a worthy choice its pretty good. It wouldn't be my personal choice for IL and prob not even in my top 10 for Chicago but its sorta a trendy joint these days, I can see why it scored so high

 

I don't know about best, but I do like the IL vote getter, Links Taproom in the OP. It's my neighborhood bar and they do a lot of the little things that may go unnoticed like usually not televising sports to keep the sports bar crowd out. Providing an adequate number of restrooms for the size of the space and playing music at a reasonable level, which is a rarity in Chicago (I'm an avid music and sports fan, btw). It's also on a major bus route and near an L stop, so public transportation is made easy.

My biggest gripe with them is they don't provide wait service on drinks, so if it's crowded, you're either sitting at the bar with people crawling up your back trying to get a beer, or you're the person crawling up someone sitting at the bar trying to get a beer. Neither are fun. Also, their drink menu is on tablets which can get kind of gnarly.

 

Instant Karma may be good for Joplin, Missouri. If you're in Kansas City, I'd recommend Bierstation. They have a nice assortment of bottles and cans to go, and a sometimes impressive selection of beers on draft. I've noticed they often take their heavy hitting beers off tap on Fridays/Saturdays, so if you want some heavy sippers, visit on a weeknight or Sunday. While I don't fancy going out for a beer often, Bierstation is one I'll commonly visit.

And I'm not affiliated with Bierstation in any way

 

Nothing against the NC offering, but that wouldn't be in the top 5 in Asheville, forget the rest of North Carolina.

 

I live in Chicago, and even spent the Superbowl at Links for the Surly tap takeover but still probably gotta give Local Option my love for best in IL because I've been going for so long. Chicago has so many good bars though it's really hard to split hairs here.

 

Torst is not my favorite NYC beer bar, but it is the most unique so I can see why it got the nod.

Blackback in Waterbury, VT, is great but there are also two great bars literally right across the street. I'm glad I don't have to choose between them when I'm there