Thrillist: 33 Best Beer Bars

Chicago, Hopleaf yes; while I like bangers and lace, there are more than one beer bars in the city that are better. meh

 

It's a travesty Novare Res in Portland, ME isn't listed here. Also, no love for Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington D.C.?

I would throw Barcade in Brooklyn NY on there too...

 

Gotta include Publick House in Brookline, MA

 

I went to Riverside Market one day after they posted a pic of Life is Like... on their Facebook page and when I got there some old guy said "oh that picture is 3 weeks old." He then proceeded to attempt to convince me that they were the only people to get Cigar City's Gentlemens Club series and that I really needed to buy a $36 bottle of Black Ops. Gentleman's Club was virtually everywhere as was Black Ops for considerably less.

 

I had my fingers crossed that a Louisville bar would make it. Sergio's is so wild - it's an awkward place, but it's true that you'll end staying for a while with their huge selection of great stuff. If you like High Life or beers like High Life, they sell those for about 130 dollars a bottle, haha.

 

I live in Akron and never considered checking out The Lockview. Looks like it might be worth a stop, but there are a few world class stops within 10 miles of there (Lizardville and the Hoppin' Frog Tap Room to name two).

 

Max's Taphouse anyone!?

The crown jewel of Maryland and consistently ranked as the best or the runner-up for best Mid-Atlantic/East Coast Bar. Definitely one of the best East of the Mississippi.

 

Why you no Max's?

 

No Porter? They've included them in the past, along with the Brickstore in ATL.

Pretty interesting line up.

 

It looks like a legit list.

 

So that's what Blind Tiger looks like with the lights on.

 

Nice to see Craft Pride in Austin listed. Really great bar. And, yes, the pizza trailer is amazing. Was recently at the Hay Merchant in Houston, also a really cool place.

 

No Three Penny Taproom, Montpelier, VT...that's a F*in crime.
And while it's on the taps?...add Pro Pig and Reservoir in Waterbury.

 

Decent, but so many left out that are superior to those on the list.

 

Petrol Station in Houston. Stone's Most Bitter Bar 3 years in a row!

And of course Hay Merchant is very deserving, best beer bar in Texas.

 

Why does it always have to be Tapwerks? The vast majority of people that go there are college kids drinking Jaeger & Red Bull shots or some BMC. Hell, I would take just about any other bar in OKC or Tulsa that has a somewhat decent selection over having to go to Tapwerks and run the chance of getting a warm beer, or something that's been sitting in the keg for too long. The bartenders aren't very knowledgeable either when compared to other craft beer oriented bars.

I'll have to keep the Texas bars in mind next time I'm down that way. Every other bar though, with the exception of Lord Hobo & El Bait Shop, I could care less about because almost all of them are in cities I either: A) despise, or B) just never want to spend any time in.

 

Among many issues with that list: As a former Oklahoma resident, I don't think it's possible to rank any bar in Oklahoma among the country's best at this time. They simply don't have that many good breweries there nor do they have access to that many of the best out-of-state breweries.

Any true list of the best beer bars would probably be hopelessly unbalanced with multiple bars in the best beer states.

 

I will chime in with my complaints

for Portland, Oregon:
- Bailey's being left off is a crime, much better than horse brass and they actually clean their tap lines
- Beermongers, similar concept to Belmont, but with a more local and much friendlier atmosphere. I will not slight the knowledge and friendliness of the people on the store side of Belmont, but something seems to happen, more times than not, when you cross the vortex to the bar.

I would also include Kickbacks, Jacksonville, Fl.