The Most Rated Places on BA

Talk Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by chrisjws, Nov 18, 2025.

  1. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Oh, did it burn down again.

    Enjoy
     
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  2. chrisjws

    chrisjws Grand Pooh-Bah (3,302) Dec 3, 2014 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I have heard this from several people. Matt at FW told me it was one of the best spots he had ever been period. That area is on my list but right now the NE is my #1 to get to.
     
  3. DarrellK

    DarrellK Savant (1,061) Nov 16, 2002 Florida

    Feels good to have 9 out of 20.
     
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  4. Spankyrightus

    Spankyrightus Pooh-Bah (2,879) May 4, 2024 Maryland
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I often wondered why some places/breweries don’t have a place to add a review?
    Take Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville PA for example.
    Being the oldest continuously operated brewery in the US, and having a huge amount of people taking the brewery tour and visiting the taproom every year, I would think it would have some reviews to be read.
    Now I can understand closing the reviews to new entries simply because there are too many.
    But in this case there is nothing. :thinking_face:
    What gives?
     
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  5. wmeckley44

    wmeckley44 Savant (1,114) Nov 1, 2023 Tennessee
    Trader

    This thread made me go back and look at my beer ratings and there's one brewery that I have both the most beers rated from and most of my highest ratings from.
     
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  6. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The place in Pottsville doesn't have a taproom. The brewery offers tours and I think there's a gift shop, but that's it. So there's nothing to review.

    It's the same with the Tampa brewery site, though you can review the Yuengling Draft Haus and Kitchen there.

    It's also the same with places like Anchor. It doesn't have a taproom that's open to the public so there's nothing to review.
     
    #66 John_M, Nov 20, 2025
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2025
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  7. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    What @John_M said. If a place is tagged as just a brewery, it's assumed production only and not reviewable as a place/retail location.
     
  8. Spankyrightus

    Spankyrightus Pooh-Bah (2,879) May 4, 2024 Maryland
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    [​IMG]
    I’m not so sure about that. Here’s a photo my wife took of my brother in law and I toasting beers in the Pottsville taproom after the tour a few years back.
    I would think a visit to the brewery with a tour and a taproom where you can enjoy the beer would be worthy of reviews.
     
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  9. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Anchor has, or had, the same service. At conclusion of the tour, you gathered in the upstairs taproom to sample various Anchor beers. However, there's no public facility, and service is limited to pouring beers for the tour goers.

    The policy of BA has always been that breweries that are solely production breweries, that don't have a taproom open to the public, are not reviewable. If you feel it should be otherwise, make your case with @Todd. Personally, I don't have an opinion either way, and wouldn't be bothered in the least if there's a change in the current policy.

    Cheers!
     
  10. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    No need, as there are no plans to change this rule. Production brewery locations are judged on their beers, not facility tours (if any) or random thoughts/experiences with the brewery and their beers.
     
  11. Spankyrightus

    Spankyrightus Pooh-Bah (2,879) May 4, 2024 Maryland
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I appreciate the explanation, I was just wondering why, that’s all.
    And yes, I was wondering about the Anchor Brewery as well. I’ve taken that tour and been to that taproom 3 times over the years.
    Thx again.
     
  12. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,647) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    Been going to Paso Robles for a long time. First visit or two were all about Firestone Walker. Then we started tasting the food and wine. Now we might just drop onto FW for lunch. So many excellent wineries around there.
     
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  13. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,647) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    I've been to 12 from this list.
    2,3,4,5,6,9,11,12,15,17,18,20.

    The ones I want to make it to aren't in the USA these days. High on my list is Brauerei Gradl in Leups Germany to taste the highly rated Dunkle.
     
  14. WillieThreebiers

    WillieThreebiers Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,203) Apr 26, 2012 Connecticut
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Been to 15... hope to get to Cigar City and Founders next year...
     
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  15. chrisjws

    chrisjws Grand Pooh-Bah (3,302) Dec 3, 2014 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I swear to god the number of times I've gone to rate a place and I see Willie been there first. Managed to beat you to one for once!
     
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  16. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    With the number of places that you've visited I would have thought that 20 would have been your answer. Good luck on getting more of them.
     
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  17. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I’ve been to 9. New Glarus is the one listed that I really want to visit still. Troegs, DFH and Russian River (original Santa Rosa location), we’re all way to crowded in the taprooms when I visited each so I only got to-go beers.
     
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  18. Immortale25

    Immortale25 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,775) May 13, 2011 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Wait a minute. They serve in plastic cups at the OG Tewksbury location? I was at the Prudential Center one, which is basically just a pop-up on certain days, and they were serving in plastic cups, but I figured it was just because they were in a public building.

    Edit: Or I guess you're referring to Charlton, but either way
     
    #78 Immortale25, Nov 23, 2025
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2025
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  19. zotzot

    zotzot Grand Pooh-Bah (5,352) Feb 22, 2015 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think it depends on where you live - and what you. An easily get to
     
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  20. zotzot

    zotzot Grand Pooh-Bah (5,352) Feb 22, 2015 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    #19 really surprises me. Seems like an obscure, maybe mediocre option.
    Alchemist is just up the road, hard to believe they,re behind pro-pig, and Lawsońs is about 20 miles down 100. Both have much better beer.
     
    ChicagoJ likes this.