Best beer bar experience ever!

mikro in hamden, CT as well as Delaneys tap room in westville are my two favorites...
Mikro has great beer selection and the staff is eager to describe and talk about each beer. delaneys is also great but gets a college age crowd sometimes (located in New Haven). Tons of beers though.

 

I'll throw in a few more San Diego "beer bars" that I like to go to. There are so many good places for beer in SD, that's it's hard to narrow it down to just one. But, it sure is fun trying!

After Hamilton’s and Small Bar (two of my favorites...), I like the Toronado on 30th street. Haven't been there in a while, but I've enjoyed their taps in the past for sure. Nice atmosphere and good, friendly service. I also like Blind Lady Ale House on Adams (used to be within walking distance of where we lived...). Their taps can be a little pricy, and sometimes the place is overly crowded, but I like their pizzas and their taps. Their sister-bar Tiger Tiger on El Cajon is also a good place to go for some good eats and an interesting beer selection. Last…and somewhat least: Live Wire on El Cajon; North Park area. It doesn't have the best tap selection, but does have some SD local favorites. I just like the funk there...

 

McSorley's in NYC. Now that place is shitty, but that's also part of why it is so awesome.

 

Only 5 or 6 taps, but one is ALWAYS guaranteed to be a winner. Plus they are fairly priced. I was drinking pints of Sucks for $3.50 a couple weeks ago. Bitter Valentine should hit soon.

I also like The Birch, but their prices are a bit on the high side. And I love that Ben always has Bon Chien on tap.

 

How has no one mentioned Blackback Flyshop? On second thoughts, nothing to see here, please move along.

 

My first trip to Ebenezer's. It was early October 2009, right after the Belgian Fest. I was still kinda new to high-end beers back then but... started off with a flight of Cantillons: Iris, Rose de Gambrinus, Lou Pepe Kriek, Lou Pepe Framboise. Don't think I'll ever see four loons on draft at the same time, in the U.S., again in my life. Got the Chimay burger (superb) then moved on to half pours of Val Dieu Grand Cru, Biere de Miel, and Biere du Buccaneer (among others that I can't recall). Then split a bottle of Fantome Saison (first ever) with my friend. Killer beer bar experience. I have since had some fun trips to Eb's, but nothing like that one!

 

I was in the Boston area once, and stopped into a bottle shop, whos name I can't remember, but the owners I believe were a female couple and one of them was German? Picked up some good bottles and then asked if they knew where I could get a decent pint and something to eat while I was in town for business. It was a Monday or Tuesday night and they sent me to the Publik House.

Went in there and it was really really good. The staff were kinda laughing and taking among themselves, but it was quiet so they were keeping themselves entertained. The list was exceptional. Mainly all belgians and then a lot of Flander's reds. I was driving so only had a couple of samples, and then a pint of something I can't remember, but it was a great experience. It wasn't until I left and researched the place that I realized how recognized this bar is even among breweries in Belgium. I completely see why...they even used ales in their food items.

 

Monk's Kettle in SF. Stopped in on our last afternoon in the area. Incredibly friendly and wonderful beer.

 

I was just there two weeks ago for the first time. I wasn't expecting it to be as awesome as it was for whatever reason. They still had quite a few beers on from their Belgian Fest President's Day weekend. Huge, well chosen bottle list, well cared for and thought out tap selection and super friendly, knowledgeable and attentive bartender as well.

I love Monk's Cafe, Tria and Eulogy in Philly, The Lion's Pride in Bruinswick, Maine, Novare Res in Portland, the Public House in Boston and the Alehouse in Amesbury, Mass. but my heart and soul is still with Ebenezer's in Lovell, Maine. If you can ever make the Belgian Beer Fest in August and in particular, the Beer Dinner that kicks off the fest you'll not regret it!

One place I am definitely going to hit soon is Jeppe's Dorst in NY. The place looks otherworldly for the beer enthusiast!

 

My favorite local spot is The Good Life in Massapequa, NY. 22 taps of all sorts of great stuff and between the release events and beer dinners there are plenty of surprises. I've had fun at Busy Bee Cafe in Raleigh, Map Room in Chicago, and Sunset Grille in Boston. Wouldn't mind having any of those as a regular spot if I lived by them.

 

I'm a huge yankee fan and was making my first trip to camden yards to see orioles vs. yankees with my fiancé. after the game we were told to check out this area called fell's point. After getting off a water taxi, we were just walking around and I happened to notice a sign that said 200 beers on draft and over 1000 beers. I thought that it must have been some sort of a joke that a random bar in this area of baltimore would have so many beers. I walked in and found out that this is one of the top beer bars in the country, Max's and had so many beers that I would never be able to grab by me.

 

Of course, I should also mention my random Tuesday trip to Alpine. Got there just as the pub opened. Nelson, Bad Boy & Expo were all on. Headed over to the brewery at noon. Lo and behold, Expo bottle release, unannounced. That was a fine experience.

 

It was at a dark basement bar in Brugge, Belgium early in the afternoon. While walking the gorgeous streets we stopped at man pubs and got random beers and cheese/meat boards and then we came upon an interesting sign with stairs that lead downwards. We entered into a big place, walked up to a nice long bar, sat down and realized we dont know any of the beers but felt quite comfortable. Turns out there serious American blues were being played. So after hearing all of these stories of Americans not feeling welcome in Europe this was one of the first interactions with locals and what a positive one this was.

The bartender was the owner, a young dude obsessed with the blues, particularly with Chicago blues so we got along very well. We asked him for his favorite beer and he pulled out two Roch 10s from the fridge. After that first sip all of the madness of all the subsequent years of beer love followed. Forever thankful for that day. We must have drank 4 each back to back. Smashed, hit more bars later, ended up dancing with bronze statues, falling asleep on the grass outside of our B&B thinking we lost the keys (which were in my bag all along) This was years back and I can find the bar name if needed

 

Bailey's taproom. Portland, OR. Never had a bad experience there. Great staff, good beer.

 

dude, quiet

 

Yes, this. Blackback is terrible and I don't dream of it being stumbling distance from me.

 

Mayor of Old Town in Ft Collins CO was pretty epic. Hops & Pie in Denver was great as well.