Best Beer Bar In Every State

I'm just stoked that I've been to 8 of the bars listed.

 

Pretty sure that they got Indiana wrong. No offense to the Heorot or Ball State, but there are several better bars in Indianapolis and Broad Ripple.

 

Never been there but they say Mekong in Richmond, VA. is one of the best........

 

Coalhouse always has a nice tap line-up and the food is better. Cask has great events and they get harder to find beer sometimes. Six of one, half dozen of the other.

 

http://www.theshepnj.com/

My choice for NJ

 

Before reading the list, I said to myself, "It has to be Sergio's in Kentucky and The Happy Gnome in Minnesota." They nailed it! I used to travel for work and of all the places in the country that I have been, Sergio's is my favorite. It was a very slow night when I was there, so I got to spend a couple hours chatting and drinking beer with Sergio. A very cool and memorable time.

 

I can't argue with Riverside Market if you're in South Florida. Impossible not to mention Laser Wolf about 2 miles away too. I was recently in the Arlington, VA/DC area and Churchkey is a winner. Really enjoyed GalaxyHut in Arlington, VA

 

I can't say whether they are right for MA, because I've not made it to Lord Hobo. Armsby Abby would be my choice. In Vermont, I think there is about a 4 way tie at the top. Not sure how none of the Waterbury establishments win.

Planning a night in Charleston, SC when I visit my parents later this summer, so I'm looking forward to hitting the Craft Connundrum.

 

Sergio's in KY is way off. Holy Grale, also in Louisville, blows Sergio's out of the water.

 

Avenue Pub in NOLA. Blackback in VT. NYC? not sure, there's so many good places now and I haven't been to half of them. I still have a soft spot for Pony Bar HK.

 

Hmm...best? Given Chicago's amazing craft beer scene, I'm not sure my pick could objectively be considered the best, though it's hands-down my favorite and I'd argue the best outside of Chicago: The Olympic Tavern in Rockford. Expertly curated tap list, good bottle selection, outstanding food menu, and great atmosphere.

 

Holy Grale in Louisville is the best bar I've been to. Top notch food, top notch beer. They did a freaking Cantillon tap takeover a few months ago.

 

I can't argue with the VA selection of Mekong, but I find it odd that they reference finding VA favorites - "Strangeways and South Street" available there. Nothing against either, but far more popular VA breweries than those two are on rotation there quite frequently.

The only other state I can semi-intelligently debate is AK. When I left there, Koot's (Chilkoot Charlie's) was THE beer bar. Even back in the mid '90's they boasted over 250 different beers and offered a "beer passport" thing to keep track of ticking. I couldn't imagine that over the past decade of craft beer becoming more popular that they'd just sort of, well, stop doing craft on an epic scale. And FWIW, Humpy's was overrun by tourists in the summer and the yuppie go-to place during the offseason. Maybe yuppies gave way to hipsters.....

 

Armsby is definitely the choice for MA. Having been to all three of Publick House, Lord Hobo, and Armsby several times I put Armsby well ahead of the others on beer alone. Once you factor in food it's a no brainer. Only problem is I can walk to PH and Hobo is a T ride or cheap uber.

 

Don't have an issue with the NJ selection, but as a place, I really love the overall indoor outdoor vibe and beer selection of the Stirling Hotel.

 

Tennessee is just incorrect.
Hops & Crafts is a small, low gravity only tap room with a very mediocre selection. There are 10 similar places in Nashville.
There are also 10 better beer bars in Nashville. I cant speak for Memphis or Knoxville or Chattanooga but i can guarantee they all have better beer bars than Hops & Crafts too.

 

Opposite is true for me on ease of access. Driving in to Cambridge from the 495 belt is never worth the effort. So Armsby for the win, even with a crappy parking situation. Plus I usually stop at Wormtown.