Seems CraftBeer.com has named Imperial Taproom the best beer bar in Texas. Not strange that I have never hear of it, considering its remote location, but seems kind of an odd choice. Though certainly peaked my interest. https://www.craftbeer.com/breweries/great-american-beer-bars-2017#Texas It looks like it was just a fan vote kind of list, so take it with a grain of salt. Still has anyone been out there? I have been to Amarillo a few times but that was years ago, and certainly nothing like this was open then.
Less than 200 people per state voting on average, anyone could win and mean nothing. But I'm sure if you are stuck out there it's worth checking out.
They get Ben E Keiths and Favorite distro. That is about it. So, they have a solid taplist for what they can do out there. But, they get barely any TX beer and barely any of the harder to find beers. They promoted it, that is why they won. Good for them for publicity but it isn't the best beer bar in TX solely due to the lack of distro possibilities.
Ok scrolling down to see the post on the 23rd I saw that fn chicken and waffle and I was stoked, then saw they have a $5 upcharge on a 32oz crowler...WTF. Plus they are telling people that crowler will last for up to 6 months to a year. I was out in Montrose CO last year and picked up a 32oz crowler of the Pizza Boys 5% stout for $5 and it was probably the best deal I have ever found on a beer.
LOL. Crowlers. Yeah, pretty sure that is still illegal but the TABC out in Amarillo has no idea WTF a crowler is or that it is illegal. There are so many things wrong in that post there.
I was going to message them about crowlers, something quick, but the more I read the less energy I had to help them. It would have been a paragraph or two... or three...
Yeah when Cuvée starts having crowlers, you know they are legal. Until then, just assume they are illegal.
I went to Imperial Taproom during a trip to Palo Duro Canyon last fall, and it was good. Best beer bar in Texas? Not even close, but it was a very nice surprise in a town where I wasn't expecting much. As I recall, they had a decent draft list and I was happy to find a Bishops Barrel 14 that was long gone in the major cities. The food was impressive and the place has a cool vibe in a historic building on the courthouse square. The owner (or one of the owners) is a trader, so there's a cool, large collection of rare bottles throughout. If I was in Canyon or Amarillo (only 20 minutes away) more often, I'd be a regular. Of course, I'd have a lot less options...
