Places

Here are several highly recommended beer bars/eateries/brewpubs that I have enjoyed (and many more that I still need to visit) in no particular order:

Last updated: 08/07/2016

Washington DC Metro Area (the blogger’s home)
theBeerAuthority’s Favorites
ChurchKey – the beer church of DC enough said and get there early as it can get very packed later in the day – my personal fav
DFH Alehouse – locations: Baileys Crossroads , Fair Oaks, and Gaithersburg; beer quality going downhill a bit, but great food!
Mad Fox Brewing Company – upscale Falls Church brewpub; good food and brews – they host beer events often
Lost Dog – two locations in Arlington; great pita sandwiches and vast beer bottles – bit on the pricy end here if you drink in
Quarry House Tavern – a hidden dive that serves up ol’ fashioned heart clogging tater tots and a decent craft selection
Granville Moore’s –one of the better Belgian spots in the DC area, great mussels and beers
Pizza Paradiso – locations: Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Old Town; good brick oven fired pizzas and beer collection
Fireworks – locations: Clarendon/Courthouse and Leesburg; great pizza, dessert, and big beer collection (they do growlers here too)
Stoney’s – awesome grilled cheese and pizza, some good beers on tap
Big Hunt – nice dive in Dupont Circle; don’t go for the food, go for the special beers on tap (you’ll see KBS or even Black Note once a year)
Max Taphouse (Baltimore) – best brewpub of all Baltimore; okay food
DC Brau Brewing – awesome brewery – home of the On the Wings of Armageddon (OTWOA); free tastings on Saturdays
Al’s of Hampden/Pizza Boy – awesome brewery with so many to choose from; good pizza! A personal fav hidden gem in the Harrisburg area.

Other interesting places
Black Squirrel – interesting hang out with great beers on tap in Adams Morgan
Brassiere Beck – high-end Belgian spot; very priced, service is a hit or miss, very mainstream here
Brickskeller – now Bier Baron; a little cleaner, same horrible service, vast beer collection – lost in its former glory
RFD – mediocre food and vast beer collection
Marvin – fun summer rooftop bar in U Street area that serves up Belgian beers and other decent beers
Galaxy Hut – hole in the wall in the heart of Clarendon; interesting rotating tab
Scion – serves good & interesting food; serves up nice hard to get brews every now and then
Wonderland Ballroom – a dive bar; neat ambiance
Red Derby – another dive bar; if you’re bored and want to raise your hair a bit
Biergarten – great German selection at $$$; bad management; fun beer garden
Old Europe – lesser known place but authentic German fare
SmithCommon – too high end and pricy for my taste, yet good beers there every now and then
Stars and Shamrocks – a hangout for jewish and irish folk? okay beer tap
Rustico’s – good pizza and dessert, vast beer list
Mussel’s – another high-end Bethesda Belgian bar; good mussels and bread; decent tap
Red Palace – hole in the wall in the H Street Corridor, probably the most daring with beers
Blue Jacket – owned by the Neighborhood Restaurant Group that also manages ChurchKey; go before a Nats game
Port City Brewing – try their Port City Porter – my personal fav from there
Right Proper – Meh beers despite favorable rankings – just being honest here; good food though
Meridian Pint – self serve beer tables available; good bottle selection
The Ale Wife (Baltimore) – probably my personal favorite in Baltimore
Brewer’s Art (Baltimore) – eclectic ambiance, decent beers
Heavy Seas Brewing (Baltimore) – local mainstream brewery that bangs out a number of experimental beers
Duclaw (Maryland area) – locations: Bel Air and Hanover, home of the Retribution beers among many other big beers – probably the most daring brewery in the DC area with decent quality
RAR Brewing (Cambridge, MD)

California
The Bruery (Orange County) – my personal fav barrel-aged programs, sign up for their Reserve Society membership if possible
Beachwood BBQ (Seal Beach) – local gems on tap (i.e., Grey Monday on tap could be found here); decent BBQ
Stone Brewing (Escondido) – their Bistro Gardens (i.e., La Jolla) is a must-visit as well – beautiful grounds; option to buy Stone gems onsite and try other brews available on tap
Tornado (San Diego), Hamilton (San Diego) – awesome beers on tap and in bottles as well
Blind Lady Ale House (San Diego)
Pizza Port Carlsbad (San Diego) – personal fav pizza and amazing in-house brews on tap
AleSmith Brewing (San Diego) – core beers on tap only (was hoping to get the barrel aged stuff)
Societe Brewing (San Diego) – awesome artisan type of beers
Poor House (San Diego) – hot.. I mean HOT chicks own and run this place! the beer is good too!
Belchin’ Beaver (San Diego) – ahh, try the peanut butter stout if you can
Acoustic Ales (San Diego) – nice chill place before a Padres game
Alpine Beer Company (Alpine) – amazing beers here (i.e., Exponential Hoppiness, Hoppy Birthday, and many more)
Kern River (Kernville) – I want more of that Citra DIPA
FiftyFifty Brewing (Truckee) – known for its Barrel Aged Eclipse Imperial Stout series
Firestone Walker (Paso Robles) – Parabola – nuff said! good barrel aging program here
Russian River (Santa Rosa) – oh and Pliny the Elder (and Younger)
Lost Abbey (San Marcos)
Monkish (Torrance)

Oregon
Hair of the Dog Brewery (Portland) – where it’s all at – outstanding HOTD beers. decent food, excellent beers
Cascades Sour House (Portland)- a sour beer drinkers havern
Brass Horse Pub (Portland)– excellent historic brewpub (Don Younger’s watering hole) that serves up good locals
Apex (Portland) – awesome funky craftbeer spot that carries just about everything including rare gem bottles
Belmont Station (Portland) – one of my favorite taproom/bottle shop combo places in the world
Deschutes Brewery (Portland/Bend)- check out the main brewery in Bend; brewpubs in Portland and “downtown” Bend
10 Barrel  (Bend) – amazing craft brewery in Bend. Outdoor firepit and brick oven pizza. Pure bliss here!
Boneyard (Bend) – another excellent small brewery in Bend – amazing IPAs. Tasting room very small, so plan ahead.
Crux Fermentation (Bend) – huge up and coming brewery/grill operation in Bend, cool-looking tanks are imported from Japan
Hopworks Urban Brewery – cool ambiance, very “green”, beers are decent, very slow service, pizza pretty good

Colorado
Odell (Ft. Collins) – epitome of craft beer in its early pioneering days, love the IPAs
New Belgium Brewing (Ft. Collins) – a must visit in Colorado – one of the first and most beautiful green breweries in the country
Breckenridge – great location at the base of the mountains in Breckenridge, decent beers
Avery Brewing (Boulder) – awesome barrel aging program here (i.e., Uncle Jacobs)
Oskar Blues (Boulder) – several locations, cool main brewery with garage seating
Upslope (Boulder) – great ambiance, be sure to check a coffee lab next door
Great Divide Brewing (Denver) – enormous barrel warehouse at main location, several locations throughout Denver
Crooked Stave Brewing (Denver) – sours galore
Left Hand Brewing (Denver) – decent brewery operation

Illinois/Indiana
Billy Goat Tavern (Chicago) – a personal favorite in the city; be sure to go to the original location – no craft beer here, have a “cheezborger”
Local Option (Chicago) – dive craft bar for the beer nerdery. Great rare beer selections and food
Map Room (Chicago) – neat airy ambiance; excellent beers. 3F beer no stranger here
Revolution Brewing (Chicago) – great ambiance, food, people, and beers
Half Acre (Chicago) – awesome craft brewery and incredible beers especially their Pale Ales and IPAs
Hopleaf (Chicago) – food bit disappointing despite great brew selections and spacious ambiance throughout
West Lakeview Liquors (Chicago) – my personal fav beer shop in Chicago
Archer Liquors (Chicago) – another good bottle shop
Three Floyds (Munster) – do I need to explain why this is a must-visit? Dark Lord Day a definite experience for any beer geek

Vermont
Hill Farmstead (Greensboro) – a must pilgrimage for beer geeks
Alchemist (Waterbury) – Heady Topper – one case per customer per day
Lawson’s Finest Liquids (Warren) – no tours nor tasting room – find their beers at surrounding area bars or bottle shops
Three Penny Taproom (Montpelier) – one of my favs in VT! Plenty HF and Lawson’s on tap here
Craft Beer Cellar (Waterbury) – lots of excellent local selections here! I’ve landed a four pack of HT here.
Prohibition Pig (Waterbury)- awesome BBQ and plenty locals on tap including HF and Lawson’s.
The Farmhouse Tap & Grill (Burlington) – probably the best farm-to-table food I’ve ever had and this place has HF and Lawson’s on tap too!
Stowe Beverage – where we landed four pack of HT and plenty locals here!
Piecasso Pizzeria & Lounge (Stowe) – across the street from Stowe Beverage. Great pizza and ask for some HT to go along with it!
Burlington Brewing Company (Burlington)
Zero Gravity (Burlington)
Frost Beer Works (Hinesburg)

Florida
Cigar City Brewing (Tampa) – home of the famous Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout; too bad Huna Day is now no more
Cycle Brewing (Tampa) – they churn out the best barrel aged beers in the country (i.e., Rare DOS)
Funky Buddha (Oakland Park) – several locations for brewpubs in Florida – Hop Gun IPA is one of my fav from the brewery
The Independent (St. Pete & Tampa) – a serious beer bar for connoisseurs

Ohio
Great Lakes (Columbus) – perennial brewery of Ohio that brought the Blackout Stout, Christmas ale and many others on the map
Fat Heads (Cleveland) – the original brewery, home of the Head Hunter IPA
The Brew Kettle & Tap (Cleveland)
Buckeye Beer Engine (Cleveland)
Hoppin’ Frog (Akron) – home of the famous BORIS, DORIS, and many big beers
Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery (Athens)
Columbus Brewing Company (Columbus) – home of the highly rated Columbus IPA and other great brews
Elevator Brewing and Draught Haus (Columbus)
Bodega (Columbus)

Massachusetts/Connecticut
Sam Adams (Boston) – come see where it all began
Harpoon (Boston) – another well known staple, fun taproom
Meadhall (Cambridge) – fun beer hall with great selections
Cambridge Brewing Company – decent brewery with a good limited release tasting option at the brewpub
Lord Hobo (Cambridge) – funky place, good burgers and beer selections
Tree House Brewing (Monson) – all their beers are amazing, get there early!
The Dirty Truth (Northampton) – local beer hall
The Sierra Grille (Northampton) – decent restaurant great beer selections
TruBeer (Easthampton) – great bottle shop
New England Brewing Co (Woodbridge, CT) – home of the Ghandi Bot and many other great beers
Trillium (Boston)

Michigan
Bell’s (Kalamazoo) – a must-visit for anyone
Founders (Grand Rapids) – home of the KBS, a must-visit for anyone
Dark Horse (Marshall) – mmm, that Double Crooked Tree IPA
Kuhnhenn (Warren) – little known but amazing brewery, lots of barrel aged gems here
Odd Side Ales (Grand Haven)

Wisconsin
Essen House (Madison)– fun German hangout spot with traditional German offerings – go for the das boot challenge
Great Dane (Madison) – Cheese curds here rule; so-so beer, but lively and spacious place
Riley’s Wines of the World (Madison) – look no further for your craft beer buying needs
Ale Asylum (Madison) – great ambiance and servers, beers were very sugary unfortunately
New Glarus Brewing (New Glarus) – great brewery (i.e., Dancing Man Wheat and Thumbprint IIPA) – brand new, excellent bottle shop, decent tasting room
Central Waters (Amherst) – be sure to attend their anniversary events – awesome barrel aged releases

Pennsylvania
Manayunk Brewery (Philly) – right off the waterfront; huge place and beer collection
Yards (Philly) – close to my heart; good beer selections in an industrial area downtown
McGillin’s (Philly) – one of the oldest pubs in America; cheap beer and food; good times
Eulogy (Philly) – great little Belgian pub across the street from 2nd Story Brewing
Bishop’s Collar (Philly) – where I tried Pliny the Younger – great hole in the wall near the art museum; great breakfast and beer here
City Tap House (Philly) – located in University City; bright and spacious. Good food and beer selection.
South Philadelphia Taproom – great neighborhood craft bar in south philly
Monk’s Cafe (Philly) – very small quarters but home to many outstanding craft beers
Kraftworks (Philly) – decent food and a good beer selection
Standard Tap (Philly) – good neighborhood craft bar
Capone’s (Philly area)
Local 44 (Philly area)
Resurrection Ale House (Philly area)
Devil’s Den (Philly area)
Grey Lodge (Philly area)
Memphis Taproom (Philly area)
Tired Hands (Ardmore) – amazing artisan beers at this tiny brewery, be sure to try the bread basket
Troeg’s (Hershey) – awesome tasting room, good selection of food available; be sure to take the tour
Victory (Downington)
Voodoo Brewery (Meadville) – target their Black Magik beers; go for a barrel aged event whenever available
East End (Pittsburgh) – known for its famous barleywine, Gratitude series – available at the release event once a year
ChurchBrew Works (Pittsburgh) – former church converted to a brewery/restaurant; amazing ambiance, but ok food (try the perogies though)
Fat Head’s (Pittsburgh) – known for its awesome IPA beers
D’s SixPax (Pittsburgh) – grab a stool and a dog along with a beer from a vast selection

Minnesota
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery – home of great beer including the Mama Marsala IPA and former glory, Czar Jack, and growlers; ok food
Happy Gnome (St. Paul)– awesome place with tons of hard to find beer
Muddy Pig (St. Paul) – neighborhood tavern, decent high quality tap
Stub & Herbs (Minneapolis) – funky beer bar in a college town; tater tots galore
Blue Max Liquors (Burnsville)- Don’t let looks deceive you; best beer selection shop in town
Surly (Brooklyn Center) – try to head out to this brewery on Darkness Day

New York
Ginger Man (NYC) – one of my favorites ; huge beer selection here!
McSorley’s (NYC) – fun and historical place, but a tourist trap; services two different beers – “light” and “dark”, $ gone up
Rattle n Hum (NYC) – a fun craft bar with a good selection; small
Blind Tiger (NYC) – see above
Pony Bar (NYC) – see above
MacGregor’s (Rochester) – great college hangout, craftbeer at college beer prices
The Old Toad (Rochester) – a British pub that takes you nowhere other than UK once you set a foot in there
Dinosaur BBQ (Rochester) – no better BBQ joint anywhere in New York that serves up local beer
Tap Mallet (Rochester)
Cole’s (Buffalo) – good all-American restaurant with a ton of beer on tap
Spuyten Duyvil (Brooklyn)
Other Half Brewing Company (Brooklyn) – great beers and has done some collaboration work with the best
Grimm (Brooklyn)
Kane Brewing (Ocean Township)

Virginia
Aslin (Herndon) – home of the “Juice Bombs” – one of my favorite breweries in the area
Ocelot (Dulles) – another favorite of mine; large warehouse – great rotating brews
The Veil (Richmond) – people from all over line up for their Tuesday can sales; former brewer from Hill Farmstead
Capital Ale House (Fredericksburg) – ok food; best brewpub in the area
Hardywood Park (Richmond) – home of the Gingerbread Stout (GBS) – a must visit in Richmond
Legends Brewing (Richmond) – another Richmond brewery that serves up decent beer and food, kinda going downhill fast
Adroit Theory (Leesburg) – Virginia’s first nanobrewery; they have an upcoming barrel aging program slowly making strides

Missouri
Perennial Artisan Ales (St. Louis) – I am still hunting down that coveted Barrel-Aged Abraxas
Bridge (St. Louis) – awesome ambiance; great beer tap
International Taphouse (St. Louis) – you will not run out of beer options here
Schlafly Brewing (St. Louis) – makers of my favorite pumpkin ale
Boulevard Brewing (Kansas City) – recently bought out by InBev, good selection of craft brews, try their Barrel Aged Boulevard Quad (BBQ)

Arizona
Old Chicago (Tucson) – fav college hangout, home of 110 beers -great food
Frog n Firkin (Tucson) – outdoor seating, great cheese fries and pizza; decent beer collection
Bison Witches (Tucson) – epic sandwiches; pretty good bottled beer selections; great lunch spot
Gentle Ben’s (Tucson) – old college brewery hangout – great memories; food/beers ok at best
Barrio Brewing (Tucson) – owned by Gentle Ben’s; nice ambiance. ok food/beers
Thunder Canyon (Tucson) – franchise-y beers; need to revisit
Plaza Liquors (Tucson) – probably the only best brew shop in Tucson next to Total Wine and Tap & Bottle
Tap & Bottle (Tucson) – great tap and bottle shop
1702 Pizza & Beer (Tucson) – my fav beer spot in town – great selections and pizza!
Craft Beer Tap House (Tucson) – great selections and nice backyard seating
Dragoon (Tucson) – great up and coming craft beer brewery, try their staple IPA
Arizona Beer House (Tucson) – great bottle & tap shop
Pueblo Vida Brewing (Tucson) – one of my favorite breweries in Tucson next to Dragoon
Iron Johns Brewing (Tucson)
Angels Trumpet Ale House (Phoenix)
Four Peaks Brewing (Phoenix)
Arizona Wilderness Brewing (Gilbert) – probably one of the better breweries in all of Arizona

Nebraska
Upstream (Omaha) – decent microbrewery; ok food; nice in old market area
Old Chicago (Omaha) – so glad to come home to this if not in Tucson; great beers and food
Crescent Moon/Beertopia (Omaha) – beer bar/shop combo with amazing selections for the area
Cubby’s Gas Station (Omaha) – great bottle shopping gem in the Old Market – at a gas station!?
Krug Park (Omaha)
Infusion Brewing Company (Omaha)
The Benson Brewery (Omaha)
Brickway (Omaha)
Farnam House Brewing Company (Omaha)
Nebraska Brewing Co. (Papillion)

Texas
Flying Saucer (various locations) – huge beer collection! Sexy service & fun atmosphere
St. Arnolds Brewing (Houston) – fun brewery that churns out pretty good beer for Texas (i.e., Pumpkinator, Endeavor DIPA)
Live Oak Brewing (Austin) – mmm, that hefe!
Workhouse Bar (Austin)
Draft Pick American Grill (Austin)
The Brew Exchange (Austin)
Jester King (Austin)

Kentucky
Pazzo’s (Lexington) – great place in downtown Lexington; energetic; good pizza and beer collection
Louisville Beer Store – serving rare draft beer in a bottle shop!? I’m so there
Troll Pub Under the Bridge (Louisville) – Love the underground ambiance & 3F on tap
Sergio’s World Beers (Louisville) – you’ll not run out of selections here
Holy Grale – tell your wife you’re going to church…

Other Parts of this Country
La Cumbre (Albuquerque, NM) – home of the Elevated IPA; gem brewery in New mexico
Toppling Goliath (Decatur, IA) – rising star; the pilgrimage will be worth your time
Maine Beer Company (Portland, ME) – green brewery that makes great beers (i.e., Lunch and Dinner IPAs)
Bissell Brothers Brewing Co. (Portland, ME)
Foundation Brewing Company (Portland, ME)
Olde Hickory (Hickory, NC)- The Event Horizon and Death by Hops are my favs here; check out the various locations throughout Hickory
Foothills Brewing (Winston-Salem, NC)
Dogfish Head Brewery (Delaware)

Overseas
Westlveteren Brewery (Belgium) – home of the world famous Westy 12 brewed by monks to sustain their community
De Bierkoning (Beligum) – awesome bottle shop in Amsterdam
Kloster Andechs (Germany)
Kloster Weltenberg (Germany) – the oldest monastery brewery in the world since 1060 near Kelheim
Weihenstephan (Germany) – oldest brewery in the world

Other suggestions? Be sure to share them with us below!