The Capital Ale House chain of beer bars in Virginia (Downtown Richmond, Innsbroock, Midlothian, and another coming soon in Fredericksburg) is all about the advancement of beer culture. Their motto is: “Good beer, good food, good conversation.” Apparently they’ve struck a chord that resonates with a whole lot of people because all three locations have opened in the last six years. Continue Reading »

Matthew Vandenberghe loves beer. In 1999 he opened up Bottleworks in Seattle, Washington. This beer store offers over 400 beers from 20 different countries, so the man also knows his beer. As the craft beer boomed, so did his passion, and in 2005 Vandenberghe opened a “medieval-meets-post-modern” beer bar called Brouwer’s Café. Continue Reading »

The Map Room has been a Chicago institution since 1992. This quintessential neighborhood bar was opened by Mark and Laura Blasingame as a “traveler’s tavern” and reflects their passion for traveling.  Wooden bookcases full of National Geographic magazines, travel books, and atlases line the walls. Tables and walls alike are plastered with huge maps.  Flags hang from the ceiling.  Oh, and they take their beer very seriously. Continue Reading »

Hamilton’s Tavern is tucked away in a small residential area in the historic South Park area of San Diego. Although Hamilton’s has only been around since 2006, this traditional neighborhood alehouse has been serving beer and wine for some 75 years, making it the oldest licensed liquor establishment in San Diego. Prior to it’s conversion into a world-class beer bar it used to be Sparky’s, a “beloved dive bar.” Continue Reading »

I first stumbled across this beer bar while writing an article about Barack Obama’s unexpected choice of beers. During a campaign swing through North Carolina in May the Democratic Presidential candidate stopped at The Raleigh Times Bar. Instead of diving into a craft beer, what did he order? A Pabst Blue Ribbon. Good times all the times can be had at the Raleigh Times Bar… even if you like PBR. Continue Reading »

“Giving beer the respect it deserves.” That’s the mission statement for the Tap House Grill. This popular Washington mini-chain (one is located in downtown Seattle, the other in Bellevue) boasts 160 beers on tap. An additional dozen or so, which they refer to as “Honor Society” beers - the crème de la crème of hand crafted goodness (i.e., Delirium Tremens, St. Bernardus 12, Caracole Nostradamus), are even served in their appropriate glassware. The beer selection changes frequently, so you’ll always have new ones to try. Nearly half of the Seattle pub’s 160 taps are dedicated to brews from the Northwest, but that still leaves plenty of taps for beers from across the globe. Continue Reading »

The Horse Brass Pub in Portland, Oregon, is not only the best pub in North America’s “Best Big City“; it’s also the best English pub anywhere outside Britain. And don’t let the “venerable Victorian quality” and “Dickensian ambiance” scare you off because Anglophiles aren’t the only ones allowed in this legendary 32 year old establishment. Continue Reading »

Oliver Twist (a.k.a. “OT” for short) is a kvarterskrog (neighborhood bar) that opened in central Stockholm, Sweden, back in the spring of 1993. With 30 or so beers on tap, another 150 bottled beers, and three cask ales available at any given time it’s quite possibly the best source of American microbrews in all of Europe. In the last fifteen years they have served over 800 different varieties of beer from over 100 different brewers. Continue Reading »

The East Coast has the greatest number of world-class beer bars in these United States of America. Not an outlandish statement when you consider that the eastern portion of the U.S. was home to the original 13 colonies as well as the birthplace of America, populated by rebellious men thirsty for independence… and beer. Continue Reading »

Boston is known for a great many things, from American patriots like Paul Revere and John Adams to New England Patriots like Tom Brady and Tedy Bruschi. Speaking of brewski… they’re also known for their beer. World-famous breweries like the Boston Beer Company (inspired by the American patriot Samuel Adams, who also happened to be a brewer) and Harpoon Brewery call Beantown their home. But it also has a metric ton of tea, er… beer bars. Perhaps the biggest and best is Sunset Grill & Tap. Continue Reading »