BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Beer & Brewing Your Favorite Beer Joint???

Like Ken Wells, author of "Travels With Barley..", I'm on a quest looking for perfect beer joints across the US and Canada. I'm searching for all the best ones, in every sector - North, far North, Mountains, East, South, West, Central, Offshore... Can you help?

What places "float your boat"? What makes them better than other joints? I want to set up the perfect journey. I need your opinion! Tell me more...

Ooh, this is a fun topic....

My favorite place is in Boston, MA. Its called Sunset Grill and Tap. They have more beer than any other place in Boston (and maybe the world - I swear, they have more beer in one place than I have ever seen!). That is the only one I can think of right now but I will talk to some friends and see if I can get them to think of others.

What do you think of the Boston Beer Works - Fenway? The brewmaster there is Jodi Andrews, a woman brewmaster!

Oh yeah, that's a great bar too! They have a ton of different beers and its in a great location! How have you been doing your research (knowing who the brewmasters are, etc)? This sounds like such an interesting project!

I've actually been to the Boston Beer Works - My brother lives up in NH - on a visit, we did a little "field trip" to see the hypnotic, dancing blueberries in Bunker Hill Bluebeery Ale, a light golden ale. The blueberries sink to the bottom of the glass, where little bubbles attach to the surface of the berries until they are buoyed up to the surface. When they reach the surface, the bubbles pop, the berries again float to the bottom of the glass, and it starts all over again. Adds a little extra fun to your beer!

I have contacted craft breweries across the US and Canada - people are great! The brewmasters are very happy to talk to someone who loves beer and brewing as much as they do. People in this industry, from owners to home brewers to beerwriters, possess a creativity and cameraderie that is warm and unique. The internet has a lot of information, too, but it is difficult to know how "recent" the information is - an email, letter or phone call is usually necessary.

I have spoken with Jodi Andrews - fantastic person!!! She just started out as a waitress who knew nothing about beer, but decided to change her life!

Fiddler's Green in San Francisco. Near Fisherman's Warf but not a stop for many tourists. Probably the best pint of Guiness poured in the city. Turf fire on cool evenings. Real fish and chips and shepards pie. They open early in the morning for breakfast too!! <img src="/images/graemlins/irish.gif" alt="" />

A friend of mine recently took me to the Gaslight Brewery and Restaurant in South Orange NJ http://www.gaslightbrewery.com/ because I wanted a burger and a 'tall one'. Once I got inside I loved the food and the place. Your ears may have been ringing. I told her that your site and the Brooklyn Brewery were the reasons I became so interested in beer <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

How about Ebenezer Kezar's Pub in Lovell, Maine? It's only a half mile from Kezar Lake (National Geographic says Kezar Lake is the third most beautiful lake in the world!), has spectacular views, and has over 300 World Class beers available (kept fresh!)

Abbey Style Ales, Trappists, witbier, oud bruin, framboise, gueuze, saison, and more!

Are you driving?

Actually, I just drove up through Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island last weekend! I love the thrill of driving or flying adventures, solo (as I did this time) or with company! This was 18 hours in one sitting (each way), and it was SPECTACULAR!!! Little did I realize that Ebenezar's Pub was so close to my course. I plan to take a little diversion on my next jaunt!

Monk's Cafe - Belgian Beer Emporium & Restaurant at 16th & Spruce in Philadelphia, PA.

Beyond words...
Awesome! Absolutely Awesome!

The Grey Lodge Pub in Northeast Philly, PA! Scoats is the man!

Little pub - fun crowd - makes you feel like you belong in short order! Downstairs is long and narrow - 10 beers on tap that rotate with the latest and the greatest in local and not-so-local micros, clean lines, darts, smoking. Upstairs is non-smoking, more posh, intimate, local artists display their works. Pub food. If you're a Macro lover, they have that, too.

Lots of events. Terrific website that is updated every couple days to keep you informed of the newest on tap, the next event, and other fun stuff.
http://www.greylodge.com

The White Horse Pub at Parson's Green in London, England. Licensee Mark Dorber has dedicated twenty-five years to serving beer that is perfectly conditioned, well served, and matched to food with sophistication.

He also runs The Anchor in Walberswick, Suffolk, England.

Okay, so I'm a few miles from the USA! Other folks need to know what's good in their neck of the woods, too.

When I was in culinary school in Scottsdale, Arizona, we used to spend way too much time at Pinnacle Peak Brewery and Steakhouse - http://www.pppatio.com/brewery/index.html

I prefer their barbed wire brown it has a chocolate essence and a fine bitterness. YUM, I guess it's time for another visit there!

The Beer Sellar in Nashville TN downtown. Huge selection of beer. They are awesome!!! Great staff as well!

The Falling Rock Tap House in Denver, Colordo!
69+ Beers on Tap, and Chris Black is a grrrrreat host!
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art47337.asp

Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse, Anchorage, Alaska - Named after the great humpback salmon. If you're going to the Great Alaska Beer & Barley Wine Festival in January, 2007, Humpy's is a MUST!