As the Beer Marketing & Tourism Conference convenes this week in Vermont, it’s become quite clear that the craft beer revolution and its accompanying phenomenon — beer tourism — have run amok.
The conference in Burlington March 6-8 brings together hundreds of breweries, tour operators, destination management organizations, beer writers and other hopheads. It is another sign of the explosion in popularity of craft beers — an explosion that has seen more than 10 million people annually visiting an ever-increasing number of small and independent breweries and another huge but unknown segment of the population traveling to bars for tastings, beer-themed dinners or the most attractive craft beer menus.
In November, I asked beer expert Joseph Tucker, the executive director of RateBeer.com, to select his favorite craft breweries among the more than 6,000 that have sprung up in the United States, and I listed them in my story The Road Map To The Top 15 Craft Breweries. Now, CraftBeer.com, the Brewers Association’s website for beer lovers, has polled its readers for their choices of each state’s and the District of Columbia’s best beer bar. The Brewer’s Association is a nonprofit association of more than 4,000 craft breweries that organizes many major beer-related events, including the annual Great American Beer Festival in Denver.
“The success of small and independent craft brewing has made it increasingly more challenging to travel anywhere within the United States without coming across a vibrant, passionate and unique beer culture,” says Jess Baker, the editor of CraftBeer.com. “The 51 beer bars recognized by CraftBeer.com are indicative of this trend and represent a local take on this nationwide phenomenon.”More than 7,700 CraftBeer.com readers voted from November 2017 through last month. Besides choosing their favorite beer bar in their state, they were asked to explain why the bar is great based on atmosphere, beer selection, staff and special events.
Their selections will undoubtedly stir up much debate among beer enthusiasts. In my home state of Connecticut, for example,the Willimantic Brewing Company was chosen as the best beer bar. It's a great and worthy place, no doubt, but so are My Place in Newtown, Mikro in Hamden, Eli Cannons Tap Room in Middletown and Cask Republic in New Haven, Stamford and Norwalk. And one could argue for others in the top realm of beer bars throughout the state.
So, without further ado, let the debates begin. Have a happy (I mean, hoppy) craft-beer-bar visit with a designated driver or taxi in mind. Here are the selections (alphabetically by state) of CraftBeer.com readers:
- Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Loosa Brews
- Alaska, Denali National Park & Preserve, Prospectors Historic Pizzeria & Alehouse
- Arizona, Tucson, Tap & Bottle
- Arkansas, Little Rock, Flying Saucer
- California, Winnetka, Crazy Harry’s Bar
- Colorado, Longmont, SAMPLES
- Connecticut, Willimantic, Willimantic Brewing Company
- Delaware, Newark, Two Stones Pub
- District of Columbia, Dupont Circle, Pizzeria Paradiso
- Florida, Tallahassee, Growler Country
- Georgia, Ellijay, River Street Tavern
- Hawaii, Honolulu, Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room
- Idaho, Boise, Bittercreek Alehouse
- Illinois, Orland Park, The Brass Tap
- Indiana, Muncie, Heorot Pub & Draught House
- Iowa, Pella, The Cellar Peanut Pub
- Kansas, Wichita, The Anchor
- Kentucky, Louisville, Holy Grale
- Louisiana, New Orleans, The Bull Dog Uptown
- Maine, Portland, The Great Lost Bear
- Maryland, Baltimore, Max’s Taphouse
- Massachusetts, Worcester, Armsby Abbey
- Michigan, Washington Township, Brown Iron Brewhouse
- Minnesota, Mankato, Mankato Brewery
- Mississippi, Hattiesburg, The Porter
- Missouri, Kansas City, Bier Station
- Montana, Missoula, The Dram Shop
- Nebraska, Lincoln, The Happy Raven
- Nevada, Las Vegas, Aces & Ales
- New Hampshire, Portsmouth, The Portsmouth Brewery
- New Jersey, Hoboken, Cork City Ale House
- New Mexico, Santa Fe, Rowley Farmhouse Ales
- New York, Rome, Copper City Brewing Co.
- North Carolina, Arden, Craft Centric Taproom & Bottleshop
- North Dakota, Fargo, Wurst Bier Hall
- Ohio, Bellefontaine, Brewfontaine
- Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oak & Ore
- Oregon, Portland, The Beer Mongers
- Pennsylvania, Lititz, Bulls Head Public House
- Rhode Island, Newport, Norey’s
- South Carolina, Lancaster, The Craft Stand
- South Dakota, Rapid City, The Independent Ale House
- Tennessee, Knoxville, Hops and Hollers
- Texas, Canyon, Imperial Taproom
- Utah, Salt Lake City, Beerhive Pub
- Vermont, Brattleboro, Whetstone Station
- Virginia, Fredericksburg, Harry's Alehouse
- Washington, Seaview, North Jetty Brewing
- West Virginia, Huntington, Summit Beer Station
- Wisconsin, Greenfield, The Brass Tap
- Wyoming, Sheridan, Black Tooth Brewing Co.
“Like American beer in general, the American bar has become part of a cultural shift throughout the past few decades," Baker says. "The selection of beers available by local, regional and national craft brewers has become an expectation of patrons, regardless of whether the establishment’s theme is beer-centric. With that growth in selection, these bars are much more knowledgeable about beer styles and stories about the independent breweries they carry."
Whether heading to a brewery, a beer festival or a craft beer bar, beer lovers, she says, "are traveling to experience all that craft beer culture has to offer."
