Best Brew Pubs in The US

Our rule is “never pass a brewpub without stopping” – or – “even drive out of the way to find one.”  We usually love the casual, friendly atmosphere in brewpubs, and hanging out with people who love real beer – not the fuzzy yellow stuff.  We like stouts, porters and hoppy to very hoppy beers so those are the ones we have tasted and can recommend.  We have limited our favorites to the following, but this is out of the 140ish pubs we have visited over the past few years.  Here are some of our absolute favorites, listed in no particular order – because we couldn’t decide -some we have been to many times – a few only one or two times:

1.  Pizza Port- Carlsbad and Solana Beach – San Diego County, North Coast, CA

Comments:

• Great beer and pizza….close to the beach….PERFECTION!
• Different places with different beers, brewers – but similar in food and atmosphere
• Surfer bars with about 10 great house beers and equal taps for guest beers (always well chosen!)
• Expect only great beer and pizza – lots of noise, picnic table seating and did I mention yet, GREAT beer!

Beers we liked:

• Swami’s and Wipeout IPA. 
• Franks and Nickel Bag Double IPA if they are still on tap when you arrive,
• and if the Fat Man is due in town, Santa’s Little Helper (a delectable Imperial Stout – bring your designated driver!)

2.  High Desert Brewing Company, – Las Cruces, NM (it isn’t a big place, but this place makes some BIG beer!) 

 

 Comments:

• Great regional feel and food and one great beer after another – or per their slogan “None of Our Beers Suck”
• Good local talent music
• This is a place you can really just “hang out”
• Family friendly  – kids menu and root beer

Beers we liked:

• Extra Special Bitter
• IPA 
• Stout (no, they have no cute names here – like we said, it’s just a very cool place.)

3.  Pelican Brewing Company  - (Pacific City /Cape Kiwanda, OR) 

Comments:

• Beach and Beer – definitely our kind of place — this is really right on the beach!
• Great ocean views and even better beers
• Foods not bad either
• Winner of best large brew pub of 2006 from GABF
• Cape Kiwanda Inn just a stumble away – great accommodations even if you are not drinking

Beers we liked:

• Tsunami Stout (always a winner with GABF)
•  IPA
• McPelican Scottish Ale
   

4.  Bear Republic Brewing Company - Healdsburg, CA 

 

Comments: 

• Friendly northern CA atmosphere
• Upscale pub grub
• Beautiful area of country
• Also in Sonoma County Wine district – so you can Switch Hit!!!!

Beers we liked:

• Racer 5 IPA  (real good)
• Racer X Double IPA (even better),
• Hop Rod Rye,
• Big Bear Stout Ale
• Red Rocket Ale —- all winners!

 5.  Rouge Public House – Newport OR

 

Comments: 

• Right on the waterfront in Newport – a real fishing atmosphere
• Can hear Sea Lions barking every where
• Good menu with lots of seafood
• Too smoky for us — but ……..
• Where else can you try 20 some brews (all good to excellent) at one pub
• Ask about the Bed and Brew – different concept to B & B.  Apartment upstairs from pub with brews in the fridge!

Beers we liked:

• Brutal Bitter,
• Shakespeare Stout
• Mocha Porter
• I2PA

6.  Marin Brewing Company - Larkspur Landing, Larkspur, CA

 

 Comments: 

• Can feel the Northern CA vibe
• Bay-views from Beer Garden
• Upscale pub grub
• Great beer
• Near ferry terminal from San Francisco

Beers we liked:

• IPA (no name)
• White Knuckle Double IPA
• San Quentin Breakout Stout

 7.  Atlantic Brewing Company – Bar Harbor, ME

 

 Comments: 

• Outdoor screened in bar with patio
• Check for mosquitoes before sitting on the patio
• All you can eat Bar B Q on Saturdays (Mainely Meat Bar BQ)
• Limited menu beer and food – but everything is good!

Beers we liked:

• Coal Porter
• SOB (Special Old Bitter)
• Braggert Ale (Barley Wine made with honey at 11.8 ABV)

8. Portsmouth Brewing Company - 56 Market Street Portsmouth NH 03801 

 

 Comments: 

• Great atmosphere in a converted factory – brick wall – comfortable feel
• Located in Portsmouth historic area of town
• Friendly staff
• Excellent food
• Wonderful beers (but if not we would not have included this pub)
• Sister bottling company is Smuttynose – (how would you like that for a name!)

Beers we liked:

• Black Cat Stout
• Shoals Pale Ale
• Smuttynose IPA – Gold Medal Winner – Best American Beer 2004 Great British Beer Festival

9.  5 Seasons Brewing – Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA

Comments: 

• Large attractive style “brew pub”
• Extensive menu with great use of fresh and organic ingredients -
• Excellent preparation and presentation
• The very best meal ever in a brew pub type restaurant
• Friendly service from staff and David and Dennis, the owners
• Beer measures up to the great food

Beers we liked:

• Sledgehammer – American Ale
• Blackbird Porter
• Dodgey’s Dry Irish Stout
• GFYPA (Good for you pale ale)  Double IPA
• Spiney Norman IPA
• Bob Narley (Barleywine)

10.  Oak Creek Brewing- a bit outside of town on Hwy 179 – Sedona, AZ

Comments: 

• Spectacular location
• View from the deck is awe inspiring – especially at sundown
• Pub is located in Tlaquepaque (a complex of art galleries and local craft shops)
• Food and beer are both good – but it is the location that makes this place

Beers we liked:

• Pale Ale – 2005 Silver winner at GABF!

 11.  Selin’s Grove Brewing Co. - Selinsgrove, PA

Comments: 

• Good selection of pub grub with interesting mix of ingredients
• Real pub atmosphere in historic 1816 building built by former PA governor
• Ten year anniversary – says a lot about the quality of this small brew pub
• Check web site for days open and what is on tap

Beers we liked:

• Grizley Stout
• White Horse Porter
• IPA

12.  Russian River Brewing Co. – Santa Rosa, CA

Comments: 

• Good pizza and salads
• Nice pub atmosphere but it’s really all about the BEER or as their slogan says ” Beers that rock your world”  

Beers we liked:

• Pliny the Elder  Double IPA — check the web site for explanation of name and the awards —  Thank you – Vinnie
•  O.V.L. Stout – outstanding
•  Blind Pig IPA – one of Vinnie’s original brews
•  Russian River IPA

 13.  South Shore Brewing Co. – Ashland, WI

Comments: 

• Friendly restaurant “Deep Water Grill” with excellent food — try the Walleye!
• Fortunately beer to match
• South Shore refer to the south shore of Lake Superior – a very scenic area 

Beers we liked:

• Rhoades’ Scholar Stout – only named beer, in honor of home brewer Allen Rhoades who designed the beer 
•  Pale Ale

14.  Sea Dog Brewing Co.  – Topsham, ME

Comments: 

• Converted factory into a comfortable pub
• Beautiful view on the deck that overlooks the Androscoggin River
• Needed to have more than one beer – so we could watch the Ospreys fish in the river
• Food and beer are both equally good – match the surroundings
• 26 Front St. — Bangor, Maine  (Sister brew pub) we will be giving it a try on our next trip to ME

Beers we liked:

• Old India Pale Ale – English style IPA
• Maine Highlander Oatmeal Stout

15.  Victory Brewing Co.  – Downingtown, PA

 

 Comments: 

• Prior to this post we loved going to Victory, except for the smoke that filled the air, but all of that changed on November 16, 2006 when a no smoking policy was implemented. November 16, was chosen as the day to implement the policy because it marks the 30th anniversary of The Great American Smokeout by the American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org/).  We applaude the owners! 
• Quote from the Victory web site that we admire the sentiment and maybe other brewers and entrepreneurs may also -  “Far better is it to dare mighty things and to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered with failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits that neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows not VICTORY or defeat.”    Theodore Roosevelt 
• Victory is located in a warehouse type building – it is difficult to find – definitely call (610) 873-0881) or check the map on line
•  Food is the usual pub grub – and is good
• Service can sometimes be on the slow side of casual

Beers we liked: 

• Storm King Imperial Stout 
• Hop Devil – a sort of IPA      These first two have been our two favorite beers for many years. 
• Old Horizontal – a barley wine – great but think about how much you drink!
• Hop Wallop -  Double IPA

16.  Abita Springs Brewing - Abita Springs, LA 

Comments: 

• Real pub atmosphere in a unique and beautiful LA rural town
• Creole style menu with all the right seafood and other LA treats!
• Great to try their widely distributed beers “on tap”
• Oldest brew pub in the Southeast
• Abita is producing a specialty beer and other commemorative products where all their profits go to the LA Disaster Recovery Foundation: see their web  site for details

Beers we liked:

• Turbodog – an almost porter
• Abita Amber – one of the best ambers in a bottle 
• AndyGator – high gravity beer with a dry finish
• Restoration Ale – profits go to LA Disaster Recovery

17.  Magnolia Brewing Company – San Francisco, CA

Comments:

• Location in Haight-Asbury and Dead themes in beers and decor are nostalgic to many of us Baby Boomers!
• Has the feel of a neighborhood pub – great vibes
• Serve a  ”different kind of pub menu that celebrates local food, honors tradition, and embraces seasonality” – of course organic and local farms are utilized
• Food is always excellent

 Beers we liked:

• Stout of Circumstance
• Cole Porter
• Proving Ground IPA
• Prescription Pale Ale