USA TODAY 10Best
Here are the 10 best beer bars, according to readers
Best Beer Bar (2022)
It's no easy task to choose just one beverage at these 10 bars. Each offers a stellar selection of draft and bottled beers, many with a focus on regional or Belgian selections. Pair that with a relaxed atmosphere and knowledgeable bar staff ready to help any guest become a beer connoisseur, and you've got a recipe for a great beer bar.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Beer Bar are as follows:
- Wades Wines - Westlake Village, California
- The Anchor - Wichita, Kansas
- Brick Store Pub - Decatur, Georgia
- BierWax - Brooklyn, New York
- Meddlesome Moth - Dallas, Texas
- The Birch - Norfolk, Virginia
- HopCat - Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Ben's Bottle Shop - Vancouver, Washington
- Hop City Beer & Wine - Birmingham, Alabama
- Max's Taphouse - Baltimore, Maryland
Photo courtesy of iStock / tedpagel
No. 10:
This little gem has a huge variety of excellent beers, both in the bottle shop and at the tasting bar. The staff knows their beers and will be happy to help you find the perfect brew from their selection of dozens of taps.
Photo courtesy of blizzard_77 // Getty Images
No. 9:
The Anchor, located in the Douglas Design District near Old Town Wichita, is known for its rotating selection of 59 craft beers on tap, craft cocktails and high-quality food, including a distinctive take on wings, Reubens, and tacos. On the way out, guests can stop in The Anchor Butcher Shop for locally sourced meats and artisan cheeses.
Photo courtesy of Brick Store Pub
No. 8:
Located in downtown Decatur, Brick Store Pub is a neighborhood magnet for beer lovers. The main bar, which features one of the best selections in the region, maintains a focus on craft beer and imports from England and Germany. Upstairs is the Belgian Room, dedicated to the finest Belgian beers with eight taps and a huge selection of bottles. Beers are served in style-specific glassware at just the right temperature.
Photo courtesy of Miguel Rivas @thebeertrekker
No. 7:
BierWax is part beer bar, part record store, with more than 5,000 vinyl records to compliment the tap list. Beer lovers will find beers from mostly local, independent breweries around New York state.
Photo courtesy of Jimmy Ngo
No. 6:
This upscale gasropub in Dallas brings together some of the world’s best beers with a menu of small bites and shared plates. Enjoy a brew in the elegant dining room or outside on the spacious patio. The bar often pours rare and limited releases among their rotating collection of taps.
No. 5:
Housed in a former industrial building in Norfolk, Virginia, The Birch is clear-minded in its approach to beer. The carefully selected beer list includes 21 beers and five ciders and meads on tap. Periodically throughout the year, to encourage patrons to try something new, The Birch hosts week-long mini festivals during which all the taps and the bottle list adhere to one theme, such as dark, bitter or sour.
Photo courtesy of Project BarFly
No. 4:
HopCat started in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2008 and has garnered heaps of praise and many awards for its selection of great beer from around the world. Some of the best local, regional and global craft beers are on 49 taps, and more than 250 bottles expands the offerings. It could be their famous beer-battered Cosmik Fries, but more likely it’s the wide range of beers, passionate bartenders, a fun atmosphere and a year-round patio that make HopCat a top destination for beer aficionados.
Photo courtesy of Timothy Augustin
No. 3:
Award-winning Ben's Bottle Shop in Vancouver, Washington boasts 24 rotating taps and 20 coolers with a rotating collection of carefully chosen beers, wines, meads, sakes and ciders. Guests can try brews from all over the world, as well as from many Pacific Northwest breweries. Ben's Bottle Shop also has a full food menu, gourmet foods, and chocolates. What's not to love?
Photo courtesy of Hop City
No. 2:
Hop City Craft Beer & Wine is a must-stop for beer lovers in or passing through Birmingham. With more than 1,200 varieties of craft and imported beer and 66 rotating draft beers to choose from, there is truly something for everyone. Visitors can take home a growler or enjoy a brew at the bar or patio. Hop City also hosts monthly craft beer events.
Photo courtesy of David Stuck
No. 1:
Patrons who enter this brick bar in Baltimore will be blown away by the beer selection: 1,000+ bottles, 102 taps and five casks. From newbies to experts, all levels of beer drinkers can find something to enjoy here — including standard favorites to rare imports — and all it takes is a quick chat with one of the highly knowledgeable bartenders.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning bars!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Dennis Malcolm "Ale" Sharpton
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a... Read More
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a world-renowned beer authority, award-winning journalist, blogger (AleSharpton.com), photographer, event planner, host, speaker and beer judge to name a few of his roles. While passionately traveling the globe to cover everything from automobiles to culinary scenes, celebrity profiles, sports, hotel destinations, art, and what he terms “the world’s best beverage,” Ale has contributed to more than 30 magazines and websites combined. His current media outlets include USAToday, Thrillist.com, Craft Beer & Brewing, CraftBeer.com, Theinfatuation.com, ButterATL.com, James Beard Foundation, Atlanta Magazine, and others. Along with being featured in various publications, on the web, radio, podcasts, television, beer fests, conferences, and ongoing Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ video series, Ale utilizes his Cornell University School of Hotel Administration education and vast work experience to consult in the culinary industry as well. Forbes, Smithsonian Institution, UNTAPPD, Good Beer Hunting, and numerous others have showcased Ale’s accomplishments. In a collaboration going on six years with brewing giant New Belgium, Ale has produced a beer he conceptualized called Piano Keys—a chocolate vanilla imperial stout—geared to support diversity and racial equality. This project with New Belgium also spawned his initiative, BrewGether, which raises funds to support nonprofits embracing the same mission as Piano Keys. Ale proudly owns AllWays Open Creative Solutions, an agency specializing in creative direction, logo design, branding, web design, video production, photography, consulting, and social media. Although a native New Yorker, Ale proudly calls Atlanta his home. Follow Ale’s globetrotting adventures on his captivating Instagram (@realalesharpton).
Dennis Malcolm "Ale" Sharpton
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a world-renowned beer authority, award-winning journalist, blogger (AleSharpton.com), photographer, event planner, host, speaker and beer judge to name a few of his roles. While passionately traveling the globe to cover everything from automobiles to culinary scenes, celebrity profiles, sports, hotel destinations, art, and what he terms “the world’s best beverage,” Ale has contributed to more than 30 magazines and websites combined. His current media outlets include USAToday, Thrillist.com, Craft Beer & Brewing, CraftBeer.com, Theinfatuation.com, ButterATL.com, James Beard Foundation, Atlanta Magazine, and others. Along with being featured in various publications, on the web, radio, podcasts, television, beer fests, conferences, and ongoing Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ video series, Ale utilizes his Cornell University School of Hotel Administration education and vast work experience to consult in the culinary industry as well. Forbes, Smithsonian Institution, UNTAPPD, Good Beer Hunting, and numerous others have showcased Ale’s accomplishments. In a collaboration going on six years with brewing giant New Belgium, Ale has produced a beer he conceptualized called Piano Keys—a chocolate vanilla imperial stout—geared to support diversity and racial equality. This project with New Belgium also spawned his initiative, BrewGether, which raises funds to support nonprofits embracing the same mission as Piano Keys. Ale proudly owns AllWays Open Creative Solutions, an agency specializing in creative direction, logo design, branding, web design, video production, photography, consulting, and social media. Although a native New Yorker, Ale proudly calls Atlanta his home. Follow Ale’s globetrotting adventures on his captivating Instagram (@realalesharpton).
Gary Monterosso
Gary Monterosso is an award-winning critic, who... Read More
Gary Monterosso is an award-winning critic, who has written for national and regional publications. He is a regular guest on “You Oughta Know,” on WHYY-TV, a PBS station based in Philadelphia. Gary also hosts one-minute beverage updates on several southern NJ radio stations. From 2010-2017, he was seen on the History Channel show called “The Epic History of Everyday Things.” He is the author of the book, “Artisan Beers.” After a 41-year career as a NJ- based educator, Gary now teaches beer appreciation classes at Wilmington University. Gary has appeared on many television programs discussing craft beers and has guested on BBC radio offering an American perspective on the beverage. In late 2014, he lent his expertise to CBS News New York, by offering fall beer recommendations. One of the highlights of his career was a three-year stint on the Sirius Satellite Radio network, talking about the latest happenings in the beer world. In 2014, Gary was selected by Chilled Magazine to be a member of the “Chilled 100,” signifying him as one of the top 100 beverage personalities in the United States. He continues to be a fixture at regional beer events by hosting dinners and tasting seminars. He has qualified as a Certified Beer Server, a part of the Cicerone Certification Program, recognizing his knowledge of beer styles, culture, the brewing process and ingredients.
Gary Monterosso
Gary Monterosso is an award-winning critic, who has written for national and regional publications. He is a regular guest on “You Oughta Know,” on WHYY-TV, a PBS station based in Philadelphia. Gary also hosts one-minute beverage updates on several southern NJ radio stations. From 2010-2017, he was seen on the History Channel show called “The Epic History of Everyday Things.” He is the author of the book, “Artisan Beers.” After a 41-year career as a NJ- based educator, Gary now teaches beer appreciation classes at Wilmington University. Gary has appeared on many television programs discussing craft beers and has guested on BBC radio offering an American perspective on the beverage. In late 2014, he lent his expertise to CBS News New York, by offering fall beer recommendations. One of the highlights of his career was a three-year stint on the Sirius Satellite Radio network, talking about the latest happenings in the beer world. In 2014, Gary was selected by Chilled Magazine to be a member of the “Chilled 100,” signifying him as one of the top 100 beverage personalities in the United States. He continues to be a fixture at regional beer events by hosting dinners and tasting seminars. He has qualified as a Certified Beer Server, a part of the Cicerone Certification Program, recognizing his knowledge of beer styles, culture, the brewing process and ingredients.
Latiesha Cook
Latiesha Cook is the Co-Founder, President and CEO... Read More
Latiesha Cook is the Co-Founder, President and CEO of Beer Kulture, a St. Petersburg, Florida based nonprofit focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in the craft beer industry. Born in the Bronx, New York, Latiesha is a wife, mother of four, Cicerone certified beer server, published author and entrepreneur. In her leadership role at Beer Kulture, she has guided the team in launching an array of initiatives designed to diversify craft beer, including Cicerone scholarships, internships, a job board, and kollaboration beers with breweries around the world, as well as community projects to help local neighborhoods and causes throughout the country.
Latiesha Cook
Latiesha Cook is the Co-Founder, President and CEO of Beer Kulture, a St. Petersburg, Florida based nonprofit focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in the craft beer industry. Born in the Bronx, New York, Latiesha is a wife, mother of four, Cicerone certified beer server, published author and entrepreneur. In her leadership role at Beer Kulture, she has guided the team in launching an array of initiatives designed to diversify craft beer, including Cicerone scholarships, internships, a job board, and kollaboration beers with breweries around the world, as well as community projects to help local neighborhoods and causes throughout the country.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
