21-bar salute
It is pure chance that when we finished rating bars, brewpubs and restaurants for The Beer Lover's Guide to the USA that we gave 21 of them a 4-star rating. If we'd only found 12 that merited special mention that's how many we'd have listed, and when there are 350 we'll be as excited as anybody. As it was, another 31 received 3½ stars.
As explained in the book and elsewhere at this site, assigning ratings is a great way to make enemies -- but that didn't stop us. While we expect many readers will disagree with the ratings, it's hard to argue about the quality of the 21 places listed here. That doesn't have to stop you. Feel free to send us Feedback.
That's not to say that every spot is suited for every drinker. For instance, Bistrot Belgique Gourmande in Occoquan, Va., has no bar area and serves only Belgian beer. And you might not care for the music on the juke box at the Northeast Tap Room in Reading, Pa. Or there's the fact that state law keeps children out of the Archer Ale House in Bellingham, Wash.
So here's the list, in alphabetical order by state and then city.
Jupiter
Berkeley, California
Anderson Valley Brewing Co.
Boonville, California
North Coast Brewing Co.
Fort Bragg, California
Toronado
San Francisco, California
Brickskeller
Washington, D.C.
Goose Island Brewing
Chicago, Illinois
The Map Room
Chicago, Illinois
Pub profile
The Great Lost Bear
Portland, Maine
Doyle's Cafe
Boston, Massachusetts
Pub profile
Redbones
Somerville, Massachusetts
d.b.a. 41 1st avenue
New York, N.Y.
Clark's Ale House
Syracuse, N.Y.
Pub profile
Great Lakes Brewing
Cleveland, Ohio
Deschutes Brewery & Public House
Bend, Oregon
Horse Brass Pub
Portland, Oregon
Victory Brewing Co.
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Pub profile
Monk's Cafe
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pub profile
Northeast Tap Room
Reading, Pennsylvania
Pub profile
Bistrot Belgique Gourmande
Occoquan, Virginia
Pub profile
Archer Ale House
Bellingham, Washington
Pub profile
Fred's Rivertown Ale House
Snohomish, Wash.
