CraftBeer.com’s 2014 Great American Beer Bars

Now more than ever, bars across the U.S. showcase the wide array of offerings from the more than 3,000 breweries in operation throughout the country today. To help navigate the nation for some of the best places to imbibe, CraftBeer.com — the Brewers Association (BA) website for beer lovers—surveyed its audience for its annual Great American Beer Bars competition.

CraftBeer.com asked readers to help choose the winners for the annual Great American Beer Bars competition. Readers were asked to nominate their favorite craft beer bars in the country; one bar from each of the five designated regions. Craft beer fans cast more than 3,400 nominations, which were narrowed down to the 10 most-nominated bars in each of these five regions. Over 19,000 votes were cast in total. Voting was conducted from August 15 to September 5.

“This year’s Great American Beer Bars competition truly shows the advancement and popularity of craft beer throughout the country,” said Julia Herz, publisher of CraftBeer.com and craft beer program director of the Brewers Association. “Each region has so many dedicated beer bars, which lead to our decision to honor the top five establishments of each. Their hard work and commitment has helped shape and advance the craft beer culture in our country—and that is something to toast and celebrate.”

Once nominations were collected, the field was then narrowed to the 10 most-nominated bars in each of the five regions of the country. The top five craft beer establishments from each region, as well as the overall winners from each, have been recognized.

Regional Winners (listed in alphabetical order)

Mountain West

• Cheeky Monk Belgian Beer Cafe*, Denver, CO
• Falling Rock Tap House, Denver, CO
• Oskar Blues Home Made Liquids & Solids, Longmont, CO
• The Attic*, Phoenix, AZ
• The Mayor of Old Town, Fort Collins, CO

Northeast

• Bulls Head Public House*, Lititz, PA
• Cloverleaf Tavern, Caldwell, NJ
• Growler & Gill Craft Beer Shoppe*, Nanuet, NY
• The Farmhouse Tap & Grill, Burlington, VT
• The Ruck, Troy, NY

North Central

• Ashley’s, Ann Arbor, MI
• HopCat, Grand Rapids, MI
• Lizardville Beer Store & Whiskey Bar*, Bedford Heights, OH
• The Bavarian Lodge, Lisle, IL
• The Cellar Peanut Pub*, Oskaloosa, IA

Pacific

• 38 Degrees Ale House & Bar*, Alhambra, CA
• APEX Bar, Portland, OR
• Beer Stein Bottle Shop & Pub, Eugene, OR
• Prospectors Pizzeria & Alehouse, Denali National Park, AK
• The Pine Box, Seattle, WA

South

• Blue 5 Restaurant*, Roanoke, VA
• Mekong Restaurant, Richmond, VA
• The Birch Bar, Norfolk, VA
• The Porter Beer Bar*, Atlanta, GA
• The Thirsty Monk, Asheville, NC

2014 Great American Beer Bars (Overall)

(Receiving the most votes out of each respective region and listed in alphabetical order)

• Beer Stein Bottle Shop & Pub, Eugene, OR
• Cloverleaf Tavern, Caldwell, NJ
• Falling Rock Tap House, Denver, CO
• HopCat, Grand Rapids, MI
• Mekong Restaurant, Richmond, VA

*Represents newcomer to Great American Beer Bars competition finals