Not sure where my mind has been the last year … but it’s time for another update on my Growler list work.  As a reminder, this list is my effort to complete the All About Beer Magazine’s “Growler List.”  125 best places in the world to have a beer.

From the summary — see my earlier post for explanation:

Total (actual) places visited: 50.  I visited 11 places since my last post — my brothers and my best friend joined me in Europe for a 2 week swing (that post will come soon!).  Those I’ve visited since my last post:

3) U Fleku (Prague, Czech Rep)

6) Augustiner Keller (Munich, Germany)

28) Zum Uerige (Dusseldorf, Germany)

37) Atelier am Dom (Cologne, Germany)

41) Blues Bar (Stone Town, Zanzibar)
[This place was closed so I substituted Mercury’s …
you can see the old Blues Bar from the Deck]

61) Krcma (Ceske Krumlov, Czech Rep)

68) Gösser Bierklinik (Vienna, Austria)

73) Schlenkerla Brewery Tavern (Bamberg, Germany)

77) Die Weisse (Salzburg, Austria)

78) Halve Maan Brewery (Bruges, Belgium)

90. Cantillon Brewery and Gueuze Museum (Brussels, Belgium)

Place substitutions: 5

Substituting for a place no longer open: 2

That gives me a total of 50 “visited.”   Here’s the complete list of places I’ve visited …

1. Great American Beer Festival, Denver, CO (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006)
2. The Grand Place, Brussells, Belgium (2010) (2012)
3. U Fleku, Prague, Czech Republic (2012)
5. Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany  (1998) (2012)
6. Augustiner Keller, Munich, Germany (2012)
7. Abbaye de Notre-Dame d’Orval, Orval, Belgium (2009) (2012)
11. Hofbrauhaus, Munich, Germany (1997, 1998, 2001, 2012)
12. The Brickskeller (now Bier Baron), Washington, DC (2005, 2011)
14. The Market Porter, Stoney Street, London, England (2010)
15. Cat’s Eye Pub, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD (2011)
16. Camden Yards (Baltimore) [Substitute] (2008, 2009)
19. Glengarry Highland Games Beer Tent (Maxville, Ontario) (2003, 2011) [Substitute]
22. German Bundesliga (Kaiserslautern) (1997) [Substitute]
25. World Beer Festival, Durham/Raleigh, NC (2011)
28. Zum Uerige, Dusseldorf, Germany (2012)
30. The Olde Mitre Tavern, Ely Court, Hatton Garden, London, England (2010)
31. Cowboys/Redskins, FedEx Field Sky Box (DC) (2009)
33. The Wynkoop Brewery, Denver, CO (2011)
37. Atelier am Dom, Cologne, Germany (2012)
39. The Flying Saucer, NC, SC, TN, AR and TX (2010, 2013)
41. Blues Bar, Stone Town, Zanzibar (closed) [sub: mercury’s] (2013)
44. Tailgating Frankfurt Galaxy NFL Europe Game (1996, 1997)
45. Selin’s Grove Brewing, Selinsgrove, PA (2010)
48. The Blue Tusk, Syracuse, NY (2010)
51. The White Horse Pub, Parsons Green, London, England (2010)
54. Falling Rock Tap House, Denver, CO (2011)
57. Andechs Monastery, Andechs, Germany (2010) (2012)
61. Krcma, Ceske Krumlov, Czech Republic (2012)
66. Delerium Café, Brussels, Belgium (2010) (2012)
68. Gösser Bierklinik, Vienna, Austria (2012)
71. Brewer’s Art, Baltimore, MD (2010)
73. Schlenkerla Brewery Tavern, Bamberg, Germany (2012)
77. Die Weisse, Salzburg, Austria (2012)
78. Halve Maan Brewery, Bruges, Belgium (2012)
80. Le Bier Circus, Brussels, Belgium (2010) (2012)
82. Irseer Klosterbrauerei, Irsee, Germany (2010) (2012)
90. Cantillon Brewery and Gueuze Museum, Belgium  (2012)
91. Dogfish Head Ale House, Rehoboth Beach, DE (2010)
92. Belgo Centraal, London, England (2010)
97. Clark’s Ale House, Syracuse, NY (2010)
103. Kelly’s Caribbean Bar, Grill & Brewery, Key West, FL (2007)
104. Rose & Crown Pub, Epcot Center, Orlando, FL (2006)
106. Brick Store Pub, Decatur, GA (2011)
110. The Gingerman, Austin, TX (2010)
114. The Dubliner, Washington, DC (2010)
118. Top of the Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Chapel Hill, NC (2011)
121. Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington, DC (2010)
122. 5 Seasons Brewing, Atlanta, GA (2011)
123. Tim Schafer’s at Lake Norman, Sherrills Ford, NC
[CLOSED] Sub–In de Vrede (Belgium) (2010, 2012)
124. Stumbling Monk, Seattle. WA (2011)

More to come!   Beer Mentor

Wow, it’s been right at a year since I last provided an update on my Growler list work.  A lot has happened since then (I moved from DC to San Antonio, I got divorced, and I’m now working in Africa for the next year)!  As you might guess, I didn’t work the list as fast as I wanted … however, I’m now back on track.  Here’s my update:

This list is my effort to complete the All About Beer Magazine’s “Growler List.”  This is a list of 125 best places in the world to have a beer.  Here’s a quick update on places visited since my last update:

From the summary — see my earlier post for explanation:

Total (actual) places visited: 33.  I had to remove number 26 (I haven’t been to Mardi Gras yet, Bourbon Street during a festival, but not during Mardi Gras (on my list)) . Those I’ve visited since my last post:

71) Brewer’s Art (Baltimore, MD)
106) Brick Store Pub (Decatur, GA)
122) 5 Seasons Brewing (Atlanta, GA)

Place substitutions: 5

Substituting for a place no longer open: 1

That gives me a total of 39 “visited.” With my being in Africa for the next 11 months, I’ve been able to project these places as some of the next ones on my list:

3) U Fleku (Prague, Czech Rep)
6) Augustiner Keller (Munich, Germany)
28) Zum Uerige (Dusseldorf, Germany)
37) Atelier am Dom (Cologne, Germany)
40) Arend’s Nest (Amsterdam, Holland)
41) Blues Bar (Stone Town, Zanzibar)
56) In de Wildeman (Amsterdam, Holland)
61) Krcma (Ceske Krumlov, Czech Rep)
68) Gösser Bierklinik (Vienna, Austria)
73) Schlenkerla Brewery Tavern (Bamberg, Germany)
74) De Hopduvel (Antwerp, Belgium)
77) Die Weisse (Salzburg, Austria)
78) Halve Maan Brewery (Bruges, Belgium)
96) Heineken Brewery (Amsterdam, Holland)
112) t’Bruges Biertja (Bruges, Belgium)

That will get me to 53.  10 more after that will get me to half the list.  Man, this is a lot of work.  haha.

Beer Mentor

I made it to Baltimore on Saturday (see previous post) and continue to add to my “sites visited” on the All About Beer “Growler List.”  Brian and I capped a great day (American Craft Beer Week!) enjoying a nice dinner at The Brewer’s Art. (#71 on the list).

This place was pretty upscale … but then … laid back.  Quite an interesting atmosphere.  We “dined” in the upstairs portion.  The picture above with the stairs leads down to the cellar bar.  I had the Resurrection-Brined Grilled Rack of Pork.  Very tasty … however, I think I started with the wrong beer.  I went with the Green Peppercorn Tripel … wow.  This was a rock-solid Tripel–quite yummy.  I next had the Dorothea (collaboration with Stillwater (I think) … a blonde/golden ale).  Unfortunately, it was bland compared to the Tripel … I even had the Resurrection (sample)–the same.  Bland compared to the Tripel.  I should have had the Resurrection first.  I really like Dubbels … but, I really like them with the wild yeast, and I didn’t get that in this beer.

I would definitely recommend this place–excellent selection of beers–great bar upstairs AND downstairs.  Worth a visit!

Beer Mentor

I knocked off another entry on the All About Beer Growler List — The World Beer Fest … this one in Raleigh, NC.  During this trip we hit a couple of other great locations … in a later post.

The World Beer Fest is sponsored by All About Beer Magazine … I’m sure no conflict of interest in terms of the Growler List <smile>.  However, in fairness, this was a great event!  Reading through the World Beer Fest 2011 Guide you can see there were about 110 breweries and over 300 beers!  My friend Brian and I went through a dynamic selection process deciding which beers to try and which to skip.  We basically went for 1) local beers we couldn’t find elsewhere and 2) specialty beers from breweries with which we were already familiar.   We both put a pretty big dent in our lists — I sampled 60, Brian made it to 63.  Keep in mind that the tasting glass was a 2 oz glass … and (I know, gasp) we both poured out the ones we didn’t really care for … and there were several of those.

A brewery we did care for and was our favorite was FullSteam Brewing.

Every one of their beers we tried (it was 5 I think) were excellent!  They had one made from sweet potatoes.  There was one called Hogwash Hickory-smoked Porter.  These guys smoke their own barley.  Nice … If you are in the area, give their pub/beer a visit!  Here’s a photo we took at their “booth.”  Check out one of the owners photo-bombing in the background! LOL!

Because we were in a park under some tents the weather “can” interrupt the festivities.  It started pouring halfway through the evening and flooded one of the tents (see pics).  It didn’t stop the crowd (see other pics).

Great beer in a great venue … all for $40 … worth it!  Oh, and if you wanted another reason to go (guys) — think major universities in the area (UNC, Duke), short shorts and boots!

Enjoy!

Beer Mentor