Recent Finds Archive

Naja's Place , Redondo Beach, CA [January 2010, beer & food] Located on Redondo Beach boardwalk, Naja's is a quinessental waterfront dive bar and we mean that in a good way. Laid back with a great beer selection, Naja's is one of those beer places where we could spend hours and hours with friends and beers.

Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel , Sydney, Australia [December 2009, beer, lodging & food] The Lordie is not on this list just because it is the first brewery we visited with the Nelson surname. Great pub with good food and beer plus accommodations make Sydney's oldest hotel a must stop.

Red Hil Brewery , Red Hill South, Australia [December 2009, beer & food] Enjoy beers with estate grown hops and food with local ingredients in a country setting south of Melbourne. Red Hill Brewery is the complete package.

Victoria High Country Brewery Trail , Victoria High Country, Australia [December 2009, beer & food] One of the highlights of our Australia trip, the Brewery Trail is a grouping of seven breweries in Victoria's High Country. Sweetwater Brewing, Bright Brewery and Bridge Road Brewers are the standouts of the trail and easily do-able in one day.

Novare Res Bier Café , Portland, ME [October 2009, beer & food] We have been to a lot of great beer bars in the last few years and Novare Res Bier Café ranks up there with the best. A world-class beer selection and a friendly, knowledgeable staff makes Novare Res a must stop in any New England beer tour.

Königlicher Hirschgarten , Munich, Germany [July 2009, food & beer] Munich's largest beer garden (8,000 seats) is a short walk from the Laim S-Bahn station. The former royal hunting lodge has a festive atmosphere and Augustiner beer. One of the last beer gardens in Munich where you choose your own liter mug and wash it yourself before it's filled with beer.

Telegraph Brewing , Santa Barbara, CA [July 2009, beer only] Don't want to hang out with all the beautiful people in downtown Santa Barbara? Telegraph Brewing's tasting room is a great place to have a few beers, relax and have a good time. The tasting room is open Thursday-Saturday.

Cwellyn Arms , Rhyd Ddu, Wales [April 2009, food & beer] Merideth deserves all the credit for finding this one. Driving through the tiny town of Rhyd Ddu, she spotted a sign on the pub that said "9 Real Ales 9 Days a Week". Curious, we decided to stop and check it out. The Cwellyn Arms was wonderful. We enjoyed great local real ale and delicious food in front of a cozy fire. Enjoyed it so much, we went back again the next day.

Auburn Alehouse , Auburn, CA [January 2009, food & beer] We went to Auburn Alehouse with high expectations and much to our delight, they were exceeded. Wonderful atmosphere and great beer meld beautifully in the historic, brick building. Located seconds off of Interstate 80, Auburn Alehouse is a must stop if you are in the Sacramento area.

't Brugs Beertje , Bruges, Belgium [December 2008, food & beer] A very friendly and helpful staff will assist you in wading through the extensive and impressive beer list. We spent hours there and we could have spent hours more enjoying the 'Little Bruges Bear'.

Arendsnest , Amsterdam, The Netherlands [December 2008, food & beer] ‘t Arendsnest Nederlands Biercafe is the epicenter of Dutch beer, as this is all they serve in a wonderful pub located in a quiet neighborhood off of the city center. Peter, the owner, was very helpful with his suggestions as most of the Dutch brews were unknown to us. If you can only make it to one place in Amsterdam, this should be it.

The Kulminator , Antwerp, Belgium [December 2008, food & beer] The Kulminator is famous for their cellar-aged Belgian beers. If we have one regret from the trip it was going to the Kulminator on our first day in Europe. We were in a jet-lagged induced comatose state and just blankly stared at the amazing and voluminous bottle list. We need to get back to Antwerp to go the Kulminator again.

O'Brien's American Pub , San Diego, CA [November 2008, beer & food] The self-professed "hoppiest place on earth'" is a must stop on any beer trip to San Diego. Don't be fooled by the strip mall location... the extensive beer list will knock your socks off. And the friendly staff will make you want to stay for another pint.

The Liar's Club , Alpine CA -CLOSED- [November 2008, beer & food] Up the street from Alpine Beer Company, Liar's Club is another beer bar that absolutely astounded us. Not only was the beer selection top notch, the juke box was mostly punk. Our kind of place.

Belmont Station, Portland, OR [July 2008, beer & food] Our good friend Chris Devlin reminded us that we needed to go here. Half pub with a great beer selection - Half bottle shop with a great beer selection. Teri Fahrendorf of Pink Boots Society fame helped us pick out our beers to bring home for our tasting. How cool is that!

The Bierhaus , Cork, Ireland [June 2008, beer only] The appreciation of craft beer is growing in Ireland and the Bierhaus in Cork is proof. An impressive beer menu includes the top Irish craft beers as well some of the best the continent has to offer. A must stop on any beer tour in Cork, The Bierhaus is coveniently located a block from the Franciscan Well Brewery.

Iron Springs Pub and Brewery , Fairfax, CA [June 2008, food & beer] On our trip to the North Bay, we visited some of the biggest names in brewing; Lagunitas, Bear Republic and Russian River. But Iron Springs might stand out the most for us. A family friendly community pub where the beer is tasty, the staff friendly, and the food great.

Brouwer's Cafe , Seattle, WA [April 2008, food & beer] After gazing at their beer menu, it is easy to see why Brouwer's is on many top beer bar lists. Better than the selection of Belgians is the extensive selection of Washington brews. And they even have one of those cool glass rinser thingys.

Bukowski Tavern , Boston, MA [March 2008, food & beer] We found about this place from either Paddy Keys of the Larkin Brigade or a Dropkick Murphys email but whoever we heard about Bukowski's from... it was a good recommendation. A dive bar in Back Bay with a great beer selection, Bukowski Tavern is our first new beer find in Boston in years.

Cape Ann Brewing , Gloucester, MA [March 2008, beer only] Those who have seen the movie American Beer would recognize brewer Jeremy Goldberg but Cape Ann has more to offer than a beer personality brewer; namely great beer. Only a short distance from Boston... if you don't have a car, take the commuter rail.

Monk's Cafe , Philadelphia, PA [March 2008, food & beer] We finally made it to Monk's Cafe! Amazing beer selection plus food to compliment. No trip to Philly would be complete without a stop here to enjoy a few Belgians.

Café Amsterdam , Anchorage, AK [January 2008, food & beer] While Humpy's is good... Café Amsterdam is amazing. The best Alaskan beers plus a great selection of lower 48 craft beer and Belgians. If you visit Anchorage and don't hit Café Amsterdam you are making a huge mistake. Thanks to Ken and Shauna for their hospitality.

Bull and Castle , Dubin, Ireland [December 2007, food & beer] Don't be afraid of the 'gastropub' label... It's what we have been waiting for in Ireland... a pub that serves Irish craft beer. A must stop in any beer visit to Dublin. The Bull and Castle also has a impressive selection of continental beers too.

Red Restaurant & Bar, Santa Cruz, CA [October 2007, food & beer] We were told to go here by our friend Blu and we are happy to announce that we have our new beer hangout in Santa Cruz... we don't know what is more amazing; the selection of Belgians of draught or the fact that the staff drives 8 hours each way to get beer that isn't distributed in Northern California. Words cannot adequately describe the beer menu... you must go there and see for yourself!

The Maiden Publick House , Big Sur, CA [October 2007, food & beer] We don't make it to Big Sur much anymore since our favorite park doesn't allow the pups... but we were reminded recently of a good reason to make the drive down the coast... the Maiden Pub. An impressive beer list of six draft plus 80+ bottled beers, combined with the beauty of Big Sur, is going to have us driving down the coast more often in the future.

Odell Brewing Co. , Fort Collins, CO [September 2007, beer] Just down the street from New Belgium, Odell Brewing Co. is the second oldest microbrewery in Colorado and a must stop if you are in Fort Collins. Brewers of excellent beer, they also give back to the community; you can donate your $3 taster fee to charity.

Fort Collins Brewery , Fort Collins, CO [September 2007, beer] And just down the street from Odell Brewing Co. is Fort Collins Brewery. A friendly staff pours an eclectic selection of beers. Another must stop in Fort Collins.

Oskar Blues , Lyons, CO [September 2007, food & beer] Located on the road to Rocky Mountain National Park, you will kick yourself for not stopping at Oskar Blues. Great staff and great beer! Also, Oskar Blues is one of the pioneers in the can movement. Great for bringing beer back for our tastings.

The Ol' Factory Cafe , Sand City, CA [August 2007, food & beer] The Monterey Peninsula now has a beer destination that we can show off to our out of town beer friends. A world class beer list and a knowledgeable staff makes the Ol' Factory Cafe the beer destination in the area. Good food, a hip setting and wireless internet round out this great establishment.

City Beer , San Francisco, CA [August 2007, food & beer] What a great concept! What a great selection of beer! A beer store where you try before you buy. (Well, you buy the samples too...) Pick a beer from their extensive inventory of beer from around the world and enjoy. Five draft handles round out a fun and relaxing beer experience.

Pelican Pub & Brewery , Pacific City, OR [July 2007, food & beer] If there is a brewpub with a nicer view, we haven't been there yet. Add great beer and you have yourself a great afternoon on the patio. Unless, of course it is raining... it is Oregon after all.

Horse Brass Pub , Portland, OR [July 2007, food & beer] It is somewhat an embarassment to say that it took until our 8th visit to Portland to visit Don Younger's legendary Horse Brass Pub. Don't make the same mistake. A great beer selection including a number of cask ales awaits you.

Boundary Bay Brewery , Bellingham, WA [July 2007, food & beer] Boundary Bay is not on this list because the owner is a friend of a friend of a friend... they made this list because they have darn good beer. A friendly staff rounds out this great beer destination in the Pacific Northwest.

Wenlock Arms, London England [June 2007, food & beer] The Wenlock Arms is the real deal; a free house serving great real ale. We recommend going on Thursday night for quiz with "Eddie the not-so-Fat Controller". The nearest Tube stop is Old Street.

Brauerei Forst , Merano, Italy [June 2007, food & beer] This German-style beer garden and brewery in Italy is a great place to relax for a beer and some food. No Peroni or Moretti here. Located about 30km west of Bolzano.

Bamberg, Germany [June 2007, Food & Beer] Yes, we are recommending a whole town! Not only is Bamberg a splendidly preserved medieval city but it also has 9 or so breweres; many of which are in walking distance of each other. The rauchbier is not to be missed.

El Toro Brewing , Morgan Hill, CA [May 2007, food & beer] El Toro is making a return visit to 'recent finds'... They have dry hopped their flagship beer and called it "Extra Hoppy Poppy Jasper". They brew several versions of the beer, each dry hopped with a different variety of hops. When we were there, on tap were four Extra Hoppy Poppy Jaspers. Another reason El Toro is a worthy stop. The yellow walls still need to go.

Blackstone Brewing Co. , Nashville, TN [March 2007] Located a few minute walk from dowtown Nashville. Blackstone was a pleasant surprise... We weren't expecting much from Nashville beer. Boy, were we wrong...

Boscos , Nashville, TN [March 2007] Located adjacent to Vanderbilt University, Boscos is a great college town brewpub with that great college town atmosphere.

Lazy Boy Saloon and Alehouse , White Plains, NY [March 2007, food & beer] A great pub located in dowtown White Plains. An extensive, rotating draft beer selection including numerous local beers; just what a beer traveler is looking for.

Lucky Devils , Los Angeles, CA [February 2007, food & beer] We actually found a second place to go to in Los Angeles. Lucky Devils is located on Hollywood Blvd (4 blocks east of Highland) and they have a impressive selection of beer on draft as well as bottles. A must stop if you happen to be in the neighborhood.

El Toro Brewing , Morgan Hill, CA [February 2007, food & beer] Since 1994, El Toro has been brewing great beer and now they have a brewpub just off Hwy 101 in Morgan Hill (exit East Dunne/go west/then right on Monterey Rd/located at Monterey Rd and Main St). In the summer, the patio is going to be THE place for a beer in the southern Santa Clara Valley. The brewpub would be absolutely brilliant if they got cole slaw for the pulled pork (and maybe got rid of the yellow walls).

The Old Fountain, London, England [December 2006, food & beer] A great old pub where our friend Paul is the Cellarman. Listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, the Old Fountain is a true local surviving in the ever expanding corporate beer scene. These are the places we should be supporting.

Gebr. Mayer , Oggersheim, Germany [December 2006, food & beer] Not here just because of being my #300... Great German food and Great beer! Located on the outskirts of Mannheim, easily accessible by tram.

Biddy Early , Inagh, Ireland [September 2006, food & beer] First went to this brewpub in 1999 and didn't like it. Went back again and thought the beer was brilliant. A great Stout and Pale Ale. A must stop if you are in West Clare.

E.J. Phair Alehouse , Concord, CA, USA [August 2006, food & beer] An establishment with three different IPAs is one that is after my heart... Great food too.

The Star , London, England [May 2006, food & beer] A Fullers pub on Belgrave Mews that is a hard to find but worth the search. Take the tube to Knightsbridge, walk to Belgrave Square. When you find the German Embassy, The Star is behind it. Cask ale and the craic is great.

Youngs Brewery , London, England [May 2006, food & beer] A little hard to get to but well worth the visit for the wondefurful cask ales as well as Double Chocolate on draft. Take the tube to East Putney then it's a 10 minute walk down the street.

The Publick House , Brookline, MA [March 2006, food & beer] Thanks to mom for finding this one... it's not a brewpub but a great multi-tap that is a must stop on any trip to Boston. Take the Green line (C-Cleveland circle) to Washington Square.

Sin City Brewing, Las Vegas, NV [December 2005, beer only] Merideth found this one in one of those stupid local guide magazines in our hotel room in Vegas. Located in the Desert Passage Shops, we think they have the best beer in Vegas. Be sure to stop by and ask if they are pouring the Irish Stout.

Indian Wells Brewing , Inyokern, CA [December 2005, beer only] An hour and a half detour off the I-15 on the way to Vegas but well worth it. It's great to see people trying to make it out in the middle of nowhere.

Brauerei Blank, Zwiefaltendorf, Germany [September 2005, food & beer] One of the great reasons to beer tour in Germany... We were driving west of Ulm and found this small brewery by randomly picking a route to another nearby brewery.

La Chouffe , Achouffe, Belgium [September 2005, food & beer] Located a few miles outside of Bastogne, a wonderful place for great Belgian beer.