Roeg's Pick for 2013: Best Multi-Tap Bar

My favorite multi-tap bar has to have more than the most taps, it has to a really good selection of draft beer and be able to keep the lines fresh.  New beers are a necessity, and hard to find new beers makes one place to stand out from another.  It also helps if they offer smaller pours so that you can try more beers.  Here are the places that stood out to me:

Gold: Blind Tiger, New York City, NY – The Blind Tiger Alehouse (http://www.blindtigeralehouse.com/) has been a perennial Beer Mecca in the heart of the Village (#5 on Beer Advocate’s listing back in 2005, and been in each of Draft Magazine’s Top 100 Beer Bars for the past 3 years), serving great food (we’ll eat there next time) with a fantastic selection of beer.  I love the fact that they have cask and feature the latest local beers.  And it is easy to get to in the city since it is only 2 blocks from a subway stop.

Silver: Red Light Red Light, Orlando, FL - Red Light Red Light (http://redlightredlightbeerparlour.com/) changed locations recently, and the new facility is top notch with tons of drafts and even a few beers on cask.  The staff knows their beer, and can offer recommendation for the undecided.  And with all the choices, it is easy to be undecided.  Look for local favorite Cigar City special offerings when you are in town, and make sure to check out the bottle selection.

Bronze: Toronado, San Diego, CA - Toronado (http://www.toronadosd.com/toronadosd.com/Welcome.html) is repeatedly a top beer destination in San Francisco, and their second location was just added to Draft magazine’s top 100 list.  I was able to sample hard to find casks and drafts from the best West Coast breweries, and would definitely make the side trip to visit in the future (but probably not by jogging).

Honorable Mention: Bier Abbey, Schenectady, NY - The Bier Abbey (http://thebierabbey.com/) became my local bar this year, being close to work, frequently rotating their selection for hard to find new beers, and offering 4oz pours so that I can try several.  My favorite part is the update of their Facebook page with their draft list, letting me know when I HAVE to stop by.  For food, try their home cured pastrami sandwich or their BLT. - 15116
 
“Everybody has to believe in something…I believe I’ll have another drink.” – W.C. Fields