Roeg's Pick for 2013: Best Regional Bar

A regional bar has a great beer selection (duh!), but goes out of its way to highlight local beers.  These are the spots you seek out when you visit a new area.  This year I was lucky to be on the road to find three new favorite destinations.

Gold: Prohibition Pig, Waterbury, VT – The Prohibition Pig (http://www.prohibitionpig.com/) has become my favorite regional beer bar, and no wonder since they are centrally located in the center of some of the most talked about breweries in the country.  I met the owner Chad Rich on my last visit and loved their selection; Alchemist’s Heady Topper (Beer Advocate’s #1 beer) on draft, 3 beers from Lawson’s Finest Liquids, and 5 beers from Hill Farmstead.  To top it off, the food is also great (try the smoked brisket sandwich with their Carolina BBQ sauce).

Silver: Blind Lady Ale House, San Diego, CA – The Blind Lady Ale House (http://www.blindladyalehouse.com/) (BLAH by the locals) is a long time San Diego favorite located in the Normal Heights neighborhood.  This place was fantastic; serving good food, plenty of space, family friendly and an awesome selection of beer.  I enjoyed Lost Abbey Cuvee de Tomme and Societe The Pupil, two top notch local beers.  The place was anything but blah.

Bronze: Great Lost Bear, Portland, ME - I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the Great Lost Bear (http://www.greatlostbear.com/), a restaurant that gives ME brewers an opportunity to showcase their wares.  I mean, GLB offers 4 casks and has multiple offerings from Alklagash, Rising Tide, and Maine brewing companies.  How great is that?

Honorable Mention: Shepherd and the Knucklehead, Haledon, NJ – The Shepherd and the Knucklehead (http://www.theshepnj.com/) is a great beer bar in Haledon, NJ, right on the line between the haves and the have-nots.  They have a great selection of local beers; Carton, Defiant, River Horse, and Flying Fish seem to be always on the menu.  For food I’d recommend their cheese plate (ask for the geitost). - 15116
 
“A good local pub has much in common with a church, except that a pub is warmer, and there’s more conversation.” – William Blake