America's best beer bars

Our coast-to-coast guide to achieving beer nirvana

Americans obviously have a soft spot for a beer (and not merely a soft beer belly).

Not only do we have top-flight microbreweries experimenting in every corner of the country; we even frame our political choices by posing the all-important question, “who would you rather have a beer with?”

And as much as a frosty can out of the cooler can be perfection, there’s often nothing better than bellying up to the bar at your favorite pub, soaking in the atmosphere and tipping back a few pints with friends.    

We asked Metromix staffers nationwide to tell us their favorite places to grab a cold one, based on the all-important balance between setting and beer selection. Here are our picks for the nation’s best beer bars; you’ve got the next round.

Have your own favorite bar where everybody knows your name? Leave your pick in the comments. And if you’re looking to drink local, check out our beer guides for New York, Dallas, Denver, Hudson Valley, and Indianapolis.