The “Love Handles” department in Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine® is devoted to great beer bars. Here are the three beer bars that we explored in Issue 6 (April/May 2015).
Monk’s Café (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
A solid draft list, a very impressive cellar, focused food pairings, and a cozy pub
WHAT IT IS: Monk’s Café (pictured at top) is a classic Belgian Gastropub in center city Philadelphia. In a town brimming with cultural and historical sights, Monk’s stands out as an iconic destination—a temple of Belgian beer—and has been named one of the top five places to drink beer in America. The menu is crafted to provide delicious food to enhance your drinking experience and give you a glimpse into the soul of Belgium.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Their tap and bottle list is called the “Monk’s Beer Bible” and includes more than 300 bottles of top-tier beer from Belgium (and some of the best American brewers as well). The list is beautifully curated, and the owner, Tom Peters, is a Knight of the Belgian Brewer’s Guild. Follow the narrow hallway to the dimly lit back bar and start with a refreshing Monk’s Café Flemish Sour Ale (brewed by Van Steenberge in East Flanders specifically for Monk’s). Then head to a table, order a silver pot of Ghent mussels with caramelized leeks and bacon, and start working your way through the bottle list that includes selections from de Molen, Chimay, and St. Bernadus. With a solid draft list and a very impressive cellar, focused food pairings and a cozy pub ambiance, Monk’s Café can quickly transport you to Belgium and back again.—Sara Dumford
Hours: Bar 11:30 a.m.–2 a.m. daily; full menu served 11:30 a.m.–1 a.m. daily
Address: 264 S. 16th St., Philadelphia, PA
International Tap House (iTap) (St. Louis, Missouri)
Supremely laid-back bar of great breadth and minimal pretension
WHAT IT IS: International Tap House has a deceptively simple formula: wide variety, smart servers, reasonable prices, lots of specials, and no frills. There are three other iTap locations, so far—in upmarket Central West End, in suburban Chesterfield, and two hours down I-44 in college town Columbia, Missouri. We prefer this one in the historic Soulard, just south of downtown St. Louis, for the colorful neighborhood. From iTap, it’s a walkable mile to Busch Stadium, or you can call a radio-dispatched golf cart driver who works for whatever you want to tip.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Soulard is studded with characterful dives that have long served fresh Budweiser brewed a few blocks away. This iTap is right there with them—but instead of Bud, it has one of the state’s widest selections of craft beers, poured by friendly servers who know a thing or two about them. Simplicity extends to lack of food, but there is happy symbiosis with Epic Pizza & Subs next door. Specials run nightly, such as all drafts half-price on Mondays, or $1 off all Missouri-made draft beers on Tuesdays. We can’t say it’s 100 percent unpretentious—come on, it’s craft beer—but this is as close as you can get without the Bud signs.—Joe Stange
Hours: 3 p.m.–1 a.m. Monday–Thursday, 1 p.m.–1 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m.–1 a.m. Saturday, 1 p.m.–12 a.m. Sunday
Address: 1711 S. 9th St., St. Loius, MO
Armsby Abbey (Worcester, Massachusetts)
Best beer bar in the state of Massachusetts
WHAT IT IS: Sure, a lot of people look at Worcester as Boston’s uglier little sister, but right in the middle is the best beer bar in the whole state: Armsby Abbey. The twenty-two draft lines hand-selected by Owner Alec Lopez range from local beers like Berkshire Brewing Company or Jack’s Abby Brewing to rare finds from Belgium or Germany. And beer isn’t the only attraction— their large selection of house-created cocktails (made with small-batch liquors) will satisfy non-beer drinkers, and the farm-to-table menu is constantly changing.
WHY IT’S GREAT: There simply isn’t another restaurant or bar within thirty miles of Worcester that can compare. The beer list, both bottled and on draft, is well thought-out and served in proper glassware. Owner Lopez is passionate about serving the best beer (not just trendy beer), and that shows—it’s there because it deserves a spot on the menu. The food menu is equal parts “gastro” and “pub,” with faves such as the smoked bone marrow, pork belly, or selection of flatbreads. Weekend brunch is off the charts—get the house-made waffles or a breakfast pizza for an unforgettable meal. Incredible beer, no television, no loud bands, knowledgeable staff… A beer dinner at the Armsby Abbey is an experience not to be missed.—Norman Miller
Hours: 10:30 a.m.–midnight Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–midnight Saturday & Sunday
Address: 144 N. Main St., Worcester, MA