http://www.craftbeer.com/pages/news...eaders-select-the-countrys-favorite-beer-bars Mekong in Richmond, VA won best beer bar, not only in the North-East region, but in all of the USA
It went by number of votes. I've never visited the bar and can't speak to its worthiness, but that's how the contest worked and that's how they won.
After looking at the remaining two nominees for the northeast...I've determined that I want a refund on the time I spent reading that far into the article.
Awesome. All-star voting in sports is garbage too...so...there are plenty of flawed "votes" out there.
Most popular doesn't equal Best. Unfortunately those are the results you get when you use those standards
I would hardly consider a Vietnamese full service restaurant, that only serves bottles, a "beer bar." But, then again, I tend to be narrow-minded.
I'm actually sitting here at work right now wearing my Hopcat shirt. I was there this past summer on vacation. Hands down the best bar I've ever been to. In fact, I went on a Friday night, then went back for Saturday lunch it was so awesome! Not too mention the food! I can't imagine Mekong could even compare. Perhaps someone can chime in and make a case for Mekong?
Glancing at their website, they do have a surprisingly good beer list for a Vietnamese place, but... yeah. Seems odd. I'd totally go there if I were in the area, though.
I saw the owner of Mekong do a review on Hardywood's Bourbon Quad it was classic. Dude gets really excited about beer. I have heard that he is really cool and has some incredible beers that he brings out from time to time. Been there once and really enjoyed the beer and food. Best beer bar I don't know about that. But the owner is on top of his game and knows what up.
As a huge fan of this place I can and will make the case for Mekong. My brother gradated from school in Richmond last year and I used to visit Mekong practically every time I was in town. What seems to be overlooked here is it has a phenomenal tap list which is not properly advertised on its website or Facebook page. I have a picture of the tap list from one of the last times I was there, but since I can't seem to upload it I'll write down the offerings instead... Allagash White, Delirium Tremens, Bells Oberon, St. Bernardus ABT 12, Triple Karmeliet, Chimay Tripel, Urthel Samaranth, Ommegang Gnomegang, Founders Centennial IPA, DF My Antonia, Unibrou Raftman, Gouden Carolus Easter, De Dolle Dulle Teve, Mikkeller Its Alive. Not my favorite of their tap lists either. But this was well over a year ago and these days they seem to be more intent on serving Sours and Wild Ales in their lineup (I've seen 6-7 at a time), especially as their popularity has grown. As someone who lives between NY and Boston Mekong is very reasonably priced, and believe me Vietnamese food pairs damn well with their Belgian offerings. Also, An the head bartender is one of the coolest beer guys I've ever met, he really does make the place. If anyone here is fortunate enough to check the place out, I'll vouch you will have a great time and drink some AMAZING beers. I have been to some of the best beer bars in the country, and in some cases the world and if I could pluck just ONE and put it in my town, I'd have a hard time not choosing Mekong. That sounds crazy, but for those who have not visited I dare you to not leave impressed.
And I would hardly consider an opinion of someone who hasn't been to a place to be valid. They have a large tap list, for starters. The last time I went there was during a sour fest and they had at least a dozen different sours on tap, including a couple of the Allagash Coolship series. Are they the best beer bar? I have no idea, since I've yet to go to every bar in the country. They are a great place for craft beer, however, and have great food as well, which is a rarity among places that have good craft selections. The owner is also almost always around the restaurant and willing to chat with you about beer. Back to the original article, topics about these sorts of polls are even more ridiculous than the polls themselves. "Hey, here's an inherently flawed but potentially interesting poll concerning craft beer." "OMG HOW DID THAT BAR/CITY/BREWERY THAT I'VE NEVER BEEN TO BEAT MY FAVORITE BAR/CITY/BREWERY?! PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR THAT OPTION MUST BE BALLOT STUFFING/IGNORANT/DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CRAFT BEER!"
yeah, it was a user driven poll. An knows how to work social media and it works for him. I don't fault him for playing the game... I wouldnt judge the place by its webpage as who knows how hopelessly out of date it is. he rarely even sends out updated taplist tweets/fb posts. the first time I ever went I couldn't imagine Vietnamese food pairing well but damn, I was wrong! someone above mentioned no taps... he has 20 taps with at least 5+ or so in the wild/funky/sour vein, oftentimes with a cask or two running and even a randall. the bottle list menu on the tables probably only has half the bottles available and An will often pull out something from his stash to pour for people or let us bring in bottles from our own stash to pour with friends. there is a reason why out of towners go to Mekong when they visit and keep coming back with new friends...
Sure there are some great bars on this list, but nothing from San Diego. Which is absolutely ridiculous. Hamilton's, Toronado SD & O'Brien's are incredible beer bars, with tap lists to rival the best in the country on any given day. Sugar Maple in Milwaukee is another incredible place, but more of a community meeting place that happens to have 61 taps than an actual beer bar.
As with most lists like this, it's best to just chalk it up to never ending subjectivity and flawed/bad polling. Vintage Estate isn't the best beer bar in Ohio... but nobody from that site asked my opinion.
Just another poll/list that can be argued aboot until the Sun sets in the East. Oh, did you hear? Snake River Brewing won for the manliest brewpub in the US?
Never been there but it's on my list now. These lists are just popularity contests....whoever has the most productive homers win.
Ha ha ha another publication that thinks the entire west coast is a "region" Somebody buy them a globe, please. What a joke.
Honestly, their Belgian section is cheap for a bottle. but Idk about best. Sams Quik Shop has 8 taps and has better draft than this place. sorry, had to.
Yeah, the number 1 overall is bizarre, seems like nothing special. I will say that I have been to both Falling Rock Taphouse in Denver, and The Avenue Pub in NOLA. Avenue pub had Cantillon Classic Gueuze on tap and a couple in bottles including St. Lamnivus, that alone would have it up there for most people. Not to mention the tons of other amazing taps and great pub food. And Falling Rock is probably my favorite bar I have ever visited with a ridiculous tap list, a nice bottle selection as well, along with a great atmosphere and awesome food. So this list isnt totally worthless.
I saw the list of nominees on Facebook. My guess is that most of the BA members didn't get a hold of it in time to nominate more places, especially SD county!
Rodenbach Grand Cru, JW Lees 25th Anniversary (cask), BFM Bon Chien '11, 120 Minute, Wookey Jack, St Bernardus Abt 12... the $1 draft pours got silly, the back diningroom even sillier as a bottle share.
Silly doesn't even begin to describe the back dining room tonight. I cracked a Rare, and others opened up Chocolate Rain, Golden Blend, CL sours, and De struise five squared among others. Awesome night in RVA. For those hating based on Mekong website, you need to come visit, because An has more than just what is listed on some menu. MEKONG!!!!!!!!!
All that time in Boston would you say Mekong holds a candle to Lord Hobo? I truly doubt it and that is just one Northeast(for real) beer bar in the Boston area that is better than your list from Mekong. If you want to stress the Belgian stuff, just think Publick House.
At the very least it gives me a place to check out if I'm ever in the area. And I am not opposed to that at all.
Hell I'm only 2 hours away from it, I may go up there this weekend just to see what the fuss is about. They need to add all the beer they have to the website. I know it is a lot of work to keep that up but now that they have won this award people are going to travel to visit them more, and it would be nice to see all they have available.
Sounds like a great tap list indeed --- if you like Belgians, Sours, Wilds & the like, but a very poor list for those of us who don't care for those particular beers. I certainly wouldn't consider a beer restaurant with such a narrow focus as the "best" in the Northeast (in which Virginia isn't, as Archemedies pointed out.)
This is the place I voted for. They also have a pretty lackluster website, but beyond the taplist which I think is pretty damn good they have a pretty lengthy bottle list...but it goes beyond that. The atmosphere is what makes a beer bar great. It's why a place like Yard House with hundreds of taps doesn't automatically mean it is the best.
can't explain why they didn't have a Mid-Atlantic region, and there could just as easily been numerous other regions (Pac NW, Great Lakes, etc...)
Just looking at the photos, that Mekong place looks awful. I mean, fine for some Vietnamese I guess. But hardly the environment I'm looking for when drinking a great beer. Cafeteria chairs and white tablecloths.
Anyone know where the original list of choices was - or if it's still online? Also yeah - there should be a mid-Atlantic region.
