According to the writers at All About Beer magazine, when it comes to the top 125 places to have a beer before you die, Seattle doesn't much come to mind. London? Most certainly. Munich? Of course. Here's the big surprise: Denver, Colorado trumped European watering holes, coming in first place in this list of favorites, which the writers admit is "more art than science." Seattle, however, appears only once, and at a lowly No. 124 on the list, with Stumbling Monk, John Barleycorn. Perhaps I've been on one too many brewery tours, but I question a beer list that doesn't include St. Louis, home of Anheuser-Busch. Even though I long ago switched to microbrews, St. Louis, settled largely by those of German descent, has enough beer cred to warrant mention on the list (my candidate would be the Schlafly Tap Room).
But what about Seattle? I'm partial to Hattie's Hat, which, despite claims to the contrary, is evidence that wine bars aren't displacing fishermen (although I'll admit that even the Hat has done some upscale renovations recently). Other Crosscut staff members have thrown in their choices for the list: The Elysian, the Hopvine, the Wedgwood Ale House, and the 74th Street Ale House. Readers, your choices?
