Best Beer Selection/Beer Halls In Atlanta

Nothing beats a nice, cold beer on a hot summer day -- and since summer in Atlanta seems to last forever, you'll have plenty of time to visit all the great pubs, bars and restaurants where the beer list is just as long as one of those sweltering July afternoons.

Manuel's Tavern

602 N. Highland Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 525-3447
www.manuelstavern.com

One of the most beloved pubs in Atlanta, Manuel's Tavern has attracted a diverse and fascinating clientele for more than 50 years. It's a favorite haunt of musicians, politicians, businesspeople and countless other cliques, all of whom enjoy the rustic setting and the no-frills pub grub menu. Having an outstanding beer selection doesn't hurt, either. You'll find dozens of rare and unusual brands here, such as craft brews like Smuttynose Robust Porter and Left Hand Milk Stout.

The Porter Beer Bar

1156 Euclid Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 223-0393
www.theporterbeerbar.com

Although its food has won several local awards, most patrons flock to the Porter Beer Bar for its awe-inspiring beer menu. You'll find more than 430 varieties served here, with the emphasis on microbrews and hard-to-find imports. Dying to try a rare English barleywine, a smoked beer from Norway or a dark, coffee-like imperial stout from Japan? Then the Porter Beer Bar is your place.

The Vortex Bar & Grill

438 Moreland Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 688-1828
www.thevortexbarandgrill.com

You don't need a map to find one of the best beer selections in the famous Little Five Points district -- just look for the 20-foot-tall laughing skull at the entrance to the Vortex Bar & Grill. Walk through the skull's mouth and treat yourself to one of more than 50 bottled beers, a domestic or imported draft or one of the Vortex's signature draft concoctions such as the Irish Redneck (Guinness and Bud Light) or the Black & White (Guinness and Shock Top Belgian Wheat).

Tap

1180 Peachtree St. NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 347-2220
www.tapat1180.com

Tap advertises itself as a gastropub because its food is a notch above the pedestrian fare found at most bars. The same could be said for its beer list, which -- while formidable -- strives for quality over quantity by providing a nice but manageable selection of top-shelf beers. Look for some unusual choices like the gluten-free Lakefront New Grist, a nice range of fruity Belgian beers and the Southampton Cuvee de Fleur, an ale from New York that costs about as much as a decent bottle of wine.